THE LAST PARAGON IN THE APOCALYPSEC253: The Twin Job
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Liu Yang is a middle-aged man with an awful taste in music. His playlist is a disaster. It's like he has no idea what he's doing. One minute, it's ear-splitting heavy metal, the next, it's bubblegum pop, then some random folk song no one's ever heard of.
He skips tracks like he's searching for treasure in a junkyard—only finding noise. His music is chaotic, an assault on the ears.
Whenever he's driving, the cars around him suffer. Drivers behind him honk like they're begging for mercy, and anyone ahead speeds up, desperate to escape the madness. His music doesn't just play—it invades. It feels like it rattles the entire road.
But Liu Yang doesn't care. Does he hate the constant curses raining down on him? Probably. But he doesn't have time for that.
Aside from his terrible taste in music, Liu Yang is actually a brilliant accountant. His skill with money is so sharp that if the entire fortune of the world were handed to him, he could handle it with ease.
He works for The Golden Lock National Bank in Kenshin City, located in the Northern Region of the Northern Union.
As one of their top assistants, Liu Yang earns enough to afford luxurious cars, mansions, and even plenty to spend on beautiful, hot women.
But does he really make that much from working at a bank? Probably not. And it's true—he isn't just an accountant for an ordinary bank. Liu Yang also launders money for a notorious mafia group called One Eye Blade Mark.
They are infamous for many things: extortion, drug trafficking, illegal weapons deals, and underground gambling rings. They control the black market with an iron grip, and their assassins are feared across the region.
They specialize in making people disappear without a trace. Rumor has it they even have connections to corrupt families and law enforcement.
Anything bad happening in the Eastern Region has the One Eye Blade Mark's name all over it. They're a menace in that part of the world.
However, Liu Yang doesn't care. As an accountant for such a notorious mafia group, he earns more than enough to keep his mouth shut and do his job. He's been working for them for the past 14 years.
But every bad thing eventually comes to an end. A rival group, long suppressed by the One Eye Blade Mark, discovered Liu Yang's connection to them.
They knew that to strike where it really hurt, they'd need to take out the person handling their money. So, in their ever-cautious approach, they hired assassins from an organization known for its lethal efficiency, a group even the One Eye Blade Mark wouldn't dare retaliate against.
They hired an assassin from the Dark Order.
Today, Liu Yang is headed to a wedding for one of his cousins in a neighboring city, beaming with joy. However, his joy will be short-lived, as today will be his last day alive.
The assassin sent to kill him was also attending the same wedding, ready to carry out the hit. Liu Yang's days of crime will end before he even realizes it.
The wedding began as expected, filled with joy. Family and friends cheered, danced, and celebrated this beautiful day. Liu Yang was part of the festivities, completely unaware of the danger looming over him.
As the evening came and refreshments were served, Liu Yang stayed behind to chat with some close family members before leaving.
"Liu Yang, you really should settle down and get married. You're 32 already," an elderly woman—probably his grandmother—remarked.
Liu Yang smiled at her comment. It wasn't the first time he'd heard that. Every family gathering came with scoldings about settling down. But Liu Yang preferred the occasional one-night stand and partying, with no intention of settling down anytime soon.
"I will, Grandma. I just haven't found the right one yet," Liu Yang replied with a small smile playing on his lips.
"I've already told you not to worry about that. There are plenty of ladies—some of my friends' daughters—that I can introduce you to. You just need to make yourself available," another woman, younger than the first, spoke up.
"Mom, I appreciate that, but I'm working on it. It won't be long now until we're meeting for my wedding," Liu Yang said reassuringly.
"You'd better, or I'll end up choosing someone for you," both his mother and grandmother chimed in. After a while, following various family conversations, Liu Yang excused himself and went to his room.
The house was a massive mansion with numerous rooms, and Liu Yang had one all to himself. When he entered, he was greeted by the sight of a large bed. Without bothering to undress, he jumped onto the bed, exhausted.
A short while later, the flickering shadow of a lamp beside the bed shifted. From the shadow, a masked woman emerged, her eyes and nose concealed, a dagger clutched in her right hand.
Without hesitation, she silently moved toward the bed, ready to complete the mission she'd been planning for a while. She had been observing Liu Yang for some time, and now was the moment to strike.
However, just as she was about to deliver the fatal blow, three figures emerged from the bathroom. They moved with an eerie silence, their presence only becoming apparent as they stepped into the room—as if they had been lifeless bodies just moments before.
"You really thought we wouldn't know you'd come for our accountant?" one of the three newcomers said, his aura flaring, sealing off the room.
"Those Green Silk Daemons are finished," another one added. Somehow, they had discovered that their rival mafia gang, the Green Silk Daemons, had hired the Dark Order to assassinate the One Eye Blade Mark's accountant, Liu Yang.
Of course, it was just speculation at first, so the three who managed to find out this news wanted to find out first before going to their leader to report.
They wanted to earn the credit of killing a Dark Order Assassin and protecting their asset. And So, they have been following Liu Yang always ready to act.
The assassin, a masked woman, stared at them, momentarily unsure of how to proceed. She is a Great Sage, but so are the two of the three people standing before her. Two were Great Sages, and one was a Sage.
As for Liu Yang, he had passed out from the overwhelming energy filling the room.
With no way out, the assassin realized she was trapped. She couldn't escape the way she came, but the window was on the opposite side of the room. Her only option now was to abandon the hit and face these new opponents.
But just as she made up her mind to attack, she suddenly froze. Before she could move, a dagger emerged from the shadow of one of the Great Sages and slit his throat. At the same time, the Sage was pulled into his own shadow and disappeared without a trace.
The last remaining Great Sage reacted swiftly, lunging at the assassin with his sword drawn. She responded by raising her dagger. But before their weapons could clash, shadowy strings shot from the darkness, binding him instantly.
The strings dragged him back, and as he was struggling to understand what was happening, a masked figure stepped out of the shadows and drove a dagger straight into his heart.
But it didn't end there. The strings snaked across the room and stabbed into Liu Yang's head, killing him instantly in his sleep.
Everything happened so fast that no one could make sense of who this new intruder was. As the last Great Sage's body hit the floor with a heavy thud, a calm yet mocking voice came from the mysterious figure.
"You've gotten sloppy, sister."
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THE LAST PARAGON IN THE APOCALYPSEC254: Absorbing The Fire Tulip
As soon as Klaus returned from Stone Valley, he went into seclusion to tackle something he had been putting off for too long. When he killed the Fire Horn Leopard in the Fire Region of the Demon's Abode, he obtained a rare flower called the Fire Tulip.
According to the senior, absorbing it would enhance his control over fire and grant him a certain degree of fire resistance. Klaus had either postponed it or, more truthfully, forgotten about it. The were many things he was dealing with.
However, on his way back from Stone Valley, he remembered. So after spending a few hours with his mom and Miriam, he entered seclusion to finally consume it.
Now, sitting in lotus posture inside his training room, Klaus retrieved the Fire Tulip, and immediately, the temperature spiked.
"It's hot," Klaus muttered.
Despite having the fire element, powerful flames could still burn him. He hadn't achieved full-fire immunity yet. Even someone like Nari, who had stronger control over the flame element, still got burned when touching extremely powerful flames.
"Okay, Senior, how do I absorb this?" Klaus asked the senior inside his soul sea.
"Eat it," the senior replied instantly.
"Wait, what? Are you trying to kill me? You want me to eat this hot thing?" Klaus was taken aback. The flower in his hand was already scorching, yet the senior expected him to put it in his mouth. That felt like a death wish.
"How else are you going to absorb it? Eat it, and the full essence of the flower will be absorbed into your body," the senior replied, offering no other alternatives.
Klaus sighed, knowing he had no choice but to follow the senior's instructions—not that he liked the idea one bit.
Steeling himself, he opened his mouth and bit down on the entire tulip. He barely had time to chew before the flower dissolved in his mouth, instantly getting absorbed into his body.
Hot smoke escaped from the corners of his lips as the fiery essence entered him. At the same time, Klaus felt his body heating up rapidly.
His skin started turning red as the flame's essence began to integrate into his body. His appearance is enough to tell one that he is enduring a lot of torture.
Klaus gritted his teeth as the heat inside his body intensified. His skin turned a deeper shade of red, and he could feel the fire essence spreading through his veins like molten lava. Every cell in his body seemed to burn, the heat becoming almost unbearable.
His breath came in ragged gasps as waves of fiery energy surged through him. He could feel the Fire Tulip's essence merging with his core, but the pain was intense. Sweat poured from his body, evaporating almost as soon as it appeared.
