Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 1854: Crucial point

Ye Zhongming's bloodline remained in the midst of activating, yet he lacked an initiation ritual as potent as the one the Hawkins pair enjoyed. All he possessed was his signature boldness without fear.

The two groups silently rushed toward the closest islet. Solid ground allowed them to unleash their maximum fighting capabilities more effectively.

Ye Zhongming held the identical view on this matter. Even though his team bore the Ocean King imprint, they couldn't unleash their full potential yet. With today's clash deciding their fates, he wanted everyone to bring out their utmost strength.

As they landed on the island, the Hawkins duo and their allies knitted their brows, since the opponents clearly had no plans to split up and instead clustered into a compact lineup.

What could this mean?

At level nine, where they stood, the boosts from their usual gear were gone, which greatly diminished their ability effects, but in actual combat, the impact zones stayed wide. Packing so close together would surely cause major disruptions among themselves.

Did these foes pick up some group enhancement technique?

Hawkins racked his brain and remembered that the official shop did offer such items, though their cost was sky-high—even the top-ranked individual couldn't buy one. It was impossible for Ye Zhongming's group to have gotten it.

So why arrange themselves this way? Just to display solidarity?

Ye Zhongming conceded that facing the Hawkins couple one-on-one, their power might edge just below his, but the margin was truly negligible, almost nothing.

This made perfect sense.

Yes, he was reborn, but his edge came only from foreknowledge up to level six. For the rest, their luck or special advantages persisted and might even surpass his. He felt grateful enough to climb to the top of level nine in under seven years through steady progress.

Furthermore, deep down, Ye Zhongming sensed he held the title of Earth's strongest in solo battles.

In his past life, a decade barely pushed him to minor level six as an evolver. After rebirth, reaching the planet's top spot so quickly—if he expected everyone else to be so feeble he could one-shot them, that would be greedy.

It meant inflating his own worth while belittling all others in the world.

Take the Hawkins couple; Ye Zhongming knew little about them, but he now grasped they hailed from a group named Gold-Silver Island. During the pause, he'd sent Jie Kui to scout, learning it was a mid-tier power—not as grand as outfits like Reina Star's Su Clan, but a coalition of various medium forces. Among cosmic races, it ranked like a big player, though its makeup was somewhat intricate.

The Hawkins pair appeared to be prime focuses for nurturing in that group.

Together, without question, their combined might outstripped Ye Zhongming's.

Still, thanks to He's water chain barriers, Ye Zhongming felt assured in battling them.

He'd take on the Hawkins couple personally. His comrades would handle Wade and Yaka.

About these two foes, Ye Zhongming had some insight. Their solo powers fell a touch short of the Hawkins duo's, yet the gap was slim—much like the slight divide between the Hawkins and Ye Zhongming himself, barely noticeable.

One versus one, neither Jie Kui nor Helsky could overpower them. Shi Kangbu and Yang Tuo lagged even further. But with Qiuqiu's support and He's aid, pairing up two to one offered a shot at success.

To Ye Zhongming, the pivotal element in this compact, do-or-die group skirmish rested not on him, but on his other members.

Shi Kangbu had taken a brutal strike from the lead Spiral Fish before, collapsing into unconsciousness. He'd received He's care both inside and out. Though he regained awareness and his outer wounds mended completely via External Water, his inner damage lingered, demanding recovery time. He could join the fray now, but his fighting ability hovered at roughly a third of his best.

Jie Kui's state had mended a bit more. He's water chain had absorbed the bulk of the harm for him. Post-treatment, his form healed solidly, far better than it seemed on the surface. His apparent 'frailty' right now carried a hint of acting.

This fellow, despite his short time with Helsky, was already picking up sly habits.

Jie Kui could now tap into seventy to eighty percent of his prior capability.

Combined, Shi Kangbu and Jie Kui might equal one enemy's standard output, assuming He wrapped water chains around them too.

Their role involved holding back Yaka, using nimble tactics and plans to neutralize the wild, aggressive Yaka for a brief period.

The true game-changers were Helsky and Yang Tuo.

Without Helsky's earlier showing against Hawkins, Ye Zhongming wouldn't have handed the decisive segment of this fatal showdown to these fresh recruits.

Yet in that moment, Helsky and Yang Tuo had demonstrated their allegiance, at least for now.

They'd outsmarted the Hawkins pair, safeguarding themselves while keeping Ye Zhongming's group from slipping into a tough spot. Otherwise, they'd have either battled fiercely or switched sides, bolstering the enemies immensely. In either case, Ye Zhongming's team would have faced near-certain loss.

But their smart maneuvering not only halted the decline but swung things heavily in Ye Zhongming's favor.

That quick look they shared on the speedboat prompted Ye Zhongming's follow-up actions.

In that flash, Helsky earned the Cloud Peak King's confidence.

Helsky and Yang Tuo stayed in top shape. Even with He's boost, their power would surge more. For duo experts in direct clashes, this was like granting them extra might.

Plus, from the ten Progress Pills earlier, Ye Zhongming had consumed three himself, given three to Jie Kui, one to Shi Kangbu, with three left over.

Ye Zhongming handed two straight to Helsky and one to Yang Tuo, reminding them to repay later, while patching a key flaw in their physiques right before the fight, ramping up their battle prowess once more.

At this point, even if these two couldn't quite rival Wade, they'd come close. The water chains' full coverage nullified Wade's sneakiest, deadliest strikes. In a two-on-one setup, Ye Zhongming figured Helsky and Yang Tuo stood the best chance to claim victory first.

After triumphing, they'd pivot to subdue Yaka; the endgame would turn into an all-out assault on the Hawkins couple.

Ye Zhongming harbored no qualms about ethics; winning justified this approach.

"The weight is immense." Helsky rolled his shoulders, speaking modestly yet his gaze burned with thrill.

With Brother Ye placing such faith in them, bring it on.

He signaled the others. Ye Zhongming's group, tasks assigned and assault launched, all surged ahead as one!