The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

Chapter 1377: Proficiency Increased

Instead of retreating, Klaus stepped into the droid’s range. His scythe curved in a tight inward arc, forcing the droid to block. With his free hand, Klaus slammed his palm toward its chest.

He was testing new waters to see what he could achieve. Of course, he limited himself to only his scythe.

He didn’t bring in his spirit weapons mainly because he wanted to enhance his close combat skills. However, even if he were to use them, he had the feeling the droid would adapt in no time.

The palm strike shot forward.

However, the droid leaned back at a mathematically perfect angle, barely avoiding the strike, then retaliated with a spinning dual slash aimed at decapitating him.

Klaus ducked under the first blade but felt the second sword slice across his shoulder.

More pain. More blood.

He was injured again, and that just wasn’t something anyone would expect someone like Klaus to go through. His close combat skills were praised by many when the popular video of him and Blood Shadow went public.

Many saw how complex the moves were and how perfectly they were executed. So for him to sustain two injuries within minutes of starting a duel with a Real Immortal, Klaus knew he was still lacking, and it became clear to him now.

”Icon, measure my close combat skill proficiency and compare it to the droid’s”

One good thing about him is that he doesn’t make the same mistake twice. Klaus always learns from his mistakes, so the droid would not be able to use the same move twice.

This also meant that all he needed to do was keep going, and soon he would be able to fix all the flaws in his combat style.

[I have calculated that the Master’s close combat skill is 75% that of the droid’s. If the Master wants to fix his flaws, then he must keep going. I will update the Master whenever he makes progress.]

”That is wonderful,” he smiled. ”Although I came here simply to check what I have received, using the time I have left to improve my close combat skills is not too bad.”

Klaus slowly started working his way up. Eventually, he had read the pattern of the droid.

The droid favoured efficiency over unpredictability. It always chose the highest probability outcome. That, in a way, was perfectly normal. Klaus was sometimes the same way, too.

He likes to read his opponent and look for ways to open gaps in their attacks. So he had met his meter.

Klaus narrowed his eyes.

If the droid always chose the most probable outcome, it could be predicted. Not easily. Not by ordinary standards. But by someone who could think in layers.

Klaus is a thinker, so this task depends on whether he can think in layers and make a decision faster than the droid.

’I have depended too much on my already established battle style. While that is good, there is always the need to adapt in battle. So having a rigid battle style would, in a way, limit me.

However, if I can create a fluid battle style that can easily be transformed to suit my needs, that would be way better.’

The droid stepped forward again, twin swords angled in a mirrored stance. No wasted movement. No unnecessary flair.

Klaus adjusted his footing.

This time, he did not rush.

The droid initiated with a forward burst, blades crossing in an X-shaped slash aimed at his torso. Klaus pivoted instead of blocking head-on. His scythe hooked one blade outward while his shoulder rolled just enough for the second to skim past his robe.

It was too close.

But calculated.

He twisted the scythe shaft and locked it briefly against both swords, stepping into the droid’s guard. His knee shot upward toward his abdomen.

The droid reacted instantly.

It released one sword in an attempt to execute a move Klaus never anticipated while defending against his attack. The now-free hand caught his knee mid-air.

This prevented Klaus’s attack; however, the droid wasn’t one to waste a moment. A counter-elbow drove toward Klaus’s jaw in a precise arc.

He tilted his head back just in time, but he felt the wind of the strike brush his face.

”Fast.”

The droid reclaimed its fallen blade with a smooth foot flick and resumed its dual stance without breaking rhythm.

Klaus’s lips curved.

’Good. This is good. But you have now fallen into my trap, buddy.’

He darted in again, this time deliberately exposing a minor opening on his left side. It wasn’t obvious, but a good warrior with great close-combat skills would see that. So he knew the droid would pick up on it and take advantage of it.

As expected, the droid calculated and took it, hoping to end the battle in that instant. Its blade thrust toward the gap.

But Klaus was waiting, already having six ways to take advantage of the droid. In a way, he changed his combat style, which gave him an opening.

If this were a real battle with a genuine opening, his chance to kill would be now.

He rotated around the thrust instead of retreating, letting the blade pass under his arm. His scythe shaft slammed down across the droid’s wrist joint.

Clang.

Its movement slowed, but only barely.

However, that was enough. Klaus had already expected that and prepared a second counter for it.

He stepped through the droid’s guard and drove the butt of his scythe into its chest core.

Boom.

The droid slid back several meters, boots carving lines into the reinforced floor. This time, the momentum Klaus put into his attack was greater than before. The droid was outsmarted, and that wasn’t just a small achievement; it was a monumental one.

For the first time, the droid’s stance shifted half a degree off-centre.

Icon’s voice echoed calmly.

[Close combat proficiency increased to 78%.]

Klaus grinned wider.

”Now we’re talking.”

The droid activated again, this time changing tempo. Instead of immediate aggression, it circled in small, efficient steps.

It was reading him.

From what Icon said, he knew the droid had adapted, and that alone showed what a treasure he now had at his disposal.

The next exchange was faster.

Steel rang repeatedly as their weapons collided in rapid succession. Klaus no longer relied purely on reaction. He began inserting controlled unpredictability—micro-delays, irregular footwork, slight variations in rhythm.

His combat style was built on these factors. It would take a while to push him to the level where he would boldly be able to win every close combat encounter.

But with the many droids currently at his disposal, if he remained consistent, he could achieve that.

The droid responded with tighter angles, cutting off escape routes.

A thrust aimed at his throat, but Klaus parried with great efficiency.

---

Hours passed quickly.

Klaus remained locked in combat with the droid. He sustained additional injuries, but as time passed, he adapted, and his injuries came less often.

His close combat proficiency had reached a whole new level.

As time passed, he began to gain his footing.

In the end, after four hours of combat, he decided to call it a day. His progress stagnated, so he asked Icon to train the droid some more before their next battle. He also asked for its rank to be upgraded to True Immortal.

He even named the droid Alpha...

[Close combat proficiency: 82%.]