Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 1850: Bump into again (3)

"What the hell are Helsky and Yang Tuo doing!?"

Wiping the blood from his face, Jie Kui was forced to activate Glancing Shadow once more to evade the lead Spiral Fish’s assault. Suddenly, Qiuqiu rammed into his chest, carrying him above the sea’s surface and narrowly avoiding a follow-up strike.

The original strategy dictated that Helsky and Yang Tuo would act as bait. Leveraging the speed gap created by their superior strength, they were meant to lure the lead fish and its subordinates away. Once separated, Qiuqiu—using its indestructible state—would pin down one adult Spiral Fish while Ye Zhongming occupied the other. Meanwhile, Jie Kui and Shi Kangbu were tasked with swiftly eliminating the two immature opponents.

According to the plan, the lead Spiral Fish would eventually sense the trap and rush back to reinforce its kin. At that point, Helsky and Yang Tuo were supposed to follow closely. Wherever the lead fish struck, they would intervene, stalling for time so the others could finish their respective duels. Once the four lesser Spiral Fish were dead, the entire group would unite to take down the leader.

It was a straightforward plan to divide the battlefield, yet it demanded flawless synchronization. Given the incredible speed of the Spiral Fish, reinforcements could arrive in an instant. If they failed to pick them off one by one and allowed the pack to regroup, they would be in serious trouble.

However, the plan had a catastrophic flaw!

At the most vital turning point, Helsky and Yang Tuo had vanished!

Consequently, Jie Kui and Shi Kangbu only managed to kill a single immature Spiral Fish before the lead fish returned in a blind rage.

Had Ye Zhongming not sensed the shift and signaled Qiuqiu to provide backup, Jie Kui would likely be dead. Even with the help, Shi Kangbu had already been struck down by the lead fish; he was currently drifting motionless on the waves, his fate uncertain.

The enemy had now regrouped: the lead fish, one immature Spiral Fish, and the adult fish that had been freed when Qiuqiu left to assist Jie Kui.

On the other side of the fray, Ye Zhongming held the advantage against the final adult fish, but the kill wasn't confirmed yet. He required more time. If he abandoned his target to reinforce the others now, the loss would be staggering, and the plan would be a total failure. After all their exertion, they had only managed to slay one immature fish, yet they were now facing an almost healthy pack while down three combatants. Forget victory; even surviving the escape would be a miracle.

A battle that should have been a high-probability victory had turned into a desperate, losing struggle because of Helsky and Yang Tuo’s sudden desertion. Jie Kui felt a surge of pure frustration.

He realized that his current mission was to use Qiuqiu to distract the lead fish and the remaining two as long as possible. He had to buy Ye Zhongming the window needed to finish off that last adult fish. If the monsters fully consolidated their strength, the entire operation would be doomed.

Patting Qiuqiu, Jie Kui plummeted from the air. Radiance gathered in his palms as he fired two concentrated beams of energy into the water from above.

Direct confrontation wasn't his specialty, but he had no choice. Even if this technique drained his reserves, he had to commit. He wasn't aiming for a kill; he just needed to anchor them here to buy Ye Zhongming time.

Jie Kui then plunged into the sea. His weapon flashed back into his hand as he lunged toward the immature Spiral Fish.

This was a calculated gamble. By targeting the offspring—which only possessed level eight strength—he forced the adult Spiral Fish to stay and protect it rather than leaving to assist elsewhere.

Before the lead fish could strike, the adult Spiral Fish intercepted him. Its body spun violently, its multiple heads and torso creating a localized vortex. The suction from this whirlpool was immense; once caught, escape was nearly impossible.

Shi Kangbu had been defeated earlier because he underestimated this pull. By the time he realized the danger of the lead fish's massive water vortex, it was already too late.

Jie Kui still had a moment to retreat.

Instead, he gritted his teeth and held his ground!

If he backed away, the adult Spiral Fish would keep him occupied while the lead fish charged straight for Ye Zhongming. While not a total regrouping of the pack, it would create a stalemate. In a battle of attrition, Jie Kui knew their stamina couldn't compete with Spiral Fish in their natural oceanic habitat.

Jie Kui’s eyes turned bloodshot. He knew it was time to risk everything.

He might not have known the specific proverbs of Earth, but he understood the principle of "Fortune favors the bold."

Why had he earned Ye Zhongming's confidence? Why was he allowed to purchase three Progress Pills at a discount while Helsky and the others watched in envy? It was because he was unwavering, unafraid of exhaustion, and never shrank from peril.

Without that loyalty, why would anyone favor him?

When a high-level life form fights with total disregard for their life, the results are terrifying.

Blood began to leak from Jie Kui’s pores—a side effect of over-tuning his abilities. A wave of blade light surged toward the charging Spiral Fish, while a second arc flew toward the leader.

This suicidal maneuver clearly startled the Spiral Fish, but they didn't flinch. Even the lead fish joined the charge, determined to crush this pest.

The clash of blade light and beast happened in an instant, painting the sea a deep crimson.

Jie Kui braced for death. He hadn't expected the two Spiral Fish to be so relentless, meeting his desperate attack head-on.

The adult Spiral Fish had half its head sheared off by Jie Kui’s strike. The lead fish was wounded as well, but as for Jie Kui...

He expected to feel his life fading, but his expression shifted. His body jerked, and he found himself swimming backward.

He was covered in wounds, yes, but none were fatal. Some bones were fractured, but none were pulverized.

How?

Jie Kui’s eyes quickly landed on He and Qiuqiu nearby. Her face was deathly pale.

At the final second, He had cast a water chain on him—a specialized version designed for maximum defense. Simultaneously, Qiuqiu had slammed into the lead fish's side.

The two of them had coordinated perfectly to save him.

Because of Jie Kui’s reckless bravery and He's timely intervention, the tide of the battle shifted.

Shi Kangbu was still missing in action. Jie Kui, while alive, was too battered to do anything more than move his body; his combat effectiveness was gone.

On the enemy side, the lead fish was mostly unharmed and still dangerous. However, the adult fish was on the verge of death.

Infuriated by He’s interference, the lead fish let out a roar and lunged at her.

He was exhausted. Her body hadn't recovered from the previous spell, and since she lacked martial skills, she was a sitting duck. Qiuqiu’s movement in the water had slowed, and despite being a sturdy little tank, it was too small to fully shield her from the lead fish’s massive bulk.

Suddenly, a dark silhouette materialized out of thin air. A bone dagger buried itself into the lead fish before detonating. The resulting mental shockwave dazed the monster, giving He a precious window to retreat.

She looked gratefully at the man who had just arrived. Ye Zhongming had finished off the other adult Spiral Fish and had finally joined the main fight. However, she noticed his attention wasn't on the monsters in front of them, but on the distant horizon.

Out there, a white line was cutting through the water, approaching at high speed.