The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

Raxxion erupted from the flames a second later, roaring in fury. His entire body ignited, turning into a massive humanoid inferno as the ground beneath him melted into magma.

”Oh, that looks scary for some reason.” Klaus squeezed his eyebrow and smirked, feeling the heat emanating from Raxxion.

’Daddy, he is using the flame law to raise the temperature. Should I counter or let it happen?’ Void spoke into Klaus’s head.

’Allow him for now. We want him desperate.’

’Okay, Daddy.’

’Yeah. The mere fact that those three arrows didn’t even leave a mark shows he will be hard to kill, so let’s study him for now.’

Klaus lowered his bow and focused on the newly transformed Raxxion.

”Size is not the issue, Raxxion...So growing big won’t save your skin.”

”ENOUGH!” Raxxion’s voice boomed, echoing like molten rock cracking.

Surprisingly, Klaus actually felt genuine fear for some reason. However, looking at the terror of a man standing, he knew he had nothing to worry about.

’Something is not right,’ Klaus thought.

Raxxion attacks the next second. He swung his axe, sending a crescent wave of burning lava toward Klaus. The sizzling and crackling sound of fire filled the air as the arc sped toward Klaus.

He didn’t move.

Instead, the nine spears hovering behind him spun, then fired downward, forming a defensive flaming sigil infused with defensive flame laws.

The lava arc crashed into with terrifying force.

Upon contact, the lava strike shattered.

Raxxion appeared behind the explosion—fast, too fast for his size—axe raised high.

’Wow, this guy is pretty fast.’

Klaus lifted his bow, meeting the colossal blade with a flaming barrier formed from the bow’s aura. Sparks flew everywhere.

The force sent Klaus sliding backward, but he didn’t lose balance. He calculated this outcome and thus defended perfectly, taking into account Raxxion’s overwhelming strength.

But Raxxion pressed on, swinging again. This strike was even heavier, infused with molten flames that roared like a volcanic beast.

Just the echo from the strike caused the void to tear open.

Klaus ducked under it and slammed his palm into the ground in counterattack.

Flames burst upward in a controlled vortex, forcing Raxxion to step back.

’Here comes the second counterattack.’

Klaus flicked his fingers gently, sending a mental command to spears.

Five of the hovering spears shot forward like meteors, their speed several times faster than before.

Raxxion spun his axe, creating a circular wall of lava that barely blocked the first two. The impact sent shockwaves through the air.

The third spear pierced through the molten barrier, grazing his shoulder and tearing out a chunk of lava-flesh.

Raxxion roared. However, he didn’t have the luxury to dally.

The fourth spear hit his leg, pinning him momentarily. This was also a direct blow to his ego, something he hates the most.

Klaus made him kneel, even if it wasn’t intentional.

The fifth—aimed at his throat—forced him to dissolve into pure flame to avoid immediate death.

He reformed several meters away, panting, cracks glowing along his lava body.

However, he had no chance to play around, for the next second, four more spears appeared, stabbing toward his heart.

Klaus didn’t hold back. He poured more energy into the spears, using them to terrorize the poor guy.

...Spirit Masters are the worst.

Raxxion, who had been suppressed, roared, his molten, flaming body releasing a wave of flame qi.

A barrier of flame enveloped him, blocking all four spears.

”Flame Axe Descent!” His voice boomed as he slammed his axe on the ground, creating an explosive effect. Klaus moved back, but before he could make any move, a large axe appeared overhead.

’Interesting’

Klaus raised his bow and used it to block the axe.

The next second, he was flying across the arena, his armor cut in the rib area.

”OUCH”

Klaus shouted, feeling his rib quake inside. He slammed into the ground, but he didn’t have the luxury of deciphering what had happened, since Raxxion was upon him the next second.

Everything just happened too quickly for him to make heads and tail of it. One minute, he was fine; the next, his ribs were on fire.

And worst, his nightmare is not over.

”Blazing Cut!”

Raxxion appeared overhead, his axe raised for a powerful strike. The flame in his eyes burst out, causing the air to shimmer.

’Oh hell no’

Klaus rolled to the side just as the axe cleaved down, carving a molten crater where he had been lying a heartbeat ago. The shockwave blasted across the arena, scattering flames like a volcanic eruption.

’This motherfucker wants me dead.’

Raxxion didn’t let up.

He twisted, lava dripping from his arms as he swung horizontally. The crescent slash that followed tore through the air, screaming toward Klaus like a burning guillotine.

’Damn, this battle is getting out of hand.’

[I think he is entering berserker state. The Pyrebornes have an innate ability called ’Flame Berserker.’ When used, the longer flames burn around them, the more out of control they become.]

Klaus planted his foot and parried the slash; his foot sliding backwards, sparks hissing under his boots. He released three powerful arrows, breaking the flame slash.

However, the shockwave pushed him back.

’Damn, that one would have chopped me in half.’

Klaus snapped his fingers, and four spears ripped out of the ground beneath Raxxion, stabbing upward.

The Pyreborne twisted his molten body, avoiding two spears, but the third pierced through his waist and erupted out of his back, leaving behind a shower of lava.

Raxxion roared in pain, grabbing the spear and attempting to break it. However, Klaus was a step ahead. He quickly unsummoned it, sending it straight to his soul sea.

The last thing he wanted was a soul injury. He can’t afford to wound any of his cores in a battle against an immortal.

All his spirit weapons are linked to his soul, after all.

Seeing his attempt at soul attack fail, Raxxion raised his axe to unleash another devastating attack.

But Klaus was already drawing an arrow.

His bow flared with multicolored flames—orange, white, deep red, and golden silver intertwining like living serpents. His flame spirits had been summoned, but they augmented the bow instead of taking corporeal forms.

He released an arrow the next second, causing the very ground he stood on to shatter as the arrow left his bow.

The arrow screamed across the arena, bending space around it.

Although the space between them is vast, Raxxion knew he was in trouble, so he abandoned his attack and chose to save his skin first.

All over the Arena, everyone held their breath as the arrow streaked through the air.