The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

”It’s good to see you again, Paragon,” Matthew said, looking back at Klaus. He was happy, and Klaus was equally happy to have his friend back.

”It’s good to have you back, Matthew. A lot has happened since you’ve been gone.”

Matthew nodded, recalling some of the memories from his current life. ”Clearly. It appears what we built has become a source of evil that nearly came close to destroying the universe.”

”It appears so, Matthew,” Klaus sighed before adding, ”But now that you’re back, I suppose you have plans to put things in order. I know you well enough to know you wouldn’t die without planning beyond the grave,” Klaus laughed, and Matthew did too.

”And whose fault is that, Paragon? You rubbed off on me in both good and bad ways, so let’s just hope my planning was as good as yours. The Heavens Court have a purpose and I intend to bring it back to what we all invisioned”

After nine Eras had passed, Klaus had proven that the Paragon had already foreseen this Era and had adequately planned for it.

Matthew turned and looked at Mark, who was staring back at him with saucer-like eyes. Seeing what he wanted, Matthew smiled and opened his arms. ”Come on.”

Mark was already in his arms before he could finish speaking.

The emotions flowing through his body were far more intense than he had expected. Mark hadn’t been born fortunate during the Primordial Era.

His mother was a maid who had been taken advantage of by Matthew’s father. So he was merely the illegitimate son of Lord Tikkun, the leader of the Tikkun Ancient Family.

He wasn’t liked by anyone except Matthew. Matthew bought him his first cultivation manual, spear, and armor. He instructed him in cultivating and even took him out to hunt and gain battle experience.

He protected him when everyone else merely ridiculed him. So, basically, he was Mark’s shield and motivation to grow stronger so that one day, he could also protect him when the time came.

Of course, it was merely his imagination speaking, since he knew he could never surpass Matthew. But he was able to stand beside Matthew in defending the universe and die with honor.

So, be that as it may, Mark was very happy to finally have his brother back.

”Thank you for everything, Big Brother. Had it not been for you, I would have died as the useless son of a maid. But you gave me the chance to die with honor, making sure my mom would smile in the afterlife with her head held high, proud to be my mother.”

Mark said, still hugging Matthew.

”You were a natural-born genius, Mark. I merely did what any big brother would do. But I am also sorry I couldn’t save you back then. You deserved to live on and have a happier life.”

Mark pulled back and smiled. ”I did, Big Brother. I have a good life now with two amazing fiancées and a bunch of friends. I am happy now. And since you’re back as well, I am even happier.”

Matthew smiled. ”I wish our old man were here now to witness the kind of man you have become. I am sure he would kick himself for looking down on you.”

”He will, once he learns you two are back,” Klaus said, and Matthew turned toward him, asking,

”So he is still alive, huh?”

”Yes, and much more powerful now, too.”

”Even better. I am sure he would regret not making Mark his legitimate son. Hopefully, he will come to his senses and do the right thing... that is, if it is not too late.”

Matthew turned and looked at Mark as if trying to read his expression and see whether he would be open to reconciling with their father.

However, just then, another cocoon cracked, and waves of Blood Qi flowed out, drawing his attention away.

”This aura feels eerily close to that of the Blood Dagger Prince,” Matthew said, standing side by side with Klaus.

”It’s him,” Klaus replied.

”Wait, so the two with us back on Planet Primus were those troublemakers from back then, huh?”

Klaus smiled and nodded. ”Yes. Lord Magnus and his brother, the Blood Dagger Prince, are back and are now undergoing their awakening. By the way, they go by Akutaq and Yaxche in this life.”

”Fate sure is working overtime, I suppose,” Matthew laughed, happy to hear his other friends were also back, and that one of them was awakening right after him.

The crack widened, and the cocoon soon came undone, revealing yet another handsome redhead. Yaxche, as he was widely known, the Blood Dagger Prince, was also slender like Matthew, but with a more refined, vampiric pale complexion.

He had a pair of red eyes, a calm expression that seemed to be his default, and a subtle yet refined blood aura, neither lethal nor harmless.

It lingered somewhere in between, making him impossible to read. In fact, Yaxche was one of the most unreadable people Klaus had ever encountered. Even if he intended to kill you, he showed no killing intent.

He had mastered the art of assassination to the point where he could kill without revealing the slightest trace of murderous intent. He was clad in red leather trousers and a sleeveless leather jacket, an outfit he seemed to prefer most of the time.

Klaus knew he possessed a set of armor suitable for an assassin, but unless he absolutely needed it, he wouldn’t wear it. Unlike Matthew, he carried no visible weapons, but as an assassin, Klaus knew his entire body concealed deadly weapons.

He looked calmly at Klaus and Matthew, and for a moment, the two young men wondered whether his introverted nature would prevail once again.

However, to their surprise, he smiled and walked toward them.

”I should have known you were the Paragon all along. But then again, I guess you never disappoint, my friend.”

He actually hugged Klaus, something he never would have done during the Primordial Era.

Matthew stood stunned for a few seconds before joining the hug.

A few moments later, Yaxche pulled back, and his smile faded.

”Thanks for everything, Paragon. I knew you would never let us down, not even by a long shot.”

He then turned and looked at Matthew.

”Glad to see you again, Matthew.”

”This is the first time I’ve heard you say more than ten words, buddy. Never knew you could talk this much,” Matthew said with a laugh, but Yaxche ignored him and looked at Klaus’s other friends.

”Hi, everyone. My name is Yaxche, but you can call me Blood Dagger. Let’s get along, since we’re all friends of the Paragon.”

Klaus’s friends nodded and introduced themselves, with Danny going last.

”I am Danny, but feel free to call me the Titan King, the Immovable Titan King, or the Giant Mountain Axe King.”

Yaxche nodded, but he made up his mind not to get too close to Danny. Otherwise, his nonchalant nature would be invaded by the lively Titan brute, who seemed to find joy in everything.

Yaxche turned and looked at the other cocoon already oozing Blood Qi.

”I suppose that will be Big Brother, huh?”

”Yes. Just like you and Matthew, he will also emerge as a Pseudo-Primordial. But we both know how monstrous he is, so prepare to chase after him yet again.”