Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 633 Silvana Desio (Part 1)

Truth or courage, which was more important?

Silvana was trying to find the answer to that question, under the onslaught of the Evolution Tree.

[Take your time... Think hard about the answer...]

The Evolution Tree's voice was calm, but the sharp root tips glared at Silvana like a hail of blades. She realized that it was impossible to make a mistake at a point like this.

"Am I ready to die for Adam...?" Silvana muttered.

Her gaze pointed downward, her fists tightly clenched, and her face darkened. Trying to sort out her doubts and find the right answer to such a difficult question, Silvana only became more confused.

Then, after a long time, Silvana raised her gaze, staring intently at the Evolution Tree.

[It seems you are ready. So... What's your answer... Silvana Desio?]

"No. I'm not ready to die for Adam. I don't feel that brave or sacrificial. Deep down inside... I'm afraid of monsters and failure..."

Was this the right or wrong answer?

Oddly enough, that was not the criteria that the Evolution Tree was interested in.

[I see... Good... Indeed... Honesty is the path to excellence...]

Whooooooooooosh.

In a heartbeat, the sharp, formidable roots returned to the Evolution Tree, leaving Silvana with a baffled expression.

"What? That turned out to be the right answer? I thought I was supposed to say yes..." Silvana suggested.

[If you did... would that be a lie?]

This question was more complicated than it seemed at first glance. The fact that Silvana answered 'no.' didn't mean that she would not do it in reality since this situation never happened.

She answered as she felt deep inside, realizing that lying to the Evolution Tree was stupid and pointless.

Silvana bit her lip:

"I don't know... I assume that yes..."

[Assumptions don't interest me... However... I got the answer to my last question... And... Silvana, you have passed the first stage.]

Taking a deep breath, Silvana stepped forward. She didn't know that the Evolution Tree would require her to look into Adam's mind, but she had no other choice if she wanted to go through Gene Diffusion.

Step.

Taking the last step, Silvana stopped in front of the crystal, multicolored pulses running among the gray parts from time to time. It was an indication of life, most of it was calm and routine, but... sometimes there were bright and intense memories, not always good and not always bad.

[Oh... I completely forgot to mention...]

The Evolution Tree's voice grew deeper as if it had purposely left out one important detail.

"Hm?" Silvana looked up.

As the branches trembled, the Evolution Tree replied:

[Your memories... Adam will see them as well... Everything you knew, everything that is in your mind at this second... You will both share each other's memories... without interfering with the future...]

In a heartbeat, Silvana's face darkened. She wasn't ready for this. Finding out other people's secrets had always been much easier than revealing yours.

Moreover... Silvana told Adam almost nothing about herself, and he didn't ask questions. It was enough for him that she was his Operator, the rest was not important to him.

[So... What are you going to do? Will you give up midway through... Or will you choose to see his memories by opening your own...?]

There was no sneer or gloating in Evolution Tree's voice, it was a sincere question, full of seriousness and respect for Silvana.

If she refused, the Evolution Tree would accept it. There would be no resentment, only disappointment and an acceptance that Silvana was not a suitable Operator.

"I'll do it... He'll see everything, right?" Silvana asked uncertainly.

The Evolution Tree quivered before answering:

[Yes... But you'll be the first to see his memories... You know a lot about Adam... Especially after he became a Phantom... But... You don't know everything...]

Silvana bit her lip, she was curious to know what Adam was hiding, as well as scared to delve so deep into his mind.

'I don't know some Adam's secret, but... what is it?' Silvana thought before reaching her hand forward.

Tap.

The tip of her finger touched the crystal, causing it to shake actively.

'I'm just going to find out. It's too late to go backward now.'

Then, the darkness grew thicker, approaching Silvana and engulfing her in countless streams, preventing her from seeing even a speck of light from the majestic Evolution Tree.