The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse Chapter 1489: Jade Ant Queen’s Rebirth (2)

Klaus, Rory, Omen, Slate, Echo, Princess Evren, and her assembled team found themselves positioned atop a modest elevation, their gaze fixed upon a vast valley below. Within this expanse, a golden egg, approximately three feet in size, hovered mere meters above the earth.

An palpable aura emanated from the egg, simultaneously drawing beings closer and projecting an undeniable sense of power. It was this very presence that had lured so many to this location.

Standing a short distance from Klaus and his companions were most of the human survivors from the devastating onslaught, perpetrated by Beasts both outside and within the Jade Vault.

All attention was rivets on the egg.

Nearby, a formidable congregation of thousands of beasts also stood sentinel, their gazes fixed with lethal intent upon the egg. These ranks were spearheaded by the four formidable Beast Gods. Klaus felt a surge of astonishment at the sheer number of beasts that had converged, a spectacle he had only partially anticipated.

While he had braced for such a gathering, the magnitude of calamity beasts amassed on their side exceeded his expectations.

It was evident that not all beasts had pledged allegiance. Klaus, with a keen eye, identified nine Demigod beasts among them, with thousands more beasts forming their formidable rear, poised for an imminent charge.

Across the divide, corrupted warriors, their eyes burning with mania and emanating a palpable aura of menace, also arrayed themselves. Two Demigods, whose true power remained inscrutable to Klaus, stood at the forefront, their gazes rigidly locked onto the egg.

Klaus was taken aback to discover that, despite their corrupted state, these warriors could still engage in coherent discourse. This peculiar trait rendered them a significant danger, yet paradoxically, a sliver of civility could be salvaged, provided a mutually agreeable arrangement could be brokered.

He acknowledged the inherent difficulty in achieving a peaceful resolution, but such concerns were secondary for the moment, overshadowed by the more immediate threats positioned directly opposite them.

On one flank, Klaus meticulously counted four distinct assassin squads, each comprising five members. Their collective focus was acutely directed towards both Klaus and Princess Evren.

The reason behind their intense scrutiny remained elusive to Klaus; however, recognizing a figure among them led him to conclude that their intentions were far from benign.

Yet, this was a matter that could be deferred, as the primary peril emanated from the opposing side, where five Gods and twenty-four Demigods stood before an imposing army of ten thousand warriors.

Their hostile demeanor was unmistakable, and most critically, their collective gaze seemed fixed upon Klaus, his team, the gathered humans, and the assembled beasts.

A faint smile touched Klaus's lips as he registered this grim tableau, acknowledging that the rescue mission had devolved into a situation bordering on the impossible. Facing such odds alone was untenable; assistance was indispensable.

He could manage against Demigods, but confronting Gods represented the absolute limit of his current capabilities.

Since direct confrontation was untenable, he knew he had to seek external aid. To achieve this, his primary objective became ensuring that these five Gods and twenty-four Demigods would become a shared enemy to all present.

Fortunately, his unique skill set was exceptionally suited for such a delicate manipulation.

'Icon, activate that skill,' Klaus commanded, his countenance betraying no hint of the reckless undertaking he was about to initiate.

[Skill activated, master. You are cleared to proceed.]

Klaus advanced a single step, his voice resonating across the entire valley and extending beyond its confines.

'Greetings, all. My designation is the Renegade Hunter; however, for ease of address, you may refer to me as Klaus.' He acknowledged the four God Beasts before shifting his attention to the other factions. His gaze lingered on the five Gods hailing from the Qilin Mercenary Legion.

'I presume I have not had the honor of meeting these esteemed seniors before.'

Klaus anticipated an arrogant dismissal, a declaration of his unworthiness to even acknowledge their presence. Yet, to his profound astonishment, one of the True Gods, identified as Eric, offered him a smile.

'I have indeed heard of you, young one. However, I never anticipated a personal encounter here.'

