The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

Although Planet Yahmir is a dangerous place, it is also easy to live on, especially for those who have issues with the law or just don’t like playing by the rules.

Every day, thousands come and go, bringing and taking with them all kinds of things.

However, today, people aren’t living. They are coming because, for the next couple of days, perhaps weeks, the Blood Tournament they’ve all been waiting for will be taking place, and the lineup is crazy.

”I can’t believe every last winner of a Blood Tournament will be participating in the upcoming Blood Tournament,” a reporter who only reports for the underworld said as her live show streamed on the dark web.

The only way to watch is to have access reserved only for criminals. She has with her a few others who, if the righteous faction were to check their profiles, they would be freaked out of their skins.

”There is going to be a lot of bloodbath, and I, for one, am ready to cheer on the winners. I have been working tirelessly to secure a spot in the VIP area, and thanks to a few connections I have, I will be watching live as the slaughter happens.”

”You aren’t the only one, buddy. I will also be there and report live.” The mere fact that they look happy and eager to watch a slaughter go down seems a bit disturbing, even from a criminal perspective.

But then again, the kind of heinous crimes these criminals have committed are just too chilling to let them live even a day longer. Killing them is completely justified.

”I am going because of Blood Sword,” one of them suddenly said, causing the room to turn quiet. A few months ago, Klaus participated in the Blood Tournament using the name Blood Sword.

Since then, his name has spread in the underworld just like how the Renegade Hunter had also dominated the righteous faction.

Every day that passes, people can only anticipate when he will return to the Arena. His battles have been on repeat for months now, and so, with the day of the tournament drawing near, the anticipation building around him only keeps increasing.

”He won the last one using his own skills and wit, so I, for one, would love to see if he can repeat that again.”

”Repeat that again? Please don’t make me laugh. I admit that Blood Sword is indeed a capable warrior. He has proven he could fight those stronger than him; however, you seem to be forgetting something. The people he is about to face now are all veterans.

Take Jaggered Axe, for instance. He won the 30th Blood Tournament when he was at the High-Level True Immortal stage with three Immortal Rings.

The last I heard, he had formed two more Immortal Rings, reached the Peak-Level True Immortal stage, and even killed a High-Level Immortal King who happens to be a trusted bodyguard of the Night Merchant.”

”Really...”

”Yes. Or how do you think the Night Merchant was robbed in the first place? I even heard Lord Varkos had invited him to join his inner circle, but he rejected the invitation.

Such a person is way out of Blood Sword’s league, and he isn’t even the deadliest or the strongest. There are several others that even Jagged Axe will run from.”

”Still, I believe in him and know he will deliver. If he was able to defeat Real Immortals while not even an Immortal, then guess what he could do when he reaches the Immortal stage.”

”If he manages to reach the Immortal stage, that is.”

The room became quiet again.

The question of whether Blood Sword would be ready for the Blood Tournament had been circulating long before this debate. However, it only grew increasingly louder when, even three days before the tournament, he still hadn’t arrived.

The 127 had already reported, and many of them even granted interviews. However, Blood Sword remained absent, almost as if he weren’t aware that the time for the tournament had arrived.

Two days before the start of the tournament, when he didn’t arrive, the theory that Supreme Elder Juo cited during Klaus’s battle with Rouni started to trend.

People started wondering if the Renegade Hunter was indeed the same as Blood Sword. The next day, when he was still nowhere to be found, this theory grew even more chaotic and began spreading throughout the universe.

However, something shocking happened just four hours before the tournament began.

Three days ago, inside the Anonymous Poker House, a young man with a tiger mask walked in and has been on a winning streak since then.

Many legends inside the Poker House were all defeated by him in a single sitting. However, four hours before the start of the Blood Tournament, he suddenly stood up and removed his mask.

”Ladies and gentlemen, duty calls, so I will see you all later.” He was instantly recognised by almost everyone present inside the poker house.

With everyone holding their breath, he walked out of the Poker House a rich man. News spread everywhere, shutting down all the theories circulating.

All who claimed he was the same person as the Renegade Hunter were left disgraced beyond measure. It turned out Blood Sword had been around for the last 72 hours, but was in disguise.

However, now that he had appeared and his strength as a Peak Early Immortal started to spread, everyone came to the conclusion that the Renegade Hunter and Blood Sword were not the same person.

After all, Blood Sword is at the Peak while the Renegade Hunter had just touched the Medium Level. The gap is plain as day, and that can be verified through his hunter profile.

So Blood Sword, the criminal, had appeared, and with that, the rest of the underworld, who were tuned in to watch this Blood Tournament, got ready.

Just when the clock hit 12 noon, the tournament officially started.

A large arena built specifically for this tournament was filled with 100,000 in-person audience, while billions watched from home and all kinds of hellholes they found themselves in.

Supreme Elder Juo’s outburst had drawn attention to the Blood Tournament, so even people from the righteous faction were watching.

”Ladies and gentlemen, welcome once again to the Blood Tournament. I am the Needle Mistress, and I will be your host for this edition of the Blood Tournament.”

Just like last time, the flirtatious-looking lady whose crime would make even a god hallucinate appeared on everyone’s screen.

”As we all know, this edition of the Blood Tournament will be used to determine who will represent the Black Tempest Cartel in the upcoming Underworld Slaughter Tournament.

Since we have seen some of the blood-curdling battles over the past year, this time, we will be seeing an even more deadly and soaking hot battle between all 128 winners of the past editions of the Blood Tournaments.

This means we will be seeing the likes of the Midnight Queen, the Wind Whisperer, Jagged Axe, the Blade Cleaner, and even our very own wild card, the legendary Blood Sword himself.

As for who will walk away as the lone survivor, we can only wait and watch.” Cheers spread everywhere.

”I like the enthusiasm, so without further ado, let’s see the first lineup.”