Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 1846: First stage

He officially became a member of Ye Zhongming's squad.

This development left Ye Zhongming quite pleased.

Ultimately, his primary objective had been met. This success alone was enough reason for him to grant mercy to Helsky and his subordinate, no longer viewing them as mere walking point-storage containers.

Consequently, the group had expanded to six members, plus the companion Qiuqiu.

While Ye Zhongming, Jie Kui, and Shi Kangbu were already established, He proved to be remarkably transparent after joining. She provided a fairly thorough, though not exhaustive, overview of her background and capabilities.

Even with her modesty, the information she shared left Ye Zhongming and the others in awe.

It was general knowledge that the Changxu Water Tribe were unparalleled masters of medicine. Their expertise in crafting various concoctions, particularly healing elixirs, was so profound that it would incite envy in any specialized profession user.

Furthermore, the recent conflict had revealed that the innate holy sigils marking their skin granted them formidable offensive power.

According to He's own description, the Changxu Water Tribe also possessed a racial talent known as "Transform into Water," which allowed an individual to dissolve their entire physical form into a cluster of liquid droplets.

To Ye Zhongming, this sounded like something that fundamentally challenged the laws of the universe.

However, the technique was not without its flaws. The droplets were unable to scatter over a large area, and in dry environments, the anomaly was instantly recognizable. Additionally, the form could only be maintained for roughly fifteen minutes, and the movement speed while liquefied was significantly slower than in human form.

He also revealed another technique: the Semi-Water Form. This was the revelation that truly captivated and energized the group.

This ability did not involve a partial physical transformation. Instead, when He triggered it, her hands would shift into a fluid state. This liquid could manifest as up to seven water chains that could latch onto objects or allies. Once connected, these chains generated a water shield that offered comprehensive protection.

This was a truly universal defense—it could mitigate elemental strikes, energy blasts, physical impact, and even mental interference.

The strength of this barrier depended on the energy He invested and the number of active chains. She explained that with all seven chains deployed, the defense was comparable to golden-grade equipment. The fewer chains she used, the stronger the protection became. A single chain provided the maximum defense, which she estimated surpassed purple-grade gear. In fact, even with three chains, the protection matched purple equipment. She couldn't accurately gauge the upper limits of a single chain, as no one had yet encountered seven-colored equipment to serve as a benchmark for "rainbow" level defense.

Regardless, the utility of this skill earned her the profound respect of the entire team.

"Is this a common trait among all Changxu Water Tribe members?" Helsky asked, his face reflecting his shock.

He chose to ignore him entirely.

There was no helping the tension. Even though Helsky’s tactics had eventually broken her resolve and convinced her to join, she still harbored a deep resentment toward him and refused to acknowledge his presence.

"Is it an innate talent?"

Ye Zhongming interjected to ease the atmosphere, voicing his own suspicion.

He nodded in confirmation.

"If every member of my tribe could manifest water chains, our people would never have fallen into such a decline. Even without high-tier combat power, we would have been indispensable support units capable of holding our own. However, this ability only manifests in those who possess seven or more holy sigils."

Ye Zhongming gave a nod of understanding. He had previously mentioned she possessed ten holy sigils, a feat that placed her third in her race's recorded history. The only two individuals to surpass her both held eleven sigils and had ushered the Changxu Water Tribe into eras of immense prosperity. While He was a rare genius, she still felt she fell slightly short of those legendary ancestors.

"While the water chain ability is potent, it has its limits. I am rooted in place while it is active, and the chains cannot extend beyond five meters without snapping."

The group listened with rapt attention, knowing these details could mean the difference between life and death in future encounters.

He had instantly become the most vital asset of the team. Helsky followed as the second most valuable addition. Ye Zhongming appreciated his sharp tactical mind, his ability to read people, and his ruthlessness when the situation demanded it.

Helsky was a natural fit for an adjutant role, capable of managing various affairs on Ye Zhongming's behalf.

In terms of loyalty, Jie Kui remained at the top, though his talents were better suited for the front lines rather than administrative tasks. His unwavering devotion to Ye Zhongming also served as a necessary check against Helsky's influence.

The final member was Yang Tuo, a mercenary from a mid-tier race.

Earlier, he had challenged Ye Zhongming’s morality regarding the killings. The King of Cloud Peak had initially dismissed it as a performance, but further interaction revealed that Yang Tuo was a genuine idealist. He truly believed in concepts like teamwork, mutual prosperity, and collective struggle—he was essentially a paragon of virtue.

However, this morality wasn't entirely inflexible. Despite Ye Zhongming having killed two of his former teammates, Yang Tuo accepted the reality of the situation and didn't dwell on the past.

It seemed that in this world, even the most righteous had their limits.

Now that the team was established with seven capable fighters, Ye Zhongming’s drive intensified. He began scanning for their next objective and quickly settled on a target.

"The Spiral Fish?"

Helsky knit his brows, clearly hesitant.

It was obvious he had reservations about Ye Zhongming's choice. However, as a newcomer who had essentially been forced into the group, he felt it wasn't his place to openly object and kept his worries to himself.

Ye Zhongming noticed but didn't take offense.

His confidence wasn't born of arrogance, but of a cold calculation of their collective power.

"This parasite holds the fiftieth spot on the rankings. Records show it usually travels with two or three offspring. They are formidable, but the point reward is massive. Between the kill itself and the bonuses for our diverse racial makeup and team size, we could net over three hundred points. That's an average of fifty points each—a very profitable venture."

"Furthermore, the Spiral Fish's body contains a specific material He needs: a fish glue essential for brewing high-grade recovery medicines."

The mention of wealth and points quickly swayed the others. Greed and ambition were powerful motivators.

"Helsky and Yang Tuo will serve as our primary vanguard. Jie Kui and Shi Kangbu are perfect for flanking maneuvers. With myself, Qiuqiu, and He's defensive support, we are capable of taking down almost any mutated creature or parasite, provided they don't swarm us in massive numbers."

Ye Zhongming scanned the faces of his teammates as he added, "There is one more reason for my confidence, and it is this..."

As he spoke, the King of Cloud Peak produced a collection of resources and presented them to He.

"This is...!"

He gasped in surprise. She hadn't expected that this man had already gathered the majority of the ingredients she had mentioned earlier.

"With these, I can start refining medicine immediately!" He exclaimed, her eyes shimmering with excitement.