Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 1875: Descend (2)

Suddenly, razor-sharp semicircular blades shot out from the belt, slamming right into the individual standing there.

But that wasn't all. A mere basic physical strike like this wouldn't live up to the fearsome title of Death Wheel Belt. At the same moment the blades extended completely, thin organic tendrils—flexible yet incredibly springy, tipped with empty but piercing cone shapes wrapped in a dark haze—burst forth from the spaces between the metal parts.

The man let out a startled cry, leaping back as he swung his pair of odd weapons ahead to shove He away.

He acted this way because he had to; the whole group had been a bit too casual about their foe. Despite knowing He possessed solid gear, in their overwhelming advantage, they had instinctively ignored potential threats.

To them, in such a dire spot, shouldn't He first beg for mercy or offer cash to spare her life or the like?

The Death Wheel Belt cut through the armor covering this man's frame, while those slim vital strips pierced inside.

He let out a muffled groan, his arms turning numb. The weapons he wielded so effortlessly before now weighed like lead. He realized the poison from the Death Wheel Belt was kicking in.

Clenching his jaw, his head and belly ballooned in that instant. Then, parting his lips, he unleashed a soundless bellow at He. A tangible burst of air slammed into her and detonated, hurling her back.

The man pulled himself loose. Since the weapons burdened him too much, he ditched them outright, grabbed some antidote from his storage space, and swallowed it down. Only after that did his mind ease somewhat.

Yet in the very next moment, a dazzling glare filled his vision, an intense flash. His spirits plummeted once more.

He had overlooked the Changxu Water Race's signature and masterful move: the Holy Sigil strike!

All he could do was lift his arms once again, forming the most basic and sole shield he had.

The glow faded away. The man's form remained rooted, but as he forced his eyes open, a horrifying wail escaped him.

Both his arms were gone, melted away by the Holy Sigil's power.

For a level nine evolved being, leaving aside if other tech or skills could restore them, with the ongoing small cycle trial set to wrap up in just one more day, everyone understood the doom of losing both limbs.

This was basically the same as dying. It could even prove worse than a straight death, more cruel than grave wounds leaving him crippled.

His agonized yell cut off after merely two seconds. A keen dagger plunged into his throat, silencing him and ending his existence.

A Chaos Heart Race ally materialized next to him, gripping the dagger, and gave a casual shrug to his teammates and enemies alike.

"He was already done for. Can't let this woman snag the points, yeah?"

Noting the dark look on the face of the remaining teammate outside their kin, he added, "If I wind up like that someday, feel free to handle me the same."

No one replied further, shifting their focus back to He.

Her battle skills had left them in awe, and they now held a fresh respect for this envoy from the Changxu Water Race, dispatched after countless cosmic cycles.

This woman's prowess in combat was downright impressive.

Though they'd lost a teammate, the surviving trio didn't grow overly anxious, since the squad's core fighters were the pair of Chaos Heart Race individuals and the four creatures under their command.

He panted a touch harder. Shifting to water form in a flash and reforming just as quick, on top of firing off the Holy Sigil, had drained her stamina heavily. Plus, while that guy's air blast aimed mostly to repel her, it had struck true. Her insides rattled; nothing as bad as coughing up blood, yet the roiling blood and energy left her queasy.

The peril she confronted had only worsened.

The rest could plainly spot He's fading state. Tired of the earlier chase like cats toying with a mouse, they advanced on her as one. The four dominated creatures, fangs flashing, lunged toward He.

These were four parasites, not the strongest out there, but each nearly matched a level nine evolved. United, the quartet could overwhelm He, leaving her scrambling. Factoring in the other three fighters, the fight's end was a foregone conclusion.

He fought back fiercely. The twin slabs of Han Jade, dangling as pendants at her waist, granted her decent protection, letting her reduce harm from incoming hits. The Death Wheel Belt's abrupt assault also kept the other trio from closing in too near.

They understood well that the Death Wheel Belt's energy could toxify just one more foe, and none among the three wanted to volunteer, so they stuck to aiding with strikes from afar.

At last, one parasite seized its chance. Wrapping its pliable form around He's ankle, it yanked hard. With its might, it would snap her bones in no time.

Pinned suddenly, He stayed calm. Spotting another parasite darting in to chomp her neck, she thrust her palm forward.

A palm image burst from her strike, smashing the parasite's skull. Empowered by the Exploration Palm, the force doubled, wiping out the creature on the spot.

The adversaries froze in shock.

This wasn't due to the parasite's frailty. Instead, He had held back any skills earlier despite her wounds. Unleashing one now caught them off guard, and the Exploration Palm's power boost let her slay the parasite that had eyed a killing blow.

One Chaos Heart Race fighter bellowed in fury, deeply regretting his lost thrall.

Though they could always seize another creature to dominate, it spelled hassle. They'd need time to hunt a fitting host, then pour in effort to tame it, with the chance of getting hurt. In regular circumstances, it might not sting much, but here in the newcomer arena, he doubted finding and binding a fresh one in time.

Driven by its controller's rage, a second parasite whipped its massive tail. Exploiting He's stuck position and the cooldown after her strike, it bashed her squarely in the back.

There, a shimmer ignited as the Han Jade's guard flared up, yet it couldn't hold against such force. A snap echoed from the exquisite jade, a fissure forming. He doubled over a bit from the impact. The combined agony from her leg and spine wracked her fiercely.

The fighter alongside the Chaos Heart Race pair at last spotted his opening. Clacking the two short rods in his grasp together, a sharp ring sounded. A shadow figure materialized, zipping from him straight to He, smashing her shoulder.

It dented inward right away.

The man groaned in frustration. His aim had been for He's head originally!