Apocalypse Gachapon

Jie Kui tightened his grip on his weapon as the stampeding Spirit Fire Rhinos charged toward him.

True, Ye Zhongming had already taken out nearly ten of the thirty-seven rhinos, with several more severely wounded—but over twenty remained, including all four level nines. Facing this onslaught, Jie Kui couldn’t help but feel a pang of fear.

Still, the fact that the herd was heading his way meant things were proceeding as Ye Zhongming had predicted. I should be fine… right?

As planned, when the rhinos passed his position, he was to strike the alpha—the strongest level nine.

Taking a deep breath, Jie Kui activated Light-Stealing Heartstab once more, combining it with his innate abilities to launch a full-force assault on the lead rhino.

The alpha roared, lowering its head to meet Jie Kui’s charge horn-first.

BOOM!

The collision sent Jie Kui flying, while the alpha staggered, its forehead bloodied.

One-on-one, Jie Kui wouldn’t have feared this beast.

Then—like a ghost—Ye Zhongming reappeared. But this time, his target wasn’t the “small fry” at the rear. It was the wounded alpha.

A beam of light shot out first, followed by two Twin Poison Shadows. Then Ye Zhongming himself lunged in, fists blazing.

A level nine was still a level nine. Despite the dire situation, the alpha reacted with terrifying speed—whipping its body mid-air to present its armored flank toward Ye Zhongming while its tail lashed out like a steel whip.

The first shadow clone shattered on impact. The second’s strike, deflected by the alpha’s maneuver, only grazed its side before being obliterated by the tail swipe. The beam struck true, staggering the rhino just enough for Ye Zhongming’s fist to slam into its ribs rather than its vitals.

The herd, enraged by their leader’s plight, surged forward—but Ye Zhongming nimbly flipped onto the alpha’s back.

Twin Morphing Weapons appeared in his hands, driving down toward the junction of the beast’s neck and torso.

The other rhinos hesitated, afraid of hitting their leader. Only when openings appeared did they strike—each dodged by Ye Zhongming as he wrestled atop the alpha, one trying to buck the other off, the other fighting to pierce through impenetrable hide.

Jie Kui, recovering from Light-Stealing Heartstab’s recoil, circled behind to pick off the level eights.

The real battle had begun.

Ye Zhongming’s weapons were masterworks—not quite purple-tier, but surpassing gold. Under his relentless assault, they finally breached the alpha’s hide, drawing first blood.

The alpha’s fury ignited—literally. Its gray-green skin flushed crimson, radiating heat as faint flames wreathed its body.

Now or never.

Ye Zhongming hurled both weapons at two approaching level nines, freeing his hands—one seizing the rhino’s horn despite the searing heat, the other cocking back for a devastating strike.

The punch that followed made Jie Kui’s teeth ache just watching.

CRACK.

Two fractures echoed—one the alpha’s skull, the other Ye Zhongming’s hand.

Both collapsed.

Pale-faced, Ye Zhongming ignored the burns and fractures. As he hit the ground, he scattered seeds while countless faint shadows materialized around him—all mimicking his motion:

One palm pressed to the earth.

If energy flows were visible, threads would’ve been seen connecting Ye Zhongming to each shadow, channeling power into the seeds beneath the charging rhinos.

The shadows vanished instantly after transferring energy—no explosions, no toxins—but their work was done.

Purple vines erupted, entangling hooves mid-charge. Some rhinos stumbled; others tore through the vines, uprooting their fibrous networks—but the delay was enough.

Jie Kui capitalized ruthlessly, blades flashing as blood painted the rainforest.

Ye Zhongming didn’t move. Pouring everything into Gravity Control, he strained to immobilize the herd, buying Jie Kui precious seconds.

By the time his hold broke and the vines withered, only five rhinos remained: four level nines, one level eight.

The alpha, rising unsteadily, bellowed in grief and rage—leading its pitiful remnant in a final, desperate charge.

Victory or extinction.

Ye Zhongming smiled through bloodied lips.

“Detonate.”

The rhinos’ bodies exploded from within—chunks of flesh and gore spraying as Jie Kui barely dodged.

The tide turned instantly. Ye Zhongming downed a potion, then lunged at the crippled alpha—a dagger finding its way into an existing wound before twisting viciously.

Jie Kui finished two more in rapid succession. For an assassin, wounded prey was a gift—every injury a lethal opportunity.

The last two fought on, but their struggles were futile.

When silence finally fell, Ye Zhongming and Jie Kui locked eyes—then collapsed in unison.

One from exhaustion, the other from sheer relief.

Surveying the thick hides, fire-imbued horns, and piles of magic crystals, Ye Zhongming—now flat on his back—allowed himself a triumphant grin.