Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 1841: A smartie called Helsky

The dancing flames of the campfire painted a crimson hue across the faces of those gathered, their flickering light casting long, unsettling shadows that deepened the eerie stillness of the night.

Several small fish sizzled over the heat. While such a meager portion would satisfy an ordinary person for days, for an evolved individual, these were nothing more than a light appetizer.

Helsky’s expression had remained grim for several days, showing no improvement even after a twelve-hour rest period.

His standing within the group had taken a massive hit ever since the botched attempt to hunt Ye Zhongming. To make matters worse, he had accidentally slain one of his own allies during the chaos of the black mist that night.

Nevertheless, through sheer strength and a silver tongue, he had managed to salvage his position, successfully recruiting a new squad of ten members.

This unit was actually larger than his previous team.

Despite the earlier disaster, Helsky remained convinced that the failure stemmed solely from miscalculating Ye Zhongming’s power. This time, he deliberately steered clear of the top three thousand red-name targets, intending to prey on "soft targets" instead.

He never anticipated that his misfortune would reach a level that would offend both gods and men alike.

He had led his subordinates to the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands.

Upon arrival, the first update of red-name coordinates revealed a horrifying coincidence: Ye Zhongming was also in this region. Heaven only knew how, but the target Helsky had pre-selected had also chosen the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands as their destination!

Even so, he managed to steady his nerves quickly.

The territory was vast. He reasoned that as long as he stayed vigilant and avoided Ye Zhongming’s last known location, he could evade a confrontation with that monster.

This wasn't mere caution; Helsky was paralyzed by genuine terror.

He had initially harbored dreams of killing Ye Zhongming to reclaim his lost honor, but his resolve crumbled after conducting a secret investigation during the break.

It wasn't a temporary retreat; he had completely backed down.

His search for intel on Ye Zhongming yielded little, but he did discover that a hunting party from Gold-Silver Island had also targeted the man. In just three days, not only had they failed their mission, but Ye Zhongming had slaughtered several of their members instead.

Helsky was well aware of Gold-Silver Island’s reputation; they were a force one did not provoke. If Ye Zhongming could trample over them, then Helsky certainly had no business crossing him.

Having tracked Ye Zhongming’s habits, Helsky noted the man stayed within the southern reaches of the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands. Consequently, Helsky moved his team to the north. His plan was to focus on hunting and wait for his specific red-name target to wander into his trap.

However, the area was devoid of many mutated creatures or parasites. After a full day of effort, the team’s points were pathetic, and the red-name they were tracking had vanished from the map hours ago.

The target had clearly been eliminated by someone else.

With their luck running dry, the morale of Helsky’s squad plummeted. They were on the verge of abandoning the region entirely.

Yet, as the saying goes, disasters never travel alone. The very nightmare they sought to avoid manifested before them. Just as dusk fell, Helsky’s team stumbled right into Ye Zhongming, who by all accounts should have been miles away in the south.

The Star-Eye Clan possessed a natural talent for ambushes and raids. They spotted Helsky’s group first and struck without warning. Two members were killed instantly and four more were wounded, yet the attackers vanished before the survivors could even catch a glimpse of them.

The team’s desperation was palpable. Their decision to light a fire and roast fish was a sign of their "nothing left to lose" fatalism.

If those three Star-Eye Clan experts were still watching, death was inevitable. They decided they might as well illuminate their surroundings and face their end with clear eyes.

“Someone is approaching.”

One of the eight survivors whispered, his body remaining perfectly still. He continued to poke at the embers with rhythmic motions. The others didn't flinch, maintaining their casual postures despite the warning.

This was the composure expected of elite experts.

They knew they were outmatched by Ye Zhongming’s trio in a surprise engagement, but they believed that was due to the disadvantage of being ambushed. Now that they were prepared, they were confident that if the enemy showed themselves, they could take at least two of them down with them.

To their bewilderment, the approaching individual made no effort to hide, walking straight toward the light of the fire.

Realizing there was no longer a need for pretense, the eight stood up as one, staring at the figure emerging from the darkness.

It was a woman of stunning beauty, a fact they couldn't help but acknowledge despite having seen countless beauties across various planets and races.

Since the human form was the dominant silhouette in the universe, their standards of beauty were largely aligned.

“Greetings. I am He, of the Changxu Water Tribe. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

She stopped at a respectful distance from the group.

Helsky and his men were stunned by her introduction.

A member of the Changxu Water Tribe? It was common knowledge that their race was on the brink of extinction, surviving only as vassals to larger tribes. They were famously poor at combat but highly valued as support specialists.

Had they been hired as well? Which race would come up with such a strategy?

“State your purpose here.”

Despite his damaged reputation, Helsky remained the leader and took charge of the interrogation.

No one would believe a lone woman wandering into a camp late at night had no hidden agenda.

She was blunt. “I am being hunted by the Evil Armor Star People, the mortal enemies of my tribe. I cannot fend them off by myself. I am seeking your protection. In exchange, once this cycle concludes, I will provide each of you with three vials of high-grade healing medicine—the sort that repairs both internal and external trauma.”

The group’s interest was piqued, though they remained cautious.

They knew the immense value of medicine that could heal both the body and the internal organs. Three bottles each was a tempting offer.

However, a high reward usually signaled a high risk. Agreeing too quickly could lead them into a slaughterhouse.

Yet, letting such a prize walk away felt like a waste.

Helsky traded looks with his comrades, realizing there might be a way to secure this woman’s cooperation without the usual risks.

“No, I will not join your team. My goal is to hunt and gather resources alone. Rankings do not interest me; only the experience does.”

Anticipating their demand for her to join them permanently, He refused before they could even ask.

“Even if we refuse to help you because of that?”

“Yes.”

The eight men saw the unwavering resolve in her eyes. When someone inquired about the number of pursuing Evil Armor Star People, the answer gave them pause.

The enemy was numerous. Victory wasn't guaranteed, and the casualties could be high. It looked like a losing trade.

Surprisingly, Helsky agreed to the deal without any further hesitation.

“Make it four bottles per person.”

“Deal.”

Helsky smirked, signaling her to follow. He then led his team into a sudden, high-speed dash, his voice booming across the night air.

“Ye Zhongming, get over here! The woman you’re looking for is right here!”