The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

'She made me win,' Klaus thought inwardly as he gently lifted Aoi up. She had given him all the signs. In truth, Aoi was saving him from embarrassment and, possibly, from learning too much too soon. Having practiced since she was seven, it was only natural that she would be much better than Klaus.

But Aoi was shocked by how quickly Klaus was learning her swordplay. What took others years to master was being grasped by him in mere seconds. It was a talent that was hard to ignore.

"Nice duel, Brother Klaus," Aoi said, walking out of the arena, her cheeks flushed. Klaus's hands had pressed against her waist during the ending of the duel, and even though he had let go, she could still feel the warmth lingering there. The sensation made her blush deepen.

She couldn't shake the feeling of his touch, and it left her both flustered and intrigued. What had started as a friendly match had turned into something more meaningful, and Aoi found herself smiling despite her embarrassment.

Klaus, oblivious to the effect he had made on Aoi, felt a rush of his gains despite the handicap offered to him this time. He had learned so much in such a short time. But he also felt a pang of realization about how much he still lacked when it came to using a sword without any active skills.

Even though Aoi had helped him win, he couldn't help but smile as he walked toward his friends. As he stopped near them, he glanced at the two Hiroshi sisters. Aoi was hiding behind them, so he couldn't see her expression, but the looks on the sisters' faces showed they were unaware of Aoi's role in his victory.

"Brother Klaus, I didn't know you were good with the sword," one of the sisters said, her eyes wide with surprise. "By the way, I'm Miki, and this is Mio."

"Trust me, Sister Miki, I'm good with the sword through and through," Klaus said with a grin. His words didn't come off as arrogant; instead, they carried a different tone that made everyone look at him oddly. However, a few of the guys caught the hidden meaning behind his statement.

Daniel, one of his closest friends, gently tapped Klaus on the shoulder and nodded knowingly. It was clear to him that Klaus was both a monster on the battlefield and a beast in other ways.

Miki and Mio exchanged glances, still puzzled by Klaus's words. Aoi, still hiding, felt her heart race for some reason.

"Wow, we've got a real swordmaster among us!" Mio exclaimed, breaking the tension. Klaus chuckled, amused that she didn't catch the hidden meaning in his earlier words.

"Maybe you should teach us some moves," Miki suggested, her curiosity clearly piqued.

Klaus grinned and said, "It will be my pleasure, Sister Miki. This little one doesn't mind going a few rounds with each of you." He spoke in such a casual tone that the ladies thought he meant he would train with them.

But for the boys, it felt like a direct line to all the hidden meanings behind Klaus's playful words. They exchanged knowing looks, trying to suppress their laughter.

"You are one bold and arrogant youngster," a deep voice suddenly interrupted. A man stepped into the arena, towering at 6'2" with a sword tattoo etched on his forehead. He had an athletic build and a calm presence that commanded attention.

"That is Ryo Hiroshi," Lily whispered to Klaus, making sure he understood before saying anything too brash. "He's the patriarch of the Hiroshi Great Family—Aoi, Miki, Mio, and Taro's father. They call him the Sword King."

Klaus felt a rush of respect wash over him as he took in the imposing figure. Ryo's reputation preceded him, and Klaus knew he was in the presence of a true master. The air around him even spoke more than one had to say.

"Nice to meet you, sir," Klaus said, straightening up. He wanted to make a good impression, despite the playful banter just moments before.

Ryo looked at him with a measured gaze, then smiled slightly. "You have skill, Klaus. But remember, confidence is important, but so is humility."

Klaus nodded, appreciating the advice. He glanced at Aoi, Miki, and Mio, all of them watching the interaction with a mix of pride and apprehension.

"Let's see if you can back up that confidence in a proper duel sometime," Ryo continued, a challenge hidden in his tone.

Klaus's heart raced at the thought. "I'd be honored, sir," he replied, feeling both excited and intimidated.

Ryo glanced at Aoi, who was looking down, her face hidden. "You did well, kid," he said, his voice calm yet firm. "It's just that this brat is too talented." Aside from Klaus and Aoi, he was the only one who knew Aoi had helped Klaus win.

He knew Aoi was concerned about Klaus learning her family technique, so he made him win when she could have easily defeated him.

Instead of letting Klaus lose, Aoi had chosen to support him, wanting him to feel good about himself. So hearing her father's praise, Aoi smiled and nodded, her heart swelling with pride.

He himself wouldn't have easily let Klaus learn the technique that has been in their family for many generations, even before the apocalypse go to a stranger that hasn't known for that long. So seeing her daughter place her own win aside just so she could preserve their heritage made him feel like a proud and accomplished father.

"Alright, you youngsters should continue enjoying yourselves," Ryo said, his tone shifting slightly. "Good luck tomorrow in the regional selections." He cast one last glance at Klaus, a look that seemed to carry a warning before he vanished into thin air.

Klaus smiled after him, then muttered to himself, "Father-in-law sure knows how to make an entrance and an exit." His words were quiet, but somewhere far from the arena, Ryo smiled too, murmuring to himself, "I might just have to kill him someday."

Klaus, still in the arena, felt a chill run down his spine for reasons he couldn't quite grasp. Shaking it off, he glanced at Aoi. "Fairy Aoi, if you don't have any big plans tomorrow evening, would you join me and my friends for a night out after the Selection Trial?"

Aoi, taken aback by the unexpected invitation, quickly recomposed herself. "I would be honored," she replied, her heart racing. She glanced at her sisters, who were looking back at her with teasing smiles.

"Brother Klaus, maybe you should win first before making a move on my sister," Mio said, her teasing tone clear.

Klaus chuckled. "A wise man once said, strike while the iron is still hot."

"Does that mean you'll also strike these two hot irons?" Miki teased.

Klaus's smile widened. "I don't want a certain somebody cutting my sword off," he replied, prompting laughter from the group, especially the boys.

Miki, Mio, and the other ladies joined in the laughter, but suddenly, the realization hit them like a crashing mountain.

Anna and Lily hid their faces behind Hanna, while Miki and Mio's cheeks flushed a deep red. It finally clicked for them what Klaus meant when he said he was good with the sword through and through. All the cheeky comments he had made suddenly made sense, and they couldn't stop blushing.

The atmosphere shifted as they processed the implications of Klaus's words. Aoi felt her face heat up, realizing she had unwittingly stepped into a playful yet dangerous game. The teasing had been light-hearted, but now it felt more serious, charged with shameless meanings.

Klaus noticed their reactions and raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

"Not at all," Miki managed to say between giggles, her face still flushed. With that, they went back to enjoying the evening. Klaus finally managed to enjoy his dessert and even cast Miguel a few mocking smiles. A while later, the gathering was over and Klaus and his friends left back to their hotel.