The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse

[A/N: You shouldn't try the following with your mother-in-law. Trust me, it won't end well... lol]

A little after 2 PM, Klaus returned to the Ross mansion to pick up his mother-in-law. They only have two days to get things done.

After the awkward encounter with the war goddess, she hadn't come back. However, Klaus had sent her several messages explaining what he was about to do with his mother-in-law so she wouldn't worry.

He assured her that if he needed help, he would signal her to come. She read the messages but didn't reply, which only made Klaus believe he had significantly impacted her, especially after showing off his diamond-sculpted body.

Once he picked up Cynthia Ross, they left and headed to the northern section of the city. It was a three-hour drive, with a few stops along the way to maintain the appearance so that the assassins and spies keeping track of them would know where they were headed.

Cynthia was a natural actress, making their entire scheme appear real and intriguing. Anyone watching wouldn't be able to tell that they were just acting. Klaus, on the other hand, didn't need to act. He was in disguise, and with his bold demeanor, it felt completely natural for them to continue their ruse.

Cynthia came up with most of the plan. Klaus just wanted to kill some Assassins so whatever she asked for, he never objected. As long as the plan gets them the assassin, he wouldn't object to anything.

"Do you think they'll buy it?" she asked. They are currently on their way to a resort where the slaughter will be taking place.

Klaus smirked, confident. "They have to. We're playing our parts perfectly."

As they drove, Klaus couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The thought excited him. He thrived on danger, and with Cynthia by his side, he felt invincible.

"Just remember to stay in character," he reminded her, a playful smile on his lips.

Cynthia nodded. "You don't have to worry, playing a cheating wife with my daughter's boyfriend is perfectly normal," She said with a grin. Klaus just smiled back.

Together, they continued their journey, ready for whatever challenges lay ahead. After a while, they arrived at the resort that Cynthia had booked for them. It wasn't big, but it was cute for a couple. She had even reserved the entire place just for the two of them.

The staff had been replaced by a few maids from the Ross Mansion, ensuring their privacy. They settled in, and for a few hours, they stayed indoors, planning their next move. That night, Klaus's senses were on high alert, but luckily, no one came knocking.

The next day started off with a breakfast filled with fresh fruits and pastries. Afterward, they took a light stroll through a lush garden, the sun shining warmly on their faces.

Klaus didn't know why, but he felt a sense of peace, even knowing an assassin might appear at any moment. Cynthia seemed unconcerned as well; they both knew things weren't going to be simple, yet they were just two normal people walking through a garden while they waited for their killers.

Hours passed, and still, no assassin showed up. Then, around 5 PM, Klaus made a suggestion that caused Cynthia to raise an eyebrow before she accepted.

"Mother-in-law, why don't we go for a swim?" Klaus proposed. The plan was to keep up appearances, showing everyone they had no idea they were in danger. A swim seemed like a perfect way to distract from their circumstances.

Cynthia smiled. "That sounds great! Let's do it!" She said excitedly which puzzled Klaus.

They changed into their swimsuits and made their way to the pool. The water was inviting. Klaus dived in first, surfacing with a splash, while Cynthia laughed and followed suit.

As they swam, they chatted and joked, their laughter echoing through the resort. The carefree atmosphere was a welcome distraction from the tension of their reality. Klaus felt lighter in the water, the coolness washing away his worries, if only for a moment.

A while later, still in the pool, Klaus sensed something—or rather, several somethings—approaching. A smirk tugged at his lips. He glanced over at Cynthia, whose swimwear clung to her like a second skin, highlighting her curves in a way that was impossible to ignore.

"They're coming," Klaus said quietly.

"Yeah, I picked them up a while ago, but it seems like they're hesitant to approach. Are we not acting well enough?" she replied.

"I think so. It's like they're trying to figure out if we're just acting or really unaware of their presence," Klaus said, still maintaining a hushed tone.

"I have a plan, but it depends on how restrained you can be, especially with your hands," Cynthia said in a somewhat bashful tone.

"What plan? I'm in if you are," Klaus said, eager to kill some assassins. He wasn't too concerned about the details, as long as it involved taking down the enemy.

"Kiss me," Cynthia suddenly suggested.

"Wait, what?" Klaus nearly broke character with his startled response.

"Two people kissing in a pool doesn't exactly scream 'masterminds setting a trap for assassins.' So, kiss me," Cynthia explained.

"Okay," Klaus replied. "But don't regret this later" Without waiting for a response, he leaned in and captured her lips in a kiss. Cynthia's eyes widened in surprise, but instead of pushing him away, she slowly started to reciprocate.

It wasn't because she wanted to—it was because she had to act, they had to act for the Assassin, or that is what she is telling herself. But it's working. The kiss made the Assassins who were skeptical at first start moving toward them again.

But as their lips moved together, Klaus found himself thinking, 'Isn't this kiss a little too intense?' Cynthia was practically biting his lips, making the kiss far more passionate than he had intended.

His body wanted to react, but Klaus reminded himself this was his mother-in-law, even kissing her was too much. After a few more minutes, Klaus broke the kiss and looked into Cynthia's eyes

"Mother-in-law, we'll continue this later. For now, get ready. I'll make my move first. Just make sure none of them get away."

"How many?" she asked, her voice steady despite the heat of the moment.

"Eighteen. Eight Sages, ten Saints," Klaus muttered. Cynthia nodded, but Klaus could tell her mind was in turmoil. Still, he didn't focus on that. He lowered his head toward her chest, and his eyes flashed red.

He activated the Eye of Malevolence. Instantly, everything within the resort became clear to him—the assassins were approaching, but slowly. It would still be a little while before they entered his killing zone, a 2km radius around him.

"I'm sorry, Mother-in-law," Klaus whispered, feeling a bit guilty for using the situation to his advantage. He had to hide his face from the assassins because he knew they were watching. So the only way was to do that.

"No, it's fine," Cynthia replied, her voice slightly breathless. "We talked about this, so it's nothing. Just make it count."

They had planned for this moment, rehearsed how they would act when the assassins appeared, but plans change and this new plan felt more intense than they'd expected. Both of them could feel it—there was something more building between them, something neither was willing to acknowledge.

The tension between them thickened, not just from the approaching assassins but from the undeniable heat simmering beneath the surface. The plan was simple—act passionately, luring the assassins in by making it seem like they were oblivious to their surroundings.

No one would suspect two people kissing in a pool to be hyper-aware of the danger lurking nearby.

It was a flawless plan. Cynthia, with her affinity for shadows, detected every assassin as they approached, remaining unseen herself. Klaus, with his Eye of Malevolence activated, could watch them without being noticed. Even if they were face-to-face, the assassins wouldn't sense his gaze or realize they were already in his trap.

So, while he continued to "play" with his mother-in-law, Klaus was calculating each movement, timing everything precisely. His senses were heightened, ready for the exact moment when they would all fall into his kill zone.

Suddenly, the last assassin entered the range. That was the trigger. The sky above them darkened ominously, and without warning, a massive bell appeared. High above, a terrifying, all-seeing eye also appeared, its presence overwhelming.

Ding! Suddenly, the bell rang, and the eye snapped open.