Klaus forced himself to stay calm, knowing that resisting the process would only make things worse. He focused on controlling his breathing, trying to guide the energy flow within him. The heat in his chest built up, almost as if his heart was about to explode.
Suddenly, a sharp burning sensation spread through his entire body. Klaus clenched his fists, trying to stay grounded as the heat continued to rise. His muscles tensed, and he could feel the fire essence rushing to his fire element, where it began to settle.
Slowly, the burning sensation started to fade, and his skin returned to its normal color. The fiery energy still lingered, but now it felt more manageable. His body was absorbing the essence, refining it, and Klaus could sense his control over the fire element becoming stronger.
His body, though still hot, was no longer burning. The intense heat had reduced to a steady warmth, pulsing within him. The process was almost complete.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Klaus took a deep breath. The absorption was done. He had survived.
At the same time, messages flashed before Klaus's eyes.
[You have absorbed a large amount of Pure Fire Essence.]
[Your Fire Mastery has increased significantly.]
[Your Fire Resistance has increased significantly.]
"I didn't know the system could do that," Klaus muttered. The system interface that appeared after awakening had always been a mystery to everyone. Nobody fully understood it, and Klaus was even more clueless.
As someone who dropped out of school, Klaus had always seen the system as nothing more than a screen that displayed his status and kills. Seeing these new messages felt like a wake-up call.
He knew if he asked the senior about it, he'd just shrug it off, so instead, Klaus decided to ask a question that was more pressing at the moment.
"Senior, what are the stages of elemental mastery? You mentioned something about Elemental Laws too. Could you explain a bit more? At least give me something," Klaus asked, hoping not to walk away empty-handed.
"I can answer your first question, but as for the second... you know why I won't say much," the senior replied, making Klaus smile.
"Elemental Mastery progresses through the following stages: D, C, B, A, S, SS, SSS, SSS+, SSE, and SE. Each stage reflects how much control you've gained over the elements you have an affinity for. To advance, you need to cultivate by absorbing large amounts of elemental essence.
A good example is the Fire Tulip you just absorbed. But that's not all. Once you become a Saint and form a Star Core, you'll begin to sense the Laws associated with your elements. And though I won't go into detail, most people awaken the true form of their elements starting at the Saint stage."
"Like my fire element?" Klaus asked.
"Yes. Although you've awakened it, you still don't have access to its full form. So, for now, you're not even at the D stage," the senior clarified.
"How can I increase my mastery to reach that stage?" Klaus asked, intrigued.
"There are several ways. First, you can cultivate in extremely hot environments for fire elements, or in cold, freezing places for ice.
Another way is to practice manipulating your elements in as many ways as you can think of. This can trigger changes that might help raise your mastery. You can try molding different shapes and forms and see if you can trigger a change.
You can also fight others with similar elemental affinities. Battles can teach you new ways to control your element or reveal unknown strengths you didn't know you had. Realizing something like that can improve your mastery.
The easiest method is to kill more devils or high-level monsters and absorb their cores, as you've already started doing. I won't go deep into it now, but there are other treasures out there that can help you immensely.
As you grow stronger, you'll discover more methods," the senior concluded.
"Thank you. I guess I have to step up my game," Klaus said. He had awakened nine different types of fire elements, and although he didn't yet have mastery over even one, he had already seen significant improvement.
He could use fire for attacks while the flame dragon was also rampaging. So that alone gave him confidence that once he fully awakened all nine, his power would be formidable.
In addition to that, Klaus was also making plans to awaken the lightning element during his next tribulation. From what he had experienced in the Fire Region, unlocking the lightning element would make it easier for him to face the challenges of the tribulation.
First, Klaus intended to hunt some lightning-type monsters in preparation for his breakthrough. He was currently at Level 8, but with the number of cores given to him by Dave Arcadia, he knew he would soon bridge the remaining gap.
Having made up his mind about his next course of action, Klaus left the training room to relax for a while. He remembered Luna, the assassin who had tried to kill him in the Devil's Abode, would be arriving soon. He had given her a month, and that month was already up.
It was time for him to start making some bold moves; the Dark Order wouldn't kill themselves, so somebody had to.
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THE LAST PARAGON IN THE APOCALYPSEC255: Getting a Visit From Your Past Self
With Hanna still in seclusion, Klaus only has to spend time with his mom and Miriam. His mom didn't really need to go into seclusion. All she had to do was drink Mountain Dew, which Ohema made sure she had in abundance before becoming unreachable.
She occasionally absorbed monster cores to raise her cultivation base. Klaus didn't understand how his mother, who hadn't been able to level up for many years, had not only now leveled up but also broken through to the Ascended stage.
He couldn't wrap his mind around it. But he wasn't too concerned—his mom was finally leveling up, which would increase her lifespan, something Klaus dearly wanted for her.
They spent the day doing all sorts of things. Klaus knew that once he went into seclusion again, he wouldn't come out for a month, so he wanted to take care of a few things first.
As the sun was about to set, Klaus left to handle something outside, coming back later in the night. He had promised to meet up with Luna and her twin sister, so he went to leave a sign for them.
When he came back, dinner was ready. They ate, laughed, and joked about many things. When it was time for bed, Miriam tried to slip off to her room, but Klaus quickly pulled her into his room, and despite her strength, she didn't bother to resist.
Of course, Klaus didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable since this was their first night together, so after sharing a few kisses, they went to bed, cuddling together.
Klaus drifted off to sleep quickly, his face nestled between Miriam's breasts only covered in her nightwear —a dream he had longed for. He had finally managed to fulfill it.
A while later, Klaus felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. He tried to ignore it, but after a bit, he felt another tap. Slowly, he gave in and opened his eyes.
However, once his eyes were open, he couldn't find anyone around—just Miriam quietly sleeping beside him. He wiped his eyes and decided to go back to sleep. But after a little while, he felt the tap again.
This time, Klaus opened his eyes immediately and even sat up in bed. He wanted to curse whoever was doing it, but before he could speak, a voice interrupted.
"Tea?" Klaus turned to see a familiar figure—a Monk with violet hair, handsome features, and unusual eyes—sitting in the air to the right of the bed, holding a teacup.
Klaus stared in shock. "Fruity, what are you doing here? And more importantly, what am I doing here?" he asked, narrowing his gaze.
The fact that Miriam hadn't woken up despite the stranger's presence made Klaus suspect he wasn't in his room anymore. he was somewhere different.
"What I'm doing here isn't important. You should have some tea first," Fruity said.
"I'm not drinking anything. Tell me, what am I doing here?" Klaus asked again, his voice colder this time. Something felt off, and he didn't like it one bit. He could sense something terrible was about to happen.
"You tell me, why are you trying to forget your past?" Fruity asked.
"Who said I'm trying to forget my past?" Klaus responded, puzzled.
"Then why aren't you remembering the rest? You made sure you'd remember everything when you reincarnate, so why hold back?" Fruity asked again, twirling the tea in his cup.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Klaus said, clearly lost.
"Then why don't you want to drink the tea?" Fruity pressed.
"That has nothing to do with anything. I'm just not ready yet," Klaus replied, his tone growing slightly angry. He hadn't finished processing the first memory, so he wasn't keen on adding more.
He already knew that uncovering those memories was leading somewhere dark, and for once, he understood that once those memories came back, his life would never be the same.
"Well, Klaus, you don't have much time. Trust me, you need to remember, even if you're not ready," Fruity said.
"And what if I'm not ready to remember?" Klaus shot back. He knew that drinking the tea would bring back the memories of his past, and if he didn't drink it, he'd never remember.
Klaus expected Fruity to say something, but instead, he waved his hand, and the scene changed from the room to a new place that Klaus immediately recognized.
It was a large castle, built from the rarest jade and gold. Everything about it felt graceful and comforting. It had been his home in his past life as Haus—or Fruity, or the renegade monk.
"You remember when you were happy within these walls? How Mom made sure you had everything?" Fruity began.
"Stop," Klaus said, not liking where this was headed.
"How Haniva used to take you on walks through the gardens."
"I said stop," Klaus repeated, his tone rising.
"How you always had everything you ever wanted. How you'd cause trouble with the others and run to Mom for protection, love, and care."
"I said stop it!" Klaus snapped.
But Fruity didn't stop. He waved his hand, and the scene changed again. Klaus now saw himself as a 7-year-old, standing inside a formation, looking back at his mother. It was the moment she sacrificed herself for him.
"You want to forget, Klaus, but you can't. You need to remember. Even though it's painful, this is who you are, and it's what will shape you into who you're meant to be."
"You didn't lock these memories away to move on with a clean slate. You need them, Klaus. They are a part of you. The sooner you remember, the closer you'll get to understanding your true self and your purpose."
