The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

Hiroshi City is the second-largest city in the Eastern Region and the 11th-largest in all of the Northern Union. Like any great city, it is managed by a powerful family—the Hiroshi Great Family, known for their unparalleled skill in swordsmanship.

At the head of this family is Ryo Hiroshi, the King of Swords and patriarch of the Hiroshi Great Family. Across the entire Northern Union, Ryo is regarded as the strongest Great Sage, second only to Miriam, the War Goddess.

Though Miriam is unmatched in raw power because she is a sovereign, a stage above a great sage. But Ryo's battle experience is legendary. During the early days of the apocalypse, it's said he single-handedly cleaved through thousands of Zombies, all while carrying a ten-year-old child on his back.

It was said He had started with a team, but they were all overwhelmed by the sheer number of zombies around them. Despite this, Ryo's determination and unmatched sword mastery allowed him to face down the hordes without flinching.

Some even claim he's immune to Zombie bites. That is because when he returned from that fateful mission with the daughter of the current Northern Union leader, his body was covered in bite marks, yet he remained fully human.

In the end, Ryo is not just a legend in battle but also the architect of a grand city. Hiroshi City is vast, stretching miles wide, with an elegance that reflects Ryo's greatness. Towering buildings rise into the sky, impressive landmarks catch the eye, and flying cars zip through the air.

The roads are smooth and well-kept, lined with sleek vehicles. The air itself feels clean and breathable, a stark contrast to the chaos outside in the forests and the forbidden Zones.

"This place is beautiful," Hanna said, gazing out the window as they flew toward their hotel in a flying car. The Trial was in two days, but Klaus wanted some time away from home to explore Hiroshi City, so they arrived early.

"Before and after the Regional Selection Trial, we can tour the city if you want," Klaus replied, mentally noting a few spots he wanted to check out. One great thing about flying cars was the view—you could see the entire city from above.

Klaus sat in the car with Hanna and Anna. They were meeting Lily and the others at the hotel they will be staying in, but for now, he is using the time to admire the city with his enhanced vision—his Spirit Eye. He wasn't using its full power, though. The last thing he wanted was to accidentally peek at something he wouldn't be able to forget.

His mother had never let him live down the incident when he had unintentionally seen her bathing. It was a complete accident, but she never missed a chance to remind him. Every other minute, she'd tease him, making sure he couldn't forget.

A short while later, they arrived in view of the Third Finger Royal Hotel, a five-star establishment that Lily had booked for the group. They had an entire suite to themselves. As soon as they landed, a hotel attendant greeted them.

"Welcome to The Third Finger Royal Hotel, Mr. Klaus, Miss Anna, and Miss Hanna," the attendant said politely, bowing slightly.

"No need to be so formal, sister. We're all friends here," Klaus replied with a warm smile. His casual tone made the lady smile back, and she led them toward a private elevator.

Lily had been thorough, ensuring Klaus wouldn't draw attention by appearing in public. She knew all too well the risks. His recent post about the Dark Order had made him a target, and the last thing they needed was for eyes to track him to the hotel.

His friends were worried, but Klaus wasn't. He didn't particularly care about staying hidden. His confidence had grown, and deep down, he wanted to test himself. He was certain he could handle anything thrown his way.

"Klaus, you're here!" Lily said as Klaus, Anna, and Hanna stepped into the large, extravagant hall.

'She stopped calling me Brother Klaus, huh? Looks like she's becoming more confident,' Klaus thought, noticing the change in how Lily addressed him. It was the same way Anna had started calling him just 'Klaus.' Before, it was always 'Brother Klaus.' He smiled and replied,

"Lily, you're looking particularly delicious this evening."

At his shameless comment, Lily blushed slightly and quickly moved to stand beside Anna and Hanna.

"Klaus, you really shouldn't tease my sister like that. She has a soft innocent heart," Kilian said, walking up to Klaus with a grin. They shared a brotherly hug, followed by the same greeting from Mark, Danny, Daniel, and Kay.

After exchanging greetings, Klaus scanned the room. The hall was elegantly decorated, filled with an air of luxury and comfort. It was the perfect spot for them to unwind before the big Trial.

"So, what's the plan for tonight?" Klaus asked, his eyes still wandering, taking in the grandeur.

"We thought we'd relax, get our minds off things before the Trial," Daniel said, leaning against a plush chair. "Maybe a drink, maybe just chill."

Klaus nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. His Spirit Eye still buzzed with the urge to activate, to sweep the area for any unseen threats, but he held it back. He needed to relax, too, though part of him felt restless, always on edge after his recent encounters.

"Drinks sound good," Klaus said, smiling as he joined the group. "But not too much, or we'll end up missing the three in two days"

Kilian laughed, already sipping something strong. "Oh, come on! One night of fun won't kill us!"

Lily raised an eyebrow at him. "You say that, but you're always the one knocked out first."

"Not this time," Kilian protested, though the grin on his face betrayed him.

As they settled in, the mood was light, filled with laughter and playful banter. Hanna, Lily, and Anna sat together, quietly chatting, while Klaus found himself lost in thought again. Despite the warmth of the moment, something keeps looming over him, something ominous. It wasn't fear—he was confident in his abilities.

But something in the back of his mind nagged at him, something he couldn't quite place.

"Hey, you okay?" Lily's voice snapped him back to the present. She stood beside him, her usual sharp gaze softened by concern.

"Yeah, just thinking," Klaus replied, shrugging it off. "Nothing serious."

Lily didn't seem convinced, but she let it go. "You know, you don't always have to carry everything alone," she said, her tone gentle.

Klaus smiled at her, appreciating the sentiment. "I know," he said. "But some things are just harder to share."

Lily sighed but didn't press further. Instead, she joined the others, leaving Klaus to his thoughts.

As the night wound down, the group enjoyed the last of their drinks before heading to bed. While the others fell into a restful sleep, Klaus remained wide awake, staring at the Pentaface Bead in his soul sea. He couldn't afford to waste time. There was something about this relic, something powerful, and he intended to unlock its secrets.

The senior had told him it was one of the Forbidden Relics. He hadn't said much else, but the word "forbidden" was enough for Klaus to understand the gravity of what he was dealing with. This wasn't some ordinary artifact; it held something dangerous and ancient, something that could either help him or destroy him.

For hours, Klaus focused on the bead, trying to understand anything he could about it. He didn't need anything grand, just something that could put him at ease. But after hours of trying, nothing surfaces.

By the time morning arrived, Klaus was no closer to unlocking the bead's secrets than when he had started. With a heavy heart and tired eyes, he sighed and set the bead aside.

Afterward, he joined his friends for breakfast. Despite the sleepless night, Klaus managed to put on a smile. He could see Lily and the others already seated, enjoying their meal.

"Morning," Klaus greeted as he sat down, grabbing a piece of bread from the table.

"Morning," Anna replied, noticing his tired face despite putting on a calm face. You could only applaud a lady for their keen sense. "Rough night?"

"Something like that," Klaus shrugged, keeping the details to himself.

"Klaus, we have received an invitation" Lily suddenly said taking out a sleek-looking envelope.