Chapter 1789: Final trial
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 monsterâs horn as he swung himself forward.
Upon closing in, the whip vanishedâreplaced by sword form. But this time, the blade didnât appear in Ye Zhongmingâs hand. Instead, it materialized in the grip of a shadow clone on the monsterâs opposite flank.
Pfft!
The sword pierced through a weak spot beneath the creatureâs arm. The clone then detonated, unleashing a mental shockwave. Seizing the opening, Ye Zhongming lunged in, delivering a dozen rapid punches to the monsterâs headâpulverizing it outright.
After harvesting the level eight magic crystal, Ye Zhongming rinsed his bloodied hands with a sac of water, satisfied with todayâs haul.
The beastâs body was sheathed in a layer of sturdy bony platingâsuperior to flood dragon hide for armor crafting. Once refined, it would significantly boost his defenses.
He lingered briefly, then excised the creatureâs claws and fangs before departing swiftly.
Three days had passed since his deal with Color Man, yet the anticipated second trial still hadnât arrived. Puzzling, but Ye Zhongming hadnât idled.
Between honing Double Poison Shadow and scouting for potent toxins, heâd hunted relentlessly.
Ahead lay the swampâa 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 doesnât reappear soon, heâs spotted us. We strike immediately."
"Agreed."
Their whispers barely faded whenâ
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 strikeâtwin fangs reforged into green-grade projectilesâmissed but achieved their purpose: disruption.
The Gollum-like creature faced Ye Zhongmingâs sword while a shadow clone flanked it, dagger poised.
In response, the target shimmered, splitting into two motionless doppelgĂ€ngersâboth 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 truthâ
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 supportâthen represents us in the Novice War." Bashiluâs decree drew Cheng Liujiâs concern:
"Only three survivors remain. If this ends with two⊠is that enough? Numbers matter in the Novice War."
The Chief Instructorâs 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.
Meanwhileâ
The Gollum-beingâs shadow-meld failed as Double Poison Shadowâs 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 allyâonly to see him battling three armed shadows.
In its death throes, the creature self-detonated its ruined half, while black mist seeped from its skullâa 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 wasnât even half the truth. A third, at most!