"The memories are inside you. All you have to do is reach out and unlock them. I know it's scary, but you made a promise to yourself. You have to fulfill that promise, or everything will be lost in the end. And trust me, you don't want that,"
The scene then shifted back to Klaus's room, with Miriam still sleeping beside him on the bed. Klaus knew he was dreaming, but instead of enjoying the dream, it became more like a nightmare to him.
Fruity set down the cup of tea and vanished, leaving one final sentence: "You need to remember, and do it fast, because you're running out of time."
Klaus stared at the cup of tea, his thoughts swirling. He knew what had to be done, but he also knew he wasn't ready—or rather, he didn't want to face what would come next.
Drinking the tea meant being pulled down another painful memory lane.
"Ha, I guess he's right... or more like I'm right. Damn, this past self thing is getting on my nerves," Klaus muttered as he took the cup of tea holding his memories.
"I must remember," he whispered to himself. Then, with a single gulp, he drank the tea and swallowed. He let out a sigh, waiting for his vision to darken. But after five minutes, nothing happened.
He looked inside the cup—it was empty. Puzzled, Klaus wondered if he had done something wrong. The last time, he felt dizzy and then blacked out when he drank the tea, so he was expecting something similar. However, no matter how long he waited, that dizziness never happened.
Suddenly, he felt a hand touch his chest. The moment it made contact, his vision darkened.
When he regained his sight, he found himself back in his room, drenched in sweat, with Miriam holding onto him.
"Klaus, are you alright?" Miriam's voice reached his ears.
He raised an eyebrow in response.
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THE LAST PARAGON IN THE APOCALYPSEC256: Pleasures with a Goddess (1) [18+]
Klaus woke up from the dream, dazed. He was supposed to be knee-deep in his past memories by now. The tea was supposed to send him into a comatose state where he would have to remember part of his past as Fruity.
However, that didn't happen. Instead, he woke up dripping in sweat. The process could take just an hour, a day, or even a week to recover years of memory; however, this time it didn't happen. He woke up just fine.
He turned and looked at Miriam, who was also looking back at him with a worried expression. The state he woke up in did indeed require attention. He was bathed in sweat, soaking the blanket.
"I am fine, Miriam," Klaus said with a reassuring smile.
"Were you having a nightmare?" Miriam asked.
"Something like that," Klaus replied with a small smile. He had encountered his past self in his dreams, which was a form of nightmare. A rather classic form of scaring yourself.
"You should probably take a bath," Miriam said, looking at him with a teasing smile. Klaus smiled and jumped down from the bed.
"Wanna join me?" he asked, grinning in a way that suggested he meant nothing good if she followed him into the bathroom.
"I'll pass on that," Miriam said, shaking her head. Klaus just smiled and entered the bathroom. She blushed slightly and started to change the bedspread and pillows.
A while later, Klaus walked back from the bathroom, looking calmer. Miriam had changed the bedspread and was now sitting on the bed, waiting for him. She had been very worried when she woke up to find Klaus sweating and twitching in his sleep.
So despite Klaus now wearing only a tight short since his nightwear was soaked in sweat, she didn't seem to notice the slight bulge printed in his pants.
He climbed onto the bed and lay down, placing his head on Miriam's lap. He directed his gaze to meet hers. "I am fine. It was just a dream. Nothing serious."
Miriam looked at him, her heart racing. She brushed a hand through his hair. The warmth of his body against her made her feel electric. She could feel a flutter in her stomach as she gazed into those golden eyes.
"Are you sure?" she asked softly. Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Klaus smiled at her, but she noticed something deeper in his eyes that caught her breath.
Miriam hesitated for a moment, then leaned closer. Their lips met softly, with Miriam making the first move. The kiss lingered for a few seconds before they broke away.
Klaus could see the pink on her cheeks.
Her face was now a little farther from his. He smiled slightly as he reached for her neck. He moved in slowly and planted another kiss on her lips. Miriam hesitated at first, but as the kiss deepened, she began to reciprocate.
Soon, their tongues started to entangle as the kiss entered a new stage. Klaus moved his body slightly and gently reached with both hands to hold Miriam's head in place.
At first, it was just some light kisses, but as the kiss deepened, Miriam became more active. Their tongues were locked in a fierce battle.
Miriam sucked on Klaus's tongue, and for someone who hadn't been intimate before, it was mesmerizing how she pulled it off.
"You seem hungry," Klaus said with a smile when they finally broke the kiss.
"Shut up and kiss me," Miriam said, blushing as she went in for another round. Of course, Klaus didn't hold back either; he went all in, and soon they were rolling on the bed, filling the room with the sounds of their kissing.
From the start, Klaus had been respectful, holding only her head in place, but as the kissing intensified, their hands began to wander. He was careful not to get too aggressive right away, holding himself back from going wild.
He would love nothing more than to grab those melons and squeeze them. He had been dreaming of a moment like this. Miriam's body was to die for, and now that they were heading in the direction Klaus had hoped for, he knew he had to tread carefully.
She was his, but she was also one sneaky little devil. Miriam had been unsure of her feelings for a while. Even after she and Klaus had taken the next step back in Arcadian City, she still wasn't sure if she could handle the deeper level of intimacy.
But now, here she was—tongue deep in Klaus's mouth—and loving every moment of it.
Klaus's hands wandered, brushing past her melons as they found their way to her butt. He gently squeezed, not too aggressively, but not too subtle either. Miriam's body tensed when she felt his hands on her backside.
However, she didn't pull away. Klaus took that as a sign and broke from the kiss, making his way to her neck, and planting soft kisses along the way. He was determined to leave his mark before making any other moves.
"Mmmh," Miriam let out a soft moan when his lips connected with her neck. Klaus continued kissing his way down, slowly exploring her neck and shoulders with his lips. His hands, after exploring her curves and backside, moved back up to her shoulders.
Miriam was wearing a gown-like nightwear, with delicate straps tied at her shoulders. His hand found the knot but didn't release it right away.
He kept kissing her while slowly untying the knots, knowing that once they were undone, he'd finally have the full view of the body he had been chasing for so long—the body of the Goddess of War, Miriam.
A few minutes later, the first knot came undone, but Miriam made no attempt to stop him. Klaus didn't hesitate, and soon after, the second knot fell off as well. The gown clung slightly to her body before slowly sliding off.
Klaus gently sped up the process without making it obvious. Eventually, the gown slipped off completely, revealing her melons, snugly tucked away in a small, thin tank top. Klaus pulled back for a moment to gaze at the magnificent sight calling for his attention.
"Really?" Miriam asked, despite her flustered look.
"Wait a moment, I'm just savoring this. You have no idea how long I've dreamed of this," Klaus said with a smile, reaching for her thin top.
"Oh, I know, you pervert," Miriam replied, blushing.
"Well, I figured it'd take more than just my charm to win over a Goddess, so forgive me for being a little bit of a pervert," Klaus said with a grin.
From the first moment his gaze landed on the War Goddess at the Felin Youth Ball, he knew he would be tapping that. One could say aside from courting death by going after powerful monsters, Klaus's daring nature is something that can get him killed at any moment.
Many people will be afraid to even look at someone that powerful in the eye, yet here he was undressing one on his bed. That is what most people call being OP.
"Just get it off already before I change my mind," Miriam said, avoiding his gaze. She didn't have the willpower to look him in the eye, and even less at herself.
The emotionless, ruthless, and bloodthirsty Goddess of War was now blushing, at the mercy of a Master Stage expert—someone she could easily kill at any moment. It was unbelievable, yet here she was.
"Yes, my Goddess," Klaus replied, still smiling as he removed the tank top, finally getting a full view of the heavy, upright melons he'd been dreaming of for so long. They stood firm, with pink nipples practically begging for his attention.
"Damn," Klaus muttered, swallowing hard at the sight in front of him. His hands moved and gently grabbed hold of the two melons.
"Mmmh" She moaned, a little louder now.
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THE LAST PARAGON IN THE APOCALYPSEC259: Finally Tamed
"Klaus, I can hear you inside my head," Miriam said in a loud voice, shock clear on her face.
"Awesome, right?" Klaus raised his head and pulled his dragon from her cave. Miriam quickly looked down and saw a small tattoo of a star just above her nether area.
"You don't seem bothered. Wait, how can you talk to someone telepathically?" Miriam asked. Unlike Lucy, who doesn't have much experience in cultivation, Miriam did, and she knew that at some point, maybe at the level of the Overlords, telepathic communication is possible.
There are even a few people with unique talents and Classes that allow telepathic communication, but they usually need to be very strong with a higher cultivation base to have the mental strength for it.
So, hearing Klaus's voice inside her mind was shocking, but not entirely surprising. Still, she needed to know what was happening.
