Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 5: First spin

The abrupt onset of the apocalypse transformed the serene Dingsheng Apartments into a chaotic uproar. Yet Ye Zhongming was well aware that the clamor's toll was paid in fresh blood and human lives.

“Ah!”

A piercing scream erupted from the adjacent villa. Ye Zhongming didn't glance over immediately, diving straight into the bushes instead. With a quick sweep, he spotted a blood-drenched naked woman fleeing out. Terror distorted her somewhat aged face as she babbled incoherently. Crimson stains marred her pale snowy skin, forging a vivid, jarring contrast.

Yet her endurance lagged far behind her pampered skin and figure. Panic-stricken, she tumbled to the ground, struggling to rise only to get pinned by two zombies. Her cries echoed as they shredded her flesh, dragging out her intestines to feast.

This brutal spectacle failed to faze Ye Zhongming. He coolly assessed the area before surging forward. In a single breath, his blade hacked at the feeding zombies, severing one's head clean off. Black blood jetted from its neck stump.

The second zombie detected danger and lurched upright, intestine clamped in its jaws. Its razor nails lunged toward Ye Zhongming.

Ye Zhongming withdrew his blade, sidestepping the claws before driving it into the zombie's temple. With a wet “Puchi,” the edge bit deep into its skull.

The whole assault spanned just seconds, but it left Ye Zhongming weary. From trailing the zombie to the precise slash and dodge, mere moments passed. His motions were impeccably accurate—anyone else might miss the slim gap between neck bones, wedging their weapon fast.

This prowess had granted Ye Zhongming fortune and survival across a decade of apocalyptic nightmare.

After extracting the crystals, the woman—still clinging to life—gazed at Ye Zhongming with a thankful smile. Nearing death, she preferred facing a human over the zombies' reeking drool.

Ye Zhongming murmured a prayer for her, then slipped into a shadowed villa corner to await her mutation.

Any human whose brain remained uneaten would mutate, even if reduced to a head alone. This defined the zombies' dreadfulness—a severed head could sprout a new body rapidly given enough fresh blood!

Prior to his rebirth, this confirmed truth had stunned countless onlookers.

With death already claiming her, the woman's change came swiftly, in under a minute. Her eyes flew open, limbs jerking spasmodically. A demon crystal bulged from her forehead; seconds later, she rose as a fresh zombie, mirroring the vile creatures she despised.

Ye Zhongming denied her that fate. He swiftly ended her and claimed the gray crystal.

In a single hour, he accomplished what once demanded hundreds of days: securing six level-1 crystals.

Fueled by these spoils, adrenaline coursed through Ye Zhongming. He kept darting in and out, gathering 21 level-1 demon crystals within two hours.

His haul was massive, yet perils lurked everywhere. An ordinary body mismatched his decade of expertise, causing slips that nearly fed him to zombie maws. Not yet one-star and lacking immunity potion, a mere scratch spelled doom—ramping up his tension and sapping stamina.

Back at the villa, utter exhaustion gripped him.

Stepping inside, he saw Mu Xinfei seated there, fruit knife still in hand.

Ye Zhongming's arrival startled her; she snapped her head up. Seconds later, composure returned, and she bounded before him.

Her haste left her disheveled pajamas barely covering, flashing white skin that left Ye Zhongming briefly dazed.

“You definitely know something—tell me? I won’t be afraid and can help you. Just teach me that… kung fu, right?”

Mu Xinfei gestured at the three corpses, convinced Ye Zhongming's flawless kills stemmed from kung fu prowess.

Ye Zhongming faltered. “I can share some knowledge and even make you stronger than men. But I need you to do certain things for me.”

She asked warily, “What things?”

Ye Zhongming paused, catching her drift. She imagined his stare at her alluring body branded him a lecher. Spotting her fearful retreat, he chuckled. “Don’t worry, it’s not what you think.”

He headed straight into the kitchen.

Relief washed over Mu Xinfei at his words, soon replaced by a frown. She glanced down at her own captivating figure—even she found it alluring—and pouted at Ye Zhongming’s back, muttering under her breath.

Ignorant!

Ye Zhongming inserted seven crystals into the hole, causing the water droplet crystal to glow brightly. Energy surged through the wheel as the seven level 1 demon crystals shimmered and then vanished. The red pointer began to whirl, passing over the various reward zones.

In tense anticipation, Ye Zhongming yearned for the level 1 strengthening potion that would boost his power right away. That would greatly enhance his effectiveness, crucial for his path to greater strength.

Yet dreams rarely match reality. The needle halted at the crossbow.

A reward slot beneath the wheel illuminated, revealing a sleek black crossbow.

“Successive fire crossbow.”

This exquisite weapon bore that name, complete with ten 15-centimeter metal bolts. Pulling the trigger allowed firing one bolt instantly, with the capability to unleash multiple in quick succession.

He missed out on the one star potion, but this weapon was solid nonetheless. Disappointment lingered, yet he shrugged it off.

“So that's how you activate it!”

Mu Xinfei's eyes sparkled with shock and thrill. She gazed at the crossbow gripped by Ye Zhongming and the icons on the wheel. “The thing you mentioned that can make me stronger than men is that green potion?”

“You are smart.”

Ye Zhongming toyed with the crossbow, getting accustomed to its draw weight and balance.

“This is the Apocalypse Gachapon. Demon crystals from zombie heads power the spins. In this apocalypse, these prizes are our lifeline for survival. Simple as that.”

“Then how did you know that?”

“Secret.”

“You!”

Ye Zhongming had no clue what traits propelled Mu Xinfei to nine star status in his past life, but currently, she came across as an ordinary woman.

Direct, clever, slightly sly, yet also somewhat naive.

He banished thoughts of her from his head and fed seven additional level 1 demon crystals into the machine.