The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse Chapter 1423: Double Crossed

Never before had Blood Sword faced such a devastating injury. Throughout his previous conflicts, he had consistently maintained dominance from the very onset.

Yet, within a mere span of thirty seconds, a deep gash carved by the Halberd of Crimson Inferno left him bleeding profusely. For Blood Sword, who fostered an unwavering belief in his own invulnerability, the situation was nothing short of humiliating and shocking.

In a swift act of retaliation, he unleashed the devastating energies of his [Chaotic Nirvana Flame] and [Soul Fury Flame].

Both Nirvana and Fury morphed into their draconic states. Just as Crimson Inferno dashed toward Klaus to finalize the kill after his initial strike missed, he found his path obstructed.

"Chaotic Breath"

"Soul-Eating Breath"

Bursts of orange and white flames erupted from their maws, engulfing Crimson Inferno in a terrifying radiance. He raised his Halberd to parry the onslaught, surrounding himself with a defensive barrier.

The protection shattered upon impact with the combined flames. The concentrated might of the two dragons slammed into him, driving his frame hard against the earth.

"AaaarrgggHHHHH!" A harrowing, agony-filled shriek tore from his throat as he cratered into the ground.

The orange fire seared his flesh, while the white flames infiltrated his soul, inflicting deep, spiritual trauma.

Before he could regain his footing, they circled back for another assault.

Both Nirvana and Fury were incensed that this wretch had dared to harm their Papa. Intent on retribution, they threw everything into their attacks, ensuring he would regret provoking their master even in his next reincarnation.

High above, Klaus stood upon Void’s back, the creature's phoenix wings stretched wide. Although his wounds were knitting together rapidly, he recognized the necessity of neutralizing this threat before further complications emerged.

He discarded his sword in favor of his bow, deeming it the safest method to eliminate his adversary without inviting unnecessary peril.

He was keenly aware that this confrontation possessed the potential to claim his life if he faltered.

Void let out a piercing cry and ascended higher into the firmament.

"Keep spiraling, dear."

"Understood, Daddy." She flapped her pinions, maintaining their circular trajectory.

Klaus drew a metallic arrow densely inscribed with thousands of runes. This was among the many munitions Knox, his secondary soul body, had fashioned for situations demanding long-range engagement rather than close-quarters combat.

During his previous incarnation, he was revered as the Divine Archer. Back then, the universe had not yet turned against him, granting him the opportunity to master a vast array of disciplines prior to the confrontation with the gods.

Though his memories of that existence were fragmented, his soul body retained the necessary techniques to construct such armaments.

He notched the arrow and pulled the string tight. Abruptly, one of the tattoos adorning his arm flared to life, venting black flames that spiraled around the shaft of the arrow.

Since no restraint was needed, the Primordial Desolation Flame also joined the fray. With his target locked and the arrow primed, Klaus inhaled deeply.

With Nirvana and Fury keeping Crimson Inferno occupied, he had a clear line of fire. Yet, exactly as he prepared to release, the space above fractured, and a figure clutching an S-class laser gun materialized, pulling the trigger.

"Perish, you trash!"

Before the arrow could be loosed, the energy beam locked onto Klaus.

"NOOOOOOOO!"

A chorus of shouts erupted from the spectators as they witnessed Klaus utilize his bow to intercept the incoming projectile. A diaphanous shield shimmered into existence before him.

Nevertheless, the beam tore through the barrier, knocking Klaus from the back of Void.

In the blink of an eye, Klaus was sent plummeting, his survival uncertain.

Hovering in the air, the assailant retrieved a device from his space ring, activating it instantly to hermetically seal the space surrounding himself and the two combatants.

He descended to the ground, casting a glance toward the VIP lounge where Lord Varkos and his five henchmen sat, faces twisted with indignation.

Ordinarily, his duty would necessitate intervention against anyone daring to compromise a duel between criminals. However, blinded by bribes, he remained stationary, observing the scene. In his estimation, Klaus had already met his end.

It was inconceivable for a mortal to survive a point-blank blast from an S-class laser weapon. Furthermore, the fact that his flame spirits had vanished at the moment of the strike confirmed his demise.

This Executioner, dispatched by the Warrior Tower, gestured for the dust to settle, exposing Klaus’s prone form with a gaping cavity carved through his chest.

He clung to life by a thread, yet the frailty of his respiration indicated he had little time left.

Around the arena, the crowd questioned Lord Varkos’s inaction. Some attempted to intervene, but the barrier proved impenetrable.

Even a few Immortal Emperors hidden among the observers attempted to breach the seal, to no avail.

It did not suffer even a single scratch.

They were well aware that Lord Varkos possessed the capability to shatter the screen effortlessly.

Yet, he remained unbothered, seated with an undisturbed expression.

The Executioner halted over the broken body of Klaus and crouched. "Not so formidable now, are we?" he taunted with a sinister grin.

"I anticipated greater resilience. Perhaps you were never anything more than a fraud." His arrogance surged as he watched the light dim in Klaus’s eyes.

"W-Well fought..." Klaus wheezed, his breathing shallow and erratic.

He managed to shift his gaze toward Crimson Inferno, who lay sprawled on the ground, his own strength fading rapidly.

Nirvana and Fury had clearly beaten him to a pulp. His current exhaustion was the inevitable backlash from the Soul Ignition Pill.

The enhancement was merely transient, and he was now suffering the consequences.

"You dismantled his life, and for what? Just to finish me?"

"Precisely. Your death will bring joy to many,” the Executioner gloated, savoring the final moments of his prey.

"It is truly hilarious that a Supreme would stoop so low to hunt a nobody. I wonder if that brat's rumors were legitimate after all," a faint smile played on Klaus’s lips as he looked up at his tormentor.

"Is your master truly that inept in the bedroom..."

"Bastard!" The Executioner seized him by the throat, hoisting him into the air.

A dagger manifested in his hand, and he drove it precisely into Klaus’s heart, causing a crimson stream to bleed from his lips.

"Hahahahahahaha... A pathetic boss sending a pathetic lackey to harass a dragon," Klaus laughed, ignoring the blood surging from his chest and mouth.

Recognizing the end, he ensured his final words would reverberate for all to hear.

"A wise man once noted, death manifests in myriad forms... sometimes, arriving as a thief who delights in splintering his own body to toy with idiots..."

The Executioner detected a sudden shift in the atmosphere. Before he could retreat, two spears erupted through his back, piercing clear through his chest.