The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse Chapter 1421: Making His Move

Rory, to put it mildly, had a rather short list of expectations.

First, she certainly did not anticipate learning that Klaus possessed not one, not two, but upwards of twenty-four wives. Even though she lacked concrete evidence, she found herself inclined to believe him.

Then again, there was little reason to doubt his claims, even if he were spinning a tall tale.

The second surprise was her own behavior. She felt she could have handled the situation with more grace by maintaining the detached, cool exterior she usually adopted for deeply personal matters.

Over the past few weeks, Klaus had repeatedly attempted to bridge the distance between them, yet she always managed to fend him off whenever he neared the truth.

Everything he knew about her had been gathered through her father or pulled from digital footprints scraped by Icon.

She typically displayed no interest when he spoke, behaving as though he were neither a man worthy of her attention nor a person significant enough to warrant interaction.

This sudden, piercing flash of jealousy was entirely contrary to her intentions.

Finally, Klaus abruptly invaded her personal space, reaching out to wrap his arms firmly around her waist and pulling her flush against him.

To her utter shock, she felt her strength evaporate as her chest pressed firmly against his. In a normal circumstance, she would have instinctively pushed him away.

Yet, not only did she find herself devoid of energy, but an internal lack of resistance left her completely bewildered.

In her past, many men had paid dearly for merely attempting to court her. Throughout her time at the academy, she had earned the title of the Dangerous Maiden; she was considered untouchable, especially by those beneath her power.

Klaus was arguably the weakest person—at least in terms of cultivation base—to ever make such a move on her. And yet, she could not fathom why she didn't despise it.

‘This cannot be happening,’ she whispered to herself. But as Klaus tightened his hold on her, her thoughts began to fray into a disorganized mess.

“Oh? So it seems you are jealous to discover I have wives,” Klaus noted, a playful smirk touching his lips.

“I-I am n-not,” she stammered.

“Nonsense, I am sure you are. And the truth is, you simply want me all to yourself.”

Rory glared at him, but before she could retort or attempt any physical rebuttal, Klaus took action to validate his intuition.

“I may not look like it, but I have encountered millions of women. While this isn’t a competition, I have been romantically involved with at least a few thousand, so I understand when a woman is interested.”

He lifted her from the water suddenly, and as he submerged her back into the pool, he anchored her close to his body. Exactly as he had predicted, her slender legs instinctively wrapped around his waist.

Realizing her error, she attempted to pull away, but her regret was immediate when Klaus’s hand moved from her waist to firmly grip her backside.

“Just admit it. You like me and you want me.”

Watching from the garden, Lord Victor offered a subtle smile and shook his head before looking away. Having lived for millions of years, he was well-versed in the nuances of human attraction.

Rory might have been skilled at concealment, but as her father, he knew her perfectly. The very fact that she had spent weeks alone with Klaus was proof enough of her feelings.

She was not the type to sacrifice her valuable time for anyone, not even her own siblings. By choosing to guard Klaus and trailing after him for weeks, she demonstrated clearly that he was someone she tolerated, if not cherished.

It could only mean one thing: she had developed feelings for him, a fact now made obvious by the deep blush staining her cheeks.

“Good luck, kiddo.”

Inside the pool, Klaus winked at her. “I prefer not to lie when the truth is harmless. The reality is that I have twenty-seven wives, each a beautiful warrior destined to reshape the world. There are others I intend to claim soon, as they already admire me, just as you do. Without boasting, let me say that I have secured some of the most remarkable women this universe has ever known.” He leaned in, whispering against her ear, “Even the reincarnation of the Red Fury is a member of my harem.”

Rory’s eyes widened at the mention of the famous name.

Klaus had spent enough time with Rory to learn a great deal about her, despite her guarded nature during his inquiries.

One detail he had uncovered was her deep idolization of the Red Fury. He didn't understand the origin of her admiration for Lily’s former self, but he was delighted to have such a powerful piece of intelligence.

He suspected it would be useful when he finally sought to get closer to her. Now that he had made his move and witnessed Rory’s expected reaction, he knew there was no retreating.

“Don’t worry, I shall be visiting them soon, and I can bring you along. Besides her, my harem is filled with other legendary warriors who once held dominion over the universe. I am certain you will grow fond of them.”

She remained silent, staring intently at Klaus. After a few minutes of this, a sudden sensation near her waist prompted her to glance downward.

“No need to investigate, dear, it is just me,” he told her with a grin, giving her a tender squeeze. Rory felt her resolve crumble, and she slid her arms around his neck to pull him into a hug.

Klaus snapped his fingers, and the pool water instantly rose in temperature. “This should keep you relaxed.”

She didn’t provide a response, though she accepted the warmth. She remained in his arms, hoping that her strength would return so she could find the resolve to push him away.

Alas, after a few minutes, Klaus took her out of the pool and carried her to a lounger. He positioned her to lie on top of him, her head resting against his chest.

While he wasn't going to fully claim her just yet, he certainly planned to in the near future.

For today, however, he only wanted her blood.

“I am going to bite you now. It won't be painful; if anything, it will be quite pleasurable. Feel free to moan—that’s about all you can do anyway.”

His fangs descended, and he sank them slowly and deeply into her neck.

“Mmmhhhhh.” Precisely as he thought, she let out a moan, marking the inauguration of her new, intensely pleasurable routine with a boy she could easily kill with a slight flick of her wrist.

Because of a single, calculated gesture, she found herself completely stripped of her defensive instincts, left only with the vocal release of her pleasure as he drained her vitality.

Klaus kept the encounter controlled for their first time, keeping in mind that this would become a weekly tradition. She might be harboring doubts now, but he knew she would soon be the one begging for his affection.

Whether Klaus fully realized it or not, the recovery of Rhazor’s memories had reignited the womanizing habits of his past. The difference now, however, was his intent to foster genuine connections rather than just fleeing after a brief tryst.

That said, the same peril that nearly claimed him during his fifth incarnation was likely to return: a legion of vengeful suitors and jealous rivals hunting him for taking their women.