Apocalypse Gachapon

When it was Cloud Peak’s turn, unease filled everyone’s hearts.

Including Ye Zhongming.

If it were just the Annihilation Thunderstrike alone, he wouldn’t be overly worried. Based on the wheel’s tendencies, this thing definitely couldn’t instantly wipe out multiple teams—it should be resistible, though undoubtedly powerful and difficult to withstand.

Ye Zhongming wasn’t afraid of difficulties. Neither was Cloud Peak.

But this trial wasn’t just about overcoming obstacles—it also included something akin to a “luck test,” an unpredictable element no one could account for.

Yes, what worried Ye Zhongming most wasn’t the Annihilation Thunderstrike, but that Misfortune Card.

Who knew what tricks the wheel would pull, what kind of bad luck would befall Cloud Peak?

Now, with Gyanendra in his frenzied state having just taken his turn, Cloud Peak’s move carried far too many unknowns.

Every person, every faction, was watching Cloud Peak. Even as enemies, they couldn’t help but feel that the final stretch of the Mountain King Plate struggle had turned into Cloud Peak standing alone against everyone.

Look at what they were enduring—Difficulty Surge, Commission, Nebula, Misfortune, Replacement, Annihilation…

Who could remain composed under the effects of so many cards? It seemed only this Eastern faction could.

Now, they were about to move again. Would the Annihilation Thunderstrike strike them?

Ye Zhongming lightly struck the Soaring Crystal, advancing just one step to Bright Star No. 16—Mechanical Genius’s territory.

The thunder everyone feared and yet anticipated didn’t fall, but the wheel’s voice still rang out.

“Misfortune Card target Cloud Peak is affected by misfortune. This round, they cannot choose to challenge and must pay the toll fee, which is doubled from the original amount.”

Originally, the toll on this stretch was already doubled, plus Gyanendra’s 20% commission. Now, doubled again—even if the Mechanical Genius’s Guardian Beast weren’t strong or high-level, the fee would still be astronomical.

After Cloud Peak’s earlier “harm-others-without-benefiting-themselves” Shared Fate move, did they even have money left?

No money would mean paying with their members’ lives.

Amid the wheel’s announcement and the Mechanical Genius’s raucous laughter, Cloud Peak… paid up.

No penalties followed—proof they’d coughed up the full amount.

Many were disappointed.

They’d truly hoped Cloud Peak would suffer.

Ella gave a bitter smile and resignedly struck the crystal. The stretch from Bright Star No. 12 to No. 20 was treacherous for Cloud Peak, but for the Women Guard? It was a descent into hell.

Broke, they’d have to challenge any star they landed on—and this stretch’s difficulty was doubled.

No. 12… belonged to Cloud Peak.

The battle was grueling.

The Women Guard were competitors to all factions here. Their destruction should, in theory, be something everyone wanted.

But now, with their competitive chances all but gone, attitudes toward them had shifted.

After all, the Women Guard’s reputation in the Americas—aside from that aspect—was fairly decent.

Some might look down on them for it, but they didn’t shun interaction or trade.

If they bowed out now, it wouldn’t be a bad outcome.

With even potential threats to their interests gone, people naturally grew more tolerant. Such was human nature.

So when they saw the Women Guard fighting desperately, many—especially the Americans—felt a pang of pity.

In the end, the Women Guard won, but at great cost. Their numbers had sharply dwindled.

It was clear to all: one or two more battles of this intensity, and they’d be wiped out.

“Cloud Peak… what level are your Guardian Beasts?”

Ella clutched her ribs, where a bone-deep gash bled. With all their potions traded as toll fees, the Women Guard had nothing left for quick healing.

“…All level five.”

Ye Zhongming hesitated before answering.

“Impossible!”

“Filthy liar!”

“That would cost a fortune!”

“But… is it possible? Their earlier stars really were all maxed out…”

Debate erupted across the stars.

The top players, however, already believed it was true.

They just didn’t understand—how was Cloud Peak so rich?!

The suspicion was reasonable. Everyone was in the same wheel space. Guardian Beast costs, toll fees, and card prices—they all had estimates. Cloud Peak’s forty-plus stars, each with a Guardian Beast, were already a massive expense. Upgrading all to level five? An astronomical sum. Even with earnings from star adventures, it couldn’t possibly cover it.

Savings? The only explanation, but that puzzled them too. Everyone’s wealth was limited, constantly spent on power growth. Even if they’d saved, it couldn’t be much.

And don’t forget—Ye Zhongming had just paid a steep price to drag three factions down.

So… theories emerged. Spade and Gyanendra even rummaged through the toll chests, soon finding something peculiar.

“What is this?”

They scrutinized it but couldn’t identify it. Yet its abundance suggested it was Cloud Peak’s form of payment.

Ye Zhongming chuckled, offering no explanation, and instead said to the Mechanical Genius: “Your turn. Everyone, watch for the thunder.”

Yes, after the Women Guard, the Annihilation Thunderstrike still hadn’t appeared. Now, with the Mechanical Genius’s move, it was inevitable.

As Ye Zhongming watched the Mechanical Genius’s war puppet strike the Soaring Crystal on the light screen, he felt a twinge of emotion.

Those items from the destroyed Blue Realm—remnants of a fallen dimension—could be used as currency here, and they weren’t cheap.

That was why Cloud Peak seemed to have endless funds.

Otherwise, even Ye Zhongming couldn’t have afforded max-level Guardian Beasts on every star!

Speaking of luck, Cloud Peak’s was holding strong this time.

The Soaring Crystal flew, landing on a star as the space announced:

“Misfortune Card target Mechanical Genius is affected by misfortune, bearing all negative status effects for this round.”

Meaning? Every active debuff—Difficulty Surge, Nebula, etc.—would now target the Mechanical Genius alone this round!

And don’t forget—the Mechanical Genius was the last to move this round. Since the Annihilation Thunderstrike hadn’t struck yet…

When the Mechanical Genius reached his new star, thick, twisting bolts of lightning came crashing down from above!