The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

[Brat, you do know you can’t use your Spirit Master abilities or any soul-type abilities, right?] the senior said.

“I know, Senior. I won’t use any,” Klaus replied.

All around him, everyone was silent. In fact, the instructors present were also speechless after hearing Klaus’s challenge.

They had just heard him declare a challenge against five of the most powerful factions in the inner section of the academy. Klaus had challenged them all to a 1-vs-3 battle.

“Are you insane, Klaus?” Lucy said, walking to his side. “Challenging the five top factions to a duel is the last thing you want. Let me tell you, there are powerful individuals here that even I wouldn’t challenge them.”

Lucy was visibly panicking. She may be a powerful Sage, but even there are Sages in the inner section of the academy she wouldn’t dare challenge.

Klaus just challenged them all.

Lucy looked at Klaus like he was some reckless child who didn’t know what he wanted, choosing instead to make himself everyone’s enemy.

Klaus is indeed a monster—they all knew that.

But the disciples in the academy were some of the most terrifying warriors on Earth. In fact, if Earth ever faced a threat, these disciples would be the ones facing the tide head-on.

So, should a mere Grandmaster-stage warrior challenge them to a duel? That was just asking for it.

“Klaus, it would be best if you withdrew your challenge,” Lucy added.

“Yeah, listen to your bitch and withdraw your challenge. You’ll just be disgracing yourself,” Kate Duncan sneered, eyeing Lucy jealously.

Lucy looked back at Kate for a few seconds and then turn to Klaus.

“On second thought, you can beat the crap out of them.” Just like that, Lucy backed away with a smile. Klaus smiled back, stunning everyone.

They had all just heard her complain, only for her to make a complete 180 with a grin. Nobody, including Nia, Asha, Lulu, and Aoi, could understand what had just happened.

This made them jealous. They could tell something was happening between Lucy and Klaus, but they just didn’t know what it was.

Meanwhile, Lucy looked back at Klaus.

‘If you win all 15 battles, I’ll spend two days straight with you doing only one thing.’ Her cheeks turned red.

‘Oh my, then I better kick some ass,’ Klaus thought, smiling as he turned back to face the five factions.

“Losers, as you all heard, I challenge all five factions to a 1-vs-3 battle. Now, before you think this is me being stupid, know that, in my eyes, you’re all just small fries,” Klaus said, chuckling as he eyed the angry faces before him.

“The academy promised to make you the most powerful on Earth, but have you ever stopped to consider what that really means? You’re all here thinking you’re at the apex of the pyramid.

“Well, think again because, in my eyes, you losers are just plain greenhouse losers. You’ll never amount to anything until you drop your egos and choose to embrace the heart of a warrior. To me, you’re nothing.”

He smirked, pausing just long enough for his words to sink in.

“Now, I know this may anger some of you—if not all of you—but remember these words and seal them forever: you’re all losers.” Klaus burst into resounding laughter.

“Now, can we fight?” His expression shifted from mocking to deadly serious as he stepped into the arena. An icy aura surrounded him as his classic ice throne materialized behind him.

Sitting down, he casually began eating Red Poison Peas.

“Go ahead, take your time, and select your best. I’ve got all day.”

The faces of the faction leaders turned green with rage.

For reasons they couldn’t comprehend, none of them could summon the will to counter him whenever Klaus spoke. It was as if his words carried a binding authority that stifled their voices.

All they could do was seethe in silence.

“Brother, let me go first and shut this bastard up,” Kate said, her eyes burning with hatred as she glared at Klaus. She was beyond furious.

Every word Klaus had said hit her like a bullseye, cutting deep. Yet, she could only blame herself for being spiteful and hated for no reason.

“Relax, Kate,” Hunter said, holding her back. “We need to think this through. That bastard may be insufferable, but he’s strong. We can’t underestimate him.”

The five faction leaders huddled for a quick discussion, debating who would represent them in the battle.

Naturally, they selected Sovereigns and a few Great Sages as their champions. Both Hunter and Kate were included as representatives for their respective factions.

Lucy, on the other hand, should have been a Great Sage by now, but her mentor and sister, Miriam, had deliberately slowed her progression. Miriam insisted on Lucy maintaining a firm foundation before breaking through to the Great Sage stage.

As a result, Lucy was currently at the peak of the Sage stage. Once she finished mastering the techniques Klaus had given her, she would break through, becoming an even more powerful Great Sage.

Klaus patiently waited, glancing at the former members of his faction standing silently on one side, completely ignored.

He chuckled, knowing they all regretted their decisions by now. Soon, they would come begging, only for Klaus to deliver his iconic line:

“I hate traitors.”

After twenty minutes, the five factions finally selected their members. Each team boasted Sovereigns, with only Hunter and Kate being Great Sages. My Virtual Library Empire

Klaus surveyed the lineup and chuckled.

“I don’t know about you losers, but I don’t have all day. It’d be best if you sent your members forward quickly so I can send them on their way,” Klaus said.

“You can keep being arrogant. When I’m done with you, not even your bitch mother will recognize you,” Hunter snarled, pointing his spear at Klaus.

“I’ve changed my mind. You all will suffer,” Klaus declared, standing as he retrieved his sword.

“We’ll see who suffers. Clark, teach this bastard a lesson,” Jason Bond, leader of the Earth Shadow Guild faction, sneered.

“Tsk,” Clark, a Sovereign, stepped forward. “Brat, you’d do well to remember my name. I’m Clark, the one who’s going to teach you a lesson.”

“Quit yapping and prepare to suffer,” Klaus said disdainfully, turning to the instructor, who immediately understood what needed to be done.

“Begin.”

The moment the word was spoken, Klaus vanished, and an illusion enveloped the Arena.

The next second, a bloodcurdling scream tore through the air, sending chills down everyone’s spine. The horrifying sound echoed, forcing the crowd to step back instinctively.

The screams continued, each more harrowing than the last, while trails of blood painted the arena.

No one could comprehend what was happening. Flashes darted across the space, too fast to follow. They couldn’t discern who, what, or how it was happening.

But one thing was certain: Clark was the one screaming, and his agony was beyond physical—it tore into his very soul. Even the instructors turned pale at the sound.

Four minutes later, Clark’s final scream faded into silence, and the arena fell still.

A moment later, Klaus stood in the centre, his bloody sword in hand, his right foot planted on Clark’s unconscious, battered head.

Gasps rippled through the crowd, their horror reflected in their wide eyes as they took in the chilling scene.

“Ladies and gentlemen, why don’t I reintroduce myself again?” Klaus began, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

“I am Klaus Hanson—a Grandmaster stage warrior, a swordsman, a spearman, basically, a weapons expert, an illusionist, a Silent Mage, a poison expert, and, as you can see, a master of an art the heavens frown upon.”

He let the words hang in the air before adding with a sinister grin, “I am also an expert in the art of torture. You all are screwed.”

Sinister laughter escaped his lips, freezing the blood of everyone present, including his lovers.

“Once again, my name is Klaus. Klaus Hanson. Your worst nightmares.”