The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

Reaching a compromise wasn’t too difficult for Kaden.

He had been betrayed many times in the past, so one more betrayal, even from someone he considered a friend, wasn’t a big blow to his ego, as one would expect.

Arshan had betrayed him long before he even got the chance to become an Emperor. In the end, however, he was also betrayed, so maybe karma had already done its thing, and all Kaden could do right now was move on with his life.

Pickle Berry was more important than that bastard anyway.

Of course, breaking a blood oath wouldn’t kill him, even if he turned back right now and attacked Arshan. His soul was too vast and robust for a mere blood oath to harm him.

The least bad thing that would happen would be him losing this incarnation. But as long as he had energy and even a small part of his soul left, he could always create new incarnations.

But as a man of principle, he knew he had to stand by his word, so he wouldn’t betray this oath even if his hatred toward Lord Arshan was that deep.

They swore the oath, and Kaden bound his soul to his word.

”Now it is your turn. Tell us what we need to know, and do well not to mess around. Trust me, the stories you have heard about the Paragon are the toned-down version. I am far worse than that.”

The five teammates visibly trembled.

They knew of the Paragon. They had heard of him, and every story painted him as someone beyond comprehension. So naturally, everyone had developed both intrigue and fear at the mention of his name.

Meeting him in person, and more chillingly, witnessing what he could do and how nonchalant he could be even while threatening someone, they all knew he was dangerous.

General Nura sighed, wishing things could have been different. But alas, this was the fate between them and the Paragon, who had been betrayed by their ruler several billion years ago.

”To get to Dunsil City, as I said, you will have to go through the Ant Desert. Naturally, even if you managed to wound an Elder—and yes, the mantis you attacked is an Elder, a being whose power has long surpassed the Pseudo-Primordial Stage.

So even if you have wounded an Elder, going through that place... if the swarms of ants don’t get you, then the sand tides will, and trust me, you do not want that.

However, there is a way to traverse that place. While it would take more time, it is less dangerous. If you travel northwest of here, you would pass through the border between the Ant Desert and the Bleeding Kingdom.

The Bleeding Kingdom is home to some savages, but they don’t frequent their borders, so passing through there is less risky, like I said. But going around the Ant Desert would take much longer than going through it.

At least, that is how we travel to Dunsil City, but you are welcome to use the Ant Desert if you want and are confident.”

Kaden nodded, taking in every detail of what she had said.

He didn’t come here to put his life in danger, really. He came to find Pickle Berry’s family, and so far, he had done just that. It even appeared that the map Icon had received would eventually lead them to Dunsil City.

But if they hadn’t met General Nura and her cohort, perhaps they would have had a hard time in the Ant Desert.

Thankfully, they now knew where they should go, and while one might argue that information from General Nura and her teammates couldn’t be trusted, Kaden knew she wasn’t lying, so he took her words seriously.

”One more question. After traversing the borders and going around the Ant Desert, how long would it take us to go from the other side of the Ant Desert to Dunsil City?”

”A month, maybe. But it depends on how fast you can travel. It would probably take close to five months to go around the Ant Desert, so if you can do it in less than that, then you will need less than a month to go from the other side of the Ant Desert to Dunsil City.”

”I see. Thank you for the information.” Kaden stood up and turned to Pickle Berry. ”Relax, Pickle Berry, we will get you to your family soon.”

She nodded and smiled. ”I trust you, Big Brother.”

Kaden smiled back and brushed her hair with his hand. He would have loved to have already found her family and reunited her with them.

He then turned to General Nura and her team. ”Do you plan on going back to the south or wish to travel due west with us? After we leave the shores of the Three Elemental Sea, you can head south.”

They looked at each other, and after some internal discussion, they chose to stay with them until they reached the western shores of the Three Elemental Sea.

Kaden didn’t have any problem with that. He turned to his four Primordial Flame Spirits and said,

”Let’s go, guys. We will have to speed-run the next few days or weeks, so bring out your A-game and show the inhabitants of the Three Elemental Sea who the real bosses are.”

”Say no more, Big Brother.” Void cracked her slender fingers, ready to unleash flames on every beast that blocked their path.

She was the Void Incineration Forbidden Flame, but sometimes she was even more chaotic than Nirvana, who was the Chaotic Nirvana Forbidden Flame.

Kaden just smiled and transmitted to his three elemental triplet wives, ’Ladies, keep an eye on them. At the first sign of trouble, put them down.’

They responded using the connection they shared. After that, Kaden asked if Franklina would like to join him outside, but she said no.

Clearly, she planned to use the time to get to know Pickle Berry better. Now that she knew her true identity, getting to know her better would go a long way toward her plans after they left this place.

Kaden returned to the Three Elemental Sea with Nirvana, Void, Qilin, and Fury.

Soon, they left and began heading deeper into the western region, drawing closer to the Core Level. They wouldn’t go through the deepest parts of the Core Level, but even in its outer layers, they were promised to encounter obstacles.

Naturally, those obstacles were rewards for him.

After all, three days into their journey, just when they entered the Core Level, his Ice, Water, and Lightning Elements upgraded, reaching the Absolute Stage.

The moment they did, each and every one of them assumed their humanoid forms, having longed for that ever since the Flame Elements became Primordial Flame Spirits.

Although they were now normal Elemental Spirits, albeit Forbidden Ones, their evolution came with so many boons that forced Kaden to find a safe place to get to know them first.

Kaden had been expecting such a breakthrough, but he had never expected it to happen just as the growing threat he and his Primordial Flame Spirits were facing started to overwhelm them.

This breakthrough surely came at the right time. He couldn’t have asked for a better time to gain reinforcement in the form of elementals with forbidden powers.

From here onward, things would be different.