The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

Klaus stared at the hooded figure, trying to see something—anything. Perhaps he was trying to gauge if he even had a shot to begin with.

But while his eyes revealed nothing, his senses told him something far worse. What he felt made cold sweat trickle down his back.

Pity.

Hunger.

Disdain.

Disgust.

These were the four emotions radiating from Oscar, the half-demon. Klaus could tell he was nothing more than prey in the presence of this being. He wasn’t being taken seriously, and for that, anger boiled within him.

But he never got the chance to speak.

Why?

Because Oscar spoke first, and his voice was chilling.

“I don’t know if I should pity you, human, for your foolishness.” Oscar shook his head. “You know, I was once a human. But even in my 400 years as one, I have never seen a human as stupid as you before.”

‘Ouch… that stung.’

Klaus took a mental note of the clear disrespect directed at him. He would repay it a thousandfold… if he had the chance, that is.

“I don’t know why a mere saint would trigger the Trial of Annihilation of the Nine Hell Demons, but I should be thankful. You have what I need to take the next step. Be grateful.”

Oscar’s sinister laughter filled the space, making Klaus feel a bad premonition. But he couldn’t retreat, so he might as well go with the flow.

“I don’t understand what you mean, but I would like to know before I send you on your way. Fear not, I will ensure your death is as swiftly painful and torturous as it gets. That is the mercy I can bestow upon you.”

Klaus was scared shitless; his danger sense was screaming like an ambulance.

Oscar shook his head, clearly amused.

“You’ll be dead soon anyway, but why don’t I use this chance to show you why your death is guaranteed?” The seven cards flew up and hovered two meters apart.

Then, they expanded until they were about three meters tall and two meters wide.

“You know, 300 years ago, I had to kill 1.2 million demons just to feel the power of the Seven Deadly Cards. Back then, I thought they were mere cards with random stuff I could get, like drops and whatnot.

But I was mistaken. You see, these cards are much more than trinkets. They are doorways to summoning Great Demons that will forever be bound to their summoner.

I didn’t know better back then. Perhaps I was just too ambitious to think 1.2 million lives would suffice. But alas, I had to sacrifice my own life just to fulfil the requirements.”

At this point, Klaus felt the overwhelming danger and instinctively took a step back, though he was still standing in the air. Oscar chuckled.

“In the end, I could only summon beings at the same rank as myself. But that’s beside the point. I never expected you, however, to have such a strong soul. Because of this, I will use my force to take your soul.

Be grateful. Your sacrifice will ensure the long-forgotten seven Great Demons are summoned into this world.”

The moment he finished speaking, the first card shone. From the doorway, a figure began to emerge. As it stepped through, Klaus felt his heart pound violently in his chest.

‘A Level 3 Ascendent… fuck.’

It’s a black metallic figure with everything dark. Its braided hairs are as thick as an adult’s index finger, each strand ending in razor-sharp spikes. They fall down its back, dancing in the air as if they have a life of their own.

Standing at about 3 meters tall, it wielded a green-hilted Odachi even taller than itself. Its eyes burned a dark red.

‘That is an alien, alright,’ Klaus gulped. Then the second card shone, and another figure appeared.

A busty lady dressed entirely in pink, including her fan. She had a sensual body and an aroma that immediately assaulted Klaus’s heart and mind.

Her clothing covered only 30% of her skin, leaving the rest exposed and dangerously alluring. Klaus knew he was in deep trouble having a succubus join the fray this early.

‘This lady needs to die first, or I am done for.’

The third card shone, and another figure appeared. This one was the same height as Klaus but had two horns on his forehead and a rather large set of red eyes. His skin was scaly, and he had a tail.

However, he also carried two swords sheathed behind him.

‘A dual-wielding swordsman.’

The fourth card revealed a lady wielding a red bow, clad in red leather armour. She looked human, but her dark skin and long ears suggested she might be a Dark Elf. Klaus didn’t know her exact race, but the long ears gave him an idea.

‘An Elf archer.’

The fifth card revealed a giant, red-skinned troll wielding a massive hammer, with veins lining his arms, legs, chest, and face.

His cracked skin revealed lava-like veins burning with a mixture of danger and malevolence.

‘Fuck…’

The sixth figure appeared shadowy, phasing in and out of existence. Klaus couldn’t make out its true form, but he knew the shadowy figure was an assassin—and perhaps the most dangerous of them all.

‘Fuck… fuck… fu—’

The seventh figure was an Orc Shaman. The mere sight made Klaus’s heart skip a beat.

In one hand, it wielded a staff; in the other, a dark grimoire—or so it seemed—its pages open and exuding a dark, malevolent aura. The shaman was clad in tattered dark clothes, and its appearance was far from friendly.

Its lower body looked perfect, but its upper body was disturbingly bony.

“You are dead anyway, so why resist?” Oscar’s sinister laughter echoed everywhere, making Klaus’s eyes narrow.

“Indeed, this is a powerful line, but why don’t I ask something? Since you are dead anyway, does this mean that after killing this good-for-nothing summons, you will be gone for good?” Klaus asked.

“Yes. But I don’t see that happening. After acquiring your soul, I will be reborn and even ascend to the next stage. You are like a blessing in disguise.”

Klaus burst out laughing. He couldn’t believe how funny his life had turned out.

‘Perhaps I should really cut my coat according to my size next time…’

His eyes turned red, and then the shirt he was wearing was covered as an exoskeleton-looking armour started appearing around his body.

It covered his chest and shoulders, materializing into arm guards and then into boots made of spikes.

‘Perhaps after killing this bastard, a new modification will be added.’

After killing the manticore, Klaus saw that the liquid stuff he was absorbing was some kind of exo-alien armour that had become one with his body.

His confidence was at its peak as he looked at Oscar and his ten summons.

“You know, there is a saying that goes like this.”

The spirit weapons appeared.

Two Void Piercing Needles, a Crescent Disc, a Razor Disc, and the Sword Box—all appeared around him.

ROAR!

The dragon roared into existence, painting the sky red.

Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire

Finally, the saber appeared and then separated into two identical sabers, making him dual-wield.

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

Klaus charged forward, braving the impossible tide of a Saint against seven Level 3 Ascendants.

…Despicable, but also dope as fuck…