The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

"What were we even expecting? That brat wouldn't show up. I knew I made the right decision staying after he threatened everyone," a sage said to his friend.

They were the warriors who didn't listen to Klaus's warning and chose to stand with the alliance...

Right now, it had been over ten hours since the two days he had set started, yet he still hadn't appeared yet. This, of course, made many start to curse him, though a few were happy he wasn't showing up.

Most of them were there because of the reward they had been given and the promises made after they were done with the battles. So Klaus not showing up was actually in their favor.

"What do you expect? How can a single human think he can defeat an army of thousands? He may have already run off, hiding somewhere," another sage commented with a sneer.

"By now, those who deserted after Klaus's warning are crying blood," another said, looking smug.

"Maybe we should just go since he wouldn't be show—"

He wasn't done with his sentence when, suddenly, the sky began to darken, and a storm started forming on the horizon.

Every warrior around became alert at the sudden change in the atmosphere. They retrieved their weapons, and those preparing spells and formations grew tense.

The sky continued to shift ominously as the clouds grew darker, thickening by the second.

Everyone immediately became alert, scanning their surroundings for Klaus, the one they had been waiting for. However, no matter how hard they looked and waited, they found nothing and no one.

"Where is he?" a warrior asked, glancing around for the one he was there to kill.

Suddenly, thunder roared from within the clouds, lighting up the sky with a brilliant flash. In that instant, the silhouette—or, more accurately, the shadow—of a threefold golden ring appeared high above.

"What is that?" those who saw it asked, an ominous feeling creeping over them as they sensed the dark energy radiating from the shadow. It didn't take long for the shadow to solidify into reality.

A massive ring, housing two more golden rings within it, slowly emerged from the clouds. Its diameter spanned an astonishing 12 kilometers, and the energy emanating from it was so overwhelming that those on the ground began to feel an intense sense of danger.

The outer layer of the ring started spinning in a clockwise direction, lightning dancing around it. The second layer moved counterclockwise, producing a strange effect, while the final layer spun clockwise as well.

The faster they spun, the more energy and danger they exuded.

"Seriously, what is that thi—"

A sage, in the middle of speaking, was instantly reduced to ash as a pure golden bolt of lightning shot from the ring, incinerating him completely.

"What..."

This sudden sight terrified everyone, forcing them to distance themselves from the initial impact. But it was no use.

More bolts rained down, and within seconds, over a hundred warriors lay dead, their bodies charred by the lightning.

"Tsk... I still lack experience. I guess I'll use it for a few more seconds to see," Klaus's voice suddenly resounded in everyone's ears, followed by more bolts of lightning that continued claiming soldier after soldier.

They say sometimes the premise determines the outcome of the battle. Today was one of those days.

Klaus's cold entry was the premise that made veterans watching the battle conclude with an outcome for the battle. A monster has appeared, and from the look of things, the battle was as good as winning...

"It's always better when plans come together... The more people gathered, the faster I'll master this technique and move on to the next," Klaus spoke again as more and more lightning descended.

Some were able to defend against it, but most couldn't. Of course, a few managed to survive, but they would only die slowly and painfully. Now, they are begging for death.

Some also tried attacking the rings, but there was a force field around them, making it impossible for them to do so. I mean, something that was stolen from the heavens certainly couldn't be destroyed by mere mortals.

"What is going on... Wha—"

Just like that, the entire alliance army became disorganized. They had come to kill a single man, but when he appeared, they couldn't find or see him. Instead, he started killing them, and there was nothing they could do.

Five minutes later, after killing over 2,000 warriors, Klaus let out a sigh and spoke words that, when heard by the alliance and those watching, sent a cold sweat down their spines.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the ultimate game... I, your host, Klaus Hanson, have chosen some games that, over the course of two hours, will play out here. I know most of you, at some point, will feel like leaving.

Know that this is not one of those games. You had two days to withdraw your application, but you didn't, so for the next two hours, try not to die or escape.

That said, if you manage to leave Union City within these two hours, I will spare you. Also, if you survive after the two hours, I will spare you.

But that will depend on your luck. I know most of you have some good luck, so be sure to put it to use. Of course, I will make one more exception: anyone watching this game show who is willing to play may enter.

I will allow as many of you to join, but you must rely on your efforts and strength to escape. This is only fair for those who will be playing."

Suddenly, another thunder rocked the heavens, and calmly, like a god descending, Klaus, clad in black armour, appeared standing on a large, terrifying sword.

The sword alone was enough to strike fear into anyone. Its blade was green, with crimson veins running all along its surface. Klaus stood on it, looking every bit like a sword deity.

"Now... the containment," Klaus said, opening his palm. A red circle appeared and began expanding.

Soon, it grew so wide that before anyone could grasp what was happening, it had already encircled Union City.

'How strong is their soul strength? At this rate, not even an Ascendant can break free from this containment formation.'

Klaus looked into the distance where Uncle Ziggy and his other uncles were acting as batteries for the [Demon Killing Circle].

They came to help, but it seems they are better suited to be batteries for his ultimate formation that will help him run the games he came up with two days ago.

Klaus stood on the sword, talking and imposing.

A smirk suddenly appeared on Klaus's mouth as he pointed his finger. In the next second, a lightning bolt shot from his fingertip, piercing a hole into a great sage's forehead.

The dead Great Sage was an assassin using a concealment technique to try to reach Klaus. In the end, he couldn't even get within 10 meters of him.

"As I said, to survive, you must keep your life for the next two hours," Klaus said with a smile, looking in the direction where some powerful auras could be seen closing in.

"The next 2 hours are all you have to survive, and the game will be over," Klaus stood there, waiting for the main leaders of the alliance to appear. When Duncan and the others appeared, excluding the Ascendent Assassin, Klaus clapped his hands.

"Also, in your dying moments, thank the Legacy and the three clans for the game. Without them, none of this will be possible."

The moment he said that something changed immediately; everyone, including the Transcendents around, felt a bad premonition.

Then, their worst fear came.

A terrifying face appeared up ahead with its eyes closed. However, the moment the face fully emerged, the eyes snapped open, and a powerful wave of spiritual and mental energy overwhelmed them.

"For the first game," Klaus clasped his hands behind him and muttered aloud for everyone to hear the cold words.

"Kill each other." Those were the only three words he spoke... but they were enough to bring the disaster that followed.

"_"

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