The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

"This is KKKickinIt with Controversial News. Three weeks ago, the infamous Devil Archer, known for his pinpoint accuracy and deadly shots, issued a challenge to the youngest warrior currently ranked on the City, Regional, and Union Warrior Charts.

In an unexpected turn, the white-haired 'pretty boy' warrior accepted the challenge and even proposed a handicap. He will close his eyes and allow the Devil Archer to fire three deadly shots at him. Some might call that arrogance.

But there's more: if the Devil Archer manages to kill him with those three shots, Klaus Hanson has promised to drop out of the Regional selection for the Celestial Mountain Academy. That's right, Klaus is putting his future on the line.

It's audacious, to say the least. But it doesn't stop there. Klaus also promises that victory will be handed to Max Duncan if the Devil Archer fails to kill him, but he still manages to defend against his attack.

So, ladies and gents, Klaus Hanson isn't just handsome; he's also confident to the point of arrogance. Today, we'll find out if he's got the skill to back up his bravado.

Betting platforms are open, with odds set at 12 to 120. Choose wisely—some wallets might be emptied by the end of the day.

This has been @KKKickinIT with Controversial News. I'm out."

The Controversial News channel, notorious for its provocative reporting, has been relentlessly covering the duel between Klaus and Max Duncan for the past few weeks.

But it's not just them. Other media outlets have been equally engrossed, eagerly anticipating the big day. Klaus will face off against Max Duncan today, and the entire event will be broadcast live for everyone to see.

Standing in front of his mother with a sly grin, Klaus is ready. Behind him, his friends—Anna, Lily, Danny, Daniel, Mark, Kay, and Kilain—stand in support.

"You better win," his mother warned, playfully twisting his ear. "Or when you get back, I'll spank you until your backside turns purple!"

Klaus chuckled, wincing at the playful threat. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll make sure to bring home a win."

"You better," his mother replied before planting a kiss on his forehead. "Be careful out there, all of you," she added, her voice filled with concern.

Klaus and his friends left, climbing into a sleek, self-driving car spacious enough for ten people. The car hummed to life, smoothly pulling away from the house.

Just a week ago, a representative from Oracle had met with Klaus to give him an overview of the upcoming duel. The location was set at the same place where the City selection exams for Celestial Mountain Academy had taken place. A special helmet had been arranged for the duel. And to ensure fairness and security; the War Goddess herself had been appointed to oversee the equipment transport.

Mark leaned forward from his seat as the car sped towards their destination. "Klaus, how confident are you that you can win this? You're at a disadvantage, after all."

Klaus leaned back with a grin. "Well, I don't know his exact abilities or how strong he really is, so I'd say… I have about a 97 percent chance," he teased. "But that all depends on whether his first shot can actually impress me."

His friends chuckled, though the tension of the upcoming duel still hung in the air.

"You know, you're really arrogant," Anna said with a teasing smile, "but it's kind of cute."

"I'll take that as a compliment," he replied with a grin, "but seriously, you guys don't need to worry. The smart move is to bet everything on me. Honestly, I'm putting 700 million on myself. You should all do the same."

Klaus's friends shook their heads, unable to believe how calm he was. He was about to face a prodigy, someone who had been trained with the finest resources since birth. Yet, Klaus—who was just a slum kid not too long ago—didn't seem bothered in the slightest. His confidence, despite the odds, almost felt too arrogant.

"I'm putting a billion on you, Klaus," Anna said, pulling out her phone. "But if you lose, I'm packing up and moving into your house."

Klaus chuckled, his eyes glinting with mischief. "No worries. My bed's big enough for both of us. Lily, you should join us too," he teased, casting a playful glance toward Lily.

Both Anna and Lily blushed slightly, exchanging embarrassed but amused glances. Anna shot back with a smirk, "Don't get ahead of yourself, Klaus."

"Just stating facts here," Klaus said. He glanced at his male friends—Kay, Mark, Kilian, Daniel, and Danny. "What about you guys? Do you have enough spine to bet on your handsome friend here?"

They exchanged looks, a mixture of amusement and doubt on their faces. Kay was the first to speak, crossing his arms with a smirk. "You're as cocky as ever, Klaus. But fine, I'll throw some cash on you. Don't make me regret it."

Mark nodded, chuckling. "Guess I'll do the same. Someone's gotta support your crazy confidence."

