The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse Chapter 1472: Immortal Pool

The journey through the Jade Nest proved to be far more arduous than Klaus had anticipated.

Two days had elapsed since their entry into the Jade Nest, and within this period, they had already engaged in ten battles, evaded two, narrowly escaped one, and now, as they stood paralyzed, their eyes fixed upon a formidable three-headed panther, the instinct to flee surged within them.

While the confrontation Rory and her three companions endured was indeed challenging, the preceding two days had been exceptionally chaotic. This was particularly true when they inadvertently blundered into the lair of a demigod-level serpent, immediately after escaping from another demigod, this time a giraffe.

Their successful evasion was attributed to Klaus’s adept grasp of several fundamental laws.

The law of gravity enabled him to momentarily decelerate the serpent, affording both Echo and Rory the crucial moments needed to employ the law of space, propelling them a significant distance by instantaneously compressing and then expanding the surrounding space.

Rory executed the compression, facilitating their movement across several kilometers in a single stride, which Echo then amplified through expansion, further extending their reach.

This maneuver provided them with sufficient time for Klaus to utilize the void, transporting them to a secure location. Mere minutes after evading the two demigod-level beasts, they were confronted once more by a serpent, this one an Immortal Lord.

The engagement was perilously close, with Omen nearly losing an arm. Due to this injury, he was unable to participate in the subsequent battle.

Fortunately, following their tenth engagement, they succeeded in vanquishing seven beasts.

Klaus managed to add two more immortal rings to his collection, bringing his total to eight, a feat matched by Rory, who now possessed nine immortal rings. The remaining teammates each acquired a single ring, leaving them with seven.

Should the lion currently confronting them be overcome, Slate would secure his second immortal ring, elevating his total to eight.

The sole complication was the beast’s classification: a half-step demigod. While not yet a true demigod, it surpassed the power of an Immortal Lord, proving overwhelmingly superior to ordinary Immortal Lords.

Essentially, it represented a threat considerably greater than a peak Immortal Lord.

Klaus turned towards his teammates and could discern their profound exhaustion. Their most recent battle had depleted their energies significantly.

Unlike himself, who could alternate positions with Kaden (his other incarnation undergoing training within the second level of the inheritance tower), they possessed only a single physical form.

Rory, despite having two distinct forms – her archer form and her lunar combat Princess form – had already exhausted the reserves of both.

Their visibly pale complexions and listless expressions indicated a strong desire to abstain from the upcoming battle.

Naturally, had this location been any ordinary place, he would have advocated for a strategic retreat. However, perilously close, just beyond the distant cliff, lay the Immortal Pool, the source of the coveted Immortal Essence Water.

The elimination of the three-headed lion was of paramount importance, and thus, Klaus was determined to achieve this objective.

’Icon, provide a status report.’

[The master stands alone in this endeavor. Lady Rory has depleted her reserves of both Immortal and Lunar energy to a mere 20%, with her spatial essence even lower at only 5%. As for the other three, Warrior Omen is at 10% capacity, as is Warrior Echo. Warrior Slate’s reserves are significantly diminished, with only 7% remaining.

It would be prudent for the master to confront this beast independently. However, it must be noted that the master is not its equal, thus necessitating the use of an external weapon.]

’So, I am compelled to utilize my SS-class Lightning Gun, am I?’ Klaus stroked his chin, a slight smile gracing his lips. ’How many charges remain before it expends its power?’

[Three shots are available, master.]

’Understood. I shall require but one.’

Klaus turned, casting a glance at his weary teammates. “Rest assured, my friends, our objective lies just beyond that precipice. I shall personally handle this adversary, and then we can proceed.”

“A-Are you certain?” Rory inquired, a flicker of distress crossing her features. After all, she had pledged to her sisters that she would ensure Klaus’s safety. Now, it seemed he was the one undertaking the role of protector.

