The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse Chapter 1431: Arriving On Planet Caelmir

"What is weighing on your mind?" Rory inquired, her fingers grazing Klaus’s dampened skin as they shared the expansive bathtub.

"It is nothing to concern yourself with." Klaus tilted his head, brushing his lips against her arm as a silent assurance that all was well.

However, Rory—who had finally come to terms with her affections for Klaus following Ossana’s arrival—could sense his internal turmoil. Her intuition told her he was troubled, an awareness she had not expected to develop so early in their connection.

Previously, she might have let it slide. Yet, circumstances had shifted significantly...

"Does this stem from what Ossana shared with you?"

Klaus let out a weary breath and offered a slight nod. "You see, for the longest time, I’ve been so fixated on the Heavenly Court that I neglected the possibility that they might not be the primary villain of this tragedy.

If the information Odith unearthed is accurate, my cultivation must accelerate rapidly. Believe it or not, the survival of this universe rests upon my shoulders; I cannot afford to stumble, for if I do..."

A heavy, hollow sigh escaped him.

His resentment toward the Heavenly Court partly stemmed from their inability to grasp his ultimate goals. During the Primordial and Divine Eras, back when they didn’t stand against him, he achieved wonders.

If they could only revert to that era when he stood as the universe's greatest ally, progress would move at an exponential rate.

Presently, the entire cosmos faces a devastating threat from a Foreign Race which, if left unaddressed, will spell extinction for everyone.

Conventional wisdom suggests the Heavenly Court should exhaust every resource, standing firm against whatever that foreign entity throws their way to minimize the casualties.

Alas, Klaus realized that the Heavenly Court would sooner abandon everything to hunt him down, now that his return was public knowledge.

They seemed to maintain a fundamentally flawed set of priorities whenever he was involved.

"Just as I gain momentum, new complications arise, introducing fresh variables. At this junction, the heavens feel entirely detached from order."

Rory, having never been a Paragon, could offer little assistance regarding his grand struggles. Though she lacked insight into those cosmic machinations, she remained a source of comfort, and a gentle embrace helped steady Klaus’s nerves.

"I cannot claim to grasp the gravity of your words. But know this: I will do everything within my reach to support you, regardless of my limitations."

Klaus offered a warm smile, pulling her closer. "Simply being here with me is more than enough."

She nodded, burying her face into his chest.

Minutes later, the pair disentangled themselves to finish their bath. Once dressed, they went to notify Lord Victor that they would be departing for several weeks.

"Planet Caelmir... that name rings a bell, though the details escape me..."

"It is a realm of the Paragon. That was my home during my seventh incarnation."

"Ah, yes." Lord Victor nodded, the memory finally surfacing. "I recall reading that after the seventh Paragon moved on, the Heavenly Court attempted to annex it, only to fail repeatedly.

Apparently, just as they were on the brink of conquest, mysterious figures who seemed to vanish from memory would materialize and wipe out the invaders. Eventually, they gave up entirely."

Klaus and Rory exchanged knowing smiles, both aware of Ossana and her sisters' intervention.

Klaus was not surprised that Rory could retain memories of the Genesis Legion, quite unlike Ossana’s situation.

Lord Victor sensed the pair knew more than they admitted, though he refrained from pressing them.

"I have always hoped to visit that place. For now, because of your generosity, I am scheduled to head to Master Hael’s world tomorrow. Perhaps another time."

"That is your priority, so stay focused. Once he finishes crafting your training regimen, I shall provide my blood. Three months from now, we will journey to the Jade Ant Queen’s lair for the mission you assigned me."

He gave a sharp nod.

Drawing the Demon Bead from his robes, Klaus opened a portal to its interior. "It will only take a moment, so do not settle in too deeply."

Rory, familiar with the artifact, stepped inside without reservation. It was the same vessel Klaus had used to protect her sister and the guards during his rescue mission on Planet Nivel.

With Rory safely inside, Klaus stowed the bead and tossed a nod to Lord Victor before teleporting away.

Left alone, Lord Victor breathed a long, heavy sigh. "Paragons are truly beyond human understanding."

***

[Planet Caelmir]

Back on Planet Caelmir, word of Klaus’s arrival spread as his wives informed Queen Leah, who had spent millions of years preparing for this singular event.

Meeting the Paragon had been her lifelong, sacred dream.

Serving as the 269th ruler of Planet Caelmir following the Paragon's passing, her mission was to ensure every possible aid was prepared for the day he eventually returned.

What Klaus viewed as a mere visit was, in her eyes, the culmination of history. While Klaus’s wives had warned her that he wasn't looking for a public reception, she still gathered a small retinue of individuals she knew would be loyal to the death.

The same ancient force that preserved their lives ensured that nobody bearing the true Caelmirian blood could ever betray the Paragon.

Such a thought was quite literally impossible for them to harbor.

They were assembled in the grand hall, a space reserved exclusively for the elite of the Caelmir military. The purpose, of course, was to witness the arrival of the Paragon.

When Klaus finally appeared, all eyes were anchored to him.

"Incredible. After billions of years, this place carries the same scent," Klaus chuckled, his gaze shifting to the elegant figure occupying the royal throne.

As his eyes locked onto her face, he felt his pulse stutter.

She possessed the exact likeness of his mother from his seventh incarnation.

The resemblance was uncanny; without a word exchanged, he instinctively knew she descended from his mother’s lineage.

Queen Leah abruptly stood from her throne to kneel, but Klaus vanished and reappeared by her side, catching her arm.

"There is no need for that."

Though she was stayed, the rest of the assembly knelt and bowed low. "We welcome the Paragon."

Klaus sighed, gently helping Queen Leah back onto her throne before turning to address the others. "Please, stand and take your seats. I may be the Paragon, but you are all my seniors here."

Once they were settled, he returned to the center of the hall, scanning the room. His smile widened with every face he recognized.

Satisfied, he pivoted back to the Queen. "Fun fact: the last time I stood here, I was intent on beating my father to a pulp. I wonder if that old relic is still kicking."

"As long as you endure, I shall never perish, you brat." A portal tore open, and Klaus’s grin grew even brighter. As he turned, he locked eyes with a handsome, gray-haired man stepping through the void.

"Well, well... the old man."