The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

After the one-sided humiliation of the Fire Dragon Sect, Celestial Wind Pavilion, Sky Phoenix Sanctuary, Thunder Blaze Sect, and the Earth Shadow Factions, Klaus led his faction members back to their designated meeting space.

The space, originally designed to accommodate thousands, now felt vast and empty, with their numbers reduced to just 200.

But none of them cared. In the past, the faction’s overwhelming size meant that some members couldn’t even attend meetings. Now, they had enough room to spare for thousands more.

“I know you’re all wondering what’s next. I promise to tell you, but before that, everyone should gather around and register their names, classes, Tracker ID and elemental affinities,” Klaus said, retrieving a glass tablet from his space ring.

It was the registry tablet for the Yin-Yang Palace Faction. Before today, Klaus had erased all the names from it in preparation for this very moment.

He had anticipated that the wolves would bear their fangs sooner or later, forcing the traitorous rats to reveal themselves.

‘I expected more than this number, but I guess I can make do with this. It will make things much easier,’ Klaus thought to himself.

Klaus already had inside information about the challenges awaiting them. With this in mind, he resolved to create an elite unit that would dominate the battlefield with style and precision.

The senior once told him that he couldn’t do everything alone, so Klaus began to assemble a team of individuals he could march into battle with.

Naturally, he wouldn’t pick just anyone. But human nature was as it always is—there were both good and bad among them, and there was no change.

However, people could be moulded, and Klaus had already decided to transform them into fearless soldiers who would fight like tigers on the battlefield.

‘When Lycos and my other pals descend from the moon, our numbers will increase,’ he mused. As someone with an intimate connection to the strongest person on Earth, Klaus knew far more than most.

After a few minutes, all 200 members registered, and Klaus took back the tablet.

“I will review your records over the next few days and determine the best way to handle your training. But for now, this is what we’re going to do,” Klaus said, pulling a record from his tracker.

“According to the academy, things will be different this year. Initially, in six months, another trial will determine who gets to stay and who leaves. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire

Of course, there will still be this trial in six months, but as per the record here, those who manage to climb the Stairway to Heaven and pass all Inner Disciple trials will be exempt from the trial in six months.

This means if we don’t want to face that trial, we have six months to prepare. Now, I don’t know about you, but I plan on becoming an Inner Disciple within two to three months.” Klaus paused for a few seconds.

“This also means you all have three months to become Saints and pass the Inner Disciple trials. Of course, those of you who are already Saints have two months to become Inner Disciples.

You all must follow this rule because, after three months, the Yin-Yang Palace in the outer section won’t have any members left. We all have to get to the inner section.

That’s where the real challenges are.

“But don’t worry; we now have enough points to buy whatever we need to enter seclusion and form the rest of our core. I will distribute the points soon.

However, you should all pay attention to this one rule and this one alone: under no circumstances should any of you let me catch you betraying this faction. Trust me, you wouldn’t want that.”

Klaus spoke those words with a touch of his killing intent, making everyone, including his friends, break into a cold sweat.

“That will be all. Each of you will receive 175,000 points. Use them to buy the items on the list I’ll attach and enter seclusion. Only come out when you’re ready to face the tribulation and breakthrough.

Once you’ve made your breakthrough, we will meet again to decide the best approach for the next phase. For those of you who are already Saints, I’ll also attach a list of what you’ll need to handle the Stairway to Heaven.”

“See you all later.”

The group dispersed, leaving Klaus with his friends.

“What now?” Hanna asked.

“You guys should go to the Mission Hall, redeem your missions, and then buy all the resources you’ll need before entering seclusion. I’ll be gone for a week,” Klaus replied as he stood up.

“Where are you going?” Anna asked.

“Up there,” he said, pointing up the mountain. “I just want to have a quick look at how things are going on.”

His friends followed him until they reached the foot of the Stairway to Heaven.

“Disciple Klaus would like to use the stairway to enter the inner section,” Klaus said to an instructor.

“Go ahead, and good luck,” the instructor replied with a hint of ridicule, clearly looking down on him.

“See you guys later.”

With that, Klaus walked forward. The instructor’s jaw dropped as he watched Klaus casually ascend the stairs. His steps were so effortless it was almost surreal.

Anna and the others just shook their heads, watching him climb up. Soon, he stepped into the inner section

***

Meanwhile, the fate that befell the Yin-Yang Palace in the outer section also struck its faction in the inner section.

Their previous membership of 1,900 was reduced to just 120. Their situation was even more severe because they couldn’t replicate the strength Klaus had displayed in the outer section.

In fact, they are now burdened with a staggering 40 million Celestial Points debt, having lost all five challenges and only managing to pay 10 million.

The 10 million was their monthly deposit from the academy.

“Oh, Matt, all you had to do was kick that brat from your faction, and none of this would have happened. But well, you know what they say: you reap what you sow,” Hunter Duncan said, looking smugly at Matt, the leader of the Yin-Yang Palace.

Matt gritted his teeth, but that was all he could do. Behind him stood Aoi Hiroshi, Nia, Lucy, Lulu, and Asha. The three ladies had left their factions to support Klaus’s faction, but in the end, they still lost.

“You know, Hunter, you used to be a good warrior—someone passionate about becoming a powerful warrior. But looking at you now, I must say, you are a disgrace to all warriors.”

“Just because a newcomer overshadowed you, you decided to hold a grudge. Where is your sense of camaraderie?”

Matt spat on the ground, looking back at Hunter with disdain.

Hunter acted this way because Klaus had managed to break his record of killing a Tier 6 monster while still just a Master Stage expert.

Of course, the fact that Klaus appeared on three warrior charts only fueled his bitterness and resentment.

Hunter sneered at Matt, his expression mocking.

Turning to face the former members of his faction, Matt uttered just one word: “Traitors.”

That single word struck like an arrow. The ex-members looked at their former leader with guilt written all over their faces. Some wanted to respond, but before they could open their mouths, a voice everyone immediately recognized by everyone cut through the tension.

“Well said, faction leader. These losers are indeed traitors.”