The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

All over the world, people are glued to their screens, eager to witness the duel between a legacy and the youngest warrior ever to rank on the City, Regional, and Union warrior charts. Max Duncan’s challenge was unexpected, shaking up the status quo.

Legacies are known for their arrogance, and they have every right to be. Their power and strength often justify their confidence. So, no one anticipated a legacy would lower themselves to challenge a rising warrior.

Yet, when Klaus not only accepted the challenge but also gave Max a handicap, it left many in disbelief. Some were thrilled by Klaus’s bold move and disrespect towards Max. Secretly, they were rooting for Klaus to win the duel.

When Klaus appeared on their screens, his fans erupted in cheers while his haters scowled. But who cares? Klaus is their idol, and they’re tuning in to support him in humiliating a legacy.

—

“Klaus, are you ready to die?” Max shouted.

“Excuse me, did you just say you’re afraid to die?” Klaus asked with a smirk, clearly teasing Max, who was trying hard to look intimidating.

Max’s face turned a deep shade of purple with rage.

“Careful there,” Klaus continued with a grin, “you might turn completely purple if you don’t control your anger. I could handle a white Max Doofus, but a purple one? I’m not sure if I’m ready for that.”

Max gritted his teeth in anger. It was clear he was struggling to control his emotions, making Klaus’s taunting all the more enjoyable making him win this verbal duel before the real battle even began.

“Your mouth might be running now,” Max said, trying to steady himself, “but I hope you can keep being arrogant after this is over.”

“I’ll be just fine either way,” Klaus replied with a smile, “but don’t worry, I won’t give you that satisfaction. As for you, after today, don’t let this defeat define you. When you’re feeling down after the duel, just remember that the only reason I was able to beat you is that I’m better than you—and I will always be better than you.”

Max’s eyes narrowed, his anger barely contained. He took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. “We’ll see about that. I’m going to make you regret those words.”

Klaus chuckled, his confidence unwavering. “Regret? I doubt it. But I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ve got, Little Devil Archer.”

Max could feel Klaus was just playing with his mind, but the anger inside him was unstoppable. The fact that a so-called nobody dared to disrespect a bona fide legacy like him only fueled his desire to make Klaus pay.

“Everyone, welcome to the duel between the infamous Devil Archer and Klaus!” A new figure appeared in the arena, drawing everyone’s attention. Klaus turned his gaze to see a man in his late 40s standing atop a pillar kilometers away from them.

“Today’s battle is going to be quite unique,” the man announced. “The challenger, Max, will have three chances to shoot at Klaus. According to the stakes, Klaus will be disqualified from the regional selection of Celestial Mountain Academy if Max manages to kill Klaus with any of these shots.

However, if Max fails to kill Klaus with his three shots, he will still have one chance to defend against a single attack from Klaus. If he succeeds in defending, he wins. So, as I said, this duel is definitely one of a kind.”

“Of course,” the man continued, “the higher-ups reviewed this duel and decided to level the playing field. Since there’s no reward for Klaus’s wins, they’ve added a special incentive. Klaus will receive a Blank Pass to all Forbidden Zones if he wins. This means he can enter any Forbidden Zone without joining a team or buying a pass.

Additionally, he’ll have the power to reserve a Forbidden Zone for a set duration, keeping everyone else out. He can also grant special privileges to ten people, allowing them unrestricted access to these Zones.

Finally, with the Blank Pass, Klaus will gain category three access to military information.”

At this announcement, the crowd watching held their breath, the stakes of the duel now clearer and more exciting than ever.

Getting an entire Forbidden Zone to yourself is a prize anyone would envy. Forbidden Zones are famous for their dangers and the rare treasures they contain, like precious herbs and minerals. People are always eager to take risks in hopes of finding something valuable.

However, because so many people enter these zones, the chances of finding something worthwhile are slim. But if you have a whole Forbidden Zone to yourself, it means you can access everything inside without any competition. It’s a golden opportunity to gather all the treasures and resources without having to fight others for them.

“Now, before we start, the contestants will say a few words. And by the way, my name is Desmond King, War God of the Western Region.” Desmond King then turned to Max.

