Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 2017: Cheating

The map got selected: 'Pillars Jungle.'

This terrain featured endless massive stone pillars, twisted into all sorts of weird and ugly shapes, packed with hiding spots everywhere.

Underneath those huge pillars snaked countless linked narrow trails, brimming with ambush points. Put simply, it was perfect for ambushes and counter-ambushes.

In fact, this was a staple training ground for the Star-Eye Clan; practically every member knew it like the back of their hand.

Opposing sides spawned at opposite ends.

Typically, extra rules and limits got thrown in randomly for this map. Yet today, with total wipeout as the goal, no timers or such restrictions applied.

Essentially, it challenged solo skills and small group tactics. Unlike the earlier two rounds that gauged raw power and quick commands, this favored wild melee brawls.

Undoubtedly, it played right into the Star-Eye Clan's strengths.

"The Third Thousand-person Team and the Fourth Thousand-person Team are evenly matched, hitting the Pillars Jungle map. Bet even the winners will have few survivors left."

"Hard to say what tactics they'll pick. In the end, though, it boils down to who lasts longer hiding patiently. That side grabs the edge in fights."

"Hey, it's kicking off."

Warriors from Silver Camp and Gold Camp nearby buzzed with talk. As combat ignited, everyone snapped to attention.

"See the Third Thousand-person Team—they're not bothering to hide at all."

The instant the bout launched, onlookers caught a stunning sight. Third Thousand-person Team members fanned out completely, then charged ahead fast along the paths ahead. Meanwhile, several zipped up to pillar summits. Hopping across from there, they pointed out paths for those below.

The foes played it safer, splitting into five squads that crept forward steadily, no rushing. Once at key spots, they started stashing folks atop pillars.

This matched the slow-push style most squads used here.

Whenever Third Thousand-person Team spotters atop pillars caught enemy signs, signals flew out. Scattered troops swiftly converged to the middle zone. Fighters kept vaulting pillar tops, while ground teams stayed low without ducking inside pillars.

Soon, Jie Kui's squad shaped into a block holding just three paths. They hopped onto pillars without hiding, bounding from rear ones to front ones, pushing on relentlessly.

From overhead, the Third Thousand-person Team now looked like a marching rectangular 'net.' Flanks were thinner, center thicker; back sparser, front denser.

At first, nobody got it. But close-quarters clashes with Fourth Thousand-person Team left all stunned.

Third Thousand-person Team sliced straight through the Fourth's core lineup.

Their pace slowed a tad, but not much. They didn't halt—instead, they barreled to the enemy spawn, wheeled around, and looped the maneuver. Only shift: prior flank guards swapped to center killers, ex-center to flanks.

Yet another batch shifted to the 'net''s tail end.

Then the setup cleaved the Fourth Thousand-person Team once more.

"I get it!"

A Silver Mask warrior yelled out, jabbing the light screen in thrill: "Check it! Third Thousand-person Team's setup: flankers are just shielding, not hunting kills. The center walkers are the real massacre machines."

"Not just that," one Gold Mask warrior chimed in, "be it the fighters on the wings or in the center, none hang around in fights. They strike down foes when possible; otherwise, they avoid getting pinned. Plus, splitting into merely three routes gave them superior numbers in key spots. They kept relying on those atop the stone pillars to steer their path. Thus, after two such sweeps, nearly all Fourth Thousand-person Team soldiers trapped in this 'field' setup were wiped out."

The onlookers expressed awe too, agreeing the Third Thousand-person Team dominated the battle's early phase.

"In truth, they're exceptionally disciplined. See how the vanguard and core bear the heaviest assault as primary assaulters. Yet post-rush, they rotate with flank defenders on left and right, flipping from attack to guard. Wounded get shifted to the back—least pressured spot—and stone pillar tops for mere navigation duties. This optimizes force retention and slashes losses."

A figure in the corner grasped the situation sharper than most. Nearby folks promptly paid respects. He was a Gold Camp Thousand-person Leader.

"Who'd have thought this Jie Kui possessed real talent for drilling soldiers," the Gold Camp Thousand-person Leader dismissed salutes with a wave, urging calm as he commended Jie Kui.

"Still, the Fourth Thousand-person Team will catch on shortly. Soon comes the clash of raw power."

Events played out exactly as the Gold Camp Thousand-person Leader foresaw. The Fourth Thousand-person Team swiftly countered, rallying troops into a direct standoff formation.

The two forces rushed headlong at one another. Yet midway, Jie Kui's group peeled off rear fighters nonstop. The light screen displayed his squad curving toward the enemy like a crescent, slowly tightening into a surround.

As in prior clashes, equal forces using encirclement spelled folly—the foe could shatter it with a unified thrust. Different story here, though. The terrain enabled this ploy. Jie Kui's men exploited the rivals' desperation to rebound from early setbacks, hemming them in while pressing relentlessly from outside. Foes faced assaults everywhere; break free? Jie Kui's crew allowed escape, then chased...

Armies traded pulls in grueling melees across the terrain, a spectacle both thrilling and bewildering. Ultimately, formations crumbled entirely, devolving to every-man-for-himself frenzy.

The fight dragged on endlessly. Its conclusion drew collective sighs.

Results revealed? Pandemonium erupted. Silver and Gold Mask spectators turned eyes to the platform.

One notion gripped them all right then.

Cheating!