Apocalypse Gachapon

Chapter 1700: Where did money come from?

When it was Cloud Peakʼs turn, unease filled everyoneʼs hearts.

Including Ye Zhongming.

If it were just the Annihilation Thunderstrike alone, he wouldnʼt be overly worried. Based on the wheel’s tendencies, this thing definitely couldnʼt instantly wipe out multiple teams—it should be resistible, though undoubtedly powerful and difficult to withstand.

Ye Zhongming wasnʼt afraid of difficulties. Neither was Cloud Peak.

But this trial wasnʼt 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 wasnʼt 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 Peakʼs move carried far too many unknowns.

Every person, every faction, was watching Cloud Peak. Even as enemies, they couldnʼt 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 Geniusʼs territory.

The thunder everyone feared and yet anticipated didnʼt fall, but the wheelʼs 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 Gyanendraʼs 20% commission. Now, doubled again—even if the Mechanical Geniusʼs Guardian Beast werenʼt strong or high-level, the fee would still be astronomical.

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

No money would mean paying with their membersʼ lives.

Amid the wheelʼs announcement and the Mechanical Geniusʼs raucous laughter, Cloud Peak... paid up.

No penalties followed—proof theyʼd coughed up the full amount.

Many were disappointed.

Theyʼd 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. ɽÅN𝘖ꞖĚŠ

Broke, theyʼd have to challenge any star they landed on—and this stretchʼs 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 Guardʼs reputation in the Americas—aside from that aspect—was fairly decent.

Some might look down on them for it, but they didnʼt shun interaction or trade.

If they bowed out now, it wouldnʼt 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 theyʼd 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 didnʼt 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 Peakʼs 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 couldnʼt possibly cover it.

Savings? The only explanation, but that puzzled them too. Everyoneʼs wealth was limited, constantly spent on power growth. Even if theyʼd saved, it couldnʼt be much.

And donʼt 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 couldnʼt identify it. Yet its abundance suggested it was Cloud Peakʼs 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 hadnʼt appeared. Now, with the Mechanical Geniusʼs move, it was inevitable.

As Ye Zhongming watched the Mechanical Geniusʼs 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 werenʼt cheap.

That was why Cloud Peak seemed to have endless funds.

Otherwise, even Ye Zhongming couldnʼt have afforded max-level Guardian Beasts on every star!

Speaking of luck, Cloud Peakʼs 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 donʼt forget—the Mechanical Genius was the last to move this round. Since the Annihilation Thunderstrike hadnʼt struck yet...

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