Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 1866: 30 minute sneak attack (3)

An ambush!

And it came from fresh faces!

Airezeiya's heart plunged straight down; this was her greatest dread.

Nothing terrified her more than betrayal from her own people—this was the harsh lesson and reality she'd learned from enduring the apocalypse over seven or eight long years.

What's more, she grasped it even sharper: since they'd been singled out and struck, it confirmed at least one fact: the attackers outmatched them in strength.

Winning or losing would come down to the clash itself, but assurance wouldn't follow suit.

Airezeiya lingered at the team's back end, and with that thought, she pulled back right away.

The icy flashes targeted mostly the front-liners, letting her slip out of harm's way with ease.

Glancing up once more, Airezeiya spotted three dark figures bursting into the group.

Ye Zhongming had laid traps in this spot. They weren't lethal, not for nine-star evolved at least, but getting snagged meant real hassle since he'd laced them with toxins that induced a mild paralysis.

Right as the traps sprang, something Airezeiya couldn't catch from her rear position happened: vine-like tendrils erupted from the earth, striking with far more force than the icy gleams. Most folks got skewered right through their foot soles by these.

It was then that Ye Zhongming and his two allies unleashed their powers to rush in. As Star-Eye Clan fighters, ambushes were right up their alley.

Before closing the gap, Ye Zhongming summoned his Double Poison Shadow. Just a single dark form emerged, barely noticeable, yet it popped up smack in the enemy group's center, detonating to unleash a psychic blast that left these already rattled folks from the trap hits momentarily stunned.

The trio pounced on the opening to dive into the fray.

In that first instant inside, they dropped three foes.

All unfolded just as plotted, smooth as silk, yet Ye Zhongming and his partners didn't push their luck. Seizing the split-second when the enemies were just snapping to, they pulled out fast, with Ye Zhongming deploying three dark shadows as a smokescreen.

Besides Ye Zhongming's upgraded Black Shadow Giant Possession, mental assaults lost punch if the targets were braced for them. After all, he couldn't pour excessive psychic power into those shadows without risking his own state afterward.

With three allies slain out of nowhere and spotting only three assailants, rage boiled over in the enemy ranks, prompting some to surge ahead in retaliation. Others sensed the trap and drew back on instinct, just like Airezeiya. The squad, down to eight survivors, fractured into two factions right then.

The gap wasn't wide; the attackers would notice in the next breath that some hadn't joined them, and they'd surely fall back.

But Ye Zhongming wouldn't hand them that window.

Behind the four lunging forward, a massive vine web shot up, cutting them off.

Airezeiya's heart, already dropping, hit rock bottom.

Traps, a surprise strike, kills, followed by even more traps.

Claiming the foes weren't primed for this would be fooling herself. By now, she'd pieced it together: they aimed to wipe them out. Why? Points stood as the ultimate prize!

She switched from retreating to bolting outright. No more hanging back to watch events unfold; she needed to flee this nightmare spot at once.

As for alerting the captain's group... let someone else handle it. She'd only call once she was safe. Signaling now might cost her a fatal second.

Airezeiya ducked low as a frosty flash zipped over her scalp. The lethal vibe on it sent chills racing through her.

Flankers were in play too!

She halted and fell back once more, this time toward her fellow retreaters. Smartly, she let them shield half her form.

Her slim woman's build offered a edge right then.

Airezeiya gripped her battle knife crosswise, eyes darting around fast. She noted none of the pullback crew had taken hits, grasping that the shot missed them on purpose!

She whipped around to catch one of the chargers crumpling. A quivering arrow lodged deep in his neck's rear.

At the same time, a shield bearer, an aura user, and two more had emerged from nearby and closed in tight. Of the four who'd rushed out, one lay dead, leaving the others boxed in and outnumbered.

"Pull the net!"

A voice barked abruptly, a hand stretching to yank the upright vine web. He'd spotted it lifting from momentum and now easing down. Tugging it would speed the drop, merging the split team back together.

The rest lunged for it too.

This wouldn't drag on long. Airezeiya joined the grab, but before fingers met the weave, sharp twangs rang out, linking into a steady hum.

These fighters ditched the net idea and braced for defense.

Bowstrings snapping—that was the noise.

In view, a figure rose from hiding, bows slung on both sides. One was unleashing shots now, pace beyond belief—five arrows per burst, follow-ups hitting nearly every two seconds!

Plain as day, these shafts carried no special powers, just the raw force of bow and bolt, yet that packed plenty of terror. A miss meant wounds all the same.

A few kept batting the projectiles aside with their gear. One, eyeing the lone Six-Eye Race shooter, bellowed and barreled toward them.

Credit where due, his rush was slick, probably a skill of his. His blade arced ahead, carving a triangular energy shape. Like a ripple, it swatted every incoming arrow. Sheltered by this "ripple," he closed on the Six-Eye Race fighter swiftly.

Yet the nearer he drew, the clearer the sneer on his foe's face grew. On reflex, he glanced at the enemy's free hand, now lifted with a sturdy crossbow leveled his way. A hefty bolt had launched.

"No!"

Terror ripped from his throat. Too near; no dodging this blow. His frame shook as doom loomed, but he lashed out with his weapon regardless.

Mutual ruin was the top he could hope for.

Regrettably, this loaded bolt denied even that. It tore through him, dragging him to the abyss.

Airezeiya watched her teammate perish. As she geared to act, a mighty shove hit from behind, tumbling several ahead.

Her cool had held till now, but she staggered and peered over her shoulder. The enemy's shield warrior had bashed a bunch of isolated allies forward, smashing them against the vine web. Blades had already stabbed into her comrades' flesh.

Airezeiya's calm shattered. One palm slammed the dirt, and with a boom, gray fog billowed up, swallowing her whole.