The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

Within just two hours, thousands of warriors had gathered in Arcadian City, ready to defend against the impending tide of Voltox Zombies. Everyone knew this invasion would be especially dangerous, and the reason was clear. Although many power sources can be used for weapons, Humium was widely regarded as the most powerful of them all.

Its destructive power far surpassed that of any other known mineral. The fact that weapons made from Humium would be less effective against the Voltox Zombies made the situation even more dire. Sure, other weapons could be used, but not all were suitable for a large-scale invasion like this one.

Take uranium, for example. If they were to use it in this battle, the aftermath would be devastating. While it might help hold back the zombies, the cost to the environment—and the city itself—would be severe. Entire sections of Arcadian City would need to be abandoned due to the radioactive fallout. Even though technology had advanced significantly, it hadn't always been in the right direction.

When the spiritual qi descended upon the world, and chaos erupted, governments and militaries resorted to using their hidden nuclear stockpiles, originally meant as a last resort against human enemies, to fight the invading monsters and zombies. But the consequences were far worse than anyone had anticipated.

After the war, scientists discovered that areas where large amounts of nuclear weapons had been used became death zones. It turned out that uranium fused with spiritual qi in an unpredictable and catastrophic way. Instead of being their ultimate weapon, uranium turned into something even more dangerous.

Now, there are places known as Death Zones—regions that are uninhabitable for humans but where terrifying monsters thrive, growing stronger every day. Ironically, these regions were engineered by humans themselves, though they had no way of knowing the long-term effects when they first deployed their nuclear arsenal.

Unless they had no other choice, they wouldn't dare use such destructive weapons, which meant everything depended on the warriors gathered here. Victory would rely on their skills, techniques, and teamwork. If they hoped to survive, they'd have to give everything they had.

A camp had been set up about three miles from Arcadian City, and thousands of warriors who answered the call could be seen preparing for the upcoming battle. With the zombie horde expected to arrive in less than two hours, everyone was getting ready—both mentally and physically.

In one part of the camp, Anna, Mark, Lily, Kilian, Danny, Daniel, Kay, and Hanna sat together, a mix of tension and focus on their faces.

"You said he hasn't answered your calls?" Lily asked, directing her question to Anna.

"Yes, I've called him several times, but there's been no answer," Anna replied.

"Maybe he's busy," Danny sighed, trying to sound hopeful.

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Hanna suddenly chimed in, "Actually, I called his mom. She said Klaus has been in seclusion for days now, and he told her not to let anyone disturb him until he comes out." Her words made the others nod in understanding.

When the emergency signal went out, Klaus's friends tried contacting him, but when they got no response, it rattled them. Still, they were in too much of a hurry to track him down, especially Anna, who was closest to him.

She assumed Klaus was probably off hunting or training somewhere, so she left him several messages in case he checked his phone later.

"He'll come once he sees our messages," Daniel said, glancing around cautiously. "I just hope he's not too late. There are some vipers lurking, waiting to cause trouble for him."

Despite the looming invasion, many of the warriors had come for more than just defending the city—they were here to level up. Klaus's friends were among them, ready to test their strength. And it wasn't just them. All around the camp, you could see many young geniuses who had come for the same purpose.

Klaus would even recognize most of them, having briefly crossed paths with them during the Felin Youth Ball.

They all looked ready for battle, but there were always a few who came looking for trouble. Klaus's friends ignored the piercing gazes aimed their way and focused on strategizing. Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps started approaching them, making them frown. Five imposing figures entered their area when they looked up, and the group immediately felt small in their presence.

"You're friends with that little fella Klaus, right?" a tall, bulky man with tattoos covering his arms asked.

Anna nodded. "That's right."

"Good. Where's that pretty boy?" Uncle Ziggy asked.

"He hasn't arrived yet," Anna replied, keeping her tone calm. "We spoke with his mother, and she said he's been in seclusion. He'll come when he's ready, but we're hoping he's not too late." As the natural leader of her group, Anna felt the responsibility to answer the five powerful saints standing before them.

"Good enough," Uncle Ziggy nodded. "I also hope he's not too late. Well then, since you're Klaus's friend, you can call us uncles. I'm Uncle Ziggy, that's Uncle Jojo, Uncle Xian, Uncle Matt, and Uncle James." He gestured to the other four men with him.

"Oh, and you little fellas," Uncle Ziggy continued with a grin, "feel free to use this time to level up. We'll be fighting beside you to ensure you are not hurt."

His words made Klaus's friends, especially Lily, smile with relief. Knowing they had such powerful support lifted some of the weight off their shoulders.

Saints weren't exactly rare, but they weren't common either. Most saints spent their time training and hunting, aiming to advance to the Sage stage. So while there were many saints, it was still rare to see them around.

For five saints to appear here, and with such a commanding presence, it naturally drew attention. People glanced at them with a mixture of awe and relief. Having saints fighting beside them made everyone feel a bit safer.

Anna and her team also relaxed. Though they wished Klaus was with them. However, knowing his five uncles were there gave them some peace of mind. Yet, deep down, they still longed for Klaus to join them.

Suddenly, five figures descended from the sky, hovering down slowly. The atmosphere shifted as everyone turned their attention to the newcomers.

"Everyone, thank you for coming," a voice boomed. "I know this isn't how you expected to spend your day, but as warriors, we all understand that unexpected challenges come with the territory. This invasion took us by surprise, but I have no doubt we will prevail because each of you is one of humanity's finest and bravest warriors."

The crowd listened closely as the speaker continued.

"The enemies we are about to face are the worst kind, but with our strength combined, I believe we will overcome this. And rest assured, after this invasion, each of you will be compensated for your bravery. Once again, thank you for coming."

Dave Arcadia, leader and ruler of Arcadian City and one of the wealthiest people in the entire Northern Union, spoke.

After his speech, everyone went about their preparations. An hour passed, and with each passing minute, the warriors stood ready.

Suddenly, a massive explosion shook the ground a few miles ahead. The Zombies had finally broken through all the containment barriers meant to thin their numbers and buy time to mobilize the fighters.

From the explosion, terrifying Zombies emerged—creatures that looked like they had stepped straight out of a nightmare.

"Everyone, kill without hesitation!" Dave Arcadia shouted. With his command, the warriors charged forward, even those who had been visibly shaken by the sight of the horrific Zombies. They were eager to prove themselves, hoping to score some points by taking down the Variant Zombies.

Anna and her friends also rushed into battle, picking their side of the field. Uncle Ziggy and the others charged alongside them, taking up positions around Anna and her group.