“I don’t have much to say,” Max began arrogantly. “But to those watching who think they can disrespect a legacy so easily, let this be a turning point. Today, I’ll show you the difference between a legacy and a nobody.”

Next was Klaus. He smiled, his expression confident. “To everyone watching, whether you’re a Legacy or not, make sure to pay attention. Today, I’ll demonstrate that Legacies are just wealthy nobodies. The real difference is that they have money.

But today, a Slum dropout will wipe the smugness off their faces and bring them back to reality.” Klaus’s smile remained, but the coldness in his eyes spoke volumes.

He wasn’t just challenging Max—he was challenging all Legacies, showing that he didn’t care whether they held the title or not.

All over the world, people were either cheering or fuming. Klaus’s words had struck a nerve with the wealthy heirs who saw themselves as superior. By insulting their status, Klaus had challenged their arrogance, and there was nothing they could do to stop it.

Max had insulted the nobodies, and Klaus, being a nobody himself, was defending his honor. But the way Klaus disrespected the wealthy heirs stirred their anger. Yet, Klaus was the nobody who had given a handicap to a legacy, showcasing a different level of arrogance—true arrogance.

“Then, with everything said and done, the duel starts NOW,” the War God announced, and Klaus and Max locked eyes, both cold and unyielding.

“Klaus, prepare to die,” Max said, summoning his bow. However, due to the restrictions in the Oracle, only a replica of his real bow appeared in his hands.

In response, Klaus conjured a small lotus flower, which floated gently in his hand. He looked back at Max with a smirk. “Since I promised to close my eyes, I’ll stick to that. But let’s make this more interesting.

For your first shot, I’ll simply evade. Don’t worry; I’ll keep my eyes closed, and my back turned to you.

For the second shot, I’ll catch the arrow with my bare hands. Again, my back will be turned, so you don’t need to worry.

As for the last one, I’ll use my sword to cut it clean in half. And don’t worry, my back will remain facing you.

So, little brother, give me your best shot,” Klaus said, turning his back to Max. The ice lotus floated above his head, and a thin layer of icy mist began spreading across the battlefield.

“Arrogant, he is too arrogant,” that was the prevailing sentiment around the world as everyone watched Klaus’s daring display.

Around the world, many people started to comment on Klaus’s display.

“Klaus might be overestimating his abilities. Turning his back to Max seems like a huge risk.”

“The bravado is impressive, but I hope Klaus has the skill to back it up. ”

“Wow, Klaus is not just confident; he’s downright charming. I wouldn’t mind being his sword dummy.”

“Klaus’s bravado is seriously attractive. If he wins this duel, he’s definitely on my radar.”

“How dare he disrespect Max like that! Klaus is crossing the line. Max is a legacy, and he deserves respect.”

“Klaus is a nobody trying to act all high and mighty. He’s in over his head and will get what’s coming to him.”

Comments and reactions from various perspectives continued to flood both verbally and online. Meanwhile, the focal point of this dramatic scene stood calmly with his eyes closed, his back facing his furious opponent.

“Die!” Max roared.

“See True Dark Eyes!” Max shouted as a long, dark arrow with eerie markings materialized in his bow. He drew the bowstring and aimed directly at the back of Klaus’s head.

Max’s eyes narrowed, darkness flashing within them. His ability, See True Dark Eyes, allowed him to see all possible reactions and outcomes Klaus might make. This enabled him to select the perfect spot to shoot.

Once he locked onto his target, nothing could escape it. Confident in his accuracy, Max believed Klaus was as good as dead. His dark eyes had analyzed every minute detail, leaving no room for error.

“Let this be your first lesson; never disrespect those above you,” Max said coldly.

“Dark Eye-Piercing Arrow,” he muttered, releasing the arrow. The space around it seemed to warp as it sped toward Klaus.

Everyone held their breath as the arrow flew through the air. Klaus remained motionless. Then, almost imperceptibly, he tilted his head slightly to the left. The dark arrow, aimed precisely at the center of his head, brushed past his ear and whizzed by him.

Stunned, the crowd’s eyes widened in disbelief, their voices silenced. Even the War God watching from afar narrowed his gaze in surprise.

“How?” Max demanded, bewildered.

“You missed,” Klaus replied with a smirk, his eyes still closed and his back turned.