The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 14th edition of the Felin Youth Ball!" A young man in his early 20s stood at the front of the ballroom, his voice carrying easily through the large space. He had a warm smile on his face as he addressed the crowd.

"As you already know, this event is organized so the young prodigies in our cities and region can meet and interact with each other. It's an opportunity to learn, share ideas, and compare notes on how best to navigate the challenges of being a warrior."

The room was quiet as everyone listened intently. The young warriors were eager to see what the night would bring, knowing that the Felin Youth Ball was a prestigious event. Many had looked forward to this gathering for weeks, excited to meet others like themselves.

"I know you all are outstanding individuals with various views on things," the young man continued, "so without taking much of your time, let the Youth Ball begin!" His smile widened as he stepped back, signaling the start of the evening's festivities.

"That's Mettle," Lily whispered to Klaus. "He's my second brother and the current heir to the Felin Estate."

Klaus nodded, watching Mettle closely. He could see the strength and confidence in the young man, traits that clearly made him a respected figure in the Felin family. "He seems capable," Klaus remarked, keeping his voice low.

Lily smiled proudly. "He is. Mettle's always been someone we look up to. He's strong, smart, and knows how to lead."

Klaus nodded studying Mettle's character. Perhaps because he doesn't want to add more to the envy and jealousy people are directing to Klaus, he remains away from their section. but gave him a silent nod. Klaus appreciates that but naturally, he doesn't care.

So what if people are jealous of him, he earned his strength and status, unlike most who got theirs because they are from powerful families. He fought for it, so no matter how much they hated him, they knew deep down that he was indeed on a level they could never reach.

Klaus could only shake his head and smile when he sensed such envious and clear jealous looks on him. The event has many activities. The first one has to do with going around and getting to know each other.

Because of this, people began to mingle around the room, some formed small groups and started conversations. Some were discussing strategies, while others exchanged stories of their experiences as warriors. The atmosphere was a mix of excitement and tension, with everyone eager to make an impression.

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A few young warriors approached Klaus, introducing themselves and exchanging pleasantries. "It's an honor to meet you, Klaus," one of them said, shaking his hand firmly.

Although they say more about him, their ego won't allow them to show they are followers of what is going on in Klaus's life. Klaus could only nod in acknowledgment, keeping his responses polite. He could sense the mixture of admiration and competition in the air. Everyone was sizing each other up, trying to gauge who was the strongest, the smartest, or the most promising.

As the evening progressed, more conversations flowed. Some were filled with genuine interest, while others carried subtle hints of rivalry.

"Lily, your brother seems to have gathered quite a crowd," Anna said, glancing at Mettle, who had a group of young warriors, mostly ladies all around him. "He's definitely popular."

Lily nodded, her pride evident. "Mettle's always been a leader. People naturally gravitate toward him."

"Well, he seems to be quite popular with the ladies too," Daniel said casting a look at Mettle who was surrounded by a bunch of ladies each with sparks of admiration in their eyes.

"Well, you can also become popular if you do something grand" Danny smacked Daniel on the back of the head making their group smile.

Klaus observed Mettle for a moment longer before shifting his focus back to the people around him. He knew that tonight was about more than just socializing—it was an opportunity to see where he stood among the other young prodigies.

After a while, Klaus suggested they also go around. He certainly wanted to test some people out and seeing their ego wouldn't allow them to come to him, he would rather go to them.

As he moved through the ballroom, Klaus encountered different reactions. Some people greeted him warmly, while others gave him cold looks, clearly not pleased with his presence. He could hear murmurs behind him, a mix of admiration and resentment.

"Tsk, what's so grand about what he did?" someone sneered from the side, irritation evident in their tone.

"Well, if you ever manage to clear two regions of a Tier 2 Forbidden Zone as an Ascended, then feel free to come back and make that comment." A young lady said, making the fellow frown.

He clenched his jaw, visibly frustrated. He had no response to that, only biting down his irritation as others nearby chuckled quietly. The reality was, that Klaus had done something nearly impossible for his level, and everyone knew it.

