Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies Chapter 1366: Capturing Batu

Gathering the Shadow Figures proved remarkably simple, as their presence alone drew the figures towards them willingly.

Before long, the area surrounding Zhang Yi and his companions was completely cleared of any Shadow Figures.

Yang Xinxin promptly established contact with Lancelot and his squad, pinpointed their location, and they made haste to rendezvous.

Lancelot and his team found themselves in a rather dire predicament, having sought refuge within a confined chamber.

While they lacked a strategist like Yang Xinxin, capable of rapidly devising escape strategies, they still understood the principles of avoiding further assimilation.

Their tactic involved seeking out constricted spaces, pressing their backs against the walls.

This defensive posture ensured that any appearing Shadow Figures could only manifest directly in front of them.

This method provided the most effective means of preventing assimilation.

Upon Yang Xinxin's arrival, Lancelot was observed deep in thought, still grappling with the problem.

Once the two groups convened, Zhang Yi stated plainly, ‘Leave this place to us. All of you should evacuate first.’

His intention was to prevent Yang Xinxin's unique abilities from being revealed.

Rule-based abilities, though potent, were also exceedingly delicate.

The moment an opposing force discerned the underlying rules, the entire ability could be rendered completely ineffective.

Lancelot expressed a degree of curiosity. ‘Have you already devised a method to handle these monstrosities?’

A sense of unease settled within him.

They had been the first to enter this area, and now, not only had they failed to overcome the challenge, but they had also been compelled to sacrifice their own personnel to buy time.

Ultimately, half of their soldiers were lost, and they themselves were rendered incapable of resistance, reduced to hiding in their current location.

Yet, the opposing group had managed to find a solution to the impasse in such a short span.

Less than thirty minutes had elapsed from their entry into the Asylum until this moment.

Zhang Yi, hands thrust into his pockets, let out a cold sneer. ‘Naturally. It's merely rudimentary tactics. Did you honestly believe they could perplex an Epsilon like me?’

Lancelot's expression immediately soured.

He felt the urge to retort, ‘What relevance does being an Epsilon have to one's intellect?’

However, he wisely restrained himself, realizing that any such retort would tantamount to admitting his own limited cognitive abilities.

Fatty Xu and the others cast sidelong glances at Zhang Yi, thinking internally, *Boss, figuring this out barely involved you, did it? You're certainly hogging all the credit.*

Despite their feelings of humiliation, Lancelot and his contingent recognized that their immediate priority was to extricate themselves from the situation.

They promptly vacated the room, ceding the space to Zhang Yi's team.

Shortly after, Yang Xinxin deployed her Desire Arrow and followed the established protocol. After some diligent effort, she successfully lured all the Shadow Figures into Mu Yan's Shadow Space.

Subsequently, Mu Yan entered Zhang Yi's Dimensional Space.

Upon her entry, Zhang Yi promptly sealed the Dimensional Gate.

In the ensuing moment, the surrounding reality warped as if it were a crumpled piece of parchment.

When their vision cleared, the environment had undergone a complete transformation.

The heavens and earth presented a grim, gray hue, tinged with a subtle violet. They stood upon a desolate plain where the wild grass reached a person's height. It appeared as though the season had transitioned, leaving the grass withered and yellow, with the air carrying the scent of dried hay.

Only the ground beneath their feet was comprised of large, flat stone slabs.

The stone surfaces were even, yet numerous sections were fractured and damaged, suggesting years of neglect.

Every individual was present in this new location, including those soldiers who had succumbed to assimilation by the Shadow Figures.

They lay unconscious on the ground, yet still exhibited signs of life.

Batu's Asylum had, in truth, been breached.

Instantly, Zhang Yi's gaze fixed upon a man standing not far away, who observed them with evident astonishment.

Batu was positioned in an open expanse, regarding them with a dumbfounded expression. He then shook his head, a wry smile gracing his lips.

