The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

Max stood frozen, unable to process what had just happened. Even the war god overseeing the duel was left speechless. And it wasn't just him—people all over the world, glued to their TV screens, were stunned into silence.

First, Klaus had dodged a lethal attack with ease. Then, he had gone further, catching an even deadlier strike mid-air. But now, cleaving an arrow in half like it was nothing—like slicing through butter with a hot knife—was too much. It was overpowered, leaving everyone speechless.

[War Goddess POV]

Since the duel began, the war goddess of the Eastern Region of the Northern Union had been watching closely. She sat with Anna and Klaus's friends, their eyes glued to a massive screen showing the fight.

"He's going to win, right?" Anna asked, her fists clenched in nervous anticipation.

"Of course," Mark replied confidently. "It's Klaus. We've all seen how insane he can be." His mind drifted back to the first time they met Klaus, during the Zombie Tide in the Everlasting Zombie Forest.

Hundreds of warriors had fallen when the tide suddenly appeared. They fought hard, barely hanging on, and just as they were about to escape, a Zombie Captain blocked their path. Despair started to set in, but then Klaus appeared, cutting down the Zombie Captain like it was nothing. And he didn't stop there—he went on to kill even more, including a Zombie General.

Since then, Klaus had consistently done the impossible, pulling off feats no one his age or at his cultivation level should be able to do. Now, he stood in the arena, facing a powerful legacy—and if that wasn't enough, he even added insult to injury by offering his opponent a handicap.

Mark smirked. "He's not just going to win. He's going to make a statement."

"You sound confident," the war goddess said suddenly.

"I am," Mark replied. "Even though we haven't known Klaus for long, from what little we've seen, this opponent doesn't stand a chance. Take it from someone as skeptical as me—Klaus is not normal. He's different, and everyone will see that today."

"I suppose we'll find out," the war goddess said, turning back to the screen just as Max launched his first attack.

When Klaus dodged the attack, it was as if the war goddess's understanding of reality was shattered. She was powerful and knew exactly what it took to perform such a maneuver. It shouldn't have been possible for Klaus to do what he just did.

She was right—Klaus didn't possess divine sense yet, so he couldn't see through his eyes closed. He could only feel, and that wasn't enough for the feat he had just accomplished. Yet, somehow, Klaus evaded the attack.

Anna, Mark, and the others were equally baffled. They couldn't understand how Klaus managed that. Then came the second attack, and Klaus caught the arrow. At this point, they were left in shock.

But then Anna noticed something.

"The ice mist," she said, her eyes widening. "He's using the ice mist to sense his surroundings. But how is that possible?"

The war goddess narrowed her eyes, considering Anna's observation. "That's true, but how is he managing it? It shouldn't be possible."

"It must have something to do with that flower," Lily suggested. However, she was mistaken. Klaus did have a connection with the ice mist, but he was using the flower merely to spread it.

One of the benefits of having a 'Celestial Elemental Overlord talent is the ability to connect with elements at an atomic-molecular level. Klaus could sense the ice down to its finest detail. This means that the moment an arrow entered the ice mist, he could detect it.

The rest came down to his reaction speed. Klaus could have used the 'Absolute Ice Domain' ability of the lotus flower to either block the attacks completely or slow them down enough for him to dodge them. However, Klaus was also training his reaction speed, so even though it was a life-or-death duel, he chose to test his limits.

"What kind of talent allows someone to do that?" Daniel asked, astonished.

"Who knows?" The war goddess replied, her awe growing. "No one knew the extent of his talent or what he has awakened. But from this display, it's clear it has something to do with elements."

Mesmerized, she sat down with the others, her eyes fixed on Klaus as he effortlessly cut through the third attack.

[Inside Oracle]

Klaus turned around, a smirk on his lips as he looked at Max, who was now astonished and shocked. With Max having exhausted his three attacks without managing to kill Klaus, it was now Klaus's turn to strike. He had promised only one attack, and it was going to be decisive.

"Are you scared?" Klaus asked, his voice dripping with mockery.

"You should be. Never in your wildest dreams did you think you'd fail to kill me with that handicap? I gave you a chance, and you didn't take it. Now it's my turn to attack and trust me, you'll die from it. So stop despairing and open your eyes.

