Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 2359: Level? That is unclear (2)

Too sudden—so sudden that no one expected this man, who had been several meters away, to instantly leave his spot, close the distance, and enter his own attack skill to strike.

The spear's length made Baliluwa's movement distance just right.

Many couldn't help but cry out.

Others might not recognize the masked Ye Zhongming, but they knew his voice. Besides, those female guards were one of Dark Strip City's hottest topics.

Though rumors of discord between the Star-Eye Clan and Ye Zhongming were everywhere, he was still one of Dark Strip City's own. They didn't understand why he'd come to challenge this great expert, but when it mattered, their hearts were with their own.

Many shouted warnings, even though it was already too late.

A faint smile appeared under Ye Zhongming's mask.

The mask, previously expressionless, suddenly broke into a wide grin, emitting a sound like "haha."

Powerful mental energy instantly flooded the small area.

If there was one thing that let Ye Zhongming contend with great experts—no, peak experts—it was undoubtedly his mental energy. Even peak experts might not have mental energy as vast and solid as his starry sky.

Today he wore a mask he'd newly made—yes, also Raini-grade.

Ye Zhongming rarely made accessories, as they were harder to craft with lower success rates.

When supplying the entire myriad races, accessories were few.

Masks were also accessories, and the hardest to make. Not because of the mask itself, but because of Ye Zhongming's techniques.

His own skills, the legacy techniques behind the bronze mask, and the inspiration from Dark Direction's masks gave him a whole new understanding of mask-making.

For someone at Ye Zhongming's level, once he had new ideas and techniques, it was hard not to practice them.

Thus the masks he and the entire Red Female Guard now wore.

His was naturally better—Raini-grade; the others' were Red Condensation-grade.

Raini-grade equipment's advantage wasn't just its grade, but the abilities it could carry as a vessel.

Like this mask Ye Zhongming called "Expression Face," its abilities almost all revolved around expression changes.

The laugh unleashed a direct mental shock.

Baliluwa, midair, paused, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

Many sighed in relief, thinking Ye Zhongming could dodge.

But Ye Zhongming didn't dodge. Instead, he shook his spear again.

The spear shadows, already shattered by the energy storm and red ribbons, suddenly exploded into scattered energy, engulfing Baliluwa with a boom.

Ye Zhongming's mask changed expression again—a face of raging fury.

Behind the Cloud Peak King, four pairs of energy arms materialized, each holding an identical energy spear.

Then Ye Zhongming leaped into the energy storm.

Baliluwa was dazed from the blast but otherwise fine—yet he felt utterly frustrated.

He was certain his opponent hadn't reached great expert level, yet he'd lost the upper hand in their first exchange. His pride was stung.

He roared, ignoring his slight discomfort, and charged spear-first at Ye Zhongming, who had foolishly entered the storm.

So what if he had five pairs of arms!

Baliluwa decided to go all out. His body began glowing red, matching his spear.

Around him, jagged, razor-edged strips filled the air. Below him, a beast head appeared, opening wide to enclose his body, instantly forming a protective layer.

With a boom, they clashed. Two of Ye Zhongming's energy arms and their spears shattered; he staggered back. Baliluwa seemed unharmed—only the beast head dimmed and some red ribbons vanished.

"Foolish!" Baliluwa said two words, raising his weapon again. The red glow surged, and a thick energy beam shot out, instantly hitting Ye Zhongming.

The Cloud Peak King was blasted out of the energy storm.

But Baliluwa didn't pursue. He stood still as the storm dissipated.

He looked down at the beast head around him. Two light spots had appeared—left by his attack on Ye Zhongming, when the man had traded four arms' destruction.

Two arms would have sufficed. Why do that?

Alarm bells rang in Baliluwa's mind. He reached a hand toward the marks, hoping to remove them.

But Ye Zhongming, who had been blasted away, returned. With his remaining pair of energy arms plus his original arms, three spears launched a fierce assault on Baliluwa. Each strike carried violent energy impact, as if each thrust produced an invisible hammer—unavoidable, only bearable.

Baliluwa had to withdraw his hand to deal with the attack.

"Wu wu~"

Mid-assault, Ye Zhongming's mask began to weep. Baliluwa immediately felt his body grow heavy, as if underwater—and the feeling intensified, the surrounding "water" turning to glue.

He stepped forward. Though not quite struggling, it was extremely laborious.

"Xi xi~" Light laughter came eerily. The "glue" evaporated into intense white flames, surrounding Baliluwa in a sea of fire.

Ye Zhongming's mask showed its fifth expression today: brows raised, eyes wide, mouth silently opening and closing—as if cursing.

Baliluwa, just emerging from the flames, was blasted into the air by an explosion.

The explosion came from the energy marks on his body. Now he had no beast head for protection.

Three spears—one real, two energy—were hurled by Ye Zhongming. The real spear stopped midair; the two energy spears flew at Baliluwa.

When the real spear stopped, the four small beast heads between its tip and shaft changed. Each spat a black rope, swiftly striking Baliluwa in midair, freezing the great expert in place. Then the two energy spears slammed into him.