The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

Chapter 115: Never Bet Against Me

Max stood frozen, unable to process what had just happened. Even the war god overseeing the duel was left speechless. And it wasnʼt just him—people all over the world, glued to their TV screens, were stunned into silence.

First, Klaus had dodged a lethal attack with ease. Then, he had gone further, catching an even deadlier strike mid-air. But now, cleaving an arrow in half like it was nothing—like slicing through butter with a hot knife—was too much. It was overpowered, leaving everyone speechless.

[War Goddess POV]

Since the duel began, the war goddess of the Eastern Region of the Northern Union had been watching closely. She sat with Anna and Klausʼs friends, their eyes glued to a massive screen showing the fight.

”Heʼs going to win, right?” Anna asked, her fists clenched in nervous anticipation.

”Of course,” Mark replied confidently. ”Itʼs Klaus. Weʼve all seen how insane he can be.” His mind drifted back to the first time they met Klaus, during the Zombie Tide in the Everlasting Zombie Forest.

Hundreds of warriors had fallen when the tide suddenly appeared. They fought hard, barely hanging on, and just as they were about to escape, a Zombie Captain blocked their path. Despair started to set in, but then Klaus appeared, cutting down the Zombie Captain like it was nothing. And he didnʼt stop there—he went on to kill even more, including a Zombie General.

Since then, Klaus had consistently done the impossible, pulling off feats no one his age or at his cultivation level should be able to do. Now, he stood in the arena, facing a powerful legacy—and if that wasnʼt enough, he even added insult to injury by offering his opponent a handicap.

Mark smirked. ”Heʼs not just going to win. Heʼs going to make a statement.”

”You sound confident,” the war goddess said suddenly.

”I am,” Mark replied. ”Even though we havenʼt known Klaus for long, from what little weʼve seen, this opponent doesnʼt stand a chance. Take it from someone as skeptical as me—Klaus is not normal. Heʼs different, and everyone will see that today.”

”I suppose weʼll find out,” the war goddess said, turning back to the screen just as Max launched his first attack.

When Klaus dodged the attack, it was as if the war goddessʼs understanding of reality was shattered. She was powerful and knew exactly what it took to perform such a maneuver. It shouldnʼt have been possible for Klaus to do what he just did.

She was right—Klaus didnʼt possess divine sense yet, so he couldnʼt see through his eyes closed. He could only feel, and that wasnʼt enough for the feat he had just accomplished. Yet, somehow, Klaus evaded the attack.

Anna, Mark, and the others were equally baffled. They couldnʼt understand how Klaus managed that. Then came the second attack, and Klaus caught the arrow. At this point, they were left in shock.

But then Anna noticed something.

”The ice mist,” she said, her eyes widening. ”Heʼs using the ice mist to sense his surroundings. But how is that possible?”

The war goddess narrowed her eyes, considering Annaʼs observation. ”Thatʼs true, but how is he managing it? It shouldnʼt be possible.”

”It must have something to do with that flower,” Lily suggested. However, she was mistaken. Klaus did have a connection with the ice mist, but he was using the flower merely to spread it.

One of the benefits of having a ʼCelestial Elemental Overlord talent is the ability to connect with elements at an atomic-molecular level. Klaus could sense the ice down to its finest detail. This means that the moment an arrow entered the ice mist, he could detect it.

The rest came down to his reaction speed. Klaus could have used the ʼAbsolute Ice Domainʼ ability of the lotus flower to either block the attacks completely or slow them down enough for him to dodge them. However, Klaus was also training his reaction speed, so even though it was a life-or-death duel, he chose to test his limits.

”What kind of talent allows someone to do that?” Daniel asked, astonished.

”Who knows?” The war goddess replied, her awe growing. ”No one knew the extent of his talent or what he has awakened. But from this display, itʼs clear it has something to do with elements.”

Mesmerized, she sat down with the others, her eyes fixed on Klaus as he effortlessly cut through the third attack.

[Inside Oracle]

Klaus turned around, a smirk on his lips as he looked at Max, who was now astonished and shocked. With Max having exhausted his three attacks without managing to kill Klaus, it was now Klausʼs turn to strike. He had promised only one attack, and it was going to be decisive.

”Are you scared?” Klaus asked, his voice dripping with mockery.

”You should be. Never in your wildest dreams did you think youʼd fail to kill me with that handicap? I gave you a chance, and you didnʼt take it. Now itʼs my turn to attack and trust me, youʼll die from it. So stop despairing and open your eyes.

