Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 1934: Bronze Camp currents

Upon their return to Darkstrip City, every resident's attention locked onto the Star-Eye Clan's spaceship. It was widely understood that it transported the top Novice of this round.

Prior to the vessel's touchdown, the prizes Ye Zhongming picked started arriving one by one at the Star-Eye Clan's hidden underground chamber. Shuttle after shuttle touched down by the entrance. Scores of Bronze Warriors from the Star-Eye Clan got assigned to carry the cargo into the depths. This bustling display pulled in spectators from diverse species living in Darkstrip City.

Spatial storage gear isn't cheap either. Though not exactly scarce, it's far from commonplace. High-volume versions are especially limited, hoarded by the big powers. Why squander them on hauling for the Star-Eye Clan? Thus, manual labor was the only option.

Luckily, goods valued at hundreds of thousands of points weren't an endless flood, but a manageable load. Plus, they trickled in gradually, so the commotion didn't drag on forever.

Folks across Darkstrip City chattered about how, beyond the cosmic common tongue being dubbed the Darkstrip Language, this event alone—the Star-Eye Clan snagging dual victories in the Novice arena with a record-shattering tally—would etch itself into the annals.

Truth was, in this bastion of survivors, Darkstrip City ranked as no grand hub, harboring no colossal powers. Achievements worth bragging about were painfully rare.

Naturally, plenty of locals sneered at it all, dismissing it as the Star-Eye Clan's desperate last gasp. Sure, they might hang on a tad longer, but extinction loomed inevitable.

Yet that envy festered deep within them.

Little did they realize, starting right then, this bitterness would haunt their existence forever.

The Bronze Mask Warrior outpost went by the name Bronze Camp.

Since the 101st Bronze Order Leader sparked that uprising, the camp's fighters had been relegated to minor duties. With the Star-Eye Clan's downfall, loads of them sat idle as jobs dried up. That held true even as their ranks thinned out considerably.

These days, beyond watch shifts, welcoming parties, or repair work, the Bronze Camp warriors mainly drilled in combat skills.

Excelling in drills, boosting power, and catching the Silver Team's eye—that was their sole path forward.

Yet today, the typically lively practice field lay eerily still. Nearly every Bronze Mask Warrior had retreated to quarters, while overseers and team captains huddled in one chamber to hash things out.

"Fresh out of the Novice battlefield and straight into Bronze Order Leader? This feels way too... honestly, it's an insult to us all! No denying it, this Ye Zhongming fellow shines bright. He smashed the all-time score record, claimed the top Novice spot, and boosted our Star-Eye Clan to overall victory, granting us a surge of glory. But how mighty could he really be right now? In our camp of almost ten thousand, would he crack the top five thousand? Alright, say he earned merits and the clan aims to honor him properly—nothing short of Bronze Order Leader shows real commitment—shouldn't they weigh reality first? If grooming him as a key talent, they could wait till his power matches up!"

This outburst came from one man venting to the dozens of top Bronze Camp figures nearby. As a Thousand-Person Commander, he held real sway here.

His mask hid his face, but Ye Zhongming would spot him instantly as the Bronze Mask Warrior who offhandedly slew a foe during their clan escort.

Leng Jiao was his name.

He figured Ye Zhongming held no fondness for him, fueling his staunch resistance. Plus, he eyed a deputy slot in the Bronze Camp.

Leng Jiao knew Bronze Order Leader was beyond him—lacking the might or ties—but the pair of deputy roles? He believed he could vie for one.

A handful with matching views chimed in agreement. They lacked his drive but questioned the clan's rash choice, lending their backing.

"Plus, while his feats are legendary and history-bound, I reckon his decisions stink, and his loyalty lies elsewhere than our Star-Eye Clan."

As Leng Jiao dropped this, those holding back now eyed him sharply.

His loyalty isn't with the Star-Eye Clan? That charge carried heavy weight.

All present wore the Star-Eye Clan's mark. Glory and shame, life and death—they were intertwined with the clan's fate.

Why so many captains and bosses warmed to Ye Zhongming's promotion? Simple: his triumphs revived the Star-Eye Clan's renown among the universe's peoples.

Deep down, they even endorsed it, yearning for Ye Zhongming to inject fresh vigor into the Star-Eye Clan.

But this claim stirred doubts in them.

"That's a bold claim without evidence."

From the Ye Zhongming supporters, a plumpish fellow creased his brow and spoke up.

"Naturally, I've got grounds." Leng Jiao smirked. "Check out the rewards he grabbed this time. What junk is that? How does it help us? In my book, he squandered over a hundred thousand points at least! Sure, they're his points, but recall: for him, Order Leader White Robe dove into the Novice battlefield personally and dragged along Jie Su—likely our sole ally in the Star-Eye Clan. Without Sheke Star's heir tagging down, forget first place; they'd all be corpses! If Ye Zhongming had any shame, wouldn't he divvy some points to the clan? Nope. He picks this rubbish—research gear, crop tools—maybe claiming it's for the clan to settle debts. Does the clan crave such trash? Absolutely not! So tell me, if he truly cared for the clan, would he pull this?"

The room hushed a bit. His logic stretched thin, pure guesswork, yet it nagged. No sensible soul, aware of the Star-Eye Clan's plight, would opt for those picks.

"And don't overlook the Changxu Water Race crew sticking with him."

Leng Jiao tacked on this zinger.

At first, no one bit, but realization dawned gradually.

The Changxu Water Race teetered worse off than the Star-Eye Clan, clinging to autonomy. Yield that, and they'd spark bidding wars. Still, giants like the Huo'er Star folk eyed them hungrily.

Now, the Changxu Water Race hitched to Ye Zhongming. That spelled clashing with powerhouses. Ye Zhongming tying to the Star-Eye Clan meant dragging them into the fray. Anyone could see it, including him. So why no fear? The wider cosmos wasn't the Novice battlefield, capping Furelai at two thousand for easy sweeps post-shift.

Only one answer fit: his allegiance wandered. Maybe he'd flip and cozy up to Huo'er Star.

This swayed even Ye Zhongming's backers. After ages, eyes turned to the front-seater, Bronze Camp's Deputy Order Leader Ka Lan Ka.

……………………

As the Bronze Camp churned over Ye Zhongming, Cloud Peak's King reached a corridor's close. Ahead loomed a steel portal. Beyond it, the Star-Eye Clan's dual leaders awaited him.