The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse Chapter 1494: Jade Ant Queen’s Rebirth (7)

The clashes reignited, the focus now squarely on Asmodeus, whose sudden appearance had dramatically altered the battlefield's dynamics.

With an effortless gesture, he conjured five demigods, each radiating an aura of power so immense it was palpable, now engaged in a ferocious duel with the five demigod assassins.

His true strength was a revelation to all present.

Yet, their astonishment intensified when Asmodeus directed his gaze towards the corrupted warriors. Of the initial 1200 corrupted warriors, a mere five had fallen, while the allied beasts had suffered the loss of over 500.

This stark disparity underscored the formidable nature of Asmodeus's legion, prompting wide-eyed gasps as he extended his staff, summoning an additional five demigods and three hundred Immortal Lords.

"Annihilate them all," he commanded, his voice resonating with authority. "They shall soon be your brethren." The instruction was clear, and its execution was instantaneous.

He channeled his power to reanimate the fallen beasts and the five corrupted warriors, dispatching them towards the fray where the remaining beasts were locked in combat with the Qilin Mercenary team.

There, too, he resurrected deceased beasts and human mercenaries, compelling them to join the massacre. Turning thereafter, he surveyed Rory and the others.

Rory, though bearing fresh wounds, maintained an unyielding combat spirit. She had been engaged with two assassins; one employed a series of hit-and-run maneuvers.

Consequently, despite initially holding the upper hand against her primary adversary, the secondary assassin relentlessly kept her on edge.

Now, Asmodeus intervened, removing the second assassin from her encounter and allowing her to face her true challenger. He summoned an Immortal King-level Undead Assassin to confront the Immortal Lord assassin who had repeatedly, yet unsuccessfully, attempted to slay Rory.

With a subtle turn, Rory offered Asmodeus a nod of acknowledgment. "Thank you, Senior."

Although Asmodeus was only at the zenith of the True Immortal stage, Rory perceived the depth of his power, prompting her respectful address.

Asmodeus responded with a sinister smile:

"Ensure your survival. While transforming you into one of my undead legions would be appealing, your demise would be a profound disappointment." With those words, his focus shifted to Slate, Omen, and Echo.

Observing their steady performance, he then turned his attention to Princess Evren. Klaus had previously issued a directive for him to assist her people, a command Asmodeus was now fulfilling.

In contrast to Rory, Princess Evren had sustained considerable injuries, some of them quite severe. Though she might have boasted of her prowess, claiming monstrous strength akin to Rory's, the reality was that she fell short, particularly in close-quarters combat.

"Your forte lies in crowd control, young lady, so do not overexert yourself," Asmodeus advised with a smile, assessing Princess Evren with a discerning eye. "Should fate permit you to catch my master's attention, he might provide you with training in a close-combat discipline."

"For the moment, permit me to relieve you of this lesser opponent..." An Immortal Emperor materialized at his call and promptly engaged the Immortal that Princess Evren was confronting.

He waved his hand, causing a pill to materialize within it. Tossing it towards Princess Evren, he added, "Feel free to unleash your psionic assaults upon those fools; Number Ten will stand guard over you."

The Immortal Lord positioned behind Asmodeus inclined his head and moved to stand by Princess Evren.

She flinched momentarily but quickly regained her composure. She opened her mouth to inquire about the reason for his assistance, but Asmodeus preempted her question.

"As I informed the Renegade Hunter, my aid is not without cost. Take solace in my current generosity, for you will incur a debt in the future."

Having spoken, he withdrew, halting his advance when he reached a distance of approximately 40 meters from the egg.

Two demigod undead, attired in gleaming silver-hued cloak armor, materialized and assumed a protective stance. Ensured of his security, he began to manipulate his staff, uttering a series of complex incantations.

Meanwhile, Klaus, now liberated from the engagement with the five demigods, observed the seven Immortals before him with a knowing smile.

"Ah, how the tides have turned."

All seven Immortals tightened their grips on their daggers.

"Renegade Hunter, do you presume yourself beyond mortal peril?" one of them retorted, his countenance turning ashen. The dagger in his grasp trembled, releasing a surge of potent soul energy that caused the very fabric of space around him to vibrate.

Klaus felt an intense force impact his very soul.

'Remarkable, that actually causes pain,' he narrowed his gaze at the assassin, perceiving in that instant nothing but unwavering resolve.

'It seems he is preparing a desperate gambit, employing his life force as a conduit.' Recognizing the imminent danger, Klaus understood the necessity of immediate action to avert his own demise.

His physique radiated power, unleashing waves of formidable energy. Aware of the peril, he relinquished his domain and accessed his primary elemental trump card.

*Hush* *Hush* *Hush*

A gust of wind swept over all present, carrying far and wide. Wherever its touch lingered, frost instantly formed, encasing every surface in ice. Klaus ascended into the air, raising his sword aloft, summoning a brilliant beam of light that pierced through the clouds.

A sense of impending danger befell the seven assassins, prompting the remaining six to ignite their souls in unison. Within a mere half-second, Klaus perceived the convergence of their collective soul energies.

‘What scheme are they hatching?’ he pondered.

[Master, you must flee.]

Icon’s voice echoed in Klaus’s mind. Before he could formulate a reply, the seven assassins formed a single, unwavering line, the one at the forefront now wielding an A-class firearm known as the [Soul Blazing Cannon].

The instant it was aimed at Klaus, a lock-on mechanism activated, sealing off any possibility of escape.

He promptly lowered his sword, channeling his mastery over elemental law. Utilizing ice as a medium, he initiated one of his defensive techniques.

"Law Art: Ice Body Transformation."

*Shing* *Shing* *Shing* *Shing* *Shing*

Crystals of ice, distilled from its purest essence, coalesced and merged, enshrouding his form in a resplendent white armor. Upon his chest, all seven forbidden icicles materialized, one by one bestowing their augmentation upon him.

‘Still insufficient.’

His mind raced, desperately seeking any means to bolster his defenses further. Concurrently, the [Soul Blazing Cannon] reached full charge, poised to unleash its payload.

"Even if you manage to survive this, brat, your life will be forfeit soon enough at the hands of our reinforcements."

At the exact moment the desperate assassin uttered these words, he pulled the trigger, and a beam of energy shot forth, hurtling towards Klaus with lethal velocity.

In the blink of an eye, Klaus was engulfed by an overwhelming golden radiance, which spilled outwards, striking both beasts and human onlookers. Those caught in the blast cried out, some succumbing immediately.

Yet, Klaus, the primary target of this devastating assault, remained eerily silent.

All who bore witness to the attack let out sighs of resignation, some clenching their fists, convinced of Klaus’s impending demise. They believed survival against such an onslaught was utterly impossible.

However, their assumptions were shattered when, as the beam dissipated, an unyielding ice statue stood in place of Klaus, its surface shimmering with a metallic sheen.

A few moments after the beam faded, the statue fractured, revealing Klaus himself, his handsome visage intact, his white hair billowing gently in the air.

"Elemental Law Fusion..." The crowd recognized the profound technique Klaus had employed to withstand the onslaught of the A-class [Soul Blazing Cannon].

This revelation, however, sent ripples of astonishment through their ranks.

Klaus casually swept his hair back and then moved, swiftly severing the head of the assassin who had unleashed the devastating attack.