The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

[Two Days Ago]

Just after his interview with Blue Ivy, Klaus decided to spend some time with his Paragon Star Guards.

”You wouldn’t call us here without a reason, so why don’t you get down to it rather than highlighting how useless we are,” Darius said, his smile a little teasing.

Klaus smirked and said, ”I indeed called you here because I think someone suspects I am the Paragon.”

”Who?” all nine of them asked.

”Supreme Elder Juo, and who knows how many others out there have come to the same suspicion. Of course, I knew this day would come and made sure it happened sooner rather than later.”

The nine Star Guards gave Klaus a weird look. They had known him in all nine lives he had lived, and never once did he try to make the universe aware that he was the Paragon.

He had spent a great deal of time hiding his identity. So hearing that he wanted them to know this time around left them all wondering if he had a death wish.

”Relax, everyone. I wasn’t actually looking to reveal my identity and put targets on my back. I just want them to suspect me just long enough to reveal my hand.

For now, they are aware that the Paragon is back, but they don’t know who it is. So they would suspect me, which actually would work in my favor.

First, I want to reveal my background, which would come in handy one day when my true identity is revealed. The second is to ensure everyone dares not mess with me, and last, to keep the news alive long enough for the real Paragon to appear.”

”I don’t understand anything you just said, Master, but I have one question,” Scarlet narrowed her eyes. ”How would the Paragon appear when you are the Paragon?”

Klaus smiled. ”You will find out when it happens. For now, I just want people to suspect me. Once that happens, I will use my ace to clear my name.

But doing so will put a target on my back. That is where you all come in.”

”You want the Dark Space Company to give you their support,” Lux asked, and Klaus nodded.

”If I were to become a notable member of the Dark Space Company, not even the Warrior Tower would dare come after me. Of course, I wouldn’t have the freedom I used to have, but with the Mission Hall and Dark Space Company behind me, I am sure nobody would dare play any tricks behind the scenes.”

”That would indeed help. But the question now is what role you would qualify for that, in the grand scheme of things, would make sense when we announce it to the rest of the universe.”

This question got Klaus thinking for a while...

***

[Two Days Later - Dark Space Media]

After the demands were read and everyone tried to make sense of them, the screens changed to Dark Space Media, where a beautiful vampire appeared to deliver another shocking piece of news.

Many recognized her as Celestial Scarlet, one of the founders of the Dark Space Company.

”Hi everyone, I am standing here today as a representative of the Dark Space Company to issue a big announcement.” She took a deep breath and continued speaking.

”Two days ago, we had a closed-door meeting with a promising talent who we think would qualify as our Warrior Candidate.”

Hearing the words ”Warrior Candidate,” everyone started paying closer attention to her.

”We all know how rapidly the Foreign Race is advancing. As a result, we need capable warriors to lead the charge against them. We need warriors who are not afraid to put their lives on the line for the good of the universe.

We discussed this proposal with this young talent, and based on what he said, we concluded he had everything we needed. So with a unanimous vote from all nine Founders, we selected Klaus Hanson, popularly known as the Renegade Hunter, as the Warrior Candidate of the Dark Space Company.

Thank you, and have a good day.”

---

Three minutes after the announcement from the Dark Space Company, an SSS+ spaceship housing ten gods arrived on Planet Baski.

Although Klaus had long left thanks to Lord Victor’s quick thinking, they appeared as a show that, when it came to their Warrior Candidate, they would not tolerate any nonsense.

This show of power sent a loud message to all who wanted to take advantage of Klaus’s falling out with the Warrior Tower.

Just as he was untouchable because nobody knew his background, now that he had lost the support of the Zorvian family, his protection would come from the Dark Space Company.

They made that clear to everyone.

Inside the spaceship, Klaus was relaxed in his chair when he suddenly sensed his communicator chiming. Turning to look, he saw an unknown person calling. He thought for a moment and answered.

The face that appeared in the hologram was that of Lady Ryuu. ”Why didn’t you tell me you are from the Zorvian Primordial Family?”

She asked in a tone that suggested she had just found out her husband was an heir to a crime family and had been hiding it from her.

Klaus smiled. ”You never asked, Lady Ryuu. Also, revealing my identity would have scared you off.”

”What do you care if I run off? From the stunt you just pulled, everyone at the Warrior Tower will forever hate you. Do you know how dangerous that is?”

”Does that include you too, Lady Ryuu?” The smile on his face vanished, replaced by a calm yet dangerous look.

He had already picked Supreme Elder Juo as his enemy, so even if he offered an apology like the demands requested him to, as long as he was alive, there was just no way he would forgive him.

He came close to destroying his perfectly crafted plan, which he intended to use to infiltrate the ranks of the Heavenly Court.

If not because he anticipated this moment and prepared for it, he would have found himself surrounded on all sides by now.

So even if he came to personally apologize, he would never forgive him. One day, he would keep his promise and kill him.

If Lady Ryuu had also turned on him, then even if the heavens intervened, he would one day level the Warrior Tower.

They would not stop coming after him, even after becoming a Warrior Candidate at the Dark Space Company, so he was destined to be their enemy, just as the Heavenly Court was his enemy.

”I am not that petty. Your problem with Juo has nothing to do with me. However, for now, we should not contact each other until things are cleared. I need to do some damage control on my side, so for now, if I want something, Flux will contact you.

You can also contact me through him.

Lastly, be careful when you meet the Burning Angel.”

”Oh, is he looking for me?” Klaus asked with a smile.

Lady Ryuu gave him a long and hard look. ”He is not looking for you. He already knows where you are, so expect him to appear any moment from now.”

She hung up, and the next second, the space around the ship twisted. In the next instant, they appeared in a world filled with nothing but lava.

The spaceship shattered, and they found themselves staring at a redheaded angel, his gaze burning with intense flame. His wings were also engulfed in flames, each spanning about 300 meters wide.

”Burning Angel, I suppose?” Klaus asks, a smile playing on his lips.