Chapter 289: Uproar! A Challenge Beyond Death!

The pant legs are hiked up, revealing a sleek black carbon-fiber prosthetic edged with a cool gold trim.
Casco Luna’s bright sunshine pours down, glinting off the engraved “Gus Sam” on the limb.
The helmet slides off.
A young face beams with a sunshine-bright grin.
Standing tall, the kid throws a thumbs-up toward the viewing deck.
Next instant!
On the split-screen, Gus Harper leaps up from the deck, eyes misty, mirroring the thumbs-up back at the youth.
Like old times, they connect across the live feed, Baltic coast sun framing their smiles. In that quiet bond, a spark gleams in their eyes.
The live chat erupts!!!
Hell yeah!
This wild young gun, the mystery Iron Pilot, is none other than him.
Octane! The Golden Wind legend who smashed a Titanfall world record with two grenades, earned hero status in the APEX saga, and claimed the Apex Realm crown as the first to conquer all eight peak challenges!
Boom—!!!
The crowd’s packed with players, especially lately, hyped by the Peak Nation’s eight epic trials.
Octane and Catman’s tale’s got folks hooked.
Now, one of those icons rolls up live, dropping in like this?
Thunderous cheers and claps shake the sky!
Every player, home or abroad, loses it—
‘OHHHHHHHHH——!!!’
“Octane! Octane! Oh man, it’s Octane!”
“Speed Freak’s here! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”
“Whoa—the meet of the century! Did Gus and Speed Freak ever cross paths before?”
‘Gus looks teary-eyed’
“Wow—I can’t handle this—”
‘The kid who rocked a wheelchair’s back, rocking the prosthetics Gus hooked him up with!’
“Ouch… too much… my eyes are leaking…”
‘Goosebumps everywhere.’
“It’s all in the gesture…”
‘【Believe me】’
“Oh man—what’s this—I just forgot, and now you’re stabbing me again—”
“Epic! Gus is epic! Speed Freak’s epic!”
…
Cheers go wild!
Then host Joe hypes:
“Now, big applause for WindyPeak VP Gus Harper and Tensil Bulls CEO Matt Harper as they join legendary player Octane at the finish to crown today’s winners!”
Yup.
As the event’s mastermind, Joe knew Octane’s deal.
Way before kickoff, WindyPeak prez Zoey Parker clued him in, slipping this twist into the script, swearing him to secrecy—no heads-up for Gus.
“So you’re just gonna blindside me, huh?”
Catching his breath, Gus’s thrill lingers. He blinks hard, grinning at Zoey’s cheeky, toothy smirk.
“Hey, surprise!”
Zoey winks, smacking his arm:
“Let’s hand out those awards!”
Under the warm winter sun, Zoey’s smile blooms like a flower patch.
She’s always got his back, plotting the perfect moment to drop a sneaky, heartfelt shock.
“Then let’s roll.”
Gus extends a hand in invite.
“Huh?”
Zoey’s thrown—she wasn’t slated for this crew.
But quick, she grins, takes his hand, and loops her arm with his.
Cheering and whoops trail them.
Amid tidal waves of applause, Gus and Zoey pivot from the deck.
Gus nods to Matt Harper, joining him on the prepped open-top tour car, rolling out under everyone’s gaze!
“Whoa—what kinda magic event is this!”
‘It’s hilarious, touching, and sweet!’
‘Laba garlic! Laba garlic!’
‘Time for my fave sugar hit again!’
“What about Matt from Tensil’s feelings?”
“Matt: I belong under the car, not here…”
“Hahahahahaha, this song’s never fit better.”
‘The wild netizen brain always blindsides me’
“This epic scene—can you quit it? Hahahahahahaha…”
“Guess players who vibe with WindyPeak are all a bit unhinged.”
‘Dum-dum-dum, waiting for the glow, waiting for the glow, dum-dum-dum-dum—’
“Rolling in—WindyPeak’s Laba Garlic duo and Tensil’s under-car champ Matt!”
‘This freaking connects?’
‘Who says words can’t sing?’
“Enough, barrage clowns, hahahahahaha…”
…
Amid feels and laughs!
The convertible hits the finish.
Zoey, like a dog owner, subtly drops Gus’s hand.
Gus doesn’t disappoint—no wild dog unleashed, but he bounds forward, hugging Octane tight!
Octane’s even more pumped:
“Saaaaaaaaam——! Hahahahaha!”
He claims Zoey’s spot, glued to his Sam, grin stretching ear to ear.
Well…
Zoey’s speechless.
Chatting friendly with Matt, she’s secretly griping:
Why’d he drag me here? To schmooze partners while he chills with his global pals! Lao Gu, you sly dog!!!
So lively!
The New Year’s vibe’s cranked up by this quirky challenge.