Kilian shrugged. "I'm in. Let's see if that arrogance of yours pays off."

Daniel and Danny exchanged a glance before grinning. "All right," Daniel said. "We're with you, Klaus. But if you lose, you're buying drinks for a month."

Klaus laughed, shaking his head. "Deal. But don't worry, you'll all be swimming in cash by the end of the day."

Klaus glanced at his friends and couldn't help but nod in approval. They were just as wild and daring as he was—and he loved that about them. These were the kinds of friends you could always count on. For them, it was either go all out or go home. And right now, Klaus had orchestrated the perfect "get-rich-quick" plan. If everything went according to his plan, they'd be cashing out big time.

He had even given his maids and security extra pay this month, encouraging them to make a little something on the side. His partner in crime, Kofi—his chief of security—was already working behind the scenes, staking bets on multiple platforms. Everything was in motion.

Madam Fei had also sent over 300 million after Klaus sold her a few goods, and with what he had sold to Nia and Asha, he had over 700 million riding on this duel. It was a massive risk, but Klaus believed in himself. If he could win, it would all be worth it.

But that was the key: if he won.

"We're here," Klaus said as their car pulled up in front of the enormous building. He and his friends stepped out and made their way inside. Just as they approached the entrance, Klaus heard a familiar, enchanting voice.

"Little Brother, you're early," the voice teased. "Scared you might lose, so you came ahead of time?"

Klaus looked up and saw her—the War Goddess herself, radiating elegance as she strode toward him with a playful smile. Her hourglass figure and commanding presence caught everyone's attention.

"Big Sister," Klaus replied, feigning a wounded expression, "it seems you don't have much faith in me. That stings, you know." He placed a hand over his heart dramatically, casting her an exaggerated look of hurt.

She laughed softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Oh, don't be so dramatic. I'm just making sure you stay sharp."

Klaus grinned, shaking his head. "Don't worry, Sister. You'll see soon enough who's staying sharp today. By the way, do you want to make a bet again, like last time?" He flashed her a cheeky smile.

"What do you want if you win?" the War Goddess asked, her curiosity piqued.

"A hug," Klaus replied with a mischievous smile. He glanced at her chest area, knowing full well that a hug would have him face-to-face with it.

"Really? Just that?" The War Goddess asked, clearly unaware of the deviousness behind Klaus's request.

"Of course," Klaus said, "but if you want to add a message to that, I'd be perfectly fine with it." His grin widened as he imagined the outcome.

"Brat, go on inside," the War Goddess said, a knowing smirk on her face. "I'm not falling for your smooth talk."

Her friends couldn't help but smile, enjoying the look of realization on the War Goddess's face. Klaus laughed, then walked into the building, his friends following closely behind.

Once they were inside, the War Goddess sighed deeply. "That kid is something else," she murmured. "I nearly fell for that. I'll have to be extra careful around him." With another sigh, she turned and followed them into the building.

As soon as they entered, the War Goddess caught up with Klaus and led him to a private room. Meanwhile, his friends were shown to a separate area with a large screen displaying the Oracle logo. They settled in, eager to watch the event unfold.

Klaus was guided into a room having a comfortable, bed-like chair, perfect for long gaming sessions.

"The moment you log in, you'll need to select your weapons. Then you'll be transported to the arena," the War Goddess explained.

"Got it," Klaus replied.

"Good luck," she said with a supportive smile.

"Thanks, Big Sister. I appreciate it," Klaus said with a wink.

The War Goddess then helped Klaus put on the helmet. With the helmet securely in place, Klaus maintained a confident smile as his consciousness shifted into the Oracle.

He materialized in the same virtual space as before. He quickly selected a sword similar to his own and willed himself forward. A spacelike effect enveloped him, and in an instant, he found himself in a vast, open arena.

The arena resembled an ancient gladiator coliseum, with thousands of stone seats surrounding the central area. Klaus took a moment to survey his surroundings. Suddenly a figure appeared about a kilometer away from him.

"Klaus, are you ready to die?" Max Duncan's voice boomed across the arena.

Klaus feigned ignorance, a playful smile on his lips. "Excuse me, did you just say you're afraid to die?" he asked, his tone dripping with mischief.

Max's face immediately turned a deep shade of purple with rage.