Klaus took it all in stride, knowing that not everyone would be happy with his success. He had learned that being strong meant attracting both friends and enemies.

Meanwhile, Lucy and Anna stayed close by, engaging in conversations with other young women in the room. Their presence by Klaus's side didn't go unnoticed, and he could sense the curiosity and envy it sparked.

"Who is he to be so close to the Ross sisters?" someone muttered.

"Well, he is the moment and they seem to be good friends with him so it's only natural," another replied, watching them intently.

"I truly envy these two sisters, they are getting all the attention," A young lady said looking at Lucy and Anna walking beside Klaus as he moved toward his selected targets.

As Klaus continued moving through the ballroom, he was suddenly greeted by a familiar voice. "Brother Klaus, long time no see."

Turning towards the voice, Klaus immediately recognized the young man. "Brother Nathan, it has been a while," Klaus replied with a friendly smile.

Nathan was the young fellow who approached him about a month ago with an interesting proposal to join a team he was putting together. At the time, Klaus had just become an Ascended, and though not yet widely known, his images had started circulating online, gaining him some attention.

Nathan smiled warmly. "I hope you've been doing well, Brother Klaus. It looks like you've already made quite an impression."

Klaus chuckled. "You could say that. I apologize for not getting back to you about the proposal. If the offer is still open, I'd like to join your team."

Nathan's eyes lit up with excitement. "Of course! We've postponed the expedition to three weeks from today because of the upcoming City Selection Exams for Celestial Mountain Academy in two weeks. I hope that won't be an issue?"

"Not at all," Klaus assured him.

"Great! I'll add you to the group chat so you can stay updated. If you have any friends who might want to join, feel free to invite them as well," Nathan said, clearly pleased.

Before Klaus could respond, Lily spoke up eagerly, "Brother Klaus, I'd like to join too." Anna, Kay, Mark, Daniel, Danny, and Kilian all nodded in agreement, expressing their interest.

Klaus smiled, noticing how excited his friends were. "It seems everyone here wants in. And there's one more who will join later," he added, thinking of Hanna, who had missed the event to support Nadia with setting up plans for Klaus's first photoshoot.

"Excellent!" Nathan said, thrilled by the turnout. "You can all meet the rest of the team members. They're eager to meet you."

Klaus and his friends followed Nathan as he led them to a group of young men and women gathered in a corner of the ballroom. They exchanged pleasantries and introduced themselves to the other team members. The group was diverse, with members from different backgrounds and families, each bringing unique skills and talents to the table.

As Klaus interacted with the team, he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. He couldn't wait to enter the Tier 3 Forbidden Zone.

Klaus had already experienced the dangers of a Tier 2 Forbidden Zone and wasn't all that impressed. He was determined to push himself further, seeking out more dangerous zones to truly test his skills.

As Klaus mingled with the others, Mark, who had been keeping an eye on everyone, noticed something troubling. "That's Omari Hackman... Why is he looking at Brother Klaus with those eyes?" Mark said, spotting a murderous glare aimed in Klaus's direction.

The stare came from Omari Hackman, the heir of the Hackman Great Family and a young Magnus with unrivaled control over the water element.

Lucy smirked. "Well, that little guy's been after my sister Anna for a while now. Naturally, he feels threatened by Klaus's presence."

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Klaus, who had already sensed Omari's hostile gaze from a distance, couldn't help but entertain a wicked thought. With a mischievous smile, he stepped closer to Anna and gently wrapped his arm around her waist, catching her completely off guard.

"He should feel threatened because those eyes of his aren't worthy of this fairy," Klaus said with a grin, oblivious to Anna's flustered expression and the sudden jealous glances from Lucy, Lily, Asha, and Nia.

Omari, seeing this display, could no longer hold back his anger. "Courting death!" he roared, his rage boiling over as he glared daggers at Klaus.

'First target secured. Now it's time to dismantle him.' Klaus said inwardly with an evil grin.