In the upbeat buzz, post-interviews with Gus and Octane wrap. Joe hands the winner list to the four guests.
Soapbox prizes? Meh.
Everyone’s here for the fun.
So, wacky awards pop up, and everyone scores.
“…Alright, folks, live and streaming! This epic challenge wraps for now!”
Joe’s voice cuts through the joy.
“Unforgettable Tonight” comments flood the feeds.
The ceremony ends, and this unforgettable bash seems to fade.
Though bittersweet, all good things end.
Big brands had a blast, fans ate it up, and all chatter excitedly, eyeing the next event.
Perfect already.
But!
Next beat, Joe drops:
“Then next! A peak challenge like never before!”
“7,620 meters up! Extreme skydiver Ike Garcia from Florida, USA, is prepped to deliver an unmatched—”
“A challenge beyond death!!!”
Huh—???
Whoa!!!
Boom!
From the crowd to the stream—even Zoey in the award crew—shock hits!
What? More action?!
Surprise and “no way” vibes!
Joe gestures toward Seventh Avenue’s end, where the Baltic Sea kisses the sky!
The big screen shows a sea-level temp setup!
Four high-density alloy poles, drilled deep, evenly spaced, hold a massive net.
Black with a fluorescent glow, orange-white patterns tease—side angle blurs the design.
“This net’s 50x50m—2,500 square feet,”
Joe teases the curious silence:
“Bet you’re dying to know what it’s for—”
All eyes lock on him.
He points skyward:
“To catch someone—our ultimate warrior today, Ike Garcia!”
“Right!”
“Next, watch live an unprecedented 7,620-meter drop—”
“No parachute.”
With Joe’s call!
A 3D graphic pops on screen.
“Our plane’s airborne,”
“After mad calculations and wind checks,”
“Ike Garcia jumps at the spot, flanked by two pro skydivers and a photog.”
“He’ll free-fall at 180 km/h,”
“Plummeting 7,600 meters to nail that pre-set net,”
“This is an extreme first, a death-defying stunt,”
“Everyone!”
“Plane hits the mark in five minutes, twenty seconds.”
“Ike Garcia will make history with—”
“A jaw-dropping leap!!!”
Quiet.
Dead silence!
Post-Joe’s spill, the crowd trades stunned looks!
In those questioning gazes, they hunt for a “did I hear that right” out.
But—
Mirroring eyes reflect the same shock!
It’s real.
Next second—
Boom—!!!
The place explodes!
“Oh my God! Oh my God!”
“Parachute-less drop?! Isn’t that just free-fall?”
“Oh man, this is insane…”
“So this is the ‘extreme’ in extreme challenge?”
“But… but this… too extreme!”
“This is suicide!”
“7,600 meters… one tiny slip…”
“Game over…”
“The Baltic can’t save that.”
“This is nuts, freaking nuts…”
…
When the Golden Bull-logoed plane hits the screen!
With challengers gearing up, coaches and photogs set—
Mouse Channel and Shark Channel blow up!
“What the hell!!!”
“No chute! Holy crap! For real?!”
“No… soapbox wasn’t that wild, don’t jump to this!”
“Damn! These old thieves got guts sponsoring this! Like diving Swallow Cave!”
“Someone’s recreating Peak Nation’s eight trials for real?!”
“I—Minato—”
“True invincibility below the gods!!!”
‘It’s wild’
‘The big one’s here’
…
Fans lose it! Streams go nuts!
Skydiving above 3,000 meters is extreme high-altitude stuff.
That long drop fights bone-chilling cold and demands perfect form for chute deployment.
And!
Turbulence hits without warning.
A “death roll” screws the chute—even if it pops, wild spins tangle you like a leaf in a storm.
Now?
This bold Ike Garcia ditches the chute, free-falling 7,600 meters!
Trusting a 50x50 high-strength net with his life!
Air turbulence, flight drift, or exhaustion tumbles?
One slip—
Forget the Baltic.
Even the sea king can’t save him!
This no-chute 7,600-meter plunge?
Every heart tightens with the plane on screen!
Next beat!
Ike Garcia’s voice booms from the speakers:
“Ground, ground, I’m set and feeling good.”
Seventh Avenue’s packed, yet you could hear a pin drop!
“Copy that, copy that, ten seconds to spot.”
“Ten… Nine… Eight…”
Sweat beads on palms, all glued to the screen.
Hiss—
The plane door slides open, team prepped!
“…Three… Two… One!”
Whoosh—!!!
Ike, flanked by three skydivers, rocks a gold-red suit with WindyPeak and Tensil Bulls logos, leaps from the hatch!
In just twenty-eight seconds!
A scream cuts the tense hush!
“Quick! Look! Skyward!!!”
Heads snap up!
Far above, three crimson smoke trails frame a golden one!
Colorful smoke bursts like a courage bloom…