The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse Chapter 1483: The Jade Vault

Klaus remained uncertain about the hatching time of the Jade Ant Queen's egg. However, he was certain that the event would transpire within the confines of the Jade Vault.

Knowing this, he understood that the Heavens Court would also be aware and would undoubtedly make their way to the location. Therefore, his objective was to arrive ahead of them and secure whatever he could before their inevitable arrival.

To achieve this, he required the exceptional speed of Crux.

As an aerial-type beast, Crux possessed unparalleled swiftness in the skies. Furthermore, her demigod status ensured that no beast within the Jade Nest, save for the other three gods, would dare to challenge her.

While there were indeed individuals who failed to grasp such clear indications and consequently met their own unfortunate ends, Klaus doubted they would encounter any significant opposition on their current path.

Fortunately, their journey to the vault spanned a mere three days.

This swiftness was even more remarkable considering Crux had to deliberately alter their course to circumvent the territories of the other three gods.

Just as Klaus had anticipated, they reached their destination first.

He had visited the Jade Vault on a prior occasion. In fact, it was the very place where he and the Jade Ant Queen had clashed during his previous visit.

Consequently, his return to this locale stirred a flood of past memories. He recalled being thoroughly defeated back then, to such an extent that the circumstances leading to his predicament were initially unclear to him.

Upon reflection, he remembered. He had only recently succeeded in forging contracts with the three True Calamities, which had inflated his ego to the point of believing he could bring the Jade Ant Queen under his influence.

Losing several of his body parts was, in a way, fortunate. Had it not been for a life-saving treasure he possessed at the time, his demise would have been certain.

"Ah, returning to this place evokes some rather unpleasant recollections," he commented with a faint smile, turning his attention to Crux.

"Would you prefer to utilize the rear entrance, or shall we wait for the main doors to open?" he inquired. Having received explicit permission from the Jade Ant Queen herself, he possessed the authority to enter the vault at his leisure.

Naturally, with the nest having opened, it was only a matter of time before the vault followed suit. This event would inevitably draw considerable attention, which, according to Klaus's calculations, would also mark the ultimate battlefield for any remaining survivors.

Crux elected to accompany him, prompting Klaus to store her within the Demon Bead before proceeding to enter the vault under the Jade Ant Queen's granted authorization.

---

Concurrently, in four separate locations—one of which was the site where the five masked assassins had broken the seal—visible cracks began to manifest on several statues.

At the first site, a crack appeared on a statue depicting a frog-like creature.

The second location featured a horse-like beast, with a fissure extending across its neck.

The third statue, a jaguar, bore a significant crack that split its side open.

As for the final statue, a beautiful crow-type beast, a large portion of one of its wings appeared to be detached.

The expansion of these cracks was readily discernible.

These four statues were the very ones upon which the Jade Ant Queen had placed her seals. Their current damaged state indicated that the seals were progressively weakening, and underground in these four regions, formidable sealed warriors were beginning to stir.

If no further external forces were to disturb the statues and accelerate their degradation, then in precisely five weeks, all the sealed warriors would be unsealed, and upon their awakening, the final conflict would commence.

***

Elsewhere, concealed deep underground, a golden egg commenced glowing, emitting a subtle divine aura. This was the Nirvana Divine Egg, a treasure bestowed upon the Jade Ant Queen by the Star Monarch as a gesture of goodwill during his past attempts to recruit her.

She had preserved it, recognizing its crucial role in her eventual rebirth.

Now, it appeared to have reached full maturity and entered its final growth phase, signifying its imminent hatching and the release of the young Jade Ant Queen.

Judging by the intensity of the aura, the egg would require approximately six more weeks to hatch.

This timeframe would align perfectly with the Heavens Court's plan to conclude their endeavors from years prior.

---

In yet another location, a team of three individuals, consisting of two men and one woman, were diligently engaged in the assembly of a complex device.

The woman, seemingly the leader of the group, maintained a composed demeanor, her hands clasped behind her back as she closely observed the device being constructed by her companions.

After a period of observation, she posed a question:

"Once completed, how many individuals can this device accommodate for transit?"

One of the men working on the device turned to face her for a moment before responding:

"As I have stated on ten previous occasions, it is capable of facilitating the passage of an entire unit, which comprises approximately 10,000 warriors."

The woman offered a faint smile and nodded in acknowledgment.

A few seconds later, she reiterated her concern:

"Furthermore, are we absolutely certain that this device will be able to establish a connection to our intended destination? My previous checks indicated that this location is devoid of any external signals, and even the Dark Space is non-functional here."

"Rest assured, General Bimbo. There is no need for undue anxiety at this juncture. While a signal is indeed absent at present, we will establish the necessary connection once all the seals have been broken. Therefore, please endeavor to remain calm and prepare yourself for your designated role upon our completion of this task."

She nodded once more and then turned away.

With a shared sigh, the two men resumed their tasks.

Nine more hours passed before the device, resembling a grand gateway, was finally assembled. "General, our work is complete. The key will activate it, signifying the end of our duties here."

She acknowledged this with a nod, retrieving a golden key. It was inserted into its designated slot and turned clockwise. A low hum emanated from the device as a white light began to coalesce within its frame.

Turning to the two men, she inquired,

"What happens now?"

"We await the seals' dissolution. Upon their descent, the external team will establish a connection, thereby opening the gate. As for who will emerge, we shall discover that when they appear."

General Bimbo gave a slight nod and retired to a seat, settling in to wait.

---

Beyond a verdant planet, a formidable legion of ten thousand warriors stood assembled, their gazes fixed intently upon a similar gateway.

The least powerful among them were True Immortals, while the mightiest were the five gods itself—two True Gods and three Real Gods. Accompanying them were twenty-four demigods and upwards of a thousand Immortal Lords.

A scarlet banner, emblazoned with the insignia of a green-eyed Qilin, fluttered gently from a flagpole.

Had any observers from the mission hall been present, they would have undoubtedly recognized this imposing assembly as one of the legendary twelve Scarecrow Legions.

Indeed, they would have identified them specifically as the 8th Legion, widely regarded as one of the most perilous mercenary groups operating within the human universe.

Three months prior, they had accepted a lucrative contract with a singular objective: to infiltrate the Jade Nest, eliminate a coterie of corrupted warriors, and slay four beast gods. Their compensation was substantial, and they were equipped with world-shattering armaments to ensure mission success.

Now, their sole focus was the imminent opening of the gateway, the portal to their entry.