The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

It was a bit heartbreaking—and borderline insane—to watch three Celestials, each no weaker than a Celestial King, lose their bodies so easily after a single attack.

Void’s attack came as both a shock and something deeply unsettling, for they knew that even if they escaped today in their Soul Forms, they still wouldn’t be able to help anyone defend against the attack that had destroyed their bodies in the first place.

If Void unleashes this attack against their warriors, the results would be the same...well, it might vary, considering she is still holding back.

It all came down to their complete lack of understanding of the laws of flame and how to manipulate them.

Had they possessed even the faintest idea of what she had done, they would have rushed back and warned their Empress never to cross Kaden in any way. In fact, they would have convinced her to fall to her knees and beg for his forgiveness.

Void was an Extreme Forbidden Flame known as the Void Incineration Forbidden Flame, while her very nature was that of a Primordial Flame Spirit. That combination had long since taken her beyond the realm of ordinary flames.

In fact, she had never been an ordinary flame to begin with.

But with the knowledge she possessed now, she was able to tap into the heat within their bodies. With a little manipulation here and there, she ignited that heat, causing it to boil the three Celestials from the inside out, targeting only their skin.

Kaden had given her a mental instruction to keep their souls alive since he had no intention of killing all of them. Of course, by keeping them alive, he meant only one of them.

The moment they realized their bodies were beyond saving, they tried to flee.

However, Void had already made her move, weaving a net made of Void Incineration Forbidden Flame around two of the Celestials’ souls.

”If you don’t want your souls annihilated, then stand quietly there and allow yourselves to be captured,” Void warned just as the two Celestial Souls tried to wriggle their way out of the net.

She then looked at the one soul that remained free and smirked.

”You can leave, and be sure to sing today’s deeds to your Empress. While big brother is still lenient with you, my siblings and I don’t share the same sentiment. So if you dare come after big sister Pickle Berry again, we will come knocking, and trust me, it won’t end in your favor.”

She narrowed her eyes at the Celestial Soul, making sure he understood every word.

”Now, begone.”

She waved her hand, and the poor bastard was sent flying out of the planet.

”Damn, it feels good to do the ’begone’ thing. Looks like there really is some enjoyment in it,” she smiled, realizing Klaus hadn’t been doing it just for the sake of doing.

Having the ability to send someone flying off a planet as though they were nothing more than bugs certainly felt satisfying.

She then turned to the two Celestial Souls she had captured.

”You two are in luck, bastards.”

As though annoyed that she wasn’t allowed to keep them, she stored them away before chasing after Kaden and the others, knowing it wouldn’t be long before they reached their destination.

It took her only a few seconds to catch up.

”Big brother, I captured two of them, and Lady Icon has stored them. Their potential is much better than that of the one I let go.”

”Thank you, Void.”

All around them, beasts of varying sizes and shapes kept trying to reach them. However, Kaden had unleashed a treasure that created a dome around the group, preventing the beasts from getting close.

He really had no intention of fighting these beasts head-on.

A few minutes later, Franklina grew curious and asked, ”Is there something I should know? I can tell you’re ignoring the Storm Beasts. Is there something preventing you from fighting them?”

She despises killing, so avoiding a fight worked in her favor. However, she couldn’t understand why Kaden was ignoring the beasts when he could simply kill them and be done with it.

She had seen him fight, so she knew he wasn’t an ordinary person. A Demigod capable of killing a God with a single attack was anything but ordinary.

Kaden smiled and answered, ”In the outer regions of the Storm Sea, you’re free to kill as many beasts as you like. However, from what I know and have heard, once you enter the inner region, killing the Storm Beasts runs the risk of summoning the Storm Master.”

”Storm Master?” Franklina furrowed her brow. ”What is that?”

”Not what, but who. From what I know, the Storm Master is the most powerful beast in the Storm Sea. Some say she is the ruler of this domain and one of the most dangerous storm-type beasts you will ever meet—or dare offend. I have never personally met her, but I knew people who had a very long time ago, and from what they revealed about her, it would be best if we didn’t meet her.”

”Sounds like she’s a big deal,” Pickle Berry said after finally calming her racing heart.

Hearing her, Kaden nodded and replied, ”She is. I’ve witnessed powerful and legendary beasts sing her praises.”

Of course, during the Star Monarch Era, some of his beast companions had tried to recruit her to their master’s side, but it ended with three of his strongest companions nearly dying and two others barely conscious by the time they managed to retreat.

So while he had never met her personally, he also had no desire to. If she appeared now, their chances of reaching the Gateway would drop to zero.

Kaden was a Paragon, but he had no intention of meeting such an existence just yet, at least not while he wasn’t even a Supreme.

Forty-five minutes into their flight, Kaden’s expression changed.

He didn’t hesitate, for he knew he couldn’t. Waving his hand, Void, Pickle Berry, and Franklina vanished into the Demon Bead.

Just then, the sky turned dark before gradually becoming crimson.

The air grew hostile and unbearably heavy.

Even his body felt heavy and drowsy.

’This feeling... a Primordial... a powerful Primordial.’

Kaden sensed the presence that had fixed its gaze upon him.

He felt those eyes peer deep into his soul, almost as though he had no safeguards in place. Of course, she saw nothing, but Kaden didn’t try to resist or attack her spiritual probe either.

Instead, he allowed the mysterious presence to satisfy her curiosity.

After a few tense minutes, the gaze left his soul and settled on his face. Kaden had no choice but to meet it, and that was when he finally saw her.

She was a tan-skinned woman with a broad, athletic build and long brown hair that flowed well below her buttocks. Her emerald-red eyes shone with overwhelming authority, while a trident-shaped Lightning Origin Dao symbol rested upon her forehead.

She is a beauty in her own right and likeness.

”I honestly don’t know what a mere bug like you is doing here, but I have to ask... why are you here? And why do you seem so calm before me? Most would tremble in my presence.”

Kaden smiled and answered,

”I am not calm before you. In fact, I’m freaking out right now. However, my father once told me that, in the presence of a beauty with such smooth and polished melanin, showing fear and panic is a huge red flag. So you could say I’m just faking my composure.”

The Storm Master stared at Kaden for a long while, as though trying to discern what could possibly justify his composure in her presence. Yet she found nothing, forcing her attention back to his answer.

Her eyes narrowed.