The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse Chapter 1514: The 5th Jade Princess

With each step the pink-haired lady took, lotuses bloomed, catching Klaus’s attention and causing his eyes to narrow.

Suddenly, a presence probed his mind, aiming to trap him in an illusion. Klaus recognized the lady’s attempt and deliberately allowed himself to be caught within her mental snare.

A part of him urged resistance, but his fascination with the illusion’s nature ultimately prevailed.

His consciousness descended into a fabricated reality where a chain bound his neck, forcing him to crawl behind the pink-haired lady. The scene was so absurd, Klaus pondered whether to laugh or weep.

Throughout his numerous lifetimes, he had never once submitted to another.

Yet, within this illusion, he found himself on his knees, groveling after someone he could easily vanquish with a mere flick of his wrist.

He was, of course, acutely aware of the pink-haired lady’s formidable power. The very fact that she could ensnare him in an illusion underscored that she was far from an ordinary adversary.

Klaus surmised that she was not even displaying her full strength, a realization that painted her as a truly terrifying individual. However, possessing a mental fortitude more than sufficient to counter her abilities, Klaus found the illusion’s content rather amusing.

At that moment, the pink-haired lady halted her advance, stopping just five steps from Klaus.

Witnessing this, the onlookers recognized the pink-haired lady and understood that Klaus had plunged himself into grave peril.

“He hasn’t even gotten his bearings and he’s already facing this monster head-on. This Klaus fellow certainly attracts trouble like a magnet.”

“Indeed. I’m curious to know what kind of illusion he’s currently trapped in.”

“I wager he’s on his knees, begging to kiss her feet. I heard the last person who dared challenge her withdrew the very next day and has since disappeared from public view.”

“How pathetic. I was rather looking forward to seeing more from the Renegade Hunter.”

As whispers spread, the pink-haired lady offered a smile and addressed Klaus, “Release my subordinates.”

Klaus complied, nodding and retrieving the Heaven’s Engine. Those who observed the exchange let out sighs, a mixture of disappointment coloring their reactions to the turn of events.

Within the hallowed halls of the Milky Way Academy, this lady was regarded as one of the top fifty cultivators. She was none other than Princess Knelly, the Fifth Jade Princess, and sister to the Seventh Jade Princess, whom Klaus had previously encountered in the Jade Nest.

Furthermore, she stood as the sole Mind Cultivator within the academy to achieve a rank among the top fifty on the academy’s prestigious chart.

Her esteemed position as a Jade Princess commanded widespread respect and no small measure of fear. To incur her wrath was akin to courting death, leading many to maintain a considerable distance or refrain from opposing her.

Consequently, she operated with a high degree of impunity, accustomed to acting as she pleased without facing repercussions.

Today, shortly after Klaus’s arrival, some of the guards in her employ alerted her. Being someone who thrived on demonstrating her authority and ensuring her dominance was acknowledged through fear and submission, she dispatched the three demigods to confront Klaus.

What she had not anticipated was Klaus not only annihilating her underlings as if they were mere insects but also seizing the opportunity to dramatically announce his presence to the entire academy.

This unexpected turn of events prompted her to intervene personally.

Watching Klaus release the three demigods, she smiled. In her mind, Klaus had already succumbed to her influence, leaving him entirely at her mercy.

“Drop to your knees and crawl towards me,” she commanded once more.

However, to her utter astonishment, Klaus remained unmoved. This caused her brow to furrow in a frown. Nevertheless, she intensified her power, repeating her demand.

“Drop to your knees and crawl towards me.”

This time, a subtle aura of divine essence emanated from her being, indicating she had touched upon divine Qi and was approaching the unofficial Pseudo-god stage.

Everyone present braced themselves, anticipating Klaus would sink to his knees in submission and offer an apology. Yet, the ensuing spectacle left them utterly dumbfounded.

Klaus threw his head back, erupting into peals of uncontrollable laughter.

“Hahahahahahahaha!”

Adding to the astonishment, he snapped his fingers, conjuring three identical duplicates of himself. Each clone adopted a different posture, joining him in his unrestrained mirth.

One clone clutched his stomach, his laughter echoing like rolling thunder.

Another attempted to conceal his mouth, though his efforts proved futile against his amusement.

The last clone pointed a finger directly at the Princess, his laughter aimed squarely at her.

A collective gasp swept through the crowd. Some questioned if Klaus had indeed lost his sanity, while others pondered what manner of formidable being had finally arrived at the academy.

Princess Knelly’s expression turned ashen, beads of frustrated sweat forming on her brow as she witnessed Klaus and his three avatars mocking her.

After a few moments, Klaus managed to regain control of his laughter. He wiped a tear from his eye and turned to address his three clones.

“Thanks, guys.”

They responded with nods and a bow towards him before dissolving into wisps of air.

Once they had vanished, Klaus’s demeanor shifted, his expression hardening as he faced Princess Knelly.

"The *only* reason you're still standing without a slap mark on your face is that you're Princess Evren’s sister. She and I are comrades through thick and thin, so for her sake, I'll let you go.

But understand this: this is the first and last time you'll dare play mind games with me. While I can't kill you, seeing as you're a Princess, I can inflict a pain so agonizing that you'll pray for death, a death that will never come.

My only goal here is to hone my engineering skills. If you keep out of my way, I'll do the same. However, if you're seeking death, then by all means, challenge me to a duel. I assure you, taking your life then would be well within my rights, and even the Jade Queen couldn't penalize me for it."

With those words uttered, a tattoo on his left arm began to glow, and a crimson leviathan sprang to life, unleashing an aura of ice that bore a tyrannical dominion.

Klaus leaped onto its formidable back, turning to Eiko. "Let's depart, Eiko. There's nothing more for me here."

The small figure nodded in agreement and swiftly mounted the leviathan.

Klaus's gaze fell upon Princess Knelly, frozen in place, a tempest of emotions swirling within her.

"Escort them to the infirmary. In exactly six months, they'll be as good as new, hopefully with a newfound respect for me by then." Klaus’s eyes narrowed further as he added, "While I'm forbidden from taking your life, the same courtesy doesn't extend to them."

Following his declaration, the colossal leviathan, its origin a mystery to all, ascended into the sky. It soared towards a distant structure millions of miles away, with Klaus and Eiko firmly positioned on its back.

In a mere handful of seconds, their presence vanished from the scene, allowing many to finally regain their senses.

As composure returned, hushed whispers began to circulate, each voice filled with bewilderment about the unfolding events. One moment, Princess Knelly had Klaus ensnared in her illusion. The next, she found herself the target of his scathing mockery.

As the onlookers processed the situation, a crucial realization dawned upon them: Klaus had never, not even for an instant, fallen under her spell.

Indeed, he had remained fully aware throughout the entire ordeal, his feigned vulnerability a calculated ploy for later ridicule.

This revelation only intensified their astonishment as the full gravity of the situation became apparent.

"Renegade Hunter is far from an ordinary warrior. At this pace, I'd wager he ranks among the academy's top 20."

"Top 20? I believe he's a strong contender for the top 10."

"Damn, I wonder if he'd be willing to join forces with us when the Genesis Dungeon finally opens."

News of Klaus's dramatic arrival and his show of power swiftly permeated the academy and echoed throughout the cosmos. A collective anticipation rose, questioning if the era had finally arrived for the Milky Way Academy to reclaim its prestigious position as the universe's undisputed number one.