Chapter 235: Haisa 18

’Looks like these Dealer Hunters aren’t so united after all. That’s good news for me.’

Perry Yates thought this to herself, but her expression remained impassive. After all, a man who could turn on his companion so decisively was either extremely conceited and self-centered, looking down on everyone, or he was supremely confident in his own strength, certain that Perry Yates was no match for him.

But then again, it made sense. He was a Dealer Hunter who had already killed over fifteen Croupiers. Compared to Perry Yates, who had only recently become a Croupier and had participated in just two of these "Croupier hunts," he certainly had the right to be arrogant.

Without any hesitation, Perry Yates attacked first. The War God Armor covered her entire body as countless vines sprouted from all directions, shooting out like innumerable sharp arrows.

Seeing this, a flash of surprise crossed the cowboy’s eyes. Then, as if he’d realized something, a look of understanding dawned on his face. "I get it. It was that smoke from before."

That smoke hadn’t been ordinary smoke, but countless plant seeds.

But the cowboy was no pushover. Just as Perry Yates’s attack was about to land, he suddenly roared, "Metal Skin!"

The moment he spoke, the cowboy’s body instantly became hard as steel, his skin taking on a metallic sheen.

The countless vines bound the cowboy tightly, but because of his Metal Skin, they couldn’t harm him. They could only restrain him.

"Spider Claw Blade."

"SWISH SWISH SWISH."

Eight razor-sharp spider legs with a metallic luster emerged from the cowboy’s back, effortlessly slicing the vines wrapped around him to shreds.

Now free, the cowboy didn’t forget to taunt her. "If that’s all you’ve got, you might as well give up now. Seeing as you helped me get rid of a major nuisance, I can make your death a little more comfortable."

"How considerate of you," Perry Yates said lightly. "But while I accepted the fact that I would die someday when I entered this game, I don’t feel like dying just yet. Looks like I’ll have to decline your kind offer."

"So you refuse the easy way and choose the hard way. Since you don’t know what’s good for you, I’ll show you what I’m really capable of. Witness my Heaven and Earth Net!"

As the cowboy’s voice fell, the surrounding environment instantly changed.

The once low-key, luxurious banquet hall was now covered in cobwebs, transformed into a spider’s nest.

’So this is the Heaven and Earth Net.’

’The name sounds impressive, but the actual effect seems pretty lackluster.’

As the biggest item merchant in the entire game, Perry Yates held tens of thousands of cards.

Because of this, she had seen far too many Card Skills to be surprised by anything anymore.

A Red Heart Card appeared in Perry Yates’s hand. The moment she threw it, a ball of fire erupted, igniting the surrounding webs.

Cobwebs are flammable, and soon, the entire banquet hall was engulfed in flames.

At that moment, the cowboy’s figure suddenly appeared on all sides of Perry Yates, holding different weapons. His eyes burned with the certainty of victory. "Die!"

Seeing this, Perry Yates didn’t retaliate. She didn’t even try to dodge.

All of the cowboy’s attacks landed on her, producing a series of crisp, metallic CLANGS.

"How can this be?!"

The cowboy stared at Perry Yates in horror. "Why are you completely unharmed?!"

He had just used several different attacks at once, including some four-star Card Skills. Yet, when they struck Perry Yates, they didn’t leave so much as a single scratch on her.

’Why am I unharmed? It’s a simple matter of levels, of course. My Wargod Kai is a five-star card. If it could be easily broken by his three-star and four-star Skills, what would that say about the prestige of a five-star card?’

However, Perry Yates obviously had no intention of explaining this to the cowboy. Seven or eight poker cards appeared in front of her, and in the next second, they all shot toward him.

"BOOM!!"

Everyone on the cruise ship was drawn by the massive explosion. Thick black smoke billowed from the top of the ship; the entire twelfth floor had been half-destroyed by the violent blast.

When the smoke cleared, Perry Yates was still standing there, but the cowboy was gone.

Perry Yates was certain the cowboy hadn’t died, but had escaped. He must have realized he was no match for her and fled in the split second before the explosion. After all, he had plenty of Skills, so he was bound to have some for self-preservation.

Perry Yates wasn’t disappointed that she hadn’t killed him. Hearing the commotion from outside, her figure slowly vanished from the spot.

By the time others, drawn by the sound, arrived, they were met with the sight of the twelfth floor in complete ruins, with a gaping hole blown through the ceiling.

If Perry Yates had been there, she would have recognized the person standing at the very front: the woman who had come looking for trouble a few days ago.

The woman stared at the ruined ceiling, grinding her teeth in frustration.

’The Croupier... just a little more, just a little more and I could have obtained the Croupier’s power.’

As she thought this, she subconsciously touched her pocket.

"Looks like we were a step too late."

"Judging by the destruction, this Croupier’s abilities must be offense-oriented. They probably fused with a Fire Attribute card or a Wood Attribute card.

"If we could get his power, we’d definitely be able to clear this game. Then we could get the title of Dealer Hunter, too."

The speaker was a young woman, and her tone was filled with undisguised envy when she mentioned the title "Dealer Hunter."

Hearing the young woman’s words, Shaz whipped her head around and shot her a vicious glare. "He’s mine," she snarled. "Who the hell do you think you are, trying to compete with me?!"

That’s right. Even though she had yet to formally meet him, Shaz already considered the unseen Croupier to be her property. She wouldn’t allow anyone to covet what was hers. If anyone tried to stop her from obtaining that power, she would kill them without a moment’s hesitation.

However, the young woman apparently didn’t detect the killing intent in Shaz’s voice. She retorted defiantly, "Just because you say he’s yours doesn’t make it so. Is your name written on him? We’re all candidates to be Dealer Hunters. What gives you the right to order me around?!"

Just as the two were about to start a full-blown argument, a plain-looking, middle-aged man in a hat stepped forward. "We’re all on the same side here, let’s not fight amongst ourselves," he said. "According to the latest information, there are still six Croupiers left. As per the old rules, it’s finders keepers."