"Why should I be bothered? It's a unique mark my women get after our first time. It's kind of a bond formed between us after our first sex, so there's nothing strange here," Klaus said with a smile. "Come on, try it. Tap into the link between us, and you can talk to me too," Klaus added.
"Wait, I can do that?" Miriam was taken aback.
"Yes, you're my woman now, Miriam. You and I are connected beyond anything you can imagine," Klaus replied with a smile.
Miriam didn't say anything, but from the look on her face, it was clear she was searching for the link. A few seconds later, Klaus heard her voice in his mind, making him smile.
'Can you hear me?' Miriam transmitted.
'Of course, my love,' Klaus replied.
"How is this possible?" Miriam asked, her curiosity clear on her face.
"Nothing to be alarmed about. It's just my way of marking my women," Klaus replied with a proud smile. He didn't really understand what was happening. Although he might be shameless, he wasn't shameless enough to discuss this with the senior.
First of all, he knew this had something to do with him being a Paragon. He came to this conclusion because of what happened when Lucy took the Stairway to Heaven test. So far, no one in the academy has been able to comprehend her stellar performance.
At first, they thought there was something wrong with the Stairway to Heaven. So they made her take the test a second time. But just like before, she practically walked up the stairs, which shocked many.
But that wasn't all. Lucy kept using herself as a test subject to update Klaus on what was happening to her. She had become much stronger compared to the average Saint, and surprisingly, her wood and ice elements had become several times more potent.
Her spiritual qi had also become very pure and powerful, much stronger than it used to be. She always updated Klaus on what was happening to her. The star mark was more than just for telepathic communication.
There was more to it. So Klaus went ahead and disclosed everything to Miriam. Of course, he left out the parts about him being a Paragon and having a different source of energy known as Star Qi.
"So you're telling me that just by having sex with you, I can now communicate with you telepathically from anywhere on the planet and will even start to get stronger as I train and level up?" Miriam asked, raising an eyebrow.
"There might be more to it, but so far, that's all I know, thanks to Lucy," Klaus answered, still smiling.
"This is ridiculous. There's nothing normal about you," Miriam said. Ever since she had met Klaus, everything about him seemed unbelievable.
Most people have sex to enjoy it, but with him, something as strange as telepathic communication came out of it. That's just asking for too much.
"Wait until I can teleport you to my side, or teleport to yours, anytime I want," Klaus said as he took hold of one of her breasts and began massaging her nipples.
"So, does this mean I can also talk to Sister Lucy?" Miriam asked, making Klaus raise an eyebrow.
"I don't know, but it can be arranged," Klaus said. "Give me a few moments." He tapped into his connection with Lucy, and in less than a second, her voice echoed in his mind, making him smile.
"Klaus, what's going on? It's already 3 a.m. where you are. Did something happen?" She sounded worried, hearing his voice inside her head at this time of night.
"Nothing bad, my love. I was just up, taking care of beauty," Klaus said, his usual perverted nature getting the better of him. He knew Lucy wouldn't be jealous. In fact, all the women around him were practically rooting for each other.
Lucy wanted her sister to be with him already. But she also wanted Lily, Ohema, Nia, Asha, and now Miriam, who had finally taken the step. Even Aoi, Lulu, the Spirit Master girl, and surprisingly, her beautiful but business-focused friend, Nadia Nucci.
They were rooting for each other in ways Klaus just couldn't understand. They should be fighting or competing against each other, but no, that's not what happened. Instead, when they met, they secretly talked about ways to get him into bed.
Talk about the shameless ones.
"You pervert!" As expected, Lucy's flustered voice entered his mind, making him smile. Miriam raised an eyebrow, frustration evident in her eyes. She couldn't help but feel Klaus was saying something shameless about her to Lucy—and she was right.
"I finally managed to tame the fiery goddess, my love. So I want to see if the two of you can communicate," Klaus transmitted to Lucy.
"I think we can," Lucy's voice suddenly entered his mind, making him raise an eyebrow.
"You can? How?" he asked.
"I've been exploring the link between us and the tattoo for a while, but I couldn't make out anything concrete. However, I don't have one answer, and you are the core here. Not surprising considering the tattoo came from you.
"I think you're like a source of energy that any woman you have sex with gets linked to. This means the more sex you have with these linked people, the more connected you become with them, and they with you.
"Just now, I sensed a new connection forming with you, which was strange. But I guess the link between us is more than we thought. It'll take some time to understand it, but with Sister Miriam now connected, if the two of us try, we can uncover more," Lucy explained.
"I knew it! Having an Erudite as my woman is indeed great," Klaus replied with his usual shameless remark.
"Annoying," Lucy said but with a smile on her face. She knew Klaus wouldn't have time to get into something as exploring the link formed between them through sex, so she excluded him.
If only she knew Klaus had already made up his mind to have the conversation with the senior the next morning.
"Tell Sister Miriam I'll talk to her later. You two should enjoy your morning," Lucy said, and Klaus could sense the embarrassment in her voice, imagining the look that might've appeared on her face.
'Me, shameless? These women are the shameless ones,' Klaus thought inwardly before turning to Miriam.
"Good news! You two can chat anytime, any day. We don't fully understand this new connection between us yet, so Lucy will contact you later. For now, she said we should continue enjoying ourselves to strengthen our bond," Klaus said before rolling Miriam over and making her sit on him.
"Pervert," Miriam said, noticing his mischievous smile. However, she didn't wait for courtesy. She reached behind him and took hold of his already awakened dragon, ready for action.
She stroked it for a few seconds before raising herself up. She then positioned her nether cave over it and slowly lowered her waist, taking him in gently.
Once she got accustomed to the position, she started riding him, filling the room with their moans. This continued until the first light of dawn crept in from the east.
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[A/N: We've come a long way, and I'd truly appreciate it if you could leave an honest review of the story. Thank you!]
[Note: Mass chapter releases this month!]
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THE LAST PARAGON IN THE APOCALYPSEC260: Paragon Mark
Klaus woke up a little after noon, having spent the entire night with the war goddess. They only stopped and fell asleep when the sun rose in the east. Though Klaus knew the star played a part in helping Miriam recover her stamina between sessions, he was still shocked at how intense things had gotten.
Who would have thought that the cold, unloving, and arrogant Miriam had such a wild side? But then again, you can't judge a book by its cover.
Klaus stretched his body and looked beside him. Miriam was still in a deep sleep, showing no signs of waking up soon. Smiling, he got up and took a bath. A few minutes later, he left the room to find something to eat.
As soon as he entered the living room, his eyes met his mother's. She was looking at him with a mischievous grin.
"Don't start, Mom," Klaus said quickly, knowing what she was about to say. But his mom just smiled and walked into the kitchen. A few seconds later, she returned with a large tray of food.
"You must be exhausted. Go ahead, eat, and regain your energy," she said with a smile, making Klaus feel a bit embarrassed. He knew she was teasing him, but the idea of his mother overhearing something like that was too embarrassing.
'I need to buy a new house with more rooms,' Klaus thought to himself as he dug into his food. His mother sat beside him, gently brushing his hair with her hand.
A while later, after eating everything, Klaus blurted out and fell into a chair, resting his head on his mom's lap. "Thanks for the food, Mom," he said.
"No need," she replied.
"By the way, has Hanna come out of seclusion yet?" Klaus asked, not wanting his mom to start teasing him again.
"No," she replied. "Before entering seclusion, she said she was close to mastering something, so she won't come out until she masters it," she added.
"That is good, then. I should get her a few skills," Klaus said. Since none of his friends could use the skills he got from his past self just yet, he could only buy a few skills for her.
Hanna was practically skillless. She didn't awaken any skills as Klaus did, so she could only use her lightning to fight, which was stressful, especially on her stamina.
"That will be great," his mom said.
"By the way, you've received a package from Oracle. Kofi and the guys placed it in your training room," she added. Klaus nodded. It seemed Joon and the others had sent the modeling table faster than he anticipated.
Feeling his mom's hand brushing through his hair and cheeks, Klaus didn't even realize when he fell asleep again. He might be a tiger on the battlefield, but in his mom's arms, he was just another innocent child who had no defenses around his mother.
"He is now a big boy," his mom smiled, looking at the handsome face sleeping on her lap.
A while later, Klaus woke up in the chair, but his mother wasn't there. After using his senses to do a quick scan, he located her sitting under a pavilion with Miriam. From the look on Miriam's face, he knew he wasn't welcome there, so he quickly made his way to his training room and sat down.
He then entered his soul sea to have a chat with the senior.
"Looks like you are taking your training more seriously now. Your soul and Mental strength have increased, and even your sword qi seems to have gotten stronger." Immediately after he appeared inside his soul sea, the senior's voice came from behind the first door.
