The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse Chapter 1488: Jade Ant Queen’s Rebirth (1)
Previously on The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse...
A few days preceding the egg's emergence...
Klaus and his assembled team resolved to convene one final meeting. The objective was to guarantee victory in the impending conflict, no matter the opposition's strategy.
Present in this crucial discussion were his core teammates: Rory, Omen, Slate, and Echo. Princess Evren also attended, accompanied by her own contingent who had pledged to stand and fight alongside Klaus.
Furthermore, Lady Beyhos and her retinue of three demigods were in attendance. Crux, her most formidable subordinate, was accompanied by Lizzy, a Naga, and Reed, a mantis-like warrior, both trusted aides of hers.
In addition to these significant figures, the three newly-appointed god beasts were also present. Each of them was acutely aware that their enigmatic benefactor had led them astray.
Having partaken of Klaus's blood, all three possessed the knowledge of the falsehoods they had been fed. This revelation, coupled with the treachery of their former benefactor, intensified their fury and animosity, which they were eager to unleash upon the Heavens Court within days.
The second god beast, a lion-type creature named Reis, commanded an affinity for flame.
The third was a wolf known as Kaz, whose affinity lay with lightning. He stood as arguably the second most powerful entity, surpassed only by Lady Beyhos. Klaus even harbored suspicions that Kaz might surpass her, particularly given his ability to enter a berserk mode, amplifying all his attributes by a staggering 100%.
The fourth god beast was the demon spider named Merle. While Klaus hadn't fully fathomed the extent of her powers, he recognized her as the ideal candidate to contend with formidable gods. Her webs possessed exceptional tensile strength, rendering escape virtually impossible.
Unless confronted by a True God, overcoming her webs would demand considerable time and an immense expenditure of energy.
Similar to Lady Beyhos, each of the new god beasts commanded the allegiance of three demigods.
All pertinent parties were gathered for this meeting. Klaus's immediate agenda was to meticulously assign roles and establish contingency plans, ensuring a fallback option for every asset.
"Thank you all for attending. I am aware that you have all observed the corrupted warriors advancing toward the Jade Vault. Indeed, these are the very same warriors who launched the assault that claimed the life of the Jade Ant Queen many years ago.
This time, their objective is to ensure the success of the mission they commenced eons ago. As I previously stated, the Heavens Court seeks the reincarnated Jade Ant Queen and will employ every conceivable method to secure her.
Our objective is to thwart their designs. To achieve this, we must annihilate the corrupted warriors before they can even initiate their offensive.
Once that contingent is dealt with, the primary threat will reveal itself. It is against these formidable foes that we must direct our full might. Naturally, the other demigods and various beastly entities will also present considerable challenges. Nevertheless, if we can effectively contain the unknown forces, victory will be ours.
Our imperative is to utterly crush them or, at the very least, force a strategic retreat. With that said, prioritizing your own safety is paramount. Therefore, when facing insurmountable danger, execute a tactical withdrawal and formulate new strategies."
Nods of agreement rippled through the assembled group.
Klaus had already identified the principal threat, and upon discovering their forces consisted of five gods and 24 demigods, he experienced a moment of profound surprise.
On his side, he could count only 4 gods and 12 demigods. While he held some confidence that certain calamity beasts among the demigods might align with his four gods, he also recognized the distinct possibility that they might seize this opportunity to betray the four god beasts of the Jade Nest.
Irrespective, all he could do was hope that his four gods could successfully neutralize the five opposing gods. He would devise a strategy to manage the remaining demigods with the twelve under his command.
"God Beast Beyhos and Kaz shall engage any True Gods who may be present." Acknowledging the order, they nodded.
Klaus proceeded to distribute specific assignments to all individuals. Following this, he moved to implement several contingency measures before departing.
***
Concurrently, while Klaus and his faction were engaged in their final strategic conference, a similar gathering was unfolding elsewhere within the nest.
Five gods and 24 demigods stood assembled before an impressive host of approximately 10,000 warriors, all fully equipped and prepared for immediate deployment.
"Recall our mission: the elimination of the four gods, the corrupted warriors, and every human inhabitant within this nest. Naturally, I anticipate the gods will be occupied by the corrupted warriors. Should this prove to be the case, your undivided attention must turn towards dispatching the humans.
I have already communicated with our employers, who have secured this location. Rest assured, we will have departed long before any external forces become aware of our presence.
Ensure there is no deviation from the plan. Most critically, the swift elimination of the Renegade Hunter is imperative. He represents a priority target, and any individual successful in taking him down will receive a substantial bonus."
A chorus of assent arose from the troops, and after a few moments, they too commenced their advance towards the Jade Vault.
***
Within the fifth level of the Jade Vault, four distinct teams were seated for their respective meetings. In attendance were the Masked Assassins, the Green Scarf Ladies, the Grim Brothers, and the Ice Queens.
Within the vast expanse of the human universe operates a clandestine organization known as Green Paradox. The true extent of their influence remains a mystery, yet one detail is widely understood: their operational units consist of five meticulously trained assassins. Each five-member team comprises individuals who are all deadly killers. Two months prior, an unknown entity commissioned five of these elite teams for a trio of critical missions. The first objective was the elimination of the Renegade Hunter and the 7th Jade Princess. The second task involved dismantling all four ancient seals painstakingly placed by the Jade Ant Queen years ago. The final mission, however, was the most audacious: to secure the Jade Ant Queen herself upon her hatching from her egg. They infiltrated the nest full of anticipation, only to be met with profound disappointment. Even after a full month had passed, the Jade Ant Queen eluded their grasp. It was as if both she and the Renegade Hunter had dissolved into thin air the very instant the assassins entered the nest. Their hopes of intercepting them when the vault opened were dashed, replaced by sheer horror as they realized their targets had never reappeared. Fortunately, a new opportunity presented itself for them to enact their plan. "Based on our intelligence, the rebirth is scheduled in two days, so we must take our positions. I have verified from a reliable source that the Renegade Hunter and the 7th Jade Princess are aware of our presence and have chosen to remain hidden. However, they are bound to emerge this time, and we must be prepared to confront them. Furthermore, I must emphasize that our mission concludes once we have the Jade Ant Queen in our possession. Ensure the demise of the other two before that critical moment." The assassin clad in a red mask declared, and all present nodded in agreement. *** While chaos was brewing within the Jade Ant Nest, the world outside remained seemingly unaware, with only a single soul perceiving the brewing storm. Lord Victor had harbored a suspicion that something was amiss from the moment Klaus and his team entered the Nest. He had remained silent then, but now, he sensed that a grave danger was imminent. Nevertheless, he opted against direct intervention, choosing instead to dispatch an SOS to the Burning Angel, who had previously instructed him to monitor Klaus closely.