The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

The Bell had already drained 20 percent of his Star Qi just to keep the Zombies at bay, and now, detonating the Ice Lotus had cost him another 10 percent. His Star Qi reserves were dwindling, and he knew he couldn\'t afford to waste any more energy.

"I need all the help I can get," Klaus muttered under his breath. In an instant, the Dragon appeared in the sky above him. Its massive form coiled in the air before it slashed its tail, sending sharp arcs of fire toward the frozen Zombies.

The flames cut through them like a blade through butter, turning many into nothing more than charred remains.

Klaus smirked as he looked up at the Lady Zombie, still perched on her pillar, helpless. "You see this? This is how I decimate your precious army that you\'re counting on to invade my human cities." His voice was cold and confident, mocking her as her forces crumbled before him.

But there was no time to savor the moment. Klaus moved swiftly, activating the Lotus Flower again, its icy petals blooming around him, and simultaneously activating the Absolute Ice Domain. The domain spread out in a flash, covering the battlefield in an aura of freezing energy.

Inside the domain, Klaus felt his body lighten. His movements became faster, his reflexes sharper. This was his advantage—speed. He needed it to keep the Zombies at bay while conserving what little Star Qi he had left.

The Bell continued to toll, its deep chime echoing across the frozen battlefield. The sound waves, combined with the Dragon\'s fiery attacks, were holding the Tier 7 Zombies back, but Klaus knew he couldn\'t rely on them forever. He had to take the offensive.

With his sword in hand, Klaus darted through the battlefield, his blade cutting down any Zombie that crossed his path. Heads rolled, bodies collapsed, and blood stained the ice below.

All around him, Klaus was surrounded by Zombies, each one aiming to take his life. Their eyes glowed with hunger, and their decayed hands reached out to tear him apart. But he wasn\'t alone. His summoned Dragon was doing more than just holding them back.

"It seems I really underestimated the Chaotic Nirvana Flame," Klaus muttered, watching as the Dragon unleashed arcs of fire, reducing the Zombies to ash.

The intense heat from its flames lit up the battlefield, sending smoke and embers swirling into the air. The Dragon moved swiftly, its fiery attacks obliterating any Zombie that got too close.

Though the Dragon was helping, Klaus wasn\'t having an easy time. His heart raced, and his body ached from the constant swinging and slashing. It was nerve-wracking to be surrounded by so many enemies, each several Tiers above him. A Tier 3 human against hundreds of Tier 7 Zombies, that was just ridiculous.

He clenched his sword tightly, determined to keep going. His plan was simple: hold on for as long as he could, no matter what.

"At this rate, I\'ll run out of Star Qi," Klaus muttered again, his eyes darting to the Dragon, the Ice Lotus, and the Bell of Harrows. These powerful skills were draining his energy faster than he had anticipated. He could feel his Star Qi dwindling with every moment, like sand slipping through his fingers.

He knew he had to act fast. If he could hold on just a little longer, he might be able to level up to level 8. That would restore his Star Qi and strengthen his other stats.

But that was a big "if." Before that could happen, he first had to kill more Tier 7 Zombies to gain the experience points needed. Time was running out, and the pressure was mounting.

Convincing himself he could kill all the Zombie Kings before the ritual ended was easier said than done. The Zombies kept coming, relentless and fierce. He was surrounded, and the odds were stacked against him. But Klaus had made up his mind. He wasn\'t going to back down. Not now.

He glanced at the red sky above. The ritual had already begun, and he could feel the sinister energy swirling in the air, thick and oppressive.

The Zombie Kings were gathering, and Klaus knew he had to finish them before the ritual was complete, or the consequences would be dire. That was the plan—end them before it was too late.

"The idiots are endless," Klaus muttered as he continued killing, but there were just too many Zombies coming. Thankfully, inside his Absolute Ice Domain, his speed was boosted, and he became much stronger. Yet, the question lingered—how long could he hold on?

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It had already been ten minutes since the battle started between Klaus and the Zombies in the Demon\'s Abode Forbidden Zone. The Zombies kept coming in waves, relentless and tireless. Klaus knew he was strong, but even his strength had limits.

Meanwhile, warriors and the military were mobilizing in Arcadian City and other nearby cities. Their destination? The Demon\'s Abode.

Klaus\'s distress signal had been sent out to all the warriors with tracking watches, something they received when they first entered a forbidden zone as part of a team. Now, they were all heading toward the forbidden zone to help him.

The journey would take a little over forty minutes, but they were moving as fast as they could. Every second counted. They knew Klaus was strong, but no one could fight forever, not even him.

Dave Arcadian, the leader of Arcadian City, was at the front of the charge, as always. He understood the stakes. His city, still under defensive construction, couldn\'t withstand another attack, especially if the battle spilled over from the forbidden zone. That\'s why he was racing toward the danger, his mind focused on both saving Klaus and protecting the city.

Alongside Dave, other Sages and powerful warriors moved with him. They knew the weight of what was happening. This wasn\'t just about Klaus. The entire Eastern Region could be affected if they didn\'t stop whatever was happening in the Demon\'s Abode.

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Across the region, warriors from various cities were heading toward the Forbidden Zone. Some were moving in armored vehicles, while others flew in combat helicopters. Those in the air had a clear advantage and would reach the Zone faster.

But not everyone needed a vehicle. Some individuals were faster than jets, and one such person was the War Goddess Miriam.

Far from the Demon\'s Abode, she soared through the sky, moving faster than the wind could carry her. Her long black hair flowed behind her as she sped toward the Zone. She was coming from Ross City, which is very far from the Demon\'s Abode Forbidden Zone. But as soon as she received Klaus\'s distress signal, she didn\'t hesitate—she rushed out, determined to reach him.

"Klaus, hold on. Big Sister is coming," she muttered as she flew. Her mind drifted back to a painful memory—the Arcadian Mine Invasion. Back then, Klaus had died in front of her, and she couldn\'t save him in time. That moment had shattered her, leaving her filled with guilt and regret.

Klaus had been out for seventy-two days, and like everyone else, she had cried for him. It was strange for someone like her, known for being cold, ruthless, and emotionless. Yet, when Klaus died, tears had fallen from her eyes. It was a rare sight, one that left everyone in shock, but no one judged or dare teased her.

Now, as she sped toward Klaus, she was determined not to let history repeat itself. She couldn\'t bear to lose him again. Her heart wouldn\'t survive another moment of failure, no matter how hard she tried to remain unmoved by Klaus\'s grins and shameless remarks. Deep down, he had found a way into her guarded heart.

Klaus had entered the deepest part of her heart. So she knew she wouldn\'t be able to shake off the feeling of seeing him dead again in her arms.

"Just hold on, Klaus," she muttered again, pushing herself to fly even faster. She had to reach him in time this time around.