The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

Klaus held the Celestial Requiem, his soul weapon.

Since its awakening, he hadn't really used it. He hadn't been on any recent hunts, so despite possessing a sword that came with many added buffs, Klaus hadn't had time to explore its full potential.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

But that didn't mean he was unaware of the amazing perks that came with the soul weapon awakening. They were linked at the soul level, so of course he knew them. Now, facing a 30-meter-tall lion with powers multiplied by two, Klaus had to go all out.

"Chaotic Nirvana Flame: Dragon Arm Guard."

Klaus activated the first skill granted by the dragon. A scaly, flame-imbued guard appeared around his right arm, filling his sword with power.

"Celestial Requiem: Superimpose."

He also activated one of the sword's amplification skills. He hadn't needed to use it before, but now, the danger was overwhelming.

Suddenly, the orbs in the Lightning Source Diagram glowed, and lightning began channeling into his body giving him all the energy he needed for the next attack.

The Gatekeeper raised his sword, and, as before, a lion appeared. However, the moment it manifested, Klaus felt it.

The danger level had risen, and he could already feel the weight of the approaching threat. The lion moved, and like a tidal force, it began pressing forward, bearing down on Klaus.

Fire essence poured into the sword, draining a large portion of his Star Qi. Klaus began to turn pale, but he held on as the lion drew closer.

"One with the Sword: Moon Epic Slash."

Klaus unleashed one of the many skills he had learned from his past memories. His sword slashed forward, sending a 20-meter-wide crimson fire arc toward the lion.

The two attacks collided, and for a moment, time seemed to slow down. Then, with a blinding flash, the two forces exploded, sending a shockwave that blasted Klaus back several kilometers.

Ohema, many kilometers away, was forced to retreat another 4 kilometers.

Cough, cough.

Klaus, lying on the ground, coughed up two mouthfuls of blood, his body covered with cuts. Yet in his gaze, only determination could be seen.

"That was a close call," Klaus muttered, using the sword as support to stand up. The Gatekeeper was still in the air, holding the long sword in his hands.

Klaus looked back at the figure. He could tell it wasn't really a person—more like a divine manifestation of a person. The aura around it felt celestial, and Klaus wanted nothing more than to sever its head from its neck.

Cough.

Klaus coughed up another mouthful of blood, his body aching like hell. While his attack had neutralized the lion, the backlash was punishing. He had channeled too much fire energy, and the result was agonizing.

His body was torn in several places, leaving him barely able to raise his arm, let alone make any moves with his sword.

[Brat, just one more strike, and the tribulation will be over,] the senior said. Klaus merely smiled, feeling he barely had the energy to lift his sword.

"Bell of Harrows." He had to prepare, somehow. Even if he managed to withstand the attack and survive, the tribulation would be deemed a success. But if he failed, the heavens would reclaim what was theirs.

Shattered

Immediately, the Gatekeeper raised his sword, and the bell shattered. Klaus felt his body lock in place; he couldn't even move his fingers. The pressure coming from the sword was too much for him to bear.

Suddenly, the tower moved back, clearing the clouds. A blue sky appeared, replacing the previous stormy dark clouds.

However, in place of the tower, a huge sword appeared from the now-blue sky, piercing the clouds. Klaus felt his knees grow weak, but for some reason, he felt energized. Like he wasn't about to bend the knee to the heavens.

His spirit wouldn't allow it, yet the heavens were forcing him. Perhaps, if he bent the knee, it would be their win somehow. So Klaus wasn't about to relent...His will wouldn't allow it. His nature wasn't breaking despite the force he was under...

Boom!

Suddenly, a dense red energy burst out of Klaus's body, instantly turning his calm golden eyes red. Then, like a possession, intense hatred appeared in Klaus's eyes.

Inside his soul sea, the Seal of Slaughter started leaking intense blood energy, the kind that immediately filled Klaus's body with all the energy he could hope for.

On the outside, Klaus gazed at the sword coming for him with eyes full of hatred.

[That is the Retribution Judgment Sword], the senior said, making Klaus, now leaking bloodthirsty energy, nod.

At least he wasn't possessed again. This meant the seal inside his soul sea had started filling him with energy.

"Senior, what happens when I defend against this attack?" Klaus asked.

[The Gatekeeper would vanish, meaning you have passed the tribulation.]

"Oh really? How interesting," a smirk appeared on Klaus's lips as he looked at the Gatekeeper pointing his sword up toward the heavens.

"Time for revenge," Klaus muttered, and then, under the pressure coming from the sword, he began moving forward.

Your journey continues on empire

It was as if the force restricting him was never there. Although he knew he was on borrowed time, Klaus never let go of the chance for some payback.

After moving forward a few meters, he raised his sword, and like a mist, a huge red skull radiating intense bloodlust appeared in the sky.

The moment it appeared, Klaus's side of the battleground turned dark red, while the Gatekeeper's side was illuminated in a white glow.

"They said you can't be killed because of the restrictions you placed on me. Now, I will show you what I'm made of," Klaus muttered coldly.

The skull turned into a mist and entered the sword. At once, Klaus's eyes shone red, and an intense energy burst from his body.

"Asura Crazy Sword Strike!"

Klaus swung the sword at the Gatekeeper. Immediately, a dark red arc of unknown energy cut out from Klaus's sword, flashing toward the Gatekeeper.

It took just a moment to reach the Gatekeeper. But despite its attempt to defend with the sword in its hand, the blood arc sliced him in half before he had the chance.

Rumble

The heavens let out a powerful cry when the Gatekeeper was killed with a single strike. Just like that, what wasn't supposed to happen happened, and it was their miscalculation.

The Gatekeeper dissipated into runes that flew and merged into Klaus's body. The sword in his hand also dissipated and entered the sword in Klaus's hand.

Up ahead, the Retribution Judgment Sword also dissipated into runes and merged with Klaus's body.

Cough

Klaus coughed up blood, forcing him to drop to his knees. He quickly sat in a lotus posture, the sword vanishing into his soul sea.

On the outside, a mixture of red and golden mist began to envelop him as he sat. Soon, the mist covered him, creating a cocoon around him.

Ohema appeared beside him a few seconds later. She waved her hand, creating a shield around them. She gazed at the cocoon with complicated emotions, but alas, she could only sigh and stand watch.

A day quickly passed, but Klaus still remained in the cocoon with no sign of coming out. Ohema never left his side. She didn't even let her focus shift from the cocoon.

Just like that, a week passed with no changes. Two weeks… three weeks went by, but still no signs. Finally, exactly a month after the tribulation, the cocoon cracked and soon disintegrated.

Inside, Ohema's eyes landed on an even more handsome Klaus, whose face immediately made her little sister tingle in excitement… she wet her pants before she knew it.