Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 1940: Lost ability

The interior training area shone with vivid illumination. Since it occasionally required safeguarding specific drills in secrecy and averting energy spills that could trigger unintended destruction, this enclosed practice space lacked any windows.

Yet, the subtle noises persistently emerging from within prompted every Bronze Mask Warrior passing by to glance over curiously.

In a nearby outdoor training field, a few individuals who had wrapped up their evening session lounged on the ground, breaking down their gear while exchanging light-hearted remarks.

"Things are heating up in there."

Logistics Officer Wu Qian rolled his stiff neck and quipped with a grin.

"Not nearly as fierce as your performance earlier. You, handling logistics, why push your training so relentlessly? Your power level ought to place you among the top ten in the whole Bronze Camp these days, huh?"

A fellow fighter who had recently clashed with Wu Qian in practice massaged his belly and grumbled irritably.

"Haha, Wu Qian idolizes White Robe. He's obsessed with earning a spot on the Silver Team. What's odd about his dedication? But you, Zhu Kang, if you slack off, I reckon your Deputy Order Leader role is hanging by a thread. Look over..."

The speaker nodded toward the Assault Camp direction with his chin and went on: "Shi Yong, who's only a tad ahead of you, surrendered his post to switch to the Assault Camp! Watch out, the newcomer could put out a call for anyone weaker than Shi Yong to head straight to the Bronze Camp."

"Zhi Chaka, seriously, you're a Thousand-Person Commander, aren't you? Could you tone it down a bit?" Zhu Kang, the one addressed, appeared exasperated, gazing at his direct boss without knowing how to reply.

Out of all the Thousand-Person Commanders, Zhi Chaka stood out as the kindest in demeanor, fostering good relations with his team. Based purely on likability, he made the perfect pick for Deputy Order Leader.

"That, Jie Kui..."

Wu Qian's actions slowed noticeably, clearly pondering deeply.

His comment drew the group's focus, bringing the earlier incident back to their thoughts.

They knew Jie Kui's power wasn't exceptional; he might shine among rookies, but he paled in the Bronze Camp.

Still, his sudden materialization on the bare ground, devoid of any hiding spots or barriers, had stunned the nearby mid-rank officers profoundly.

Should he deploy that power for a surprise attack, scarcely anyone could evade it.

"What did that strike you as?" Wu Qian paused briefly before directing the question at Zhi Chaka. Despite this Second Thousand-Person Unit Captain's easygoing nature, his prowess topped everyone there.

"I reckon..." Zhi Chaka appeared uncertain, gathered his thoughts, and responded, "Truthfully, I'm not entirely sure about that power. It doesn't match any techniques in our Star-Eye Clan that produce this outcome. If I had to pinpoint one..."

Zhi Chaka eyed Wu Qian, and they both spotted the same conclusion in one another's gaze, though it struck them as implausible.

"You two, cut the vagueness!" The rest grew annoyed; these pair were talking in circles.

"We've got a theory, but we figure it's unlikely. In our Star-Eye Clan's records, just one power ever yielded this result, yet it vanished ages ago."

Wu Qian wagged his head, repeatedly dismissing the idea.

Zhi Chaka picked up: "Layered Body, solely Layered Body could pull off this feat. It faded away during the Cataclysm War."

A hush settled over the group.

The Cataclysm War—that grim chapter from history everyone shunned—remained the Star-Eye Clan's lasting wound.

"Layered Body triggers swift oscillations in the body. At peak speed, it yields an illusion of vanishing from sight. Master the suppression of breath, odor, energy waves, and such, and you gain true invisibility. Naturally, a vast power gap or keen senses could still spot it without trouble."

One listener, evidently new to this power, stared in disbelief.

"If an ability like that exists, wouldn't it make our Star-Eye Clan fighters... incredibly potent?"

Zhi Chaka affirmed with a nod, "Absolutely. Before its loss, that's why the mere whisper of the Star-Eye Clan sent shivers through foes—we struck deadly blows anytime, anywhere, with sky-high odds of victory!"

"We've forfeited so many vital powers; that's the core of our downfall."

At Zhi Chaka's words, sorrow flickered in the eyes of the others.

"From getting the alert to gathering at the training area, until he showed himself, more than twenty minutes elapsed. If Layered Body was truly what he wielded, his skill level... surpasses the novice threshold?"

Wu Qian held some knowledge of this power too. He pursued the reasoning and broke it down.

Zhi Chaka held his silence at first, methodically stowing his items.

"Should Layered Body resurface, Jie Kui would have already seized its essence." As he headed toward the exit, Zhi Chaka declared, with the group trailing after.

"Starting today, stay vigilant, ensure your teams drill hard and tackle evaluations with full effort." The leader of this Second Thousand-Person Unit shot a look at the indoor training area, "Maybe, some real shifts are on the horizon."

……………………………………………………

"Once more! You've got the energy flow route all messed up!"

"Layered Eye boils down to keenly sensing energy. How? Merge your vision with energy to track the rhythm of similar energy types, spot them, and zero in."

"Never dismiss this power lightly. It might appear trivial, but it packs real value. It lets you dissect a foe's makeup in seconds, pinpoint flaws, and deliver a decisive blow."

"It shines in stealth ops and hits, yet proves handy in direct clashes too."

"Excellent, Shi Yong nailed it. He precisely outlined the edges of various energy forms."

"Ge Ta, this eye-based technique—why flail your arms! Hold steady, stay calm. Lock in the energy path within you and link it to your sight!"

Ye Zhongming's firm commands resounded across the practice space.

Once the sixty-five members committed the Layered Eye cultivation technique to memory, he guided their hands-on session.

This demanded fine control. Ye Zhongming, bolstered by his immense mental strength, picked it up with ease, but the warriors grappled with it.

Still, Ye Zhongming remained patient. As a foundational technique, mastering it would boost their progress in further powers.

They drilled on until the wee hours, when Ye Zhongming finally dismissed the sixty-five Bronze Assault Camp warriors. Come morning, though, they'd rise at dawn for another round in this room, now reserved solely for the Assault Camp.

Ye Zhongming exited last. Right outside, he spotted Aslan propped against the balustrade.