Apocalypse Gachapon

Chapter 2188: Situation

Ye Zhongming first selected one piece of equipment. After examining the dragon saddle, which was already almost completely shattered, he selected another piece. Both pieces of equipment were Red Condensation-grade, totaling 45 points.

This reduced the White Dragon Horseʼs reward points directly from 86 to 41.

Looking at so few points, the White Dragon Horse crouched on the ground, looking somewhat pitiful.

Like assembling a puzzle, Ye Zhongming first laid out the fragments of the dragon saddle on the ground, then held one piece of equipment in each hand, left and right. When energy began to emanate from his body, the two Red Condensation-grade pieces of equipment began to decompose.

Jie Su and White Robe quietly watched from the side, their expressions showing a bit of... respect.

Originally, the three of them were good friends, and such an attitude should not exist between them. But the abilities Ye Zhongming had demonstrated and the means he employed in times of danger made them feel that this person, even though he was their friend, was worthy of respect... even reverence.

Reverse decomposition—this was almost a form of reverse restoration. Such an ability had only appeared in legends. They did not know whether the current Talos Red Dwarves possessed this technology, but among other races, they truly had not heard of anyone who could master it.

The equipment melted before the two observersʼ eyes, then transformed into various forms of matter. Because this reverse decomposition could not restore the materials to their original state, White Robe and Jie Su simply did not recognize what those things were. Only Ye Zhongming knew.

After the decomposition was complete, Ye Zhongming began repairing the dragon saddle. The speed was slow at first, and whenever he added some unknown material, he was very cautious. Later, the speed increased. Materials from the two decomposed pieces of equipment continuously fused into the dragon saddle, and this piece of equipment visibly restored itself before their eyes.

Of course, the materials needed were not only from these two decomposed Red Condensation-grade pieces of equipment but also from those that had decomposed earlier, some of which had also entered the repair sequence.
Soon, the dragon saddle gradually returned to its original appearance. The White Dragon Horseʼs eyes widened as it watched.

After a full ten minutes or so, this piece of equipment, previously exchanged from the reward pool, looked brand new, emitting a radiance of rebirth.

”Give it a try,” Ye Zhongming said, handing it to the White Dragon Horse.

”The functions are similar to before, but not exactly the same. You may need to familiarize yourself with it in advance,” Ye Zhongming said to his war beast. ”Due to the unique nature here, I enhanced the defensive nature of the dragon saddle and removed its attack attributes.”

Seeing White Robe and Jie Su slightly surprised, Ye Zhongming explained, ”Itʼs like this. Since I didnʼt know how many materials would be needed to repair our equipment, the current repair direction is that armor leans toward defense and weapons toward attack. As long as it helps us survive the trials, itʼs worth it, isnʼt it?”

Indeed, outside, no matter what kind of equipment it was, people tried to make it as offensive and defensive as possible. Perhaps weapons had more attack attributes, and armor had more defense attributes.

That way, during battle, there were more choices and more opportunities, giving an advantage. If the functions were as singular as they are now, it would actually sacrifice some of its attributes. After all, the materials needed to fuse a piece of equipment were numerous and had to coordinate with each other. It was difficult for a piece of equipment, under the combined action of so many materials, to exhibit only single-directional attributes.

But it was different here. They had only two things to do: defend against the parasitesʼ attacks and then kill them. What they needed was stronger protection to keep them alive and sharper weapons to kill the enemy.

During the repair process, Ye Zhongming incorporated this philosophy of his.

”Not bad,” the White Dragon Horse said, still a bit arrogant even though it was left with fewer than fifty points.

”Then what remains is for us,” Ye Zhongming said, his gaze falling on the other fragments.

…………………………

”It is time to make a choice.”

In the dense forest of the Long River Alluvial Plain, the leader of a five-person squad spoke thus.

”I donʼt want to face those damned formations of the Su Clan, and I canʼt get through the Half-Abyss Demon Cave either. So the only way is to enter from here, but... by the gods above, the Kepaiski Sky Cover is there.”

A team member said in a low voice, looking at the large iron structure above the Overlapping Water Dead Zone, feeling a sense of helplessness.

The squad leader who had spoken first had no solution either. The terrain of the Overlapping Water Dead Zone was simply too special, so the only path they could take to sneak up was one single route. But given the heavy defenses, how difficult that was.

”Eighty percent chance of being discovered,” a team member skilled in hiding and scouting made this conclusion, essentially declaring that the method of direct scouting was not feasible.

Before they could speak again, some sounds came from nearby. Then, within ten minutes, four team members successively returned to this temporary gathering point.

”Nothing! Nothing!”

”Nothing! Nothing!”

The four team members gave the same answer.

This squad was a scouting team sent by the Huoʼer Star people. No one knew by what means they had crossed such a vast distance in such a short time to arrive here, but they had come to the foot of the Overlapping Water Dead Zone two days after Zi Mu was killed.

The four members sent out to scout reported that among the hunting teams currently sent out by the Su Clan and the small race alliance, there was no sign of Jie Su, White Robe, or Ye Zhongming.

As for how the Huoʼer Star people had narrowed their suspects down to these few individuals... it was simply because they had too deep a connection with Zi Mu and Yisewei. Anyone would consider them the focus.

”Could it really be them?” The squad leader was a great expert, and only he knew the purpose of this mission. He thought for a moment and said, ”You Du, during this period, I will rely on your super-vision. If you havenʼt found anything within two days, I will have no choice but to take the risk, enter, and scout.”

……………………

Above the Overlapping Water Dead Zone, several small race clan leaders who had not gone hunting today sat together, drinking and chatting.

”Have you noticed lately that something seems a bit off with the Star-Eye Clan these past two days?”

A clan leader ate roasted meat and spoke in a very low voice.

”Iʼve noticed it too. Although they are still hunting normally, they seem to be collecting materials. I donʼt know what they are planning to do.”

”Yes, and their exploration of the demon cave has also stopped. Even the Su Clan people have been withdrawn.”

The several people discussed in low voices, none of them knowing what was going on with the Star-Eye Clan.

They knew that everyone now looked to the Star-Eye Clan as their leader. If this leading race made any unusual move, it would affect the entire small race alliance.

”I actually think itʼs normal,” said a clan leader who had a good relationship with the Star-Eye Clan. ”Have you noticed that all these so-called abnormalities seem like... preparations for battle?”

Everyone was startled, thought for a moment, and realized it did seem to be the case.

”I think we should also start preparing, such as for long-distance marches, tough and special battles, and so on. That way, if the Star-Eye Clan wants to conduct some large-scale hunt, we wonʼt be left out. The situation we face now is that even if the Star-Eye Clan leads us to declare war on the three major alliances, we still have to follow, because if we donʼt follow, we cannot leave here alive, and if we return to Dark Strip City, there will be no place for us to stand.”

The others listened and nodded. Preparing for battle on this planet surely meant a huge hunt, probably together with the Su Clan as well.

The several people stopped thinking too much, drinking, and exchanging toasts until late at night. When the clan leader who had a good relationship with the Star-Eye Clan finally came out, the sky was gradually brightening.

”Iʼve done everything I could. You all... are truly crazy,” he murmured, looking in the direction of the Star-Eye Clanʼs encampment.