A Nobody is about to defeat you, and it will be quick. After today, you might want to start calling yourself a Foot Soldier instead of a Legacy. That title means nothing in the face of true strength.

You might not realize it now, but you've actually made me realize something today," Klaus said, tilting his head to the side.

"What's that?" Max managed to ask through gritted teeth.

"That Legacies ain't shit," Klaus said with a cold smile.

"Bastard!" Max shouted, pulling back on his bowstring. But before he could release his attack, the war god intervened.

"If you attack now, you'll be breaking the rules," the war god declared. "As such, you'll lose and be fined 100 billion to the winner."

Max froze, his gaze burning with fury. Klaus's insult had cut deep, not only challenging Max's status as a Legacy but undermining all Legacies everywhere.

"Remember these words well: All schemes are useless in the face of absolute strength. Now, prepare to die," Klaus said, his grip tightening around his sword with cold determination.

As he spoke, the mist that had been spreading across the arena finally reached Max. Klaus's smile widened, knowing his flower had done its job perfectly. With the mist now enveloping the entire arena, the flower's work was complete, and it began to disperse.

"I'm coming for you now," Klaus muttered, his voice barely audible.

In the blink of an eye, Klaus moved. His speed was like a whisper of wind—swift, silent, and without a trace of shockwave or tremor. Max's eyes narrowed as he sensed something shift. Before he could react, he felt a cold pressure at his neck.

He looked up to see Klaus standing just a step away; his back turned in a strangely graceful pose. Despite the intimidation, the white deadlocks cascading down Klaus's back gave him an oddly beautiful appearance.

Klaus turned to face him, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "This is how you die, Max Doofus. So long."

As Klaus's words echoed in his ears, Max's vision dimmed, and darkness took over. He awoke, disoriented, in a chair similar to the one Klaus was sleeping in.

'I died,' was the first thought that crossed his mind. He looked around, and indeed, he was back in the room he entered the oracle in.

A figure stood beside Max, silent and unmoving, watching the screen replaying the duel. Max turned his head, following the figure's gaze. His eyes widened as he saw it—the moment of his death replayed in slow motion.

"How is that possible?" Max muttered under his breath. He could see it clearly now. It was as if Klaus had vanished, only to reappear behind him in an instant. The entire sequence felt both mesmerizing and unreal, like a nightmare.

Klaus's sword had passed cleanly through his neck the moment he appeared beside him. The precision, the speed—it all seemed too perfect, too deadly. If this had been reality, Max knew he'd be lying dead on the ground right now. The thought alone sent a violent chill down his spine.

His body trembled uncontrollably, and he stumbled backward, his legs giving out beneath him. He collapsed onto the chair bed, staring at the screen in disbelief. The replay continued, each frame a reminder of his swift defeat, and with it came the bitter sting of helplessness.

Max's breath quickened, the icy realization sinking in—he had truly lost, and to Klaus of all people.

Max sat there, his mind reeling. The person he had once thought of as a nobody, someone he was planning to humiliate, had just completely crushed him. The shame wasn't just his own—his defeat was a humiliation to all legacies. He had lost, and the weight of that embarrassment was suffocating.

He felt an overwhelming urge to disappear, to bury himself somewhere no one could find him. But there was no escaping reality. Just as the despair was sinking in, the war god overseeing the duel appeared on the screen.

"Well, ladies and gentlemen, I hope you enjoyed the show. Now, the winner will say a few words."

Klaus's face filled the screen. A playful smile spread across his face as he spoke. "Hehe, this was fun. To everyone who doubted me, I'm sorry to say this young master isn't losing to any legacy—in this life or the next. So, next time you hear my name, remember these words: never bet against me."

Klaus's grin grew wider as he continued. "And to my dear friend Max, like I said before, you're a decent archer. So, instead of wallowing in despair, use this as a wake-up call. Being a legacy doesn't make you supreme. There are others out there far better than you."

He paused for a moment, then added, "And to Oracle, thank you for making this battle happen. This place is incredible, and I hope it becomes a training ground for young warriors to grow without the fear of dying."

Klaus gave a casual wave. "That's all for now. I've got to go face some scolding from my mom. Bye."

The screen cut off, leaving Max staring at his own reflection in the darkened monitor, the sting of Klaus's words and his humiliating loss settling deeper into his core.