Apocalypse Gachapon

The group of burly men stood frozen, the silence suddenly oppressive.

Two things had stunned them into silence.

First, the woman had just wielded a blue-tier weapon!

Even their leader, Pei Jia, only had a handful of blue-grade equipment. This woman had one too? Anyone who could obtain and keep such gear was undoubtedly powerful.

Second, they knew how hard the ice plains’ terrain was. Even their strongest fighters, using their prized green-grade weapons and most powerful skills, might barely manage to leave a mark like that. Yet this woman had done it with a casual swing, proving her terrifying combat prowess.

They exchanged uneasy glances and quickly dispersed.

Before long, Old Man returned, drenched in sweat, relieved to see the troublemakers gone. Xiao Min asked and learned that Old Man hadn’t even gotten to see Pei Jia—no one had paid him any attention, no matter how hard he tried.

Xiao Min and the others glanced at the now-quiet camp entrance, but their hearts weren’t at ease.

She had a feeling that something seemingly simple… might not be so simple after all.

Ye Zhongming walked through the streets of Yakutsk, unable to hold back his admiration.

Due to the ice plains’ extreme cold, the city’s architecture was remarkably well-preserved. The distinct northern aesthetic was evident everywhere, with rounded domes and vibrant colors adding life to the otherwise white-dominated landscape.

Beside him, Yellow Ball walked slowly, while above, ice birds and Yangos circled at low altitude. Surrounding them were countless mutant creatures.

They lined the streets like an honor guard, watching him with predatory eyes.

A human walking alone into a city overrun by mutant creatures? Anyone would think Ye Zhongming had lost his mind. Yet the King of Cloud Peak had done exactly that.

At the end of the street, the densely packed horde of zombies suddenly parted, and over a dozen figures emerged.

Some were towering like mountains, others shadowy like spirits. Some radiated fury like fire, while others were cold as blades.

Each was a ruler among mutant creatures.

Their appearance forced nearly every mutant lifeform present to lower heads that would never otherwise bow.

Ye Zhongming stopped. Yellow Ball stood behind him. The two sides faced each other across the long street, silent and still.

In the sky, swarms of flying mutant creatures encircled Yangos and the two ice birds within a sizable radius. However, the innate pressure of the dragon and the ice birds’ natural dominance in this environment kept them from acting recklessly.

The black cat emerged slowly from the group of level-eight mutant creatures.

It had been a long time since they’d last met, but the level-eight feline looked almost unchanged—except for the wound on its body.

Its eyes were blood-red, brimming with wildness as it stared at Ye Zhongming. Having been isolated from humans for so long, the cat seemed fiercer than before, though some of its intelligence appeared diminished.

After studying Ye Zhongming for a while, the black cat’s bristling fur finally smoothed down.

“You called me here. I’ve come.”

Ye Zhongming’s soft words sent a ripple of unrest through the mutant army. The sound of a human voice seemed to unsettle them.

A few level-eight mutant rulers growled, restoring order.

“Come. Alone.”

The black cat’s telepathic message reached him.

Ye Zhongming narrowed his eyes, pausing for a few seconds before turning and ordering Yellow Ball, Yangos, and the ice birds to leave and wait for him outside the city.

The beasts were reluctant but obeyed. Before leaving, Yangos unleashed the full force of its draconic might, forcing most of the mutant creatures to their knees.

It glared at the level-eight rulers, its warning unmistakable. Having touched the threshold of level nine, it feared none of them.

The surrounding mutant creatures gradually thinned out following the black cat deeper into the city. Even the level-eight rulers disappeared one by one. When they entered a dilapidated church, the black cat suddenly turned.

“Keep up.”

Then it dashed into a basement.

Ye Zhongming followed without hesitation. While his raw speed couldn’t match the cat’s, he managed to stay close.

To his surprise, the basement connected to an underground passage. The sloping tunnel descended steadily, and after a minute of running, they entered a natural cavern.

The massive cave sprawled in all directions, with hundreds of branching tunnels visible at a glance.

“Follow.”

The black cat spoke again before slipping into one of the tunnels. Ye Zhongming nearly cursed—the opening was so narrow he could barely squeeze through.

But having come this far, there was no turning back. After navigating the winding tunnel for several minutes, the space abruptly widened, revealing an underground river with crystal-clear water and golden fish darting beneath the surface.

The black cat had already arrived, perching on a rock. Following its gaze, Ye Zhongming saw Talking Lady.