The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse Chapter 1413: Fire Vs Shadow (1)

On the following day, Klaus and Shadow Reaper kicked off the fight first.

Similar to the previous one, their clash quickly stole the spotlight.

As a Nightshade Human, Shadow Reaper came into the world with a natural talent for shadows and darkness, honing assassination skills through them over countless years.

Claiming he dominates the use of shadows and darkness would hardly overstate his prowess.

Like numerous other criminals, he began as a decent individual; yet, somewhere along the path, he evolved into a full-fledged murderer.

These days, he slays for profit, and records on the dark web reveal he's never botched a single hit.

Observing his tall, lean frame, Klaus realized his speed must be extraordinarily high. Given his ability to navigate through darkness and shadows, engaging him in melee would be a deadly mistake.

"You don't seem all that intimidating, Blood Sword. To me, you're nothing more than a pest I could squash without effort," Shadow Reaper taunted, twirling his dagger in his hand.

"My target is the Renegade Hunter, but since so many suspect you're him, taking you out first suits me just fine."

A chuckle escaped Klaus, his face lighting up with amusement. "That's hilarious, coming from you. But given you're just another dim-witted fool comparing me to that spoiled kid, maybe I should set you straight.

"I'll claim victory in this fight because, even though shadows and darkness back you up, my flames can scorch souls themselves. So, let's imagine for a second and assess your odds."

After a brief finger-counting session, a grin spread across Klaus's features. "You see, ever since entering this blood tournament, folks have endlessly speculated about when my luck would finally dry up.

Truth be told, I haven't tapped even 30% of it yet. I can't tell if you opponents are simply feeble or if you're rooting for my success that much.

It hurts a little facing off against trash like you, all bark with no bite. Truly tragic, isn't it?

Still, if you're so convinced offing me is a breeze, I'll make an example of you for the rest of the idiots eyeing that bounty on me."

Stowing his bow, Klaus reached out, calling forth a massive, ebony, serrated blade. "Draw even one drop of my blood, and I'll call it your triumph." With those words, pristine white flames erupted along the sword, unleashing surges of soul-targeting assaults.

Shadow Reaper's brow furrowed at once, his face tightening in tension.

Right then, the starting green signal lit up, prompting him to melt into the shadows and shroud his half of the field in utter blackness.

In that instant, no trace of his aura lingered anywhere across the battleground.

"Idiot."

With a forceful stomp, Klaus ignited white flames across his section, transforming the whole arena into a scorching inferno that gnawed at the very essence of the soul.

Lifting a finger, he began the countdown. "Five... four... three... two... one."

"ArrrrrgghhhhhHHH!"

As the count reached zero, a shrill cry echoed through the arena while Shadow Reaper burst from the gloom, his form engulfed in white fire.

Desperate attempts to douse the blaze failed; the flames refused to yield no matter his efforts.

"Yesterday, your tricks might have snuffed them out. Too bad for you, I'm unleashing more strength now, so extinguishing them means you have to end me first."

Directing his sword ahead, Klaus continued, "Assuming you survive five minutes against me with your soul ablaze."

Shadow Reaper's gaze darkened to pure blackness as he clenched his jaw. The Soul Fury Flame devoured his soul and seared his flesh relentlessly.

Channeling shadows to ease the torment proved less helpful than expected, pushing him toward drastic actions.

In a savage stab, he drove the dagger into his shoulder, slicing away a chunk of the shadow essence enveloping him.

That shadowy piece peeled off like a severed appendage, dragging some white flames along before vanishing into oblivion. His breaths came ragged, yet the fire on him dimmed a touch.

Klaus cocked his head, surprised yet entertained by the clever pain relief tactic.

Even so, he held back, remaining perfectly still. The serrated black blade throbbed in his grip, its white flames dancing along the edge, his eyes locked on Shadow Reaper, anticipating the next play.

It took mere moments before he acted.

Abruptly, shadows swallowed the earth under Klaus's feet.

Next, a slender shadow streak raced across the arena's surface in a blur, swift and low like a serpent gliding over the dirt.

Before a second passed, Shadow Reaper materialized from that streak right at Klaus's rear, dagger sheathed in dense darkness that swallowed all light.

Utterly black and empowered by three immortal rings, it became a lethal instrument.

Without hesitation, he lunged with full force.

The edge sank into what looked like Klaus's rear—only for the figure to crumble into white ashes. A precise hit, yet it struck nothing solid.

Shock widened Shadow Reaper's eyes upon realizing his miss. The strike hadn't inflicted the slightest harm on Klaus.

Klaus simply rematerialized a few paces distant, coalescing from eddying white flames. "Swift and bold move," he remarked evenly, his tone resonating softly in the strange quiet. "But you can't outpace me, not with my flames rooted in your soul."

Before Shadow Reaper could pull back, Klaus whipped his sword in a single arc.

It lacked Shadow Reaper's velocity.

Nor was it showy.

Yet as the sword sliced the air, a white flame crescent ripped forward, carving the battlefield in two.

A blistering surge followed, slamming into Shadow Reaper with overwhelming might, draining the color from his face.

Activating his immortal rings, he summoned darkness to his will, erecting a protective barrier from it.

A shadowy dome rose, soaking up some of the onslaught. Still, the flames infiltrated it like venom.

They battered his form and spirit alike, hurling him to the arena's distant wall.

Struggling to rise, he gathered his resolve just as Klaus swung again, tracing a vast curve in the sky.

The fiery arc hurtled toward him with fatal velocity.

Once more, Shadow Reaper raised darkness as cover, blocking half the material blow while the soul strike fractured his core essence.

Crimson trickled from his mouth's edge as he fought to expel the blockage.

"Three minutes," Klaus noted casually. "Five might be beyond you."

Stomping the ground anew, he unleashed an orange blaze that merged with the ongoing white one. Amid the fiery burst, a massive dragon bellowed and soared upward.

"ROAR!"

Nirvana made her dramatic entrance, and shock rippled across every spectator's expression.