Klaus raised an eyebrow. What training was he talking about? He hadn't trained for a while, so where was all this coming from? However, without even thinking about it, the answer entered his mind: Miriam.
"I knew it," Klaus said with a smile, clenching his fist.
"Knew what?" the senior asked.
"Uhm, Senior, I want to ask you a rather unusual question," Klaus said with a small guilty smile.
"Go ahead," the senior said.
"Well, have you ever heard of a link forming between two people after they have sex?" Klaus asked, feeling bashful. It was just too strange to ask someone he regarded as a senior this question.
"A little more context will suffice. Of course, links form between sex partners, so why ask?" the senior replied, making Klaus realize he had nothing to worry about.
"Well, when I had sex with my women, a strange star tattoo appeared under their bellies, which allowed me to communicate with them telepathically," Klaus said, feeling a little clearer-headed now.
"Is that all?" the senior strangely asked instead of responding directly.
"What do you mean, Senior?" Klaus replied, confused.
"I mean, apart from communicating with them telepathically, are there other effects?" the senior reiterated his question, making Klaus immediately realize he had come to the right place despite his hesitation.
"No, aside from the telepathy, they also seem to get stronger as they level up and train," Klaus answered.
"I see. It seems it hasn't fully awakened yet," the senior said with a sigh.
"Uhm, what hasn't awakened yet?" Klaus asked. The senior didn't reply immediately. It took a few minutes as if he were calculating his words, before he responded.
"The mark, brat, is called the Paragon Mark. It links you to people you are close with, and when I say close, I mean intimate with. This mark creates a two-way link between you and the marked people.
As for the use of this link, you have already discovered two of the many ways it can be utilized. Yes, there are many ways it can be used, but it will depend on you leveling up and breaking through realms. And no, they are not becoming paragons," the senior explained.
"So how do you explain the sudden increase in strength?" Klaus asked. He knew they could never become paragons, but a boy could only hope.
"That is because they are being affected by your Star Qi. You have a different source of energy, Klaus. So despite being the weakest in cultivation base, your energy is potent—more potent than theirs. They are being influenced by your Star Qi."
"Does this mean I will also be influenced by them in some way?" Klaus asked.
"Of course, you already have. Your ice element, though still small, has gotten stronger, which I suppose is a result of your nightly activities. And now, your soul strength has also become much stronger, which has affected your mind, so I guess this is due to another lady.
Also, your sword qi has become stronger. All of this is as a result of the link between you and these people." The senior didn't seem to care about Klaus's bedtime activities; he was much more concerned about Klaus's growth.
"Well, that is also good," Klaus said, more than happy to hear that. Now that he had become stronger just from having sex, wouldn't that mean that when he became even stronger, the women around him would also become monsters?
"You are a Paragon, Klaus. The rules don't apply to you, but of course, you will have to pay one way or another," the senior said. Klaus just smirked; the heavens could go screw themselves for all he cared.
"So, aside from telepathy and strengthening, what else can the Paragon Mark do?" Klaus asked.
"You will have to find that out yourself. The karma involved is not something you can carry right now. Just go and have fun, brat." His voice faded away.
Klaus stood inside his soul sea for a while until he decided to leave. However, just as he was about to exit his soul sea, something shot from the Pantaface Bead and entered his forehead. His vision immediately darkened, and then he faded away.
When he woke up, he felt a terrible headache moving through his head like thunder. He walked to the fridge and drank a glass of water to calm down.
After he felt some calm, he decided to check out his new upgrades. However, just as he was about to retrieve the Needles to test his soul and mental strength, he felt a new presence inside his mind.
"Fruity," Klaus muttered.
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THE LAST PARAGON IN THE APOCALYPSEC261: Meeting the Twins
Klaus took a moment to catch his breath before probing whatever was now in his mind.
"It's the memories," Klaus muttered, quickly realizing what had entered his mind. He focused on it for a while and then let out a sigh.
"I guess I can't run from it anymore," Klaus said softly.
What had entered his mind were memories or rather another part of them. He didn't dive into them immediately; he needed to clear his schedule first before going deeper into those memories.
He set those thoughts aside and decided to test his new upgrades, thanks to his connection with Miriam. From this bond, Klaus would benefit as much as she did.
It took Klaus four hours to fully review all the changes that had happened to him. First, his sword qi had become much more lethal. Although he hadn't advanced to the next stage yet—which the senior called the Adept stage—he could still feel the difference.
Klaus had seen how Miriam used her sword aura during her battle with the Zombie Emperor. She wielded it like he used his ice and fire elements. When he asked the senior about it, he learned that Miriam had already advanced past the Adept stage to the Enhanced Sword Aura/qi stage.
The reason she could use it so fluidly was because of her awakened light element. It shared many similarities with sword aura, allowing her to wield it more naturally.
Klaus knew that if he could reach that stage, his combat power would increase significantly. However, he first needed to master the small advancements he had made and hoped to reach the Adept stage soon.
The second thing he tested was his mental strength. Thanks to the ball projection system he had trained with in Arcadian City, now installed in his training room, he could see his improvements firsthand.
He increased his control from managing 130 needles to 150, and his control was fluid. It felt like his mind had opened up to a whole new world, giving him the mental clarity to pop all 2,700 balls within 30 seconds, at six times the speed.
Lulu had ordered a more advanced system for him. So, instead of 1,020 balls, he had 2,700, and he was able to pop all of them without hitting a single red or yellow ball.
This shocked him greatly. He then tried combining all the needles to form the Void Piercing Needle, and the result was astonishing.
It formed into a 45-inch long, thick, and pointy needle—about 3.7 feet, which was long enough to deal some heavy damage. Klaus grinned evilly as he envisioned what the Needle would be doing soon.
He also tested his soul-attacking skills and was pleased with the results. When everything was set, he left the training room to relax a little. He still had things to do, and one of those tasks came knocking just after sunset.
Klaus had left a marker for Luna to use to contact him when she and her sister were around. Right after 6, he received the signal.
He left the house, making sure he was perfectly disguised to avoid prying eyes. He even moved erratically to lose anyone who might be following him before heading to the meeting point.
It was somewhere in the slums, so the area wasn't well-lit. Klaus moved through the space and stopped behind an abandoned warehouse. It was one of the few places the homeless used to crash at, but even they avoided it now.
Because of the dangers in the slums, not even the homeless wanted to stay there.
"Trust me, you might get hurt if you try anything stupid," Klaus said, gazing at the lit Ross City in the distance.
It wasn't the first time he did that. Back when he was still in the slum, he would stand every evening and gaze at the beautiful city and then promise himself he would one day take his mom to live there.
He then gently turned his gaze toward a certain direction, specifically a shadow.
The shadow stayed still for a while before a figure in dark clothing appeared. She wore a mask and gripped a dark dagger.
"I told you he's different. Now, do you believe me?" Suddenly, another figure appeared from the shadows. She wasn't wearing a mask but was dressed in the same black attire as the first figure.
"I can see that," the masked figure said, removing her mask. The face that greeted Klaus was the same as Luna's.
"I am Nuna," she said, dropping her dagger into her shadow just like Luna had done when Klaus last met her in Arcadian City.
"I'm Klaus, but I have a feeling you know more about me than I do," Klaus said with a small smile. Despite being in the presence of two deadly assassins, he showed no sign of fear.
He wasn't afraid of either of them. Well, he knew he'd be in danger if they ganged up on him, but he was confident they wouldn't be able to kill him.
"Well, Klaus, my sister told me everything, but I want to hear it from you. Even though I want nothing more than to be free, I want to know your plans and how they will affect me and my sister," Nuna said. From her tone, Klaus could tell she was the elder sister, making her the one in charge of Luna.
"Basically, I want to use you two to get to your mother, who I was told is high-ranking in the Dark Order. I'm not asking you to work for me or even help capture her. All I want is for you to lead me to her, and I'll handle the rest.
In return, I'll break the seal your mother placed on you. Essentially, I want you to help me kill your mother. No hard feelings, I hope," Klaus said with a smile.
Nuna stood there for a few moments, scanning his expression, then tapped her foot on the floor. Klaus smiled. It was similar to how Luna had responded to his proposal back in Arcadian City.
"So, all we have to do is act as bait, and you won't want anything from us ever again?" Nuna asked.
"Yes," Klaus responded.
"When?" she asked.
"Well, I'm not strong enough to catch a Sovereign yet, so maybe in a few months. But don't worry, I'll break your seals, which will free you from your mom's influence," Klaus replied.
"What if she notices? And even if she doesn't, what makes you think we won't run away once the seal is broken?" Nuna asked again. Klaus could tell she was being meticulous or perhaps overprotective of her sister.