“Fear not, Rory, a single precise strike is all that is needed to subdue this brute.”

Turning, he briefly appraised the lion before extending his hand. “I shall require your crescent blades, however.”

She nodded in agreement, retrieved her exquisite Lunar Crescent Blades, and presented them to Klaus. He accepted them, and with a fluid motion, the blades detached and hovered behind him, positioned in a crossed formation.

“Very well, all of you should observe intently and learn from this display.” With a confident smile, he moved, instantly appearing two kilometers distant from the lion.

The beast emitted a low growl and snorted, plumes of vapor escaping from the nostrils of the head that faced him. In truth, all three heads were directed towards him, resulting in the expulsion of three distinct streams of vapor – a truly intimidating spectacle.

“Firstly, the cardinal rule when confronting a being of superior power is to sow confusion.” Klaus initiated a movement, and a duplicate of himself mirrored his action. Shortly thereafter, another manifestation emerged from both his primary form and the initial clone.

Subsequently, a copy originated from each of the four figures, escalating to eight in total. This number rapidly expanded to sixteen, then thirty-two, and soon sixty-four. Before long, an excess of 2048 replicas of himself materialized, dispersing across the vast expanse.

Rory and the others, who were striving to concentrate on the primary manifestation of him, were quickly overcome by the phantasm that Klaus had brought into tangible existence.

Before long, the majestic lion also found itself ensnared, prompting it to retaliate by unleashing beams towards the multitude of Klaus's likenesses. However, for every clone that was annihilated, two more would emerge to take its place.

In a short span, more than ten thousand duplicates of Klaus materialized within the arena, igniting a hateful growl from the lion.

Rory, having lost sight of his actual position, tapped into the unique connection they shared, recognizing it as her sole method of locating him. Her intuition proved correct, yet she was overcome with astonishment upon perceiving Klaus's whereabouts.

Standing sixty meters away from the formidable lion, Klaus halted and aimed a verdant revolver directly at the beast. Simultaneously, all twelve thousand and sixty-four of his duplicates mirrored this action.

This synchronized maneuver placed the lion on high alert. Nevertheless, when over twelve thousand beams converged upon it, the creature fell into disarray, uncertain of how to prioritize its defenses.

Naturally, amidst the barrage of thousands of projectiles, only a single beam possessed genuine destructive force. Yet, by the time the lion detected its trajectory, it was already far too late.

The true beam struck the lion's forehead, puncturing it with a gaping hole.

Klaus moved instantaneously afterwards, his crescent blades initiating a deadly dance. In mere moments, he was positioned atop the lion's immense back, both blades slicing through the air in lethal arcs.

The lion, with its central head already obliterated, sensed his presence, but as before, its reaction was too sluggish. This allowed both remaining heads to be severed cleanly from its body.

Klaus gracefully descended and let out a significant breath. "Ah, that proved simpler than anticipated."

In the distant observation area, Rory and her companions' eyes widened, their faces a mask of disbelief and apprehension. Intuitively, they all yearned to utter the unspoken, the universally understood sentiment of "What the fuck?"

Yet, their voices failed them, rendering them mute.

None of it computed, yet Klaus had managed to escalate the sheer mind-blowing nature of the event even further.

If the mere sight of him deploying an SS-class armament wasn't startling enough, what about that utterly insane level of calculated precision? It was a feat demanding extraordinary calculation and unwavering focus.

How had he managed to accomplish such a thing?

"Alright, we can depart now." Klaus meticulously stored the beast's remains and tossed its core towards Slate, who caught it while staring at him in a state of bewildered awe.

However, if they had comprehended the immense sacrifice Klaus had endured merely to project such a cool image, they might have offered him their sympathy.

'I can only pray we acquire more than a single drop of the Immortal Essence; otherwise, I'll be compelled to commandeer Kaden's stored Qi and force him into further cultivation to recuperate.'

They proceeded towards the Immortal Pool mere minutes later.