A Nobody is about to defeat you, and it will be quick. After today, you might want to start calling yourself a Foot Soldier instead of a Legacy. That title means nothing in the face of true strength.

You might not realize it now, but youʼve actually made me realize something today,” Klaus said, tilting his head to the side.

”Whatʼs that?” Max managed to ask through gritted teeth.

”That Legacies ainʼt shit,” Klaus said with a cold smile.

”Bastard!” Max shouted, pulling back on his bowstring. But before he could release his attack, the war god intervened.

”If you attack now, youʼll be breaking the rules,” the war god declared. ”As such, youʼll lose and be fined 100 billion to the winner.”

Max froze, his gaze burning with fury. Klausʼs insult had cut deep, not only challenging Maxʼs status as a Legacy but undermining all Legacies everywhere.

”Remember these words well: All schemes are useless in the face of absolute strength. Now, prepare to die,” Klaus said, his grip tightening around his sword with cold determination.

As he spoke, the mist that had been spreading across the arena finally reached Max. Klausʼs smile widened, knowing his flower had done its job perfectly. With the mist now enveloping the entire arena, the flowerʼs work was complete, and it began to disperse.

”Iʼm coming for you now,” Klaus muttered, his voice barely audible.

In the blink of an eye, Klaus moved. His speed was like a whisper of wind—swift, silent, and without a trace of shockwave or tremor. Maxʼs eyes narrowed as he sensed something shift. Before he could react, he felt a cold pressure at his neck.

He looked up to see Klaus standing just a step away; his back turned in a strangely graceful pose. Despite the intimidation, the white deadlocks cascading down Klausʼs back gave him an oddly beautiful appearance.

Klaus turned to face him, a cruel smile playing on his lips. ”This is how you die, Max Doofus. So long.”

As Klausʼs words echoed in his ears, Maxʼs vision dimmed, and darkness took over. He awoke, disoriented, in a chair similar to the one Klaus was sleeping in.

ʼI died,ʼ was the first thought that crossed his mind. He looked around, and indeed, he was back in the room he entered the oracle in.

A figure stood beside Max, silent and unmoving, watching the screen replaying the duel. Max turned his head, following the figureʼs gaze. His eyes widened as he saw it—the moment of his death replayed in slow motion.

”How is that possible?” Max muttered under his breath. He could see it clearly now. It was as if Klaus had vanished, only to reappear behind him in an instant. The entire sequence felt both mesmerizing and unreal, like a nightmare.

Klausʼs sword had passed cleanly through his neck the moment he appeared beside him. The precision, the speed—it all seemed too perfect, too deadly. If this had been reality, Max knew heʼd be lying dead on the ground right now. The thought alone sent a violent chill down his spine.

His body trembled uncontrollably, and he stumbled backward, his legs giving out beneath him. He collapsed onto the chair bed, staring at the screen in disbelief. The replay continued, each frame a reminder of his swift defeat, and with it came the bitter sting of helplessness.

Maxʼs breath quickened, the icy realization sinking in—he had truly lost, and to Klaus of all people.

Max sat there, his mind reeling. The person he had once thought of as a nobody, someone he was planning to humiliate, had just completely crushed him. The shame wasnʼt just his own—his defeat was a humiliation to all legacies. He had lost, and the weight of that embarrassment was suffocating.

He felt an overwhelming urge to disappear, to bury himself somewhere no one could find him. But there was no escaping reality. Just as the despair was sinking in, the war god overseeing the duel appeared on the screen.

”Well, ladies and gentlemen, I hope you enjoyed the show. Now, the winner will say a few words.”

Klausʼs face filled the screen. A playful smile spread across his face as he spoke. ”Hehe, this was fun. To everyone who doubted me, Iʼm sorry to say this young master isnʼt losing to any legacy—in this life or the next. So, next time you hear my name, remember these words: never bet against me.”

Klausʼs grin grew wider as he continued. ”And to my dear friend Max, like I said before, youʼre a decent archer. So, instead of wallowing in despair, use this as a wake-up call. Being a legacy doesnʼt make you supreme. There are others out there far better than you.”

He paused for a moment, then added, ”And to Oracle, thank you for making this battle happen. This place is incredible, and I hope it becomes a training ground for young warriors to grow without the fear of dying.”

Klaus gave a casual wave. ”Thatʼs all for now. Iʼve got to go face some scolding from my mom. Bye.”

The screen cut off, leaving Max staring at his own reflection in the darkened monitor, the sting of Klausʼs words and his humiliating loss settling deeper into his core.