Apocalypse Gachapon

Ding!

Ye Zhongming used the staff form of the Mimicry War Device to deflect a slashing claw, then planted the energy pole against the ground to vault into the air. Mid-leap, the weapon shifted into whip form, its length coiling around the monster’s horn as he swung himself forward.

Upon closing in, the whip vanished—replaced by sword form. But this time, the blade didn’t appear in Ye Zhongming’s hand. Instead, it materialized in the grip of a shadow clone on the monster’s opposite flank.

Pfft!

The sword pierced through a weak spot beneath the creature’s arm. The clone then detonated, unleashing a mental shockwave. Seizing the opening, Ye Zhongming lunged in, delivering a dozen rapid punches to the monster’s head—pulverizing it outright.

After harvesting the level eight magic crystal, Ye Zhongming rinsed his bloodied hands with a sac of water, satisfied with today’s haul.

The beast’s body was sheathed in a layer of sturdy bony plating—superior to flood dragon hide for armor crafting. Once refined, it would significantly boost his defenses.

He lingered briefly, then excised the creature’s claws and fangs before departing swiftly.

Three days had passed since his deal with Color Man, yet the anticipated second trial still hadn’t arrived. Puzzling, but Ye Zhongming hadn’t idled.

Between honing Double Poison Shadow and scouting for potent toxins, he’d hunted relentlessly.

Ahead lay the swamp—a modest stretch, barely a few soccer fields wide. Home to toxic frogs (a mediocre venom source lacking debilitating effects), its murky pools hid perils beneath deceptively lush vegetation. Treading here demanded vigilance.

Retracing his steps, Ye Zhongming suddenly veered into towering reeds, vanishing from sight.

A hundred meters away, two figures crouched within a dense thicket exchanged glances.

“Well?”

“If he doesn’t reappear soon, he’s spotted us. We strike immediately.”

“Agreed.”

Their whispers barely faded when—

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two glints of cold steel sliced through their former position as the duo dived sideways.

Ye Zhongming, now behind them, pressed the attack. His first strike—twin fangs reforged into green-grade projectiles—missed but achieved their purpose: disruption.

The Gollum-like creature faced Ye Zhongming’s sword while a shadow clone flanked it, dagger poised.

In response, the target shimmered, splitting into two motionless doppelgängers—both shattered by the strikes. The real foe? Already slithering away as a ground-hugging shadow.

What Ye Zhongming deemed a chance encounter, and his ambushers a planned trap, was in truth—

A staged trial.

Behind the light screen, higher-tier spectators than last time observed:

Jike Su (Chief Technical Officer)

Bashilu (Chief Combat Instructor)

Cheng Liuji (Gold Commander)

Yashinan (Logistics Chief)

Three elite warriors (top ten in clan merit, two Gold Masks, one Silver)

These elites had each imparted skills to one of the three remaining “garbage” candidates. Now, they watched, privately backing their chosen pupils.

“Post-battle, the victor earns full clan support—then represents us in the Novice War.” Bashilu’s decree drew Cheng Liuji’s concern:

“Only three survivors remain. If this ends with two… is that enough? Numbers matter in the Novice War.”

The Chief Instructor’s face twisted. “We sent hordes before. And achieved nothing.”

His venomous tone silenced objections. Unless overruled by Star Lord or Eye Lord, his word was final.

Meanwhile—

The Gollum-being’s shadow-meld failed as Double Poison Shadow’s mental blast wrenched it back to solid form. A follow-up staff strike crushed its shoulder, sealing its fate.

Desperate, it glanced toward its half-beast ally—only to see him battling three armed shadows.

In its death throes, the creature self-detonated its ruined half, while black mist seeped from its skull—a race ability akin to soul transmigration (though new-body adaptation took years).

Ye Zhongming denied even this. His blade sheared the head clean, dispersing the escaping spirit.

Behind the screen, many shook their heads. That Gollum had potential.

Jike Su, however, fumed inwardly:

That brat… what he shared about Double Poison Shadow wasn’t even half the truth. A third, at most!