The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

[Dark Universe Channel - Klaus’s POV]

After they took off from Planet Stella, Lord Victor handed Klaus a map fragment.

His part of the mission is to lead the four teammates to retrieve at least a drop of Immortal Essence Water, believed to be hidden somewhere in the Jade Nest.

The map fragment they have will help them get to it, or maybe not. Nobody had really been inside the Jade Nest after it was sealed, so this map was from back when warriors bravely tried to steal from the Jade Ant Queen.

”There are about fourteen map fragments. It was said that if all 14 fragments were brought together, a complete map of the Jade Nest would form. Unfortunately, it had been fragmented by an unknown person. So you can only go on with this.”

Lord Victor paused and took a deep breath. ”If by chance you meet a team that wants to compare maps and you believe you can trust them, do so and get a much bigger picture of the nest.

I will talk to a few friends of mine when we get to Planet Jade Mine and see if we can compare maps before you enter. However, you should be careful too. The Nest is not a place to joke around.

While you will be suppressed to the True Immortal stage, I doubt that will be for long. Somehow, many believe there is a conspiracy behind all this, so be careful. If there is nothing else to find, the moment you get the Immortal Essence Water, you can leave.”

Klaus and his teammates nodded.

Klaus, however, paid much closer attention to the map.

All the way on the second floor of the inheritance tower, Kaden paused his training with the battle doll and took a deep breath. Then a smile appeared on his face...

[Looks like we are finally going back to that dreadful place.]

He proceeded to share a memory with Klaus.

Inside that memory, Efad, who was known far and wide as the Star Monarch, the 9th paragon, ventured into the domain of the Jade Ant Queen’s Nest, hoping to make her one of his contracted beasts.

Efad was merely a demigod back then; however, he had over a million powerful beasts under his command, many of whom were gods.

That kind of power gave him the confidence to approach the Jade Ant Queen. He believed that with her joining him, he would have a good chance of challenging the Heavens Court.

Long story short, Efad lost all forms of connection to his beasts. He couldn’t call for help, and on all sides, he was surrounded. By the time he managed to escape, he had lost one arm, a leg, and an eye.

He never stepped there ever again until his last breath. Today, it appeared they would be going there once again.

This time, however, while he may lose connection to his beast’s legion, with four of his bodies out there, he can easily bypass that restriction and call for help.

’I pray her ghost doesn’t recognize me, else I will leave with half of my body missing this time.’

Kaden laughed, and somewhere else, Orion and Rhazor also smirked.

Kaden sized the battledoll who had been giving him a good ass-whooping the past days and smiled before adding:

[In case you come across our severed arm and legs, kindly bring them. We can’t have two parts of our shameful past falling into anyone else’s hands now, can we?]

’No we can’t.’

Kaden grinned, and he lunged at the battledoll once again.

Klaus, however, turned and looked at Lord Victor. ”Rest assured, we will get the job done.”

He nodded and leaned back into his chair. He had already gotten a way to form his 10th Immortal Ring, which will leave him two more to go. If the Immortal Essence Water is found and retrieved, he can form the 11th.

The moment he forms the 12th Immortal Ring, he will form his law core and become a demigod. However, with him having 12 Immortal Rings and a Celestial as his master, he will soon become a god.

Naturally, he will become one of the powerful ones.

So this mission is very important. Klaus knew that, and so did the four of his teammates. Rory knew what her father was after, so she would work hard to help him.

***

6 hours later, they entered the atmosphere of Planet Jade Mine. The moment they did, Klaus sensed the spiritual qi in the air become dense and contaminated.

”This place used to be one of the valuable planets in the human universe due to its richness in jade and spirit crystals. However, an accident occurred, causing one of the larger mines to explode and releasing toxins into the air.

Overnight, those below the immortal stage died. Only a few and the immortals survived. But they couldn’t stay for long either, so after a few years, the planet was abandoned.

Later, it was discovered that the explosion was caused by the sudden emergence of the gateway that led to the Jade Ant Queen’s Nest. The spiritual qi here is toxic, so don’t absorb it.”

Klaus nodded. However, he didn’t listen to Lord Victor. Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t, mainly because of what had started to happen when they entered the planet’s atmosphere.

Klaus didn’t know what to even say. Deep down, however, he was pleased to see that he could absorb even poisoned spiritual qi.

This made him wonder just what energy this strange power can’t refine and absorb as it slowly awakens deep inside his soul sea.

As the ship moved through the clouds, Klaus could tell that the rate at which he was absorbing the essence started to increase. However, since it wasn’t strengthening his cultivation, he didn’t mind.

A few minutes later, they appeared from the clouds, and that was when his gaze landed on thousands of immortals already gathered and waiting for the gate to open.

The majority of them are Immortal Lords. Clearly, everyone wants to be prepared for anything. Klaus, however, ignored them and focused on the demigods and gods gathered.

They were all like Lord Victor. They brought their people to come and enter the Jade Nest.

After finding a place to land, they walked out of the ship, instantly earning many gazes. Klaus was, of course, the center of attention. Many recognized him instantly.

Whispers spread, and soon, those who hate him made themselves known when their killing eyes locked on him. Klaus was surprised to sense even some gods giving him a chilling gaze.

Unfortunately, they can’t kill him in the open like this. Doing so will call the wrath of the Burning Angel and the Mission Hall. So they are saving everything for when they enter the Jade Nest.

They found a place to rest, and Lord Victor moved away to meet a few friends of his. When he was gone, Klaus swept his gaze across the space, meeting the eyes of those who seemed to have a problem with him and smirked.

”Looks like you are very popular, Renegade Hunter,” Omen said, a smile forming on his face.

Klaus chuckled. ”It appears so. Though I can’t help but wonder how many of them will be returning from the Nest alive should they follow through on their threat.”

The chilling atmosphere intensified when those who heard what he said unleashed more killing intent.

Just when things were about to escalate, a sudden soothing voice filled with vitality and peace spread across the place, bringing calm to everyone’s heart, Klaus included.

”So you are the infamous Renegade Hunter,”