The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

”So the good news is that the Red Lotus Seed is still there, but it is being guarded by the Lotus Serpent. Aside from that, one of the elders, the Six-Tails Elder Mantis, has awakened and, well, is heavily injured.”

King Arshan furrowed his brow, hearing what General Nura said.

”What do you mean by the Six-Tails Elder Mantis being heavily injured?”

”It is as I said. When we got to the core layer, we were ambushed by it and had to run. Of course, it wasn’t easy, but we survived simply because somebody helped us. That person, however, brings me to the bad part of the news.”

King Arshan looked confused, but he allowed General Nura to continue.

”When we were ambushed, we retreated to the western part of the Three Elemental Sea, hoping to shake it off. However, it followed us relentlessly, doing everything in its power to eat us.

After several battles along the way, we finally made it to the western zone. However, we also came to a point where death was the next omen upon us. That was when he appeared, the Paragon you spoke a lot about.”

”WHAT?”

King Arshan’s eyes widened, his body jerking up from his throne.

His breath caught, and for a moment, he forgot how to breathe. General Nura and her teammates could even see it clearly. Just beneath his eyes, they saw fear, a primal fear, one that told them their king was scared of the Paragon.

Seeing this, she revealed the rest of the message. ”He saved us and heavily injured the Six-Tails Elder Mantis. Afterwards, he treated our wounds, and that was when we learned of his identity, and he learned of yours.

He was angry at first, but after we offered him our help, we managed to sign a blood contract with him that states he wouldn’t, as long as we are here, turn his weapon on you. But you also cannot turn your weapon on him.”

King Arshan exhaled, his body growing soft as he fell back onto his throne. For a moment, the five elemental warriors expected him to get angry. However, when he spoke, they all widened their eyes.

”Thank you five. Thank you very much.” He even made a kowtow fist and bowed his head slightly, showing how grateful he was.

General Nura and her team were clearly taken aback. However, curiosity is something that everyone, irrespective of their lineage, has. This curiosity compelled General Nura to ask...

”If you don’t mind me asking, my king, what happened between you two? From how the Paragon sounded, the two of you were best friends at one point in time, so what happened?”

On a normal day, General Nura wouldn’t have dared ask such a question.

However, today, things were different. She and Kaden had reached a blood agreement that they wouldn’t attack each other, meaning that, because of her, the fear King Arshan had harboured for years would never come to pass.

”I can’t say much, but you have to know that indeed we were friends once. We fought shoulder to shoulder on many battlefields and shared meals from the same plate. However, it was between my race and my friendship with him. I picked my race.”

He said nothing else, but the five warriors understood the root of it all. They didn’t ask anything else, for they knew it wasn’t their place to begin with.

”Where was he headed when you met him?”

”Dunsil City. It appeared he was somehow connected to King Xzeth.”

”I see.” King Arshan sighed and said, ”Thank you five. I really appreciate your help. You can go rest now. Later, I will summon you for a more comprehensive report.”

They bowed and left the throne room.

After they left, a shadow stirred at the centre of the room. A pale-looking lady clad in metallic armour appeared, radiating the aura of a Pseudo-Primordial.

”How do you plan on handling this, Father? If Godfather is here in the Elemental Garden, then it is only a matter of time before we have a way to go back to our universe.

Now, I know you two hate each other, but he is my godfather, so please tell me you plan to make up with him before he leaves.”

King Arshan looked at the young lady standing before him and sighed. When he was banished to this place by the Elemental Empress, all his children rebelled against him. In fact, they all worked together to banish him and his warriors.

The only one who stood by his side was this young lady whose control of the Elemental Darkness was as deep as the abyss itself.

She was dangerous and crazy, for she had followed her father here and had helped him conquer many battlefields, finally building Gaukin City.

”I don’t know what to do, Saint. But I have to meet him somehow and straighten things out.” He exhaled and admitted, ”He trusted me, Saint. He left his back to me, and I stabbed him where it hurt the most. He will never forgive me.”

He stood up and walked to the window, looking out over the vast expanse of the city, thriving with life and a sense of unity bound by the unwavering authority of King Arshan.

”You, however, are a different issue. He doesn’t hate you, not even for a moment.” He smiled. ”You know, he had me by the throat back then. He was this close to killing me, but he let me go because of you. So while he will hate me, you are a different story.”

Saint smiled and said, ”Godfather doted on me the most, after all.”

King Arshan nodded, and after a few seconds of thinking, he said:

”He is headed to Dunsil City, which is on the other side of the Ant Desert. Going there will be dangerous even if I escort you. However, knowing him, he will learn of the Elemental Tower, and he is most certain to come there.

So we can meet him there.”

”I will start preparing then.” Saint giggled and dissolved into darkness, drifting away.

King Arshan watched his daughter leave with a calm expression.