"You could run, but I doubt you will. You won't ever be at peace as long as your mother is alive. So, I'm sure you'll stick around. And as for whether your mother will notice if the seal is broken—she won't. You can continue to act like you used to.
I even have the perfect plan for that. Since she wants me dead, you can keep pretending to try to kill me. That should be enough to maintain appearances."
Nuna said nothing. She turned to look at her sister. After a few seconds of silent communication, she turned back to Klaus.
"We'll take the deal, Klaus Hanson. But know this: after the deal is over, you must promise that the others won't come after us."
Klaus smiled when he heard that. They were worried the Overlords would come after them, which was natural for people who had killed so many.
"You have nothing to worry about. As long as I'm alive, nobody will hurt you two." Nuna and Luna nodded.
"Then let's begin," Klaus muttered and started forming hand seals.
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THE LAST PARAGON IN THE APOCALYPSEC262: Breaking the Seal
Klaus continued forming hand seals, twisting his fingers into complex patterns. Luna and Nuna watched closely, fascinated by what he was doing.
The seals were something taught to him by the senior, who offered him many options to choose from. He even offered to teach Klaus how to place a slave mark on the twins, but for some reason, Klaus hated that idea, which surprised him.
The thought of turning someone into his slave didn't sit well with him, no matter how practical the idea was. So he chose to use an old-fashioned seal called trust.
Choosing to trust the twins seemed like a foolish idea, especially since they were assassins sent to kill him, but Klaus wanted to trust someone. They seemed like the logical choice.
If they turned out to be like their mother, he would rather kill them than make them his slaves.
After forming hundreds of seals, a purple runic diagram appeared on the ground, radiating a powerful aura.
"You two should step inside," Klaus said, and the twins moved inside the diagram.
"What I'm about to say might be hard, but can you lower the defenses around your soul and mind? And don't resist once the process begins," Klaus said.
Luna and Nuna exchanged glances for a few seconds before nodding. Klaus smiled and quickly formed another seal. Shortly after, two identical runic symbols appeared in the air. With a gesture, the runes moved and entered their foreheads.
As soon as the runes entered their foreheads, they both fell unconscious. Klaus sighed and changed the hand seal. From the diagram on the ground, chains with sharp tips emerged and pierced the twins' bodies as they lay passed out.
After a while, the diagram faded, and Klaus dropped to his knees, gasping for air. "I should have done it one by one," he muttered.
Once he regained his breath, he moved to sit on a broken wall, waiting for the twins to wake up. In their current state, if he wanted to kill them, even his weakened self could do it easily.
Luna was the first to wake up after an hour. Nuna followed a couple of seconds later. As soon as they woke up, they got into a battle stance, drawing their daggers. However, when their gaze landed on Klaus, who was sitting with his left fist supporting his chin, they calmed down a bit.
"Is it done?" Nuna asked.
"Yes. Go ahead, try thinking about something negative toward your mother," Klaus replied. The twins exchanged looks, and with heavy hearts and focused minds, ready to endure the pain, they both thought of the various ways they wanted to kill their mother.
They closed their eyes, bracing for the pain they usually felt whenever they thought of harming her. But after a minute, when no pain hit their brains, they opened their eyes.
They looked at each other for a few seconds before jumping into each other's arms, tears rolling down their cheeks. After decades of being suppressed by their own mother, they were finally free.
Klaus, sitting a few meters away, watched them with a smile. They had suffered for so long. But seeing their tears, his heart burned.
For a moment, he wished their vile mother was already in his hands. The pain and torture he planned to put her through... Klaus could only sigh and wait until the day he finally got hold of her.
After five minutes of shedding tears in each other's arms, they turned toward Klaus. "Thank you," Nuna said with a slight bow.
"No need, it was just business," Klaus replied, standing up and walking toward them.
"Just don't do anything stupid that will draw your mom's attention. For now, come up with an excuse that will keep you two away from her for the next four months or so. By then, I'll be ready to act.
You can take my offer and pretend to try to kill me whenever you think it's best. That will show her you're still on her side, under her control," Klaus added.
"Sorry Klaus, but I lied" Luna suddenly said, "I wasn't the only one sent to kill you. There are seven others," She added, her face down
Klaus just smiled, knowing he expected something like that. They didn't fully trust him, so despite his offer to remove their seals, they were still skeptical. It was only natural for them to hold back.
"I figured as much. But that's actually good. Since convincing your mother that two Great Sages like yourself failed to kill a mere Master Stage warrior won't work, why not create a situation where she'll believe you?" Klaus said.
"You want us to kill the seven others?" Nuna asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Atta girl. Think about it: if the seven others, who I assume are also Great Sages, start dying, you can tell her I'm being protected by someone powerful. That way, you'll need more time. If I were your mother, I'd believe that," Klaus explained, making the twins engage in yet another nonverbal stare-off.
After a few seconds, they nodded. "We will do it, but you should be careful too. The seven others are no weak assassins. One of them even has shape-shifting abilities," Luna warned.
"If you had to estimate, what are your chances of killing these assassins?" Klaus asked. It was always better to know thy enemy before striking.
"We have an 80 percent chance of killing three of them individually and a 70 percent chance of killing the last four. But if we join forces, it's a hundred percent guaranteed," Nuna replied confidently.
"Then there's nothing to worry about," Klaus said. With Miriam staying with him, no sane assassin would dare break into their home—shape-shifter or not. Miriam was meticulous with her senses and would detect any threat long before it arrived.
"But you should know, once these assassins start dying, they'll send more," Luna added.
"I know, but don't worry. It's only for a few months. After that, the Dark Order will come begging me to stop," Klaus said coldly.
For now, his target was the Dark Order. As for the people who hired them, he would deal with them later. They had picked the wrong target this time, and it would cost them dearly.
"Still, be careful out there," Luna said.
"I will. You two should also be careful. I wouldn't want to lose my guides who will lead me to a great massacre," Klaus said with a smile.
He handed his card to Nuna. "You can contact me through this number if you need anything. See you later." With that, Klaus disappeared into the night.
"He really did it," Nuna whispered, holding the golden card.
"Yes, and he didn't ask for anything huge in return. We're lucky this time, sister. We really are," Luna said, hugging her sister.
"Let's make sure none of those scum get to him. He's our benefactor now, and we have to protect him—even if he doesn't need it," Luna said, looking into her sister's eyes.
"Okay, sister," Nuna replied. With that settled, they melted into the shadows and disappeared. They were more than happy to be free from the curse placed on them by their mother.
For years, they had tried different ways to kill their mother, but after many failed attempts, they had given up and accepted their fate. Now they were free, all thanks to Klaus.
It was the best day of their lives, and for that, they had Klaus to thank. And what better way to thank him than by making sure no assassin so much as touched a hair on his head?
Klaus had just gained two deadly assassins as shadow guards, and for the next few months, he would be protected without having to worry much about a thing.
When he got home, Klaus took a bath and spent some quality time with his goddess before going to bed. The next day, he entered seclusion to access his past memories—something he couldn't put off for much longer.
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THE LAST PARAGON IN THE APOCALYPSEC263: Surrounded Everywhere
Fruity, who was knee-deep into his cultivation suddenly sensed the surroundings changing, which quickly snapped him out of his cultivation. He walked out of the immortal cave and saw a dome forming around the monastery.
He hurried out of the cave and moved toward the grand temple. When he arrived, he saw all the monks in the monastery gathered, staring at the sky as the dome continued to form.
When they saw Fruity, now a Saint, they smiled briefly before turning back to the phenomenon in the sky. Fruity quickly made his way inside the temple, where the Grandmaster and five Ancient Monks were seated, waiting for him.
"You are here," one of the Ancient Monks said. "How is your progress?" he added.
"I still couldn't open the third face, but I managed to master most of the skills from the first two faces. I've also unlocked a few more that I'm starting to master," Fruity replied.
"Good," the monks nodded.
"Grandmaster, they're coming for me, aren't they?" Fruity asked quickly.
He wasn't an idiot. He knew the weather was only changing because the bad guys were here. The only reason for them to come was that he had awakened the forbidden ice element—three out of the seven known forbidden ice elements.
He had about two years to prepare, thanks to the Ice Princess managing the onset of his awakening. Even the elders from Lightning Valley were killed before they could reveal any information.
But Fruity was a unique existence, even if he didn't know it yet. As such, he was never truly safe from danger. Though the Ice Princess made sure he had time to grow stronger, the danger was bound to find him sooner or later.
Fruity expected this, but seeing the battle-ready monks and realizing they might all die today, he couldn't bear it. They were his family, and he didn't want them dying for him.
