The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse Chapter 1496: Jade Ant Queen’s Rebirth (9)

It took Klaus a moment to finally dispatch the last assassin. By then, Rory had also finished her opponent, reverting to her Archer Class and commencing ranged attacks on the mercenaries.

Following Asmodeus’ counsel, Princess Evren began experimenting with her mental assaults. With Number 10’s protection, she probed the minds of the mercenaries, causing many to falter, which allowed the beasts to overwhelm them.

This was a battle that permitted no surrender; the conflict would only cease if one side was completely annihilated.

However, given the significant advantage the beasts held, bolstered by Asmodeus’ deployment of some of his undead forces, the battle’s conclusion was merely a matter of time.

Already, the fallen beasts and mercenaries had been resurrected, rejoining the fray.

Now, the instant a beast or human fell, Asmodeus’ power would reanimate them, transforming them into undead minions.

Essentially, with his presence, the ultimate victor of this conflict would not be the beasts or humans, but Asmodeus himself, whom Klaus had summoned precisely for this objective.

He had intended to bring Asha and Nadia as well, but since their arrival was pending, the formation had not yet found an opportune moment.

Klaus, having dealt with the assassins, shifted his focus to the corrupted warriors. Witnessing that Asmodeus had matters well in hand, he exhaled in relief.

His attention returned to the egg, which continued to emit a soft glow.

’Icon, how much longer?’

[Master, less than 15 minutes remain. You must be prepared for any eventuality at this juncture.]

Klaus tilted his head upwards, observing his scythe, which was currently encased in a crimson shell.

’Hurry along, old friend. The climax is drawing near.’

In the distance, a figure was seated upon a boulder, a whip resting on his lap, his gaze fixed on a projected radar map. Adjacent to him stood a wolf at the demigod stage, its predatory eyes scanning the surroundings.

They remained in a state of silent astonishment for several minutes, observing a tablet-like device. Displayed on it were approximately 15 dots, which were steadily advancing towards the egg.

He let out a breath and chuckled. "Wolfy, it appears we have some rivals converging on our prize."

The wolf responded with a low howl, eliciting a faint smile from the man. His eyes darted towards Klaus, who had taken a seat on a stone roughly 200 meters from the egg.

"How amusing. To imagine a mere True Immortal believes he can contend for the egg," he scoffed, nearly dismissing Klaus entirely. Yet, as he noticed Klaus looking intently at the red cocoon, his brow furrowed.

"This weapon possesses a dangerous aura," he murmured, stroking the wolf at his side.

"No need to concern yourself. The battle is beyond him; our priority should be securing the asset before addressing matters pertaining to him."

Unbeknownst to him, the 15 individuals he observed approaching the egg had also sensed the identical peril. However, like him, they elected to concentrate on the mission they were dispatched to execute.

---

[10 minutes until the egg hatches]

*CRACK*

*WHOOSHHH*

A sudden wave of coldness washed over the spines of all the survivors as an intense blood Qi permeated the entire battlefield.

Many raised their heads, directing their gaze towards a crimson scythe suspended in mid-air, enveloped by a single, revolving runic circle.

The power emanating from it was so formidable that the Immortal Lords present felt their resolve falter, some even losing the will to continue fighting.

They all recognized that a single sweep of this weapon was sufficient to extinguish their meager lives. Indeed, their very bodies trembled at the sight of the scythe.

Klaus ascended towards his weapon and grasped it with relative ease, a look of profound joy and elation gracing his features. His weapon had finally unlocked its first seal, thereby awakening the slumbering weapon spirit within.

Within Klaus’s soul sea resided several weapons that already possessed their own spirits. These weapon spirits had been integrated and nurtured previously. However, subsequent to his reincarnation, some had fallen into dormancy, awaiting the moment their master would reawaken them.

Bloodwork had now been roused, and with it, Klaus was poised to unleash the full might of his True Immortal stage cultivation.

"Welcome back, Bloodwork," Klaus declared, his left hand brushing against the razor-sharp, rather jagged edge of his formidable scythe.

"It is good to be back, master."

Klaus’s grin broadened.

During the era of the Paragon of War, this weapon had come into his possession. At that time, it was black, not red. However, a century prior to his entry into the cycle of reincarnation, its true nature manifested, turning crimson.

No one had ever witnessed him wield a red scythe. Therefore, when it reawakened in this lifetime, he knew he had to employ it. He had wielded numerous legendary weapons throughout his past lives. Yet, Bloodwork was unparalleled.

Klaus gestured with his hand, and under the terrified gazes of all onlookers, the lifeless bodies of the ten immortals he had previously slain materialized.

With his scythe pointed forward, the blood from all ten bodies was drawn out as if by a vacuum, leaving behind only dried bones encased in armor.

"Lacking in refinement, but it will suffice for now," Bloodwork remarked after the ten immortal assassins' blood had been completely consumed.

"Calm down, my friend. I have a strong premonition that a bountiful harvest awaits us soon." Even as Klaus uttered these words, a figure was violently propelled, crashing into a mountain approximately 2 kilometers away.

The mountain disintegrated upon impact, and the figure was left lying on the ground, their life hanging precariously by a thread.

Upon realizing that the individual on the ground was one of the legendary mercenary gods, the surrounding onlookers' expressions grew grim.

Crux landed a mere two meters from the severely wounded god, her grip firm on a whip crackling with lightning and pulsating with blood qi.

"This is the place of your demise, scoundrel."

Her arm moved swiftly, and the whip snaked through the air, striking the mercenary god's forehead. The whip's sharp tip pierced directly through the god's head. Blood was then siphoned through the breach, absorbed by Crux via her whip acting as a conduit.

"A blood-type beast, I perceive," Bloodwork observed, impressed by the deadly effectiveness of Crux's assault. No one had anticipated her actually succeeding in killing a god. Yet, she had, and now, all attention shifted towards her, with some hidden observers already preparing to strike.

Such a formidable individual could not be allowed to remain alive once the egg hatched.

However, just moments before they could act, Asmodeus materialized beside her. After a brief exchange, Crux vanished, leaving many to speculate on her whereabouts.

Klaus, aware that Crux could no longer continue fighting after shattering all twelve of her Immortal Rings, had instructed Asmodeus to transport her to his Undead space for recovery.

Now, the various battles were drawing to a close.

Lady Beyhos had incapacitated True God Eric, and with Icon's aid, Klaus managed to imprison him within a weapon he intended to refine into a weapon spirit.

Kaz had also knocked out his adversary, and Icon replicated the feat. As for the twenty-four demigods, thanks to Asmodeus's intervention, they were nearly annihilated.

The corrupted warriors were also reduced to their final three hundred. The two remaining demigods were struggling to hold on. Nevertheless, they managed to eliminate four demigod beasts, which was a notable achievement.

This also meant that Asmodeus gained four additional demigods solely from that engagement.

Klaus understood that the outcome of the day's conflict would soon be decided.

Just as he was about to issue a directive to Lady Beyhos and the other gods under his command, the egg began to crack, and all eyes immediately turned in its direction.