The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

"Hong, I hope you'll be coming to my birthday party tomorrow," said a young man to a slim man wearing a construction worker's outfit. He appears to be in his 40s. He had a lean figure and a look that showed he was very hardworking.

This man was Tang Hong. He was a caring co-worker and an uncle to many nieces and nephews. He was the best uncle, considering he always tried to buy the fanciest gifts whenever he visited.

However, the 'great' uncle to some was known as the 'Silent Killer' to others. He is an assassin who for the past 19 years has been working for the Dark Order. He killed 603 people, 201 of whom, according to the Aya Middlestone memories, were innocent.

Some of his victims were people in high places who had been unfortunate enough to discover things they shouldn't have. He had taken away the uncles and aunts of other families, and today, Klaus was there to take him down.

Hong looked at his co-worker and smiled. "I wouldn't miss your birthday for the world." His smile was genuine and reassuring.

"Then I'll see you there." With that, Hong turned and left the workplace. He got into his car and began heading home.

On the way, he picked up his phone and opened an app called "Pleasure Knight," which allowed users to book bedmates for the night. After a few scrolls, he booked a petite young woman.

With a smile on his face, he continued driving. However, just as he was a few minutes from his house, he received a text from Aya Middlestone.

It read:

"Klaus Hanson has made his appearance in Arcadian City and will be heading to the Arcadian Mine with some friends. If possible, use this chance to kill him and his friends. This is our best shot, and since it's your city, you can take him out.

Just don't forget to share the credit once it's done."

Hong smiled. "Looks like coming to the Eastern Region for a few months was the right move."

He had originally been stationed in the Western Region, but after a promotion at his day job, he was sent to Arcadian City to oversee operations for a few months. His arrival could be described as a mere coincidence.

"At least that scheming witch wasn't stingy this time." With that, he turned his car around and began heading out of the city, taking a back road to get closer to the Arcadian Mine.

The mine had once been home to the Voltox zombies until a few months ago, when Klaus, along with the soldiers and warriors of the Eastern Region, united to eradicate them during their invasion.

It was also the first time the Dark Order had attempted to eliminate Klaus, sparking the series of events that would spell their downfall at the hands of the one called Paragon of the Nine Stars.

With Aya's memories, Klaus even knew where to begin in the Southern Union. The Dark Order was tightly connected, but not to someone like Aya, who had been plotting to overthrow their current leader and claim the Dark Order for herself.

Let's just say she had done more research than most, all thanks to the mysterious figure supporting her. Now that she was gone, Klaus wondered what would become of this shadowy figure once he found out.

That being said, Hong was driving toward his doom.

Meanwhile, in Arcadian City, Nuna stopped in front of a large manufacturing company where, despite the late hour of 6:30 p.m., workers were moving to and fro, busily working.

She observed the surroundings for a few seconds before blending into the shadows. In the next moment, he was in the shadow of a young Master Stage warrior who appeared to be an inspector making his rounds. Explore hidden tales at empire

The inspector was heading to a section where a certain beautiful woman worked as an accountant in a small office. Her name was Daniella Newman, but to the Dark Order, she was known as the Intoxicated Killer.

Her weapon of choice was pleasant poisons, one that anyone she seduced would eagerly inhale without hesitation. She was a Sage, but soon she would be a dead Sage.

As the inspector moved, Nuna used her shadow manipulation abilities to connect more shadows to strengthen her own. It was the best strategy, considering she was going up against a Sage who also possessed shadow abilities.

The Sage might notice, but by then it would be too late to react.

As the inspector neared the office, Nuna leaped from his shadow slipped into the shadow of the slightly ajar door, and started waiting patiently.

Twenty-four minutes later, Daniella stood up, closed her books, and off her computer. She was done for the day.

She wore a cozy night coat and walked away from her desk. However, just when she was about to open the door, something grabbed her from the shadows.

She looked down, but before she could identify who the shadowy hands belonged to, she was yanked forcefully into the shadows, vanishing without a trace.

In the next moment, Nuna reappeared far from the company building, looking slightly pale.

"Damn it, I hate shadow beings," she muttered.

She smiled and then drawing strength from the shadows, she disappeared once more, reappearing an hour later where she eliminated another Lady Sage known across the dark web and within the Dark Order as the Snake.

Unlike the others, this Sage operated independently from the Dark Order, making her difficult to track. But thanks to Aya's meticulous planning, Nuna only had to visit three locations to find her.

**

"I will walk from here," Hong said, parking his car under a tree before heading in the direction of the Arcadian Mine. Approaching from the west, he was far from prying eyes—except one: Klaus's.

Hong moved cautiously, ensuring his presence remained undetected. However, a certain white-haired young man watched him approach with a smirk.

Hong suspected nothing until he received a text message that read:

"Isn't it a good day to die? Come on, look to your right and say cheese."

Hong followed the instructions, but what met his gaze was a red arrow crackling with lightning and the smiling face of the person he was on his way to kill.

The arrow pierced through his head, leaving a stunned expression frozen on his face. Klaus moved swiftly, and in the next moment, he was standing beside Hong, taking the phone from his lifeless hand.

A second later, Hong's body fell backward, dead. It all happened so quickly that he never had a chance to comprehend what had occurred.

"Looks like my marksmanship needs some fine-tuning if I don't want to rely on my mind to control the arrows," Klaus said, flicking his hand as a fireball materialized in his palm.

"Handsome guy, yet you chose to become a hired assassin," Klaus remarked before tossing the fire onto Hong's body. Of course, he didn't forget to take a picture of him.

A while later, Klaus was gone, speeding toward their rendezvous spot. This time, he couldn't afford to waste time, especially considering how long it had taken Hong to reach that part of the city.

When he returned to the helicopter, Luna and Cynthia Ross were already there. Shortly after, Miriam appeared, and an hour later, a little after 5 a.m., Nuna arrived looking rather exhausted.

"Sneaky ones, huh?" Miriam asked, and Nuna nodded.

"Well, I had a few."

With that, they left Arcadian City for good, their next destination: Forest City, the second-largest city in the Western Region.