The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

While the Primordial Chaos was stirring with trouble, back in Caelmir, a cocoon had formed atop the bone altar, surrounded by green flames. It radiated an intense power, one far beyond anything Orion or even Asmodeus had ever seen.

He knew that the moment the cocoon came undone, his greatest and strongest undead would be born.

That wait was soon over when a crack formed in the cocoon, and a wave of bone-chilling killing intent, mixed with blood intent and Death intent, started to ooze out.

The crack soon widened, and before long, the cocoon came undone, revealing a man worthy of being called a warrior.

In today’s universe, everyone who has awakened their affinity and job class is known as a warrior. However, compared to the man standing on the altar, those people might as well put on clown costumes and parade the streets.

He stood 6’7” tall, clad in crimson and green exo-metallic armour. He had an athletic build and looked incredibly agile, even at a glance. His crimson hair flowed down his back, with a few braids falling over his left shoulder.

He had ashy skin, almost as if he were a corpse reanimated. Hovering behind him were two large, crescent-shaped red blades. Positioned opposite each other, they formed a perfect circle, making the twin blades appear as a single crimson ring.

Compared to the curved horns on the skull bones that Asmodeus had used, this man possessed no horns. In fact, aside from a few tattoo-like markings along the side of his face and the fact that his ears were slightly longer than a human’s, he looked flawless, just like an ordinary human.

He looked to be in his late twenties, but Asmodeus knew the bones he had used to create this undead had belonged to an ancient being, one who had once threatened this universe.

He wasn’t about to look at him as though he were just anyone.

However, as an undead, Asmodeus knew he had a true undead form in which his features would resemble those of a demihuman.

Yet, while everything about him reeked of a true warrior, it was the aura surrounding him that made Asmodeus narrow his eyes.

”Are you a Primordial?” he asked, not beating around the bush.

The man looked at Asmodeus for a few seconds before a sigh escaped his lips.

”I am indeed a Primordial. In my human form, I am a Primordial King; however, in my Undead Form, I am a Primordial Emperor.”

”So there are stages within that realm, too, huh?” Asmodeus asked, and once again, the man nodded.

”Yes. Within the Primordial Stage, we have King, Emperor, Monarch, Lord, and God.”

”Then are there other realms beyond the Primordial Stage?”

”That is forbidden knowledge that can only be discussed outside this universe.”

Asmodeus nodded.

”I understand.”

He examined his latest undead before asking, ”Do you have a name?”

This was his first time ever creating a Primordial-grade undead, so he had to ask.

In the past, whenever he finished creating an undead, he would receive a command to name it. However, nothing had appeared for this man, a clear sign that he existed far beyond the comprehension of this universe and its laws.

”You are my creator, so you must name me,” the man said, and Asmodeus smiled.

”In that case, from today onward, you shall be known as Khthon.”

The moment the name was given, the darkness covering the planet vanished, and everyone who had passed out started to stir.

Orion, who had been blocked from approaching Asmodeus, felt the restriction disappear, so he moved, and in no time, he appeared on the scene, his gaze immediately landing on Khthon, who stood calmly, looking back at him.

[Master, I cannot read his cultivation base at all.]

’Then he is a Primordial, isn’t he?’

[I suppose you could say that.]

”But how?” Orion turned and looked at Asmodeus, who smiled and grabbed hold of his bone staff.

”I have become a Supreme now, Master, and as you can see, my Undead Necromancy class has now become Undead Sovereign.”

He laughed before pointing at Khthon.

”This is my strongest undead. He is called Khthon, a Primordial and someone who has an affinity for Blood, Death, and Souls.”

Asmodeus turned and looked at Khthon.

”This is my master, Klaus, who is also the Paragon of the Nine Stars.”

Khthon narrowed his eyes slightly at Orion, almost as if he were gauging his strength. A few seconds later, he bowed.

”I pay my respects to Lord Paragon. I have heard so much about you.”

”You have?” Both Orion and Asmodeus asked at the same time, causing a faint smile to appear on Khthon’s face.

”I have. In fact, he is very famous in the Universe Ocean. The person whose bones were used to create me came from the Annihilation Clan and was a member of the cohort that attacked during the Third Reincarnation Cycle. From his memories, it appears the Paragon is a legend throughout the entire Universe Ocean (Primordial Chaos).

It appears he is one of a kind and perhaps the strongest being ever to walk the Primordial Chaos. In his memories, they most often referred to the Paragon as the Guardian.”

”Well, Master is indeed a guardian of all life, so that sounds about right.” Asmodeus laughed before turning to Orion.

”Looks like you are very famous out there, Master.”

Orion merely smiled before addressing Khthon.

”Tell me, Khthon, do you know what the Great Catastrophe is and why it happens?”

Khthon nodded.

”I do.” He took a deep breath before revealing what he knew.

”From my memories, or rather the memories of the one whose life I have hijacked, the Great Catastrophe is a way to test a universe and determine whether or not it is ready to become a Primal Universe.

Primal Universes are universes that have passed the Great Catastrophe and earned the recognition of the Origin Dao. Whenever it happens, a race called the Annihilation Clan is tasked with carrying out the attack. Their very nature is destruction, and they won’t stop until everything dies or the universe is abandoned.

When we attacked this universe for the third time, our mission was to end all life and prevent it from ever reincarnating. For some reason, this universe holds great significance to all life in the cosmos.

Now, I think I know why that is.” Khthon looked at Orion as though he were looking at someone from the distant past.

”The Paragon is also called the Child of the Void. From what I know, you have no home or lineage, meaning you have no universe to call your own.

Your very existence is too important and too volatile for any universe to accept you. However, this universe accepted you and made you one of her own.

Now that I recall what was said billions of years ago, I think you were the reason this universe was the one everyone wanted to claim a piece of.”

Orion narrowed his eyes, unsure of what to believe. Everything he had learned so far made it seem as though everything that had happened was somehow his fault, yet he was also the solution.

The Annihilation Clan wanted to destroy this universe for good because it was capable of accepting and nurturing a Paragon. That sounded both terrifying and reassuring at the same time.

Seeing the expression on Orion’s face, Khthon smiled before adding,

”Everything will make sense once the Origin Dao Seed of this universe is rescued and regains control of the universe’s lifeTree.”