The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

Chapter 196: The Devils Killer (2)

”This monster is more like a jaguar than a leopard,” Klaus muttered, using his Spirit Eye to observe the Fire Horn Leopard. He was concerned after using the Bell Of Harrows in the last fight, the other Fire Monsters would come.

But from the look of this, this Fire Horn Leopard has no such plans. It was just sleeping, or at least that was how it wanted others to think.

It was also clear that the five Fire Devils didnʼt like each other, or rather, they simply stayed out of each otherʼs business.

”Brat, try not to cause too much disturbance. Below that rock is a Fire Tulip. Eating it will greatly boost your fire element potency,” the seniorʼs voice echoed from within Klausʼs soul sea.

Klausʼs eyes lit up. ”You mean thereʼs a treasure here? Senior, was there a treasure in the first region where I killed that lion?” he asked, his mood visibly improving.

”Everything about this place is a treasure. Just being here will greatly temper your body and strengthen your fire element,” the senior replied, slightly amused.

”Well, isnʼt that just great,” Klaus said, glancing around with newfound excitement. After a few moments of observing his surroundings, he realized he had to be careful now. The leopard was resting on a rock, which was precariously balanced on two others. Using his heightened senses, Klaus spotted the flower hidden beneath the rock.

”I need to kill it as fast as possible,” Klaus muttered, quickly shifting his focus to a plan. From what he knew, the Fire Horn Leopard has only two abilities: Fire manipulation. The horn on its head is what he uses to manipulate the fire. Also, extreme speed.

Its speed is similar to how Klaus taps into the elemental essence in the air to move but its own is faster—much faster.

Klaus knew better than to engage in direct combat with a beast like this. He might be fast, but he isnʼt quicker than a Tier 7 Devil that could control fire. Entering a straight fight would be suicide.

”Brat, you have to be careful,” the seniorʼs voice echoed once again. ”This monster has a unique skill—it can heal itself using fire. And, well, youʼre literally in the heart of flames here, so be cautious.”

Klausʼs brow furrowed. ”Great,” he muttered.

”Just what I needed—an opponent that regenerates in its own element.” He glanced around, feeling the oppressive heat of the environment. The flames that surrounded the area were like a constant energy source for the creature. One wrong move, and heʼd be stuck in an endless battle with a beast that wouldnʼt stay down.

But Klaus wasnʼt one to back down. He had faced worse odds and survived. He took a deep breath, steadying his nerves.

He quickly started moving forward, each step revealing a different aspect of the leopard. It was massive, stretching three meters long, with a hard exoskeleton that looked like molten lava, gleaming like hot metal under the sun.

Its eyes were deep, blood-red, glimmering with a predatory intensity. Atop its head sat a twelve-inch horn made of unyielding metal. The tip radiated heat, and Klaus could see the jagged teeth lining its powerful jaws—each one sharp and menacing.

”What a hideous creature,” Klaus muttered, trying to suppress a shiver that ran down his spine.

”This better work,” he said, steeling himself as he stepped into the monsterʼs line of sight. The leopard responded immediately with a deafening roar, shaking the very ground beneath Klausʼs feet.

”I know, I know. I promise it will be quick,” Klaus smirked, but he was being more careful this time.

The Fire Horn Leopard stood up, towering over him, its massive form still atop the rock. Klaus noticed that its horn began to glow, pulsing with fiery energy. The air around it shimmered with heat, and Klaus could feel the intensity building.

”Here we go,” he whispered

He muttered something, and in an instant, a terrifying red eye appeared behind him—large and menacing. Klausʼs Eye of Malevolence had merged with the second face of the Pentaface Bead, the Eye of Despair. This fusion allowed him to control the skill more actively than ever before.

The horn atop the leopard glowed fiercely as a ball of flame began to materialize on it. Sensing the imminent danger, Klaus quickly formed a hand seal, and at that moment, his Star Qi surged, flooding into the eye.

A sharp headache pierced through his skull, but he pushed through the pain, locking his gaze on the leopard.

”Later, buddy,” he muttered. With a surge of energy, the eye shot out a wave of red energy, a beam that slammed directly into the leopardʼs head.

The creature let out a roar and staggered backward, disoriented. Just then, a sixteen-inch needle streaked through the air, aimed right at the leopardʼs skull. Just when it seemed the needle would pierce, the leopard, barely hanging on, roared again, deflecting the attack with a desperate swipe.

Klaus smirked, tapping into the fire essence swirling in the air around him. In a flash, he moved, his sword gleaming blue as he channeled his ice essence into it. With a swift thrust, he stabbed the blade deep into the leopardʼs neck, his ice qi surged freezing it from the inside.

Within seconds, its massive body was frozen solid, and then slowly, it fell with a thud.

”Sorry, buddy, I donʼt have all day to see what kind of skills you have,” Klaus muttered, standing atop the stone where the leopard had been just a few moments ago.

”Good one, kid. Now sit on the stone, and Iʼll teach you a way to channel that energy to temper your body. Itʼll increase your resistance to fire.” Klaus didnʼt need to ask for more details; he knew the senior wouldnʼt offer any explanations, given the karma involved.

Klaus settled into a lotus posture, preparing himself for what was to come. At that moment, deep within his soul sea, a golden orb shot out from the first door, pulsating with energy. As it entered his mind, Klaus felt a surge of information flooding his consciousness.

He quickly formed a series of hand seals. From the ground, a round diagram appeared, glowing with energy. As soon as it took shape, Klaus felt his skin start to burn. The hot energy from the surrounding lava began to bake him alive.

”Fuck, this hurts!” Klaus gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay still as the intense energy coursed through his body. Despite the searing pain, he knew he had to endure.

He could feel his body growing more resistant to the heat, and he knew that with this, he would be able to walk around the Fire region without feeling even an ounce of heat.

Thirty minutes later, the heat baking him subsided, meaning it had no effect on him anymore. He stood up and kicked the large stone he had been sitting on, sending it flying. Beneath it, he found a red flower, burning hot. He scooped it up and stored it in his space ring.

”Iʼll absorb that when I get back home.” He then moved to the body of the leopard and, with a flick, picked out the Fire core and crushed it. The dragon tattoo glowed, and the energy from the core flowed into it.

”So, senior, does that mean I just need to feed the Flame Spirit if I want to unlock the other awakened fire elements?” Klaus asked as he stored the monsterʼs body and started moving toward the next region.

”Yes,” the voice answered. ”Youʼve already awakened them, so just feed the Flame Spirit, and youʼll gain enough control over the fires for combat. But that doesnʼt mean you can stop strengthening your body.

Even though the Flame Spirit holds all types of flames, your body wouldnʼt be able to handle them yet. The best plan is to keep using all sorts of resources to temper your body. With enough resistance to the fire, you will be able to start actively using them without getting any harmful backlashes”

”So what are my chances of using the Choatic Nirvana Flames” Klaus suddenly asked