Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 1929: Spending is also an art

A slim pamphlet lay clutched in Ye Zhongming's grasp.

Cheng Liujin had presented it to him. The volume detailed the histories of former Bronze Order Leaders. Once Ye Zhongming flipped it open and scanned its contents, he realized he held the mantle of the 333rd Bronze Order Leader.

333?

Ye Zhongming felt a pang of disappointment that it wasn't 666.

The pages of the slim pamphlet held scant details overall. Most ancestors received only fleeting mentions, their names followed by the span of their tenure.

A handful earned more elaborate entries, though even those rarely stretched beyond a few lines. The figures that etched themselves deeply into Ye Zhongming's mind and merited fuller accounts in the pamphlet totaled around a dozen. Among them, the inaugural Bronze Order Leader and the 101st stood out as particularly remarkable.

This founding Bronze Order Leader proved a genuine prodigy. Across countless skirmishes, big and small, that marked his lifetime, defeat never touched him. Even in his twilight years, when a formidable extraterrestrial entity invaded the Star-Eye Clan's homeworld and issued a duel, victory remained his—though grievous wounds claimed his life shortly thereafter.

That era marked the Star-Eye Clan's dawn in the cosmic age, and this leader's triumphs ignited a surge of spirit across the whole species.

Ye Zhongming harbored profound admiration for this figure, yet the record revealed another truth: the Star-Eye Clan had ventured beyond their native world through their own prowess back then, not reliant on the wheel's aid.

The other standout, the 101st Order Leader, achieved his pinnacle by tempering the Bronze Mask squad into an unbreakable force, its might eclipsing even the Silver and Gold units. Yet the most striking and incredulous feat came at the close: this mighty individual sparked a coup d'état, striving to topple the dual leadership of the Star-Eye Clan's heads.

Though his bid crumbled in defeat, the ensuing clash ravaged the Star-Eye Clan's essence. Once, the trio of elite squads—Bronze, Silver, and Gold—stood unmatched. The Bronze squad faced total annihilation, while the remaining pairs endured devastating tolls, with survivors numbering fewer than one in ten.

From that nadir, the Star-Eye Clan tumbled from its zenith, a shadow of former glory that lingered unhealed to this day.

Ye Zhongming stroked the bronze mask he held, sensing its chill and sharp texture against his skin. Legends surrounding this role flooded his thoughts.

The tale that circulated widest painted it as a cursed seat.

From the 101st era onward, fewer than one in five Order Leaders stepped down unscathed. The rest met ends in fierce combats or shadowy killings. Even the last one had turned traitor and vanished.

Post-101st, the Star-Eye Clan reshaped rules for their premier squads. The Bronze unit shifted to support duties, no longer on par with its peers. It handled minor missions and watched over peripheral outposts.

Above all, the Star-Eye Clan altered the promotion code: upon hitting key benchmarks, fighters advanced to higher squads.

Typically, ten thousand furelei marked the threshold for Bronze members. Surpassing that shifted one to Silver. Hitting twenty thousand propelled to Gold. And from Gold's ranks, top performers and those with rare gifts joined the inner guard, tasked with shielding the leaders, vital vaults, and key figures.

Still, this inner guard stayed small and unranked as its own squad.

Hence, the Star-Eye Clan's elite triads evolved thus—the Gold Order Leader always ranked as a confidant to the twin chiefs. The Silver Order Leader served as Gold's heir apparent, poised to inherit and command the clan's mightiest force in due course.

The Bronze Order Leader, by contrast, lingered as a mere prospect under scrutiny, tainted from the start with disdain.

Ye Zhongming set the mask aside. The clamor outside swelled sharper, signaling that the leftover Novices neared their turn to access the Shop for picks. Footsteps approached his shelter; a summons to join the procession echoed near.

He rose and strolled leisurely toward the exit, yet his mind churned on, pondering Cheng Liujin's parting words.

The Gold Order Leader had dubbed this role one of duty and weight.

Now, its depth dawned on Ye Zhongming.

Images of those bronze-masked fighters, who once slew freely and herded newbies, flashed back. A moment's reflection made plain the squad's dire straits.

Claiming this seat demanded grit.

"Order Leader, it's time to proceed."

The messenger beyond the flap hailed Ye Zhongming. He parted the entrance and stepped forth.

Ye Zhongming's emergence alongside the Star-Eye Clan seized every gaze. Their scores topped the charts, granting him the lead entry into the Shop for choices.

The Changxu Water Race trailed the Star-Eye group; their slot came soon after.

Certain factions paused briefly before veering toward the Star-Eye contingent. Cheng Liujin and Aslan's faces soured at once.

Ye Zhongming grasped their intent. Earlier, Star-Eye kin had likely barred such approaches. But here, amid the throng, blocks proved futile. These groups could bargain straight with him.

Yet in that instant, Ye Zhongming acted. Silently, he drew forth a mask and fitted it over his features.

The intruders halted in their tracks.

"The Bronze Order Leader's mask!"

A sharp-eyed observer cried out, identifying the covering on Ye Zhongming's visage.

He had assumed command as the Star-Eye Clan's Bronze Order Leader!

The import of this twist hit all present.

Ye Zhongming, the top Novice, committed fully to the Star-Eye Clan.

Many shook their heads in pity. So rustic, after all. Hadn't he grasped the perks of aligning with a powerhouse lineage? Ignored he how the kin of his battlefield slain would hound him relentlessly if he bound himself here?

They'd hoped for a rising legend, only for it to fade swiftly.

From nearby squads, Novices of diverse origins and battle-hardened veterans eyed Ye Zhongming with tangled sentiments. On fair footing, this warrior had crushed them utterly. Yet now, he tread a thorn-strewn trail.

"Your kin ought to have explained the protocols. You're up first now. Enter."

Zizi Kaba cut straight to it. As Ye Zhongming reached the fore, the overseer claimed his storage gear and passed a slip of paper.

"Pick your goods, note their codes, and exit. Tally costs on your own. Tiny reckoners sit within; help yourself."

With that, the Novice battlefield warden stepped back, baring the Shop's yawning portal.

Ye Zhongming dipped his head to Zizi Kaba and strode inside.

………………

Since his prior venture, the Shop had ballooned in scale. Ye Zhongming's entry hit him with waves of potent energy ripples saturating the chamber.

What treasures could pack such fierce vibes into the air?

Ye Zhongming drew a steadying breath and advanced into the sprawling display of wares.