The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

"As I said, the chances of the Lightning Bird allowing us to take the ThunderBerry are next to none. However, we don't have to kill it either.

All we need to do is buy Big Sister enough time to sneak in and pluck a few. We don't want the guardian of the ThunderBerry to die suddenly. Who knows? The monsters it's been guarding the fruit from might attack.

"I might be awesome, but I'm not confident I can handle multiple Tier 9 True Beasts," Klaus said to his companions as they made their way toward the valley where the ThunderBerry fruit was located. Their mission was to secure just one.

"Little brother, can we handle the beast guarding it? Since the mission is ranked high, the chances of it being very difficult are also high," Hanna said.

"Don't worry. I can handle it if it's a single beast, even if it's a Tier 9 beast. But everything will depend on how fast you are at taking the fruit. Remember, if you're not confident, take one. But if there's a chance, grab two or three.

It will help with your lightning element, and I'll need it too to strengthen my lightning."

"Okay, brother. I'll do my best," Hanna said firmly.

Lily was the best option for this snatch-and-grab mission. However, she didn't have the lightning element, which meant her chances of succeeding were slim despite her otherworldly speed.

Luckily, Hanna was fast and had an affinity for the lightning element. This would give them an advantage to complete the quest easily.

They only took on high-level missions and were now learning how challenging such missions can be.

They ventured deeper into the forbidden zone. The tree they sought was located in a valley surrounded by three mountains.

Wary of any potential ambush, Klaus instructed his friends to move cautiously as they neared the location.

Half an hour later, they arrived a few kilometres from their destination. Ahead, in the distance, stood a blue tree crackling with lightning.

"I suppose that's the tree," Danny said, pointing forward.

"Indeed. Luckily, it's not tall, and there are more than three ripe fruits on it. However, we're unlucky," Klaus said, narrowing his eyes toward the tree.

"What is it?" Anna asked.

"There's good news and bad news. The good news is, the guardian of the tree isn't around. The bad news is... the guardian is right behind us."

Boom!

No sooner had Klaus finished his sentence than a powerful lightning bolt shot toward them. Klaus quickly raised an ice wall, blocking the attack.

Before they could react, something flashed before their eyes, and another lightning bolt was hurled toward Danny. However, Klaus acted quickly, blocking the attack just in time.

"Turn around and leave this place. You have no business here."

Suddenly, a feminine voice reached their ears, forcing them to turn to their right. There, they saw the attacker, who was already preparing to strike again.

"You know, your behavior is no different from that of a monster. As a beast, you should at least ask what we're doing here before getting aggressive," Klaus said, stepping forward.

Up ahead, a bird lady with the head of a hawk and the legs of a bird—yet a human-like body—hovered in the air. Her figure was covered in feathers, and she held a bone spear tightly in her grasp.

Behind her, a pair of wings spread wide. However, her hands caught Klaus's attention—avian but functional.

This signified that once she underwent the trial by lightning and broke through to Tier 9, she would transform into a True Beast, or as many called it, a Spirit Beast or Guardian Beast.

"There's no need to ask what you're doing here. It's obvious you're after my Thunderberries. The answer is no. You are not allowed to take even one," the bird lady declared.

"Perhaps we can negotiate. By the way, my name is Klaus. Klaus Hanson. May I know the name of this auntie?" Klaus asked with a slight smirk.

He knew full well that a battle with a Peak Tier 8 beast in the air would be far from easy. The oppressive killing intent radiating from her made it clear: her path had been one of relentless slaughter and bloodshed.

Klaus, however, was not foolish enough to act arrogantly. Instead, he chose to negotiate—not to save his own life but to ensure the bird's inevitable death didn't occur if they were forced to fight.

Still, he didn't want that outcome. If he could tame this bird lady for Hanna, she would grow immensely powerful in no time, easing his constant worry about his precious sister—one of the keys to his future.

"I don't need to negotiate with a bunch of children, so I will only give you three seconds to vacate my domain and never show your faces here again—unless you want to die," the bird lady threatened.

Kent smiled and glanced back at his friends, who, for some reason, were more fascinated than afraid at the sight of a beast talking to them.

Instead of fear, their faces held an expression of reverence.

'What a bunch of weirdos,' Klaus thought, smiling. He decided to go with the second-best plan.

"First of all, you don't have what it takes to kill us. Second, I can kill you in two exchanges—the first being me flying closer to you and the second, the attack that will end your life.

However, I choose not to be violent and instead offer you a fair deal. Of course, you can ignore it and attack us, in which case, we'll be dining on bird meat tonight." Klaus glared at the bird, who stared back with an unreadable expression.

Well, it was a bird. No visible facial expressions.

"You have two options here. First, step aside and let us take four of the ripe Thunder Berries. Second, you can choose to attack, leaving me no choice but to kill you.

And okay, there's a third option: you can become my sister's beast companion. If you do, I promise to help you break through to the Ninth Tier within three months and finally step into the ranks of a True Beast.

The choice is yours, my lady. But don't for one moment think you have the upper hand."

To ensure she understood he meant business, Klaus activated his Eyes of Malevolence, turning his warm golden irises into a chilling crimson.

The beast ahead shuddered at the sight.

Although Klaus wasn't bluffing when he claimed he could kill the bird beast within two exchanges, the creature felt genuine fear when it gazed into his crimson eyes.

The sight stirred something unfamiliar within her—fear.

Klaus, of course, noticed this reaction.

But he knew it had to be done. If the Hawk Lady had been a Tier 9 beast, he would have retreated with his friends and planned an ambush later, though their chances of success would have been slim.

However, with nine of them, he was confident they could take on a Tier 8 beast. And if it came to it, he knew he could handle her himself.

The bird lady hesitated, reevaluating her position. But before it could decide, a deafening roar echoed through the forest, filling the valley with an overwhelmingly potent aura.

"Well, that changes everything," Klaus smirked.