‘You only managed to hold me for half an hour. I had anticipated at least delaying you for half a day!’

Without a moment's hesitation, Zhang Yi materialized before Batu. His right arm lashed out with the ferocity of a lion ambushing its prey.

The limb, encased in the Hidden Dragon Armor, possessed the strength to shatter steel. In a mere instant, it constricted firmly around Batu's neck.

‘Cough, cough—’

Blood immediately erupted from his throat.

Zhang Yi hoisted him into the air, a surge of lethal intent radiating from his eyes.

‘Where is Gao Changkong?’

‘Don't… don't kill me!’

Batu pleaded for his life.

‘The Captain and the others have already departed to scout the Demon Abyss. It's just me here. He instructed me to detain you, but I never foresaw your swift escape.’

Upon witnessing Batu, hostility flared in the eyes of the others, and they collectively encircled him.

The members of the Knights of the Round Table, in particular, glared at him with murderous intent, seemingly poised to tear him apart.

Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on Batu. “It appears you’re merely a pawn meant for sacrifice. Gao Changkong left you behind, knowing full well you’d meet your end at our hands once the confrontation concluded.”

Batu’s face flushed crimson. “Brother Chaos, could you perhaps release me first? You’re quite literally squeezing the life out of me.”

Surprisingly, even in this dire predicament, Batu exhibited no trace of panic.

He understood, deep down, that his demise at this moment would serve no significant purpose.

“Keep me alive. I hold immense importance to my captain. He will undoubtedly pay a ransom for my release!”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yi found the logic sound.

Indeed, there was little value in simply killing Batu. Retaining him as a captive offered the potential for maximizing his worth.

Lancelot stepped forward, his voice sharp as he demanded, “Where is your captain? Speak quickly, or even if I refrain from killing you, I possess ten thousand methods to make you profoundly regret being alive!”

Genuine fury coursed through them.

To be manipulated in such a manner by the Royal Knights of Britannia was an unbearable humiliation!

Zhang Yi, also concerned about accidentally crushing Batu, adjusted his grip on the man's neck and gently placed him back on the ground.

“Cough, cough. As I’ve told you, they ventured into the Demon Abyss to explore. This is our initial foray into this area as well. How could I possibly ascertain their current whereabouts?”

Zhang Yi commanded, “Contact Gao Changkong. Inform him to return here immediately!”

Batu offered a wry smile. “Esteemed Mr. Chaos, do you truly believe that is feasible? Compared to my insignificant self, the treasures lying beneath the Demon Abyss hold far greater significance. As an old acquaintance of our captain, you should surely comprehend that he would not abandon such a prize for my sake.”

Zhang Yi's brow furrowed. Gao Changkong was a notoriously ruthless individual, possessing a mind that was both profoundly deep and cunningly strategic.

He was certainly not the sort of person to yield under duress.

Lancelot’s expression turned terrifyingly grim; he was on the verge of drawing his sword and ending Batu’s life right then and there.

At that precise moment, Zhang Yi addressed him. “Sir Lancelot, perhaps you would entrust this individual’s handling to me?”

Lancelot cast a significant glance at Zhang Yi.

It was entirely due to Zhang Yi and his contingent that they had managed to extricate themselves from the perilous trap.

Now that Zhang Yi was presenting this request, Lancelot found himself unable to refuse.

He also grasped the understanding, as Batu had articulated, that Gao Changkong and his men had secured merely a thirty-minute window to prioritize the exploration of the Demon Abyss. However, their knowledge of this immediate vicinity was utterly nonexistent, and prying any useful intelligence from Batu proved an exercise in futility.

Rather than prolonging this unproductive encounter, it was far more prudent to expedite their exploration of the surrounding environs.

“Very well. Consider that debt of gratitude settled.”

Lancelot ordered his men to rouse the assimilated soldiers, bestowed a meaningful look upon Zhang Yi, and then departed. The next encounter between them might very well find them on opposing sides as adversaries.