The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

Klaus watched as the light slowly dimmed from his vision. 'So this is how I die,' he thought, the only thing flashing through his mind as he faded into nothingness.

The thought of his mother hit him hard. He could picture her devastation, the grief she would feel upon hearing about his death. It was too much for him to dwell on, but it was too late now. The arrow had pierced his chest, leaving behind a potent poison that was swiftly taking its toll.

The weapon used against him was the Doomsday Night Bow, a weapon designed for extreme circumstances by Arcadian City. It was meant to be used only if the Zombies overran the human army. The bow was powered by hazardous minerals, which made it dangerous to use repeatedly.

Prolonged use could harm the city itself. Yet, somehow, someone had chosen to use it on him.

The arrowhead contained a deadly poison, that spreads instantly upon contact. Whoever the masked figure was, they hadn't just aimed at him for target practice—they intended to kill him, and they succeeded with terrifying precision.

Klaus lay motionless in the War Goddess's arms, his once calm face now pale, drained of all life. He was dead—or so it seemed.

In the quiet of that moment, the battlefield around him seemed distant. The War Goddess held him tightly, her tears falling silently. She had caught him, but it hadn't been enough. The poison had done its job.

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"Is it done?" a man in a dark room asked, staring intently at a projection of a masked figure—the same one Klaus had seen before his death.

"Yes, my Lord, he is dead," the masked figure responded.

"Good. You know what to do next," the man replied calmly, his tone cold and calculated.

A short while later, a post appeared on the dark web. The message it contained was perhaps the most provocative and chilling one a person could ever write: "Arrogance is bliss, fare thee well, warrior. It was just Business" Alongside the text was an image of Klaus lying lifeless in the War Goddess's arms. The post was marked by a name that, when seen, caused widespread panic: "The Dark Order."

Just like that, the assassins behind Klaus's death were revealed, and yet nobody knew who they really were. The Dark Order was a mysterious organization that had surfaced ten years into the apocalypse, known for assassinating powerful figures over the years.

When they first appeared, few took them seriously. But as time passed, their reach expanded, and their reputation grew. Their signature move—posting the aftermath of their assassinations on the dark web—brought them infamy. With each high-profile target they took down, their power became undeniable.

A saying has emerged in the years since: "If your name appears in the Dark Order's books, not even the Yama King can save you." Klaus had become one of those unfortunate souls.

Everyone knew Klaus had made enemies, especially after publicly humiliating a Legacy and calling them nobodies. It was clear he would face tough opposition, but no one could have predicted that a young warrior like him would be targeted by the Dark Order. This marked the first time they had assassinated someone so young, which shocked and saddened many.

The news of Klaus's death spread like wildfire. His fans, who had watched him rise and overcome impossible odds, were left mourning all over the world. They had always believed Klaus could survive anything, but now, the grim reality of the situation was too much to bear. The world had lost one of its brightest young warriors.

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They say that when you die, your soul travels through the nine planar worlds and heads to the underworld, a realm beyond all existence.

In the underworld, it is said that you become a servant to the Yama King, forever bound to serve him. Yet, there is hope. If your deeds in life were pleasing to the immortals, they might bargain for your soul, granting you the chance to enter reincarnation.

It's also believed that those with strong ties to fate can bypass the underworld entirely, sent straight into reincarnation. They are reborn as wealthy and powerful individuals, their lives shaped by the fate they carried.

People say many things, but it all revolves around one central idea: fate. Those blessed with it are reincarnated. But the real question is, what happens if you don't have fate? Or, more unsettling, what if fate itself doesn't want you?

What if your existence is so unique that even the heavens hesitate to claim your soul after death? That's a rare and troubling situation, and Klaus has just found himself in it.

He died, that much was clear. But instead of his soul being taken to the underworld or entering the cycle of reincarnation, he woke up in a place both strange and familiar in a strange way...Lol. The environment was serene and lush, the air thick with the scent of life. Yet, there was an unsettling feeling, like something dark was lurking just out of sight.

Klaus stood up, confused and wary. He had never felt this way before. It wasn't pain or fear—it was something deeper. A cold, creeping sense of wrongness.

"Mom will be devastated by now" He muttered not bothering to take in his surroundings for the moment. A while later, he sighed and then started to look around.

His surroundings were beautiful, like a dreamland. Tall trees with golden leaves swayed gently, their branches whispering in the soft wind. A river flowed nearby, its surface shimmering with light. The sky was painted in hues of pink and orange, casting a warm glow on everything.

But Klaus couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching him, something ancient and powerful. He glanced around, trying to spot any movement, but the landscape seemed empty.

"Where am I?" he muttered to himself, his voice echoing slightly in the stillness.

This place felt like it was caught between worlds. It wasn't the underworld, and it definitely wasn't the mortal realm. It was something else entirely, a place where time and space seemed distorted.

Klaus began walking, following the river's edge. His senses were on high alert, every muscle in his body tense. He couldn't trust this place, no matter how peaceful it seemed.

As he walked, the feeling of being watched grew stronger. Shadows moved in the corners of his vision, but whenever he turned to look, nothing was there. The air felt thick, heavy with something unspoken.

Suddenly, a voice echoed through the trees, soft but clear.

"Disappointing, isn't it? To die a virgin"

Klaus froze in his tracks, his eyes darting around the eerie, twisted landscape. There was no one in sight, yet the voice felt like it came from everywhere—echoing through the dead trees and creeping into his mind.

"Who's there?" Klaus demanded, his voice sharp.

There was no direct response. Instead, the space around him began to ripple and distort. Before he could react, he felt a force pulling him away. His vision darkened, and for a moment, he was suspended in nothingness. Then, just as quickly, his surroundings shifted, and he found himself standing in a new place.

When his vision cleared, he was face to face with someone he had never expected to see. A monk with dashing violet hair, handsome features, incredible cheekbone, and somehow, dual pupils. One dark, one white. And he looks exactly like Klaus, but more mature and Handsome.

"Tea?" the figure asked casually, extending a cup toward Klaus. Before he could refuse, a steaming cup of tea appeared in his hands.

"You... who are you?" Klaus asked, still trying to make sense of the situation.

The stranger smiled faintly, leaning back as though enjoying a quiet afternoon. "My mother calls me Haus. My Uncles once called me Fruity," he said with a small chuckle. "But to the rest of the universe, I was known as the Renegade Monk."

He then looked back at Klaus with a smirk, "And who might you be Little Fella"

Klaus looked up and down at his mirror image and then narrowed his eyes before replying.

"I'm Klaus," he replied. "But I don't think I'm a 'little fella.'" He said the last part with a half-smile, trying to gauge who—or what—this person was.

Haus chuckled, the sound light but somehow ancient. "Ah, Klaus. A name with strength. But names can only tell so much, don't you think?"

Klaus raised an eyebrow, still gripping the cup of tea he hadn't asked for. "You still haven't answered my question. Where am I, and what's going on?"

Haus looked at him for a while and then asked a question that made Klaus's heart Skip a beat, "Tell me Klaus, do you believe in reincarnation"