The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse Chapter 1500: The Chaos That Followed

The anticipated confrontation regarding the Jade Ant Queen never materialized; instead, a new contender intervened, absconding with the prize.

Remarkably, this unexpected interloper was none other than the legendary Paragon of the Nine Stars.

The sting of this abrupt turn of events was palpable, leaving everyone in a state of frustrated disbelief.

Klaus maintained a composed facade, his gaze steely, though inwardly, a triumphant amusement rippled through him.

His original intention was never to secure the Jade Ant Queen.

Prior to discovering the Heavens Court's involvement in her demise, he might have pursued her relentlessly. However, with the knowledge of the Heavens Court's attempted cover-up, he recognized the necessity of a strategic loss to achieve ultimate victory.

Allowing himself to be so close to the objective only for another aspect of himself to claim the win was an exquisitely orchestrated outcome.

The cost was steep: the immolation of his entire Unknown Bloodline, the shattering of all ten Immortal Rings belonging to that incarnation, and the forfeiture of 10 million years from his lifespan.

Yet, this sacrifice yielded immense rewards, as even the divine beings found themselves unable to withstand his formidable pressure—a power significantly amplified by the presence of the Doomsday Cauldron.

The reason Klaus remained unfazed by the Paragon's appearance was directly linked to the Doomsday Cauldron. He had never witnessed it in such a formidable state before.

Following the Planet Awakening, the cauldron had departed Earth for a location designated for its power's full realization. Klaus had lost all contact with it after emerging from his coma, making its reappearance in the hands of his other incarnation utterly unforeseen.

The true shock stemmed from his inability to detect the Doomsday Cauldron's return to his vicinity.

It seemed to exist beyond any form of perception, even while being in plain sight.

An elder had once imparted that the Doomsday Cauldron was one of the universe's three great enigmas. Its origins remained unknown, much like the mysterious genesis of the Paragon himself.

Therefore, Klaus, while astonished, perceived this as merely one facet of its capabilities. The other surprise was witnessing the item's spirit manifest in human form, casually enjoying a vanilla shake.

"Ah, what I wouldn’t do for a vanilla shake right now," Klaus mused, a hint of defeat softening his expression into a wry smile. He then turned his attention to the remaining gods and demigods.

Asmodeus had already removed the true god he was engaged with. Consequently, apart from the four beast gods and the other four who were still recovering from their intense clash, only immortals and lesser divine beings remained.

"I suppose it’s back to our mutual destruction, then," he stated.

CRACK

Just as Klaus raised his scythe, poised for an attack, a fissure tore through the very fabric of the air.

"The seal is breaking," some onlookers quickly deduced, recognizing the unfolding event. It became clear the Paragon had not merely departed but had deliberately dismantled the seal imposed by the Heavens Court upon the Jade Nest.

Now, the emergence of portals leading to the outside world was simply a matter of moments.

"It appears we must pause our endeavors. Rest assured, I will seek each of you out in due course, and our subsequent encounters will be swift and decisive." This was not an empty threat; Klaus fully intended to hunt them down.

His gaze shifted, settling upon the wolf. "Convey a message to your employer: assure him that his neck will soon feel the brunt of my retribution."

Learning that the wolf had been dispatched by Supreme Elder Juo to end his life did not unnerve Klaus. He had already concluded that lasting peace between them was impossible until one of them was no more.

Thus, he resolved to eliminate Juo eventually.

CRACK

A second rupture split the air, and the distinct energies of forming portals became palpable to all present.

Those who had been contracted to eliminate the beasts and humans felt a cold dread creep up their spines. They had failed, and more significantly, their leaders were lost.

Returning now was tantamount to facing certain death.

Ignoring the terrified mercenaries, Klaus addressed the beast gods. "Esteemed seniors, I extend my gratitude for your aid today. Although the primary objective eluded us, we have at least managed to survive. However, this realm is teetering on the brink of collapse, and upon its downfall, those beyond its borders will undoubtedly pursue you, identifying you as beings of calamity. I wonder if you possess a means of escape from such a fate?"

Lady Beyhos turned to her divine compatriots, but they responded with resigned shakes of their heads.

A knowing smile touched Klaus's lips. "It seems fortune favors you." With a snap of his fingers, a circular artifact materialized in the air. "When the portals fully manifest, a unique passage leading to a distant Beast Domain will appear. You may lead your people through it."

He tossed the artifact to Lady Beyhos, who caught it and began to examine its intricate details.

"Thank you, mortal," she acknowledged.

"No thanks are necessary. You defended my companions and myself against adversaries far exceeding our strength. The least I could do is offer a measure of protection in return."

Following a mutual exchange of nods, Klaus turned his attention back to his own allies, Princess Evren, and her retinue.

A third crack echoed through the space, and the faint thrum of forming portals became increasingly undeniable.

"Congratulations, everyone. It seems you all have successfully navigated your first chaotic battle." Klaus offered a smile that resonated with his teammates, bringing smiles to their faces as well.

In the beginning, victory seemed utterly out of reach. Yet, now, as they surveyed the tranquil battleground, devoid of even a single fallen foe, a feat accomplished without the intervention of Asmodeus, they grasped the magnitude of their survival. It was, quite frankly, mind-blowing.

"It was all because you formed an alliance with the beasts. Had you not done so, none of us would be standing here alive," Princess Evren stated, her expression a clear testament to her profound gratitude. "I will repay you for aiding me in securing the Jade Pendant and for helping us overcome such a perilous battle."

"Worry not. I would gladly accept a few billion God Coins,"

This time, peals of laughter erupted from everyone, drawing the attention of the demigods who were still locked in internal debate, contemplating whether to launch an attack and eliminate Klaus.

Klaus, paying them no heed, had already readied himself to unleash one of his S-Class weapons upon them.

The fourth crack manifested, and concurrently, several of the portals began to materialize.

---

Externally, the demigods and gods who had escorted their people to the portal collectively turned their gazes toward the main portal. It had remained inactive for weeks but was now finally showing signs of activity.

Those harboring hostile intentions felt an icy sweat break out across their backs. They already understood what was due to transpire within the Jade Nest.

However, they had received intelligence indicating that matters had taken a turn for the worse. Consequently, some were formulating plans to launch an ambush, ensuring that no secrets would escape.

They had absolutely no desire for the ignominious secrets of the Heavens Court to be exposed to the public.

If only they had been aware that the Paragon had long since obtained the recordings and intel he intended to leverage to tarnish the reputation of the Heavens Court, perhaps they would have lowered their guard.

Nevertheless, such subterfuge proved unnecessary. Just moments before the first individual emerged, a figure adorned in verdant armor, radiating the power of a Celestial, materialized on the desolate planet.

Everyone recognized him as one of the esteemed elders within the Jade Temple. It appeared the Jade Queen had dispatched him to guarantee her daughter's safety.