Chapter 1665: Bright Star use

The warriors of Cloud Peak now felt little apprehension toward level eight creatures—this was the psychological shift that came after slaying level nine beings.

However, those were group battles. If swapped into the black man's position, even Cloud Peak had few who could confidently defeat this oppressive Nether Moth.

Even with its strength reduced by nearly a third.

Moreover, the level eight assessment was merely Ye Zhongming's speculation. What if this creature were actually level nine? Given its colossal size, it wasn't impossible.

Though mentally broken, the black man was still an evolved who had survived the apocalypse for nearly six years. With a roar, light enveloped his fists and feet as he stomped the ground, launching himself toward the Nether Moth in the sky.

This wasn’t bravery—it was an instinctive last stand against certain death.

To most onlookers, the black man’s job, skills, and the strength/speed of his leap were unremarkable. Yet no one mocked him. At this moment, he represented all evolved.

Even those from rival factions felt a twinge of shared frustration.

Stripped of equipment and potions, the black man’s attack was pitiful.

The Nether Moth didn’t even adjust its descent. As he neared its underbelly, several sucker-like organs suddenly gaped open, spewing a torrent of black-and-green fluid that drenched him mid-air.

The once-determined warrior crashed to the ground, his momentum shattered. He struggled to rise, but his body grew inexplicably weak. After multiple failed attempts, he barely stood, only to see darkness blotting out the sky.

The Nether Moth’s massive body crushed down, pinning him beneath.

No one believed he could survive. Even an eight star evolved would struggle to withstand such weight barehanded. Such individuals were vanishingly rare.

Ye Zhongming himself doubted he’d emerge unscathed. At best, he’d be severely injured.

"Challenge failed. Purchase ratio decreased by 10%."

The space’s announcement sealed the man’s fate.

Though hope had been slim, scattered sighs still rose from Great America’s ranks.

"Next: Women Guard, the second faction to clear the Death Staircase, shall strike the Soaring Crystal."

Unnoticed by many, the stone platform had shifted to the second zone’s entrance. An opening appeared in the Female Guard’s energy dome.

Cloud Peak, positioned farther away, couldn’t hear their discussions. After about ten seconds, a woman emerged.

Both Ye Zhongming and his faction paid extra attention to Women Guard, not for their strength, but because they resembled an independent counterpart to the Female Guards.

As the only all-female faction to achieve notable influence, their performance intrigued everyone.

"It’s Gianna."

Whispers reached Cloud Peak, revealing the woman’s name. Like the black man, she shared his skin tone—but unlike him (a disposable grunt), Gianna was one of the Women Guard’s dual leaders.

No one expected the Women Guard to send a leader. After witnessing Great America’s failure, why take such a risk?

Great America had only lost one member. Why wouldn’t Women Guard play it safe?

This confusion mirrored Xiao Min’s thoughts. Had Cloud Peak been up first, she’d have vehemently opposed Ye Zhongming risking himself.

But the Cloud Peak King shook his head. "This is the Mountain King Crown battle. Without risk, there’s no reward."

He pointed at the bubbles, then the crown.

"Boss, you mean whoever reaches the center first claims the crown?" Xiao Min asked, startled.

"Likely. But I don’t yet know how to get there quickly."

Ye Zhongming stared at the chaotic central zone. Even he couldn’t decipher the wheel space’s true trial.

Gianna approached the stone platform. Having observed the black man, she mimicked his actions—lifting the hammer with far steadier hands. She even swung it twice to test its weight.

Then, taking aim, she struck the Soaring Crystal toward the second zone.

The crystal soared into the three-dimensional space, gliding through the starry void.

Her strike was notably stronger. The crystal flew faster, bypassing the first three Bright Stars before halting at the fourth.

"Soaring Crystal has reached Bright Star. Purchase or Challenge?"

"Purchase!"

Gianna had clearly decided beforehand. The instant the prompt sounded, she answered.

Next came a display of equivalent items.

As a leader of a top-tier faction, her offerings dwarfed the black man’s.

Her magic crystals were all level six and seven. Other items—unidentifiable to most—were also submitted.

Thirty seconds later, the wheel’s tone shifted.

"Equivalent value met. Congratulations to Female Guard for obtaining ownership of Bright Star B4."

As the announcement echoed, Cloud Peak’s recorders finalized their tallies. Xiao Min listed the quantities of magic crystals and other items, while Ye Zhongming mentally calculated their worth.

To his surprise, the total value exceeded the first Bright Star’s by 10%.

Did later Bright Stars cost more?

Simultaneously, Women Guard’s entire faction vanished from their energy dome—reappearing moments later on the conquered Bright Star.