"No need to worry, child. This day was bound to come sooner rather than later. We knew what we were signing up for when we took you in," the Grandmaster monk said with a smile.
At that moment, a voice boomed across the monastery, "This is the Tenth Elder of Lightning Valley. Hand over the Forbidden Ice wielder, and this monastery might see the light of tomorrow's sunrise."
Inside the temple, Fruity shuddered at the threat. He quickly made up his mind about what to do next.
"Hand me over, Grandmaster. I can't let any of you die," he said. While not the strongest, he could sense their surroundings and knew they stood no chance.
"Foolish child. Do you think we are cowards who would hand over a child to these monsters?" the Grandmaster responded.
"You are a monk of this monastery, and we will protect you with our lives. Besides, no matter what we do today, they will not spare this monastery."
"Do you remember what I told you about the Lightning Valley?" the Grandmaster asked.
Fruity nodded. He remembered being told to never even consider joining them. According to the instructions he was given, if he had to choose between death and peaceful life at Lightning Valley, he should choose death.
"They are the worst kind of cultivators. But even if they hadn't come today, this monastery wouldn't survive. We knew that. So we will fight and ensure your destiny is fulfilled."
"But we're no match for them. Fighting is pointless," Fruity said.
"That's true, but even though we've made peace with what will happen today, you're not done with what you're meant to do, who you're meant to become," one of the ancient monks replied. "Our deaths will not be in vain."
"But still..." Fruity, as naive as ever, couldn't accept what they were planning.
However, while he is skeptical, the monks are at peace. It was like they had been waiting for a day like this for a very long time, which in fact they had. A thousand years ago, they received a prophecy about this very day, so they knew what must be done.
"This is the Nameless Token. It requires 10,000 peaceful souls to activate," the grandmaster said, bringing out a white token. "Take this. Once it lights up, inject your energy into it, and it will send you away somewhere."
Fruity received the token but still didn't know whether their sacrifice was really necessary. To him, handing him over was the easiest thing to do.
But what he didn't know was that, even if he had been long gone from the monastery, the karma surrounding and following him would have ensured this day came. The monastery was doomed the moment they accepted him.
His presence wasn't needed for these people to eradicate the entire monastery, and everywhere he went, he would only bring death and destruction upon those around him.
"10,000 souls... that's about the life of every monk here," Fruity muttered, as tears started falling from his eyes.
"No need to cry, child. This day was bound to come. What we have to do now is fight and ensure we reduce the number of enemies you'll face in the future. This is also the will and wishes of our ancestors. You must at least respect that."
Fruity nodded, but he hated the idea to his core. However, a part of him knew this would happen, even if he ran now. He had thought of this moment every single day, but each day, he knew running wasn't the answer. Yet, accepting this wasn't something he could take lightly either.
"Good," the grandmaster said before standing up. The other five ancient monks also stood and prepared to leave.
Fruity wanted to follow them, but before he could move, a large golden cauldron fell on him, encasing him in place.
"You are not ready for this, child. Let your grandpas and uncles take care of it," the grandmaster monk said with a smile as a large chain of beads appeared around his neck. Then, he vanished from the room, leaving Fruity to his tears. Fruity began punching the cauldron, even though he knew his strength would do nothing.
He clenched the token tightly in his hands, knowing that today would be the last day he would ever see any of them. He hated it. He didn't want them dying for him; he wanted to fight for his life, yet he couldn't. He was trapped.
Fruity's pain and anguish were so overwhelming that when his eyes changed color to dark, he didn't even notice. Suddenly, an explosion rocked the monastery, and Fruity saw that the token had started to heat up.
He didn't know where he would be sent, but he knew one thing for sure—he wouldn't go down without a fight.
His body began to radiate destructive ice qi, his eyes dark as obsidian. He opened his palm, and dark gold ice began to exude from it.
He placed his palm against the cauldron, and the ice started to spread around it.
Outside the temple, the monks and intruders were locked in fierce combat. The battle quickly revealed its destructive nature. Hundreds began dying on both sides. Despite their peaceful nature, the monks fought fiercely, determined to take down as many enemies as they could.
Both in the sky and on the ground, the battle raged on violently.
"How naive, to think a little monastery could stop the Lightning Valley," a voice suddenly sneered. As the fierce battle continued, the space cracked, and from within, a massive hand—roughly 300 meters in length—descended on the monastery.
Some of the monks who weren't strong enough instantly coughed up blood and then dropped dead. The hand was headed toward the temple where Klaus was being held, forcing the monks to defend against it with everything they had.
If the hand landed on the temple, Fruity would be long dead. However, they underestimated its power. All forms of defense were mounted, but they were being destroyed.
The grandmaster and the ancient monks were also blocked by dozens of fighters, making it impossible for them to come to aid.
Nobody expected such an attack, especially one from such a powerful individual. The monks were being annihilated by the second as the hand kept descending.
However, just when it was only a few meters away from the temple, the grandmaster's voice filled the space. His voice suddenly entered every monk's head like a silent reminder.
"Life and death is but a passage; let your inner light guide you in your..." He wasn't finished when a cold, murderous voice cut him off, filling the space.
"Chaotic Ice: Dangerous Explosion"
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THE LAST PARAGON IN THE APOCALYPSEC264: Fruity's Dominance
BOOM!
The temple exploded, blasting the hand into nothingness and shaking the entire monastery. The explosion was so powerful that the ground and some buildings around were all reduced to rubble. However, not even a single monk was hurt.
When the dust and icy mist settled, From the ruins of the temple, Fruity stood up, looking coldly at the chaos around him. His eyes are now dark, with a hint of icy mist exuding from them.
"Devouring Ice: Demon Staff!"
A powerful ice pillar rose from the ground and when it was up in the air, it exploded. From the explosion, a 3-meter-tall staff hovered before Fruity. He grabbed it, and with his cold gaze, he muttered another spell.
"Annihilation Devouring Chaos Ice: World in Ruin!" At once, the whole monastery froze, stopping all fights. The intruders were instantly restricted, stripping them of their strength to even move.
Fruity looked toward the grandmaster monk and the Ancient monks and muttered,
"Thank you for your sacrifice Grandpa's, but fate and the heavens cannot dictate my life. I live and die on my own accord. So are the people I care about.
Take care of my uncles for me; one day we will meet again."
"Ice World: Open!" He jammed the staff into the ground again, and the space exploded. From the explosion, a door formed, and through the door, one can see a magnificent world made of crystal ice. Without saying anything, every monk vanished into the door, which closed when the last one entered.
Fruity, with his now pale face, looked at the people around him. They all stared back at him with shock, fear, and anger, however, no matter what, they couldn't move. It felt like their strength was being devoured whenever they tried to break free.
He took out the Nameless Token and smiled. "Peaceful souls, huh... well, I hate peace; I want problems always." With that, he jammed the staff into the ground.
"Devour!" In an instant, the thousands of warriors around him were reduced to nothingness. The white token in his hand suddenly turned black instead of white, exuding a powerful aura.
Fruity looked in a certain direction and muttered, "I will be back." With that, a dark portal opened and swallowed him, leaving the ruined monastery behind.
======
Far from the monastery, atop an ice-filled mountain, two beautiful ladies stood gazing back at it. On the face of the one with blue hair, tear marks that seemed to be frozen in place could be seen.
"Stop crying, Tasha. He is safe now," the silver-haired lady said, comforting Tasha, or as Fruity calls her, the Ice Princess.
"But sister, he has gone to that place. I am not sure he can survive there," Tasha said, worry etched on her face. She and her sister Aurelia had been present from the beginning of the battle, ready to swoop in when things didn't go as planned.
They knew that showing themselves would only bring doom to those around them; however, for some reason, they didn't want to see him dead. They had been secretly keeping an eye on him all those years he was in seclusion.
Even without the monks knowing, the two ladies had ensured the monastery stayed safe during the past two years while Fruity was in seclusion.
"I know, but he has made his choice. You know how he is; he never listens to anyone, especially arrangements made by anyone aside from her," Aurelia said.
"Plus, he said he would be back. We have to get ready for when he returns; after all, we don't have much time," she added.
"I know; it's just that this is too painful. First, his mother and family, and now his second family. He must be devastated right now," Tasha said.
"He was bound to remember someday, so it's best he knows now. As for what happens next, at least he sent them to the Ice World; we can always check on them and ensure they are in good hands," Aurelia said.
"Okay, sister, I will listen to you," Tasha replied before waving her hand. The two vanished, erasing their presence from that place for good.
***
A while later, space cracked at the ruined monastery, and seven people with powerful auras walked out. The moment they appeared, the space, although in ruins, shimmered, turning rubble into dust.
