The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse Chapter 1523: The Mad Hunter (5)

"Perish, demon!"

Three demigods managed to breach within three meters of Uncle Ziggy and launch their assault, all three thrusting their spears with the intention of exploiting their reach advantage.

However, they were gravely mistaken.

Uncle Ziggy smirked, twirling his left revolver. As three shell casings clattered to the ground, his other hand swiftly sheathed the second revolver.

Then, with the flair of a true gunslinger, he flicked his wrist, and three bullets materialized, each coated in a remarkably durable metal.

These were a parting gift from Klaus, bestowed just days before the planet's monumental awakening. While he had used some, a considerable number remained.

Wisps of smoke curled from the revolver's muzzle.

With a confident smile gracing his features, his bullet-holding hand spun the cylinder. The three bullets were swiftly loaded, each insertion punctuated by the distinct click of the trigger.

*Bang* *Bang* *Bang*

The incoming spears halted mere inches from his body. In the subsequent moment, they tumbled to the ground alongside their wielders, the three demigods.

Uncle Ziggy surveyed the fallen figures, a grin spreading across his face, soon erupting into hearty laughter.

"Damn, I make this look good."

The newly formed holes in their heads expanded, and a torrent of blood flowed out, drawn into the revolver he held. As both revolvers shared a soul-bond with him, their strength grew in tandem with his own.

He turned away, drawing the other revolver. In an instant, he vanished from his position, already pursuing his next target.

Mere minutes had elapsed since the engagement began, yet the trajectory of the battle suggested that by the time the second and third units arrived, the opposition would be utterly annihilated.

Hunter had already dispatched the third god and now focused his complete attention on the demigods. Uncle Ziggy and the others, while primarily engaged with the immortals, were also efficiently neutralizing any demigods that dared to approach.

Had this unexpected onslaught not occurred, Klaus's parents and uncles would have successfully reached the Beast Universe within the coming seven days. Now, however, their path was blocked, forcing them into a desperate fight for survival, acutely aware that without timely assistance, this might well be their final stand.

Across the vast expanse of the universe, opinions on this unfolding conflict were being fervently shared.

To a significant portion, the battle seemed entirely unnecessary, particularly since the Paragon himself had committed no offense warranting such extreme measures against his own parents. They understood the animosity harbored by the Heaven's Court towards him, and likely the entire Demon Universe.

However, resorting to the execution of his parents was perceived as an act of excessive brutality.

Conversely, some argued that eliminating the Paragon's parents was a justifiably necessary action, given his perceived status as the universe's most perilous threat. The deeply ingrained belief that the Paragon intended to bring about universal destruction persisted among this group.

The diverse perspectives expressed by many seemed to be actively shaping the prevailing narrative, creating complications for the Heaven's Court.

Yet, unbeknownst to the majority, the Heaven's Court had already resolved to sacrifice the entirety of the 500,000 warriors comprising the 25th Heaven's Army if it meant securing sufficient time for the arrival of their primary executioners.

By their calculations, these elite forces would reach the battlefield in approximately 30 minutes.

Their ultimate objective, undeniably, was the Paragon. They were fully convinced that he would manifest, unwilling to stand idly by while his parents' lives hung precariously in the balance.

---

Seated at the academy alongside Eiko, Klaus maintained a composed demeanor as he observed his father and uncles engage in combat with the ferocity of beings born to reap lives.

"I had heard tales and witnessed some videos of the legendary Mad Hunter, but seeing him in live action, I now truly grasp why he was acclaimed as the most exceptional demon to ever emerge from the Demon Universe."

Eiko offered a smile, her fists clenched as she gazed intently at the screen displaying the unfolding battle.

Klaus remained silent, though a faint smile played on his lips as he watched his uncles and father fight. Having never witnessed his father in combat before, this was a novel experience and potentially the beginning of many such encounters.

If the accounts from Eiko and others online held any truth, his father would undoubtedly make for an excellent hunting companion upon their eventual reunion.

"Klaus, do you know why I hold the Mad Hunter in such high regard?" Eiko inquired, turning her gaze towards him.

"I couldn't possibly venture a guess," he replied.

"It's quite straightforward. His talent was so profound that he completely revolutionized his Job Class, awakening what was said to be the Obsidian Demon Puppeteer Class. However, instead of manifesting puppets, he cultivated swords."

"Many would have coveted such a Class. Yet, he possessed it and, rather than cherishing it, transformed it into something entirely different."

"Now, observe him. It appears his audacious approach has yielded remarkable rewards. He fights like a thousand demigods combined into a single being," Eiko giggled.

"Twenty thousand years ago, it was estimated he wielded around 10,000 swords. Today, I can only speculate on the multitude he has managed to forge."

"He certainly seems to be the genuine article," Klaus murmured, his attention fixed on the mesmerizing dance of swords that caused the demigods and immortals to curse the very day they were born.

His focus then shifted to his mother, who, for the very first time since the battle commenced, had risen to her feet.

---

The moment she got to her feet, two colossal vessels appeared, bringing with them an entourage of thousands, comprising immortals, demigods, and gods.

"Perish, you wretched scum!" A goddess, brandishing a whip, made a swift move, her weapon lashing out towards Uncle Mark. He found himself with no opportunity to pivot his shield into a defensive posture.

Despite this, his composure remained unbroken, as the Mad Hunter stood ready behind him.

However, on this particular occasion, it was Elysia who intervened. Just as the whip drew within a meter of its target, a delicate hand shot out, grasping the weapon and yanking it forward with immense force. This unexpected maneuver sent the goddess hurtling directly towards her.

Before the goddess could comprehend the turn of events, she found herself at the threshold of the underworld. Her mind, still reeling, couldn't grasp the cause of her demise.

For the rest of the universe, the spectacle that unfolded was nothing short of astonishing. Even Klaus was visibly taken aback by the manner in which his mother dispatched the goddess.

The very instant the goddess was pulled forward, a silver blade streaked through the air, its gleam a stark reflection of the inferno emanating from Uncle James's boomerang. There was no visible sword light, no discernable arc. It was a seemingly casual sweep, and without inflicting any visible wound, the goddess simply dropped dead. This sight sent shockwaves through the onlookers, finally jolting them into remembering who had entered the fray.

"The Angel of Death. Every single strike of her blade is an execution," remarked Uncle Ziggy, who was among the fortunate few to have witnessed the goddess's swift end.

Lady Elysia turned her gaze towards the others who had initiated their charge against her. "You have only yourselves to blame for this outcome."

With those words, she dissolved into a blur of motion, and one by one, bodies began to plummet.

Her movements were so extraordinarily rapid that it was utterly beyond the capabilities of the demigods to track her or effectively counter her onslaught. Nonetheless, her intention was not to strike down the immortals. Her focus was squarely on the gods, as they represented the most significant danger, with Hunter already occupied handling the demigods.

Mere minutes later, an additional vessel materialized, amplifying the oppressive pressure of the conflict. However, Hunter conjured more swords to his defense, and the Blood Guards intensified their assault.

The battle rapidly devolved into a bloody spectacle as a relentless stream of warriors continued to pour onto the scene.

Fifteen minutes into the fierce engagement, Klaus's parents and uncles found themselves completely encircled. More than half of the 25th Heaven's Army had now arrived, and the conflict had finally escalated to its true, formidable scale.