Apocalypse Gachapon

Ye Zhongming’s figure abruptly vanished, reappearing atop the palace in an instant.

His weapon had switched to Wind and Thunder. Raising it high, his body pivoted slightly before unleashing a sword beam so brilliant it illuminated the dim morning sky as it cleaved downward toward the palace giant.

Many might assume that upon reaching the planet’s pinnacle evolution level, one should possess a certain… demeanor. A sense of propriety.

That ganging up on an enemy—especially after Death King Tree had claimed the fight—would be beneath them.

If not showing the enemy respect, shouldn’t they at least honor their ally’s pride?

Yet Ye Zhongming attacked without hesitation the moment the Death King Tree appeared disadvantaged (though technically she wasn’t truly losing).

To most observers, his strike seemed instantaneous—the sword light’s appearance coincided with its impact on the palace giant.

An entire section of the colossal structure sheared away, crashing to the ground beneath stunned gazes.

Witnessing Death King Tree’s earlier brawl, many had thought: So this was how level-nines fight?

Now, Ye Zhongming’s single stroke revised that to: So THIS is how level-nines fight!

The injury disrupted the palace giant’s rhythm. Its mountainous frame shuddered, dislodging all of Death King Tree’s embedded roots.

“Little Ye, I’ve got this!”

Though distorted in her true form, Death King Tree’s irritation was unmistakable. While her mastery of human emotions remained questionable, she’d perfected competitiveness.

“Let’s end this quickly.”

Ye Zhongming’s reply was calm. Even at eight stars, the Cloud Peak King had feared no level-nine. Now at the pinnacle?

Mo Ye raised her hand, summoning a blue talisman—ice-attribute. Only Talking Lady remained inactive; against an enemy of this size and combat style, she and her cat were near useless.

As Cloud Peak’s level-nines prepared their assault, the palace giant’s convulsions shed not just roots but masonry—like a snake molting its skin.

Death King Tree retracted her roots; getting pelted by debris hurt.

Distant evolved suddenly felt parched, as if ambient moisture was being sucked away. The sensation intensified until massive ice spears—each the size of train cars—began raining from Mo Ye’s talisman.

Ye Zhongming raised his blades for another strike.

Grumbling internally, Death King Tree canceled her crystallization. Most leaves retracted into branches, leaving sparse foliage that rapidly expanded to washbasin size.

These giant leaves arranged themselves with military precision before spinning up like circular saws, descending upon the enemy in a whirling storm.

Cloud Peak’s apex fighters seemed poised to dismantle the palace.

“Look out!”

Talking Lady’s warning came as shed masonry pieces suddenly levitated, swirling around the palace giant into a defensive “brick tornado.”

Ye Zhongming’s second slash, Death King Tree’s spinning leaves, and Mo Ye’s ice spears struck simultaneously.

The collision’s energy wave flattened buildings like dominoes across hundreds of meters—mercifully, most evolved had retreated beyond this radius.

The tornado was shredded but not broken.

Then the palace giant counterattacked, exploding masonry outward in a deadly hail.

Each level-nine defended differently:

Ye Zhongming’s spinning blades became an air shield.

Mo Ye recalled her talisman as a barrier.

Death King Tree re-crystallized

Talking Lady’s mount carried her beyond the main barrage.

“Earth·Strike!”

The palace giant “molted” again—this time shedding entire annexes that liquefied, solidified, and launched skyward as gargantuan stone spikes.

“You’re SO annoying!”

Death King Tree roared as spikes rammed her crystalline form. Shedding the armor, her branches softened and elongated, wrapping the palace giant in a deadly embrace.

“I’ll squeeze you to DEATH!”

An enraged level-nine was terrifying.

An enraged level-nine aspiring to be human was horrifying.

An enraged level-nine aspiring to be a human woman was the stuff of nightmares.

Her constricting vines tightened as spinning leaves sawed into the now-diminished palace giant.

Yet at this critical moment, Cloud Peak’s leaders didn’t assist—they whirled toward a new threat.

There, in empty air, an enormous banner was materializing.