The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

The forbidden zone Klaus’s team had just cleared wasn’t always known as the Ant Kingdom. It was a different zone many years ago.

About 30 years ago, it was known by a different name, for it contained different breeds of monsters.

However, one day, out of nowhere, an Ant Queen who had just entered the Sovereign stage appeared with her and soldiers. For two days, they hunted down and killed every last resident there, claiming the entire zone for themselves.

This Ant Queen then went ahead and, for years, continued to fortify her zone against unwanted guests.

Dozens of humans fell trying to hunt there.

However, everything changed when Klaus and his team appeared.

It was as if, the moment Klaus and his team arrived, the Queen knew it was over for her and her soldiers.

However, strangely, Klaus didn’t attack her personally. Instead, he came to see her and even went out of his way to offer her an alliance.

This, of course, was an unexpected offer.

But the fact that she was a True Beast came into play here. If she were still an unreasonable beast, perhaps she wouldn’t be seated face-to-face with the human she would soon be signing a contract with.

Asha and Klaus were now looking at the Ant Queen, who was also looking back at them, with Jinx by her side, ready to intervene.

“Well, I said I would bring her so you could ask her anything you want. Here she is, you can go ahead and ask her anything you want to” Klaus said.

“First, I want to know your plans for my seven soldiers currently in the cocoon,” she asked.

Klaus turned to Asha with a smile.

He clearly wanted her to answer that since when Asha found out about the seven cocoons, a part of her wanted to experiment with them.

It was as if she wanted to engineer them to become the best version of themselves. Of course, she would be awakening the Insect Forge very soon.

But even outside that, she was very happy to hear there were cocoons containing such powerful yet-to-be-born soldiers.

She had already gathered the materials and would be performing the ritual to awaken the forge right after this meeting, so she wanted to see how best to use it to help her.

Naturally, Klaus’s blood would play a huge role in this, but with the forge, she and the Queen could better work on these seven cocoons and bring out powerful warriors.

“Before I answer your question, I would like you to answer mine first,” Asha smiled.

“Say you had a way to change some things about yourself, add new things, upgrade them, keep improving on them, and even create new ones.

Say you had a way to actively improve the seven soldiers you’re creating. Say you had a way to make the perfect, most dangerous soldiers.

In essence, this thing would allow you to bring all your ideas to life. It will let you create the best version of any Ant Soldier, and even go as far was helping you create new breeds of ants.

Would you accept that or let it slide?”

“Of course, I would accept it.” The Queen didn’t hesitate in her answer. “Having a way to bring all my ideas into being is something I would never pass up on.”

“Then, to answer your question—my plan for your seven soldiers in the making was to use this method to bring them to perfection. And yes, I have a way to bring all your ideas to life.

I have a way for you to create the perfect soldiers, to even improve upon yourself, and to keep evolving until you are satisfied.

I have a way for you to create the ultimate soldiers.”

Asha’s words caused Jinx and her Queen to look at Klaus with doubtful gazes.

“She is telling the truth. She has a thing for your kind, so she won’t lie to you.” Naturally, they started to trust Klaus more, so when he said she could be trusted, they also began to trust Asha.

“Are you being serious? For years, I have searched for what you are talking about but couldn’t find it. So, are you telling the truth?” She couldn’t help but ask twice.

“Of course, I am. I do have what I am talking about, and the moment you become my contracted companion, you will have access to it.

The only question left is whether this is something you truly want.”

One had to say, the offer Asha placed on the table could not be ignored easily. She had brought a deal so tempting that even Jinx was considering starting her own army if this was indeed true.

Klaus, who knew Asha had only revealed the tip of the iceberg, was smiling in his head.

In truth, the Insect Forge inside her domain was much more special than she had described. It was something that he will start learning more about in the years to come.

In addition to designing the insects to be created, one could describe them in such detail that, once the modifications were complete, the envisioned creation would become a reality.

This also meant that similar to Klaus’s Paragon Forge, she would have to create insect soldiers from nothing. The ones already in existence could also be enhanced and refined.

Seven pillars, each connected to seven different categories of insects, surrounded the forge. Over time, she would be able to use these to create powerful insect soldiers.

But that wasn’t even the best part—now that Klaus’s blood came into play. After ensuring the soldier’s perfect version was captured, his blood would further enhance them to the stage even the heavens will cry blood.

This meant that what they considered a perfect soldier—one that could no longer be improved—would, with Klaus’s blood, become something even more monstrous.

There was no denying it—it was one of the most badass things one could ask for. And the Queen, who had been searching for something similar for decades, now found herself at a crossroads.

“I will accept your offer,” she said, and Asha smiled. This was the best decision considering the outcome of her decision today is a lifetime of happiness for what she had been looking for all these years had been found and it’s free to use.

“Then let’s form the contract.” Klaus smiled and looked at Asha, who used her finger to slash an opening on her forehead, drawing a drop of blood.

She then formed a seal, and the blood shuddered before moving forward and entering the Queen’s forehead. A few seconds later, a smile appeared on the Queen’s lips.

“Your bottleneck has weakened. Do you want to break through now or wait?” Asha asked. The moment the contract was formed, she sensed it.

The Queen nodded. “I will wait until my seven soldiers are at the stage they won’t need my attention anymore.”

“Very well. Dear, kindly seal her cultivation.”

Klaus followed her instruction and sealed her cultivation.

“In that case, Ant Queen Remy, why don’t we move your seven soldiers to a more secure place… In other words, why don’t I take you to your new home?”

The door to her insect domain appeared, making her smile bloom.