Apocalypse Gachapon

Chapter 1690: Crazy

”Cloud Peak uses the Summon Card, target... Great America.”

”Cloud Peak uses the Demon Card, target... Great America.”

Two consecutive announcements made some factions breathe easier while others seethed with frustration.

The frustrated ones were naturally Great America and Spade.

”Leader Ye, your choice isnʼt very wise.”

During the lull between the spaceʼs prompts, Governor Spade venomously addressed Ye Zhongming.

”You repurchased a guardian beast, didnʼt you? And it must be a powerful one—luring us over to inflict heavy losses, even using a Demon Card!”

The constant prompts to choose between challenge or payment grated on Spadeʼs nerves.

”Targeting the Women Guard or even Gyanendra wouldʼve been better options. Yet you chose Great America. Your arrogance will backfire. Sometimes, a single nail loses a war.”

Spade selected ”Challenge,” but not before adding: ”Youʼre wasting your trump cards on me when Iʼm not even your strongest competitor. Doesnʼt that strike you as ridiculous?”
Ye Zhongming ignored him entirely, instead producing another card.

”Ye Zhongming, have you lost your mind?!”

Wu Xiu watched anxiously.

The wheel spaceʼs cards had limited quantities, like the Demon Card, of which only two existed (one now used by Ye Zhongming).

Other cards had higher stocks, but divided among factions, none could afford profligacy.

These cards were meant for critical moments—precise strikes at pivotal junctures.

But what was Ye Zhongming doing? Only two rounds in, and heʼd already burned through how many?!

Cards werenʼt cheap—some cost astronomical sums!

The Cannibal Chainʼs fate was tied to Cloud Peakʼs. If Cloud Peak won, they benefited; if Cloud Peak fell, theyʼd fight desperately. Wu Xiu couldnʼt stay silent while Ye Zhongming ”rampaged” like this.

”Itʼs fine.” Ye Zhongming remained courteous to his ally, offering reassurance without elaboration.

His activated card triggered a system-wide alert:

”Cloud Peak uses the Nebula Card, designating coverage from Bright Star No. 2 to No. 11.”

Madness. Sheer madness!

Yet... there was method to it.

Currently, aside from Gyanendra, only Cloud Peak and Great America (summoned via Summon Card) were outside Stars 2-11. The Mechanical Genius at Star No. 1 would soon enter this zone.

With the Nebula Cardʼs effect, traversing these ten stars would become arduous, likely permitting only minimal advancement.

Cloud Peak owned several stars within this range. Any faction struggling through would face relentless battles, inevitably depleting their strength.

While this seemingly disadvantaged the Cannibal Chain too, the impact matched their existing two-star limitation—a trade-off Wu Xiuʼs team accepted.

Still, Ye Zhongmingʼs card expenditure after just two rounds unsettled her.

”Ye Zhongming, whatʼs your game?”

Spade finally snapped, his voice dripping with malice.

”Expediting your exit.”

The casual reply landed like a sledgehammer.

Such offhand confidence about eliminating Great America—what audacity!

Spade trembled with rage, his bulk quivering. Never in the Americas had he suffered such an insult.

”Weʼll see!”

With his turn actions spent, he couldnʼt play more cards—only confront the guardian beast Ye Zhongming had purchased.

He couldʼve paid the toll, but Great Americaʼs pride wouldnʼt allow it.

Then Spade saw the guardian beast, and instantly regretted everything.

Ye Zhongming had installed another of the triangular zoneʼs six elite guardians as this starʼs defender.

Were battle not imminent, Spade wouldʼve cursed for two hours straight to vent his fury.

Oh, and there was also that formidable-looking demon.

Angel vs. demon. Great America vs. Guardian Beast. The battle unfolded on-screen.

A hushed silence fell.

Not from fascination, but horror at the brutality.

Great America boasted the largest numbers among factions, granting inherent advantages against solitary guardians.

Yet this beastʼs combat prowess defied all expectations.

”Leader Ye... how many upgrades?”

Wu Xiu finally blurted out, unable to contain her curiosity.

Ye Zhongming paused. ”Five.”

Expletives erupted universally.

Everyone knew these guardiansʼ exorbitant costs—each upgrade a fortune.

Yet Cloud Peak had maxed it out.

Just how deep were their pockets?!

”And... the previous star?”

Ella of the Women Guard asked hoarsely.

As enemies, she shouldnʼt expect answers. Yet Ye Zhongming replied matter-of-factly: ”Five.”

No one even cursed anymore—the air itself felt frozen.

Two of the six elite guardians, both max-upgraded by Cloud Peak—what unimaginable wealth!

The battle raged on. So did the deaths.

Perhaps due to the Demon Cardʼs rarity, this obsidian twin of the angel matched its leveled-up counterpart, even occasionally diving to assist the guardian beast.

”Nine-star strength. Possibly higher.”

The faction leaders—all having slain a nine-star before—recognized the beastʼs caliber.

It made sense. Even mid-to-low-tier guardians had eight-star peak strength—let alone a five-upgraded elite!

Fighting nine-stars required extensive preparation, numbers, and ideal conditions.

But facing one head-on—a powerhouse among nine-stars—everyone empathized with Great Americaʼs despair.

Great America fought desperately, unleashing every trump card.

Yet the casualty rate still horrified onlookers.

By battleʼs end, Great Americaʼs forces had dwindled by one-third. Without their elitesʼ sacrifices, losses mightʼve doubled.

The demon perished, but it took the angel down with it in a final exchange.

Surveying the carnage, Spade howled at the sky.

These were elites—mostly six-stars, with significant five-star and seven-star contingents!

Theyʼd even lost a captain—one of their few eight-star evolved.

Even if Great America withdrew now, theyʼd plummet from super-faction status to merely first-rate.

Cloud Peakʼs round ended with Great Americaʼs pyrrhic victory. Now, it was the Women Guardʼs turn.

At Bright Star No. 4, they treaded on thin ice.