"How is this possible?" one of them said, looking at the destroyed place. They could sense the residue of the energies present on the battlefield. The people who died left their energies, so without anyone telling them what happened, they knew their entire fleet had been annihilated here.
"It's the Annihilation Ice," one of them said, picking up a small stone from the ground.
"So he is still alive. How disappointing," one of them remarked. "We should have sent the others. Now things have become complicated, and we don't even know where he has gone. I cannot sense his death qi at all," he added.
"Maybe he has gone to the Ice Palace," one of them suggested.
"I doubt that. That place wouldn't accept someone like him. He has awakened a forbidden Ice; nobody would accept him. Doing so would call calamity upon themselves."
"You both are wrong," suddenly, a figure with no presence at all walked toward them. He was a middle-aged man with handsome features.
"Who are you?" one of the seven individuals asked, their alertness rising. The fact that they couldn't sense this man's presence until he spoke was enough to tell them he was dangerous, and they had to be careful.
"No need for hostility, Elders. I am Newman, Second Prince of the Ice Empire. I sensed three forbidden Ice used here and came to investigate."
"What do you mean, three?" one of the elders asked, narrowing his eyes at Newman.
"The Annihilation Ice you sensed is one of them," Newman explained, his tone steady and calm.
"The other two are the Chaotic Frost/Ice and the Devouring Ice. Each of these forms of ice is forbidden for a reason; they bring about chaos and destruction."
The three elders exchanged looks as if trying to validate what the man had said. He stood there, smiling at them.
"Well, whatever, he is long gone now, so I guess all of us were late," one of the seven elders said, shaking his head.
"I beg to differ," Newman replied.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, two portals were opened here—one leading to the Ice World. From what I know, in the entire world, only two people could do that, and neither of them was present here. So it's safe to say the forbidden Ice wielder was able to open it, but he didn't enter."
"Then where is he?" the elder asked.
"Like I said, two portals. The second was a portal to the last place anyone would want to go: the Tormented World," Newman explained, and the elders frowned.
"The Tormented World?" the elder asked.
"Yes, a world of darkness, pain, and suffering. From what I know, only demons go there. So either he entered there mistakenly or he chose to go there. Either way, if you want to catch or kill him, you can go there," Newman said before vanishing.
The elders were left standing there with puzzled looks. They knew it was unlikely they would be able to get the Ice Princess or the Wood Queen to open the gate to the Ice World for them, so their best bet was to go to the demons.
But the question was, were they brave enough to go to such a place? After all, the Tormented World was said to house some of the most vile beings in the universe. After contemplating things for a while, they opened a space rift and left, leaving the ruined monastery behind for good.
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THE LAST PARAGON IN THE APOCALYPSEC265: The Tormented World
Somewhere, in a world that seemed to have lost some of its colors, a space rift opened in the air, and from within it, a figure emerged, falling to the ground. He landed atop a small mountain covered in a smoky haze, instantly slipping into an unconscious state.
The sound of his fall was enough to draw some attention. All around him, monsters of different sizes and shapes began making their way toward the mountain.
Suddenly, just as the first monster started to climb the mountain, a cold energy burst forth from the body of the unconscious figure, instantly freezing it in place.
The other monsters, upon seeing the first monster frozen, retreated, not daring to come closer to the mountain. The sight was too shocking, even for them.
A day went by, and no monsters approached the mountain. However, they stood a few kilometers away, watching the figure remain unconscious on the mountain.
For days, the figure remained atop the mountain, still unconscious. The monsters never left; they stayed there, watching as he slept until, half a year later, his eyes snapped open, accompanied by a terrifying wave of ice qi.
The 100-kilometer radius was instantly turned to ice, and everything within that radius was devoured. Fruity slowly stood and sat up, his face pale.
He immediately looked at his finger, and the space ring given to him by one of his uncle's monks was still there. He took out a bamboo jug and opened it, pouring every last drop of water down his throat.
"I need food," Fruity muttered quietly. His face was as pale as paper; however, his gaze was as cold as that of a demon in a frenzied state.
"Ice Empire, Lightning Valley, Druikard Empire, wait for me. One day, I will be sure to devour every last one of you," Fruity said coldly as he gazed into the sky housing two moons.
Back at the monastery, just as he was trying to break free from the cauldron the monks used to trap him for his own safety, something broke within him, and memories of his childhood and a small part of his past self poured into his mind.
He remembered everything, his childhood, his parents and Haniva, his babysitter and friend. He also remembered their death. But aside from that, he remembered a part of his past self memories.
It was true that he had managed to break free and used a forbidden technique to amplify himself, giving him the limited strength needed to save the monks and kill every last one of the intruders.
He remembered how his mother and Haniva sacrificed themselves so he could live. He also recalled a part of his past self, remembering that he had been many things, and one of them was a mage with mastery over both ice and lightning.
The techniques and spells used during the invasion of the monastery came from that memory. Now, sitting down, he felt angry, sad, and drained.
"Mom, Sister Hanvia, I will avenge you," he muttered quietly.
"Uncles, I hope we meet again. But first, I must apologize. The peaceful ways you taught me will not hold much longer. To do what is necessary, I will have to become something else. So I apologize in advance, but you all shouldn't worry.
As long as I am alive, the name of Mountain Forest Monastery will never die, in the Grand Xhanti Kingdom and the rest of the world."
He raised his body to a kneeling posture and bowed three times before sitting back up. His body was weak—very weak, in fact—so weak that if a monster were to appear now, he would struggle to fight it.
He had to recover first, but more importantly, Fruity, ever the glutton, felt his stomach calling; he had to find food.
"Why does it have to be the devouring ice? Now all the monsters are dead and devoured, and I only receive a fraction of the energy obtained."
With no energy to move forward, he began to cultivate, drawing energy from the air to recover. It was a very slow approach compared to simply absorbing monster cores and other treasures, but with the technique taught to him by the monks, he was able to start cultivating a little faster.
A week later, color returned to his face, indicating that he had somehow recovered. "30 percent recovered; that will do for now. I need to hunt for food," Fruity said as he stood up. From the ground, a staff appeared.
He examined it for a while before shaking it slightly. The staff exuded a cold ice qi. Fruity nodded and then started moving away from the mountain.
After crossing the ice dune he had subconsciously created, he came to a river. He quickly rushed toward it, and with a wave of the staff, the water moved, and chunks of ice began shooting out.
Inside these chunks were fishes. Fruity quickly set a fire, and before long, he was chewing on bones and meat. His stomach was something he had always prioritized.
After eating dozens of fish, Fruity belched, filled his bamboo jug with water, and finally sat down, feeling satisfied.
He remained seated, making sure his senses were on high alert. A moment later, he muttered, "Alright, past me, you said I should come to this godforsaken world instead of going to paradise. So, what do you have for me?" He smiled, shifting into a meditative posture.
The Nameless Token was supposed to send him to a world where things would have been easier. Instead, he found himself in the Tormented World, a place of only danger and suffering—something even the most insane person wouldn't willingly choose.
A while later, he opened his eyes and smirked. "I guess I must've been a maniac in my past life to have suggested something this crazy. But it's smart—I needed something like this," he muttered, then stood up.
"I need to awaken all seven forbidden ice elements. Thankfully, I've already awakened three, which means I only have to hunt down four of the seven demon monsters my past self wanted me to kill. Seriously, what kind of person was I to know all this and even have a map of this place?" Fruity shook his head.
"After awakening the remaining four ice elements, I'll have to take the Tormented Trial to unlock my bloodline. Then, I'll need to kill more demon monsters to strengthen my bloodline before becoming a Great Sage.
"Sounds easy enough… for a maniac, that is." Fruity didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
He might have received a technique that would help him utilize the three ice elements he had already awakened, but he was still too weak to use them for extended periods or unleash their true strength.
He needed to become a Great Sage before he could fully wield them. However, to achieve that, according to his past self, he had to embark on a slaughter, crossing many dangerous zones in the Tormented World.
Thankfully, his past self had left a map of this place, which would make things a little easier for him. But still, he had to kill four monsters that were several times stronger than him—and he had to do all of that before reaching the Great Sage stage.
"First task: I have to go to Illusion Mountain to retrieve an item but to get there, I need to pass through the Calamity Valley—a place filled with the most dangerous kinds of monsters. This is pure madness," Fruity muttered, looking in a certain direction.
"Whatever is in that place, it better be worth it," Fruity said. "Otherwise, as strange as it sounds, I'll hate my past self for the rest of my life," he added with a smirk.
With renewed focus, he started moving. He needed to be at his strongest, so his first goal was to hunt some monsters and absorb their cores now that he had eaten and was strong enough.
A week later, he was ready to begin his journey westward, where danger awaited.
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