Klaus returned the smile. 'You understand, wherever valuable treasures congregate, I am invariably drawn. That being said, I find myself wondering about your presence here, esteemed senior,' Klaus inquired, feigning ignorance and deliberately overlooking the egg that held everyone's rapt attention.

The universal desire for possession of the egg was clear, making the Qilin Mercenary Legion's interest entirely predictable.

To his utter amazement, True God Eric responded by shaking his head.

'Frankly, your presence here brings me considerable delight, kid. Would you care to know the reason why?'

Klaus inclined his head. 'To be the cause of a God's happiness is, naturally, quite intriguing, and I am eager to understand.'

True God Eric grinned, tapping his wrist device and projecting a bounty notice. Klaus's image was displayed prominently, adorned with a staggering bounty of 100 million GC (God Coins), equivalent to 10 billion Universe Coins (UC).

'A substantial bounty rests upon your head. Furthermore, the individual who engaged our services desires not only your demise but also the elimination of every last human present here.' He paused, then directed his gaze toward the corrupted warriors. 'This directive extends to both the sane and the corrupted, as well as all sentient beasts.'

He chuckled and turned back to Klaus. 'You could say I'm here for a bit of sport, kid, so don't put up a fight. It'll all be over before you know it.'

Klaus remained silent for a moment before a subtle smile graced his lips. 'I see. I suppose you represent the primary antagonist in this scenario. Your objective is our annihilation, solely because you have been contracted to carry it out.'

He then turned his attention back to the four God Beasts. 'I trust these venerable seniors have absorbed his words and are aware of the necessary course of action.'

To the astonishment of True God Eric and his assembled cohorts, the four God Beasts responded with solemn nods.

"This is our sanctuary, human, and naturally, we won't stand by while it's attacked. However, it would be best if you and your kin do not intervene. We might mistake you for adversaries."

Klaus gave a nod, turning his gaze toward the humans who were already succumbing to panic. This display elicited a faint smile from him...

"My objective here is this egg, so it would be wise for no one to obstruct me. While I may refrain from killing you, I am capable of crippling you. Furthermore, the portals granting egress from this place have been sealed. Thus, until this conflict concludes, your options are to either stand with me and ensure we live to recount the tale tomorrow, or perish in the attempt."

Klaus gestured towards the 1,200 corrupted warriors, adding:

"They are our adversaries. Therefore, those inclined to combat should engage. Those preferring to flee are also free to do so. After all, survival is paramount."

Facing him, one of the assassins, adorned in a green mask, drew his dagger and dissolved into the shadows.

Had those nearby paid close attention, they would have noticed a smirk play across Klaus's lips the instant the green-masked assassin disappeared.

However, their focus was elsewhere, on his words, and they failed to grasp that the commencement of the battle would hinge on the demise of a presumptuous assassin who believed he had all angles covered.

Klaus pivoted, casting a teasing glance back at True God Eric. "It appears you're in a tight spot, Mr. 'I'll advise you to prioritize survival before contemplating bounty collection.'"

"I'm afraid I cannot comply with that," he retorted with a grin, releasing a sliver of his inherent power.

Klaus smirked. "Then, may your death be a happy one. You shall make a fine Undead."

The very moment these words left his lips, his hand lashed backward with lethal precision, and Bloodwork materialized in his firm grasp mid-swing.

To the astonishment of all present, the empty space behind Klaus was rent asunder, and the crimson, razor-sharp point of the scythe plunged into the green-masked assassin's skull, extinguishing his life instantly.

Klaus drew the assailant from the void, holding him limply, his form dangling like a macabre puppet from his scythe, Bloodwork.

"I suppose this marks the beginning of the pandemonium."

From a distance, all 19 remaining assassins retrieved their blades and surged towards Klaus.

He grinned, offering a wink to True God Eric, before vanishing into the void once more. In the subsequent instant, he reappeared, his scythe positioned mere inches from one of the assassins' throats.

Rory and her companions joined the fray, and shortly thereafter, Princess Evren and her contingent also moved into action.

Lady Beyhos and Kaz advanced, their targets: the two true gods of the Qilin Mercenary Legion.