The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

Klaus decided to put aside what Hanna said, but he knew for a fact that the youngster wouldn’t live to celebrate his next birthday. He didn’t know exactly why Hanna would say she wanted to kill him, but despite her calm expression, he knew she was very angry inside.

As the gate to the large majestic building opened, they set their conversation aside and headed in. Along the way, Klaus noticed three pairs of eyes watching him from a particular direction. Of course, he immediately knew who those eyes belonged to, so he turned and waved in their direction.

This gesture almost made the three legacies bleed from all their openings. Klaus just smirked and entered the building with his friends.

Since they hadn’t done anything suspicious after the humiliation he put them through yesterday, he knew they’d been tamed for a while, but that didn’t mean they had given up on coming after him.

In the end, the only thing that could put an end to this was for Klaus to kill them—something he fully intended to do.

A while later, every last one of the 5,000 souls taking the trial was in the building. They all looked eager to be among the 2,000 who would make it to the Academy. However, they also knew that the 3,000 who would be washing out could include them.

“Welcome, everyone, to the Union Trials.” While they were all doing their best to stay calm, a voice suddenly spoke, accompanied by a holographic projection of a lady.

Everyone quieted down as she spoke.

“You’ve all come a long way, showing everyone that you are among the top geniuses of your generation. Be proud.

“However, today, you should remember why you are here. Today is the day you battle to see whether you will be among the 2,000 advancing from this union to the Academy.”

Hearing her words, everyone exchanged looks filled with mixed emotions. Some knew they would be losing friends after the trial, as staying in touch once they entered the Academy would be difficult.

Many also knew that if they did well, they would be able to stay together with their friends and loved ones in the Academy—or at least for the first six months there.

“Now, without wasting much time, I will explain the structure of today’s trial,” the lady said, making everyone focus intently on her words.

“The trial is called the Dark Tower, and it has 66 levels, each housing different types of monsters with varying strengths. Every level will have a distinct breed of monsters or zombies, requiring you to apply your knowledge of monsters to defeat them.

“The trial is divided into five stages, each containing multiple levels. These stages will determine the Tier level of monsters you’ll be fighting. With each level you ascend, the number of monsters you must face will also increase.

“Now that the overview is complete, let me explain the levels and other details. First, from level 1 to level 20, the monsters will be Tier 4. This range is designed to help you get acquainted with the trial and see how you perform under pressure.

“From level 21 to level 40, the monsters will be in Tier 5. While many of you can handle this realm due to it being a virtual world and not the real one, you should know that the monsters are at least 98 percent similar to their real-world counterparts.”

“So it would be in your best interest to treat these levels with absolute care and not get reckless.

“From level 41 to 56, the monsters will be Tier 6. This is the stage you all should aim to reach, as fighting three tiers above you at your current stage isn’t something you can easily handle. It will be a grueling trial for sure, but I believe you will all do your best.

“From levels 57 to 65, the monsters will be Tier 7. I know many of you have already started frowning at this, but understand that aiming for higher levels comes with extra rewards, which I will explain later. So straighten up and listen.

“Those who manage to clear even a single level at this stage will surely smile after coming out of the trial.

“Now, for level 66, there will be a single Tier 8 monster. If you manage to reach this stage, be sure to exchange a few blows with it. After all, death in Oracle is not permanent. So aim higher and don’t be afraid, because there is a huge reward for everyone afterward.

“Now, let’s go over the rules and rewards.”

Everyone smiled upon hearing her words, although they knew that this trial would be grueling. Nevertheless, they all wanted to know the rules and their rewards.

“First rule: every level is designed to run for a specific amount of time, which you will find out when you enter the trial. You must kill the monsters before the time runs out, or else you will be kicked out.

“Second rule: after every level, you will have 5 minutes of rest before proceeding to the next level. Of course, you can choose to move forward without resting, in which case the 5 minutes you didn’t take will be added to your rest period in the next level.

“Additionally, if you manage to clear a level before the designated time, the remaining time will be added to your rest period. So, it’s advisable to use your time wisely; you will need it.

“Now, on to the rewards. First, all of you will receive a vial of Earth-grade Mountain Dew and 5 Tier 6 monster cores. This is a reward for everyone, regardless of your ranking.

“Second, after passing the first stage, you will receive an additional Mountain Dew and 3 cores that have an affinity for your elements. Additionally, you will gain 100 Celestial points, which you will learn how to use when you get to the Academy.

“Third, those who pass the second stage will receive another vial of Earth-grade Mountain Dew and 5 Tier 6 monster cores, along with 500 Celestial points.

“Stage three will grant you two vials of Earth-grade Mountain Dew and 10 Tier 6 monster cores, plus 1,000 Celestial points.”

“Then for Stage Four, you will receive 4 vials of Earth-grade Mountain Dew, 10 Tier 6 monster cores, and 2 Tier 7 monster cores. You will also get an additional 2,000 Celestial points.

“However, for those who make it to Level 66, which is the last stage, you will receive 10 vials of Earth-grade Mountain Dew, 20 Tier 6 monster cores, and 4 Devil cores. In addition, you will receive a whopping 10,000 Celestial points, and on top of that, you will also receive a vial of Gold-grade Mountain Dew.”

The moment everyone heard what she said, they all clenched their fists, Klaus’s friends included. Klaus, on the other hand, wore a small smile on his face. He had already received a Gold-grade Mountain Dew thanks to winning the Trial during the Genius Gathering.

He also received quite a few from Dharma, the Pink Eye Overlord, and other things he planned to use right after the Union Trial. Although he hadn’t used them before, he knew they were bound to have some effect, so he was waiting until after the trial.

Right now, what piqued Klaus’s interest was the Celestial points. He knew nothing about them, which made it all the more reason for him to earn as many as possible now and find out more later.

“Alright, enter your console; the trial will commence in a few minutes,” the announcer said, prompting everyone to start moving toward the open doors.

“Good luck, guys,” Klaus said to his friends before walking through a door. The next second, he was in the game chair, and soon he appeared in Oracle, standing in front of a dark tower that loomed many meters tall.