Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 1946: Furious Zhong Hongke

Upon witnessing this sight, the strained look on Shi Yong's face at last eased. He understood that victory in this confrontation was essentially secured.

Meanwhile, the warriors from the Bronze Camp capitalized on the errors and pressed their assaults; the Assault Camp fighters hastily pulled back the strikes they had just unleashed.

Countless onlookers were left dumbfounded by this turn.

Pulling back an initiated attack might seem straightforward, yet pulling it off demands exquisite command over one's body and energy at a fine-tuned level.

A level like that, even within the Bronze Camp or the Silver Team, remains out of reach for most.

It calls for not just extensive experience and rigorous practice, but also a dash of innate talent.

One might even label it the territory of true masters.

The Assault Camp fighters showed real skill, yet could every one of them grasp the wider strategy?

What exactly was happening?

In battle, timing decides everything. The Bronze Camp warriors erred and faced the consequences accordingly. Only a handful among them could withdraw their techniques, and even those did so clumsily, since they had committed fully to a decisive blow just seconds before.

The strikes connected with these fighters, inflicting wounds left and right, and the tide swiftly turned dangerous.

The Assault Camp seized control but stayed utterly vigilant. Exploiting the foes' disarray, they swiftly reorganized their lineup. Fighters nearby swiftly tightened their formation. While leaving some enemies behind, they created localized advantages of multiple against one—two or three versus a single wounded foe—knocking out the opponent in mere moments.

At this point, the result was all but sealed. It stood at nineteen against seven, with the nineteen fully fit, whereas five of the seven bore injuries.

The rest of the fight unfolded predictably. Though the Assault Camp's solo fighting prowess lagged a touch, their overwhelming numbers and soaring spirits prevailed over the weary adversaries. In the end, the score settled at fifteen to zero.

A clash that only a handful foresaw but the majority never anticipated had concluded. Silence blanketed the training area. In stark contrast to the hushed Bronze Camp group, the Assault Camp's side buzzed with palpable thrill and fervor, even from afar.

From its inception, the Assault Camp drew little faith. From a force of ten thousand, barely sixty-plus enlisted. That dismal signup rate of less than one percent underscored the widespread skepticism.

Over recent days, as Assault Camp members moved through the base, they faced odd stares and verbal jabs from certain hot-headed combatants.

Yet they weathered it all. They realized that only through solid outcomes could they validate their decision; nothing else would do.

This triumph, while not proving everything, at least bolstered their resolve and spurred them onward.

Ye Zhongming, though, kept his composure intact. The opening bout was always the simplest to claim. Losing it would render further fights pointless; surrender would be the wiser call.

He had instructed the Assault Camp recruits in 'Layered Eye'. Though the practice spanned little time, and its main benefit lay in detecting energy edges and rank shifts, even minimal drills influenced them. With focus, they could now just manage to recall abilities not fired at maximum force. This laid bare the rivals' vulnerabilities.

Ye Zhongming approached to assess the wounds of the five who had withdrawn and creased his brow faintly.

The hurts weren't grave, but they did hamper fighting ability. For those slated for at least another round, it spelled trouble.

Still, having bragged earlier, he had no choice but to push through.

He applied medication to several, aiding their swiftest possible recovery.

"He whips out injury remedies costing dozens of Moonspan Gold right away; this fellow's loaded for sure."

White Robe, observing via the light screen, gazed enviously. Cheng Liujin at his side remarked: "As though you lack them. Yisewei handed over all her points to you. Apart from clan trade goods, you've snagged plenty of fine items too, haven't you?"

White Robe chuckled, "Nowhere near as abundant as Little Ye's stash."

"What caught your eye?" Cheng Liujin queried White Robe. "The gear edge we figured was there didn't shine through fully. So, how did the Assault Camp pull off recalling their powers so effortlessly?"

White Robe pondered briefly then shook his head: "Couldn't spot it. I only sensed that in that instant, these fighters came across as remarkably subtle, meticulous, and accurate in their moves."

As the pair conversed, the landscape for the next round had already been set in the training zone.

"Death Corner."

Ye Zhongming's repeat pick of this map baffled the Bronze Camp faction deeply.

Death Corner essentially formed a labyrinth setup. Varied-height barriers segmented a square space into countless compartments. Furthermore, these sturdy barriers sat haphazardly, rendering the layout highly uneven. Yet one constant held: the spaces between barriers, at most, allowed two abreast. Every route was essentially a tight passage. When foes collided, it challenged individual might.

That said, individual might tilted heavily toward the Bronze Camp. Why select a map that highlighted their shortcomings?

This round, various Thousand-Person Commanders grew uneasy. The prior defeat stung their pride; they couldn't afford another setback. They gathered before the thirty set to battle and let First Thousand-Person Commander Zhong Hongke voice their thoughts.

"I feel deeply ashamed!" That opener made the earlier twenty flush with heat.

"The foes' fighting strength is solid enough. Losing to them as regular troops might pass. But your typical Furelai boasts at least eight hundred, often a thousand, more than theirs, and you still got crushed. Say, isn't that humiliating?"

Tie Cha and his comrades flushed crimson, as if on the verge of hemorrhage, their chins nearly grazing their torsos.

"We..."

"Stop! Planning to claim you got tricked? Are you warriors worth your salt? Do defeats demand excuses?"

Zhong Hongke's fierce stare roamed over them, silencing any would-be defenders.

"The Death Corner setup truly probes solo dueling skill, reflexes, and prowess in ambushes plus counters. In principle, if we execute as usual, we'll hold strong. But the Order Leader isn't a fool; he picked this spot beneficial to us for some purpose. So, expect a ploy. Enter cautiously, treat it gravely, shun complacency, and give it your all. Victory's great. But defeat..."

"Don't fault me for having you weep during drills!"