Apocalypse Gachapon

The shadow clone appeared abruptly right beside Sky Pillar, gripping two bone daggers in its hands.

These were weapons Ye Zhongming had painstakingly carved from the bones of mutant lifeforms he’d hunted over the past few days—normally, they hung at his waist.

Yet now, after summoning the clone, they had somehow appeared in the shadow’s grasp!

Even the staff member remembered this detail clearly—after all, an evolved being’s memory and ability to capture environmental details far instantly surpassed that of an ordinary person.

But how had those two bone daggers ended up in the shadow’s hands?

And there was an even more critical issue: Double Poison Shadow was an ability many had mastered—even Cheng Liuji himself knew it.

Yet no one had ever made a shadow clone hold weapons before!

This wasn’t a matter of skill proficiency—it transcended the ability itself.

It was like everyone was practicing self-defense techniques—grabbing, kicking—only for someone to pull out pepper spray suddenly. No matter how you looked at it, something was off.

Double Poison Shadow had two universally recognized strengths: defense and poison attacks. This had been the “standard application” since the Star Eye Race first created the ability.

Yet now, a scene that defied all conventions was unfolding before their eyes.

Pfft! Pfft!

Two sounds, like bubbles bursting, rang out almost simultaneously as the daggers pierced two of Sky Pillar’s arm-mounted eyes.

The agonized shriek was so intense that even those watching through the light screen could feel it.

Many were too stunned to speak, their minds racing with a single thought:

If it were me—no, if even Commander Cheng Liuji himself used Double Poison Shadow—could they inflict this kind of damage on Sky Pillar in one strike?

Amid their shock, Sky Pillar’s third scream tore through the air.

This time, it wasn’t the shadow clone’s doing—it was Ye Zhongming, who had just been sent flying, somehow returning to its side in an instant and driving his short sword into another eye.

The spectators winced at the sight of splattering fluids, almost feeling the level nine lifeform’s pain themselves.

Sky Pillar, of course, wouldn’t take this lying down. After the initial onslaught, it counterattacked, its many arms lashing out wildly. Both the dagger-wielding shadow and Ye Zhongming were struck—the latter sent flying again, while the former exploded into dissipating smoke.

At this, Color Man could no longer hold back. He lunged forward, needing a closer vantage point to confirm his suspicions.

Aslan and Masked Man, equally baffled, followed.

When they reached a spot nearer the battlefield, they heard Color Man mutter two words:

“Slower.”

Aslan bit her lip but couldn’t resist whispering, “What’s slower?”

They were now at the edge of the garbage’s detection range—any louder, and they’d violate regulations as training instructors.

“Sky Pillar’s speed. Not just movement—its attacks too.”

Color Man offered no further explanation. Even he wasn’t entirely sure yet.

Under the collective gaze of the spectators, Ye Zhongming stood the moment he hit the ground—and hurled his short sword.

But the trajectory… was off.

It wasn’t aimed at Sky Pillar’s body, but above its head.

A collective sigh rose from those watching the light screen.

After witnessing Ye Zhongming and his shadow shatter three of Sky Pillar’s eyes, their initial skepticism had morphed into hope.

Yes, Sky Pillar was a prized asset of the Star Eye Race, but it was still just a mutant lifeform. Ye Zhongming, even labeled as garbage, was half a clansman—if he passed this trial, he’d become one of them.

From that perspective, they wanted him to win.

His revolutionary twist on Double Poison Shadow had only strengthened that desire.

So when Sky Pillar staggered, seemingly dazed from its injuries, this was the perfect opening to press the advantage.

Yet he’d missed.

Cheng Liuji gritted his teeth and spat, “Useless!”

His thoughts ran deeper. If this weapon-wielding Double Poison Shadow could be replicated, the entire clan’s combat prowess would skyrocket.

He needed this garbage to win—to extract the secret behind this breakthrough.

The short sword sailed toward Sky Pillar’s head—and in the next second, should have whizzed past harmlessly.

But then—

A shadow materialized mid-air.

“Double Poison Shadow!”

The staff member’s shout was the most exhilarated one all day.

The clone snatched the blade mid-flight—and plunged it into Sky Pillar’s central eye.

Pfft!

The sound was familiar, but this strike was far deadlier.

Sky Pillar howled, instinctively swatting the shadow apart—but the same debilitating force from before resurfaced.

Then—

A final, skull-crushing impact.

The beast swayed… and went still.

Its quadrupedal stance kept it standing even in death.

The battle had ended in utter absurdity.

Hard-fought? Perhaps—the garbage had been sent flying twice. Against Sky Pillar’s might, surviving alone was a feat.

Effortless? Undeniably—from the first counterattack to the kill, mere moments had passed. Barehanded slaughter of a level nine lifeform in such time? That was the definition of easy.

Color Man moved. In seconds, he reached the battlefield, striding straight to Sky Pillar’s corpse. Ignoring the fatal head wound, he inspected its limbs—especially the arms and legs.

“Just as I thought…”

Straightening, he turned slowly toward Ye Zhongming, who sat gasping on the ground. His voice was calm, but no one missed the awe lacing it:

“Those traps—their purpose wasn’t to injure Sky Pillar, was it? You were coating it with Black Sand Sap.”

“What’s Black Sand Sap?” Ye Zhongming played dumb.

“Those pitch-black stems only found in swampy mud near water sources.”

A nod confirmed it.

Color Man’s suspicion was validated—yet as he mentally replayed the battle, his brow furrowed again.

“Testing its perception range… laying traps… luring it to study movement patterns… using the sap to slightly hinder mobility, creating an opening… wounding it to produce a blind spot… the clone exploiting that gap… then delivering the killing blow yourself—all flawless. But why… did Sky Pillar freeze after the first injury? That shouldn’t happen!”

His piercing gaze locked onto Ye Zhongming, who was now rubbing his bruised chest with zero dignity.

This—this was the real mystery.