The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

Chapter 1285: Odds & Reward

Inside an underground cave formed from an abandoned mining hole, the void cracked, and Klaus stepped out calmly.

Opposite him, Seraya stood staring quietly at him.

After Klaus made her his weapon spirit without enslaving her, she became somewhat grateful, so she chose to work hard and earn her freedom.

Klaus already made her aware that the immortal she killed, which led to her running away and later choosing the life of a criminal, was, in fact, still alive. It turned out she only managed to destroy his body, so he made a new one.

However, since he had promised her they would get revenge, she relaxed and embarked on the mission Klaus had given her with an open mind.

”What have you found?” Klaus asked after making sense of his surroundings.

”There are 315 bandits, 15 more than you said. But out of the 315, only 11 are at the immortal stage. Ten are Peak Early Immortals, and the one I assumed to be their leader is a Peak Real Immortal.

I couldn’t sense his strength, meaning he is far stronger than me. However, the remaining 304 are all Empyreans. Not even a single one of them is below the rank of an Empyrean.”

”That is quite a team for bandits.”

”Indeed. They are much more organized and coordinated than mere bandits. This means there is a chance they have someone stronger and more influential behind them.

This also makes them dangerous.”

Klaus couldn’t deny Seraya’s words. Moments like this, when there is unexplained behavior among a group of people who aren’t supposed to possess such qualities, there is always someone sane behind them.

However, the last time he checked, such people wouldn’t come against him directly. They are too reputable to be associated with bandits.

They preferred to hide in the shadows and manipulate events through the darkness.

So he was not worried that a stronger opponent would come against him on this mission. But he was sure they would strike from the shadows when he least expected it.

”What about their formations and weapons?”

”They have quite a firepower for bandits. I spotted three A-class laser guns that can kill even a Real Immortal. However, upon closer examination, it would take 3 seconds to lock on a target and fire.

That, in my eyes, is 3 minutes to find a counter or escape.

Of course, I will help distract them long enough to destroy or steal the weapons. However, you must be careful nonetheless.

Additionally, it appears they are divided into a team of three or four. 12 bandits are guarding the hostages, and all ten Early Immortals are inside the main base with their leader.

To get to them, you must face their leader. This means it would be an eleven vs one battle.”

”That will be a headache to take on 11 immortals, with one already at the Peak of the Real Immortal stage.” Klaus smiled despite the impossible odds stacked against him. ”This also means killing them all in one fell swoop is possible.”

Seraya frowned, plainly lost for words to say. All Klaus had just said was a clear sign that the odds stacked against him were already huge enough to compel him to turn and run, as the other hunters did.

However, for some reason, he seemed even more eager to face them in battle. That was not a normal behaviour expected of a hunter of his calibre.

But then again, Klaus isn’t exactly a normal person. He is outside the circle of common sense.

”Do you have a plan?” Seraya asked, a little concerned. Since she is now linked to Klaus. His life assures her own. So doing anything reckless that might harm him is a threat to her life.

”That will depend on what you can tell me about the hostages.”

”There are 12,000 of them, like you said. They are being held in a blast chamber 200 miles away from the location of the bandits’ leader and his goons.

Ten Empyreans stood guard outside while the hostages were locked in the blast chamber.”

”Then this mission can be considered completed.” Klaus smiled and waved his hand, manifesting a 3D map of the mine. Icon was finally able to create a map of the mine based on what Seraya had said so far and what she had captured

When they arrived in space, she attempted to scan the planet and the mine, but something was blocking her senses, preventing her from creating a map.

So she linked to Seraya’s soul, and when she infiltrated the mine, she used that time to start.

Thankfully, Seraya is no ordinary assassin. She learned the craft of infiltration, so she helped her map out the entire base and, using her advanced senses, she created a rather detailed map.

She even added the heat signatures of the 315 bandits. This gave Klaus a more detailed view of the base and where to go if he wanted to complete the mission as quickly as possible.

”So far, the priority is to make sure the hostages are okay. This means the mission will start there. Luckily for us, we are closer to them than the others.

So you will handle the ten bandits guarding them. Once that is handled, create a large shield, strong enough to withstand the core explosion of an Empyrean.

It will take just an hour to handle the rest of the Empyreans and implement my plans. When it happens, you will know.”

”Okay,” Seraya knew best not to ask. Klaus is a danger she can’t understand. So she chose to go ahead with the plan and hopefully complete her first mission without any curveballs.

”Don’t cause a scene, Seya. We wouldn’t want to be discovered at all.” She nodded and then transformed into the thin, curved blade and vanished...

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[Entrance of the Blast Chamber]

”Oh, men, I am even bored at this point,” one of the bandits said, looking around him with a bored look in her eyes.

”Not only you, Lan. At this point, those bastards from the Silver Light Bandit Group will laugh at us for being babysitters when they find out this was how our last mission went.”

”Damnit. I hate sitting around. The leader should at least let us play with the ladies.”

”Yeah, and some of the men too.” One of them grinned. ”You all know I don’t swing the same way as you guys.”

Disdainfully, they all smirked and spoke in unison. ”We know.”

He smiled and turned to look in the direction of the main mine, where their leader and the rest of their bandit brothers and sisters were moving about, doing absolutely nothing.

As bandits, doing nothing when they should be raiding caravans and airships made them bored.

”If you are so bored, how about I help you go to sleep... forever.”

Suddenly, a voice spoke from behind all ten of them. However, before they could react, a silver sword light flashed across the air, and blood splashed into the air.

Those who saw the light didn’t even have time to process it before their brains were pierced through by the sword. In less than a second, all ten Empyrean-stage bandits lay dead.

’Lord Klaus, I am done here.’

Klaus smiled, already on the move... ’Nice one, Seya. Wait for my signal.’