Apocalypse Gachapon

Strictly speaking, Greater America’s strike of the Soaring Crystal this time exceeded Bright Star No. 20, freeing them from the nebula’s restraints and the death zone.

They could take advantage of Cloud Peak still being trapped in the zone to quickly advance, putting as much distance between themselves and Cloud Peak as possible. After all, their faction had essentially given up on competing for the Mountain King’s Crown—they just wanted to complete the ten rounds safely.

But misfortune truly does bring misfortune.

Since Greater America had paid the toll fee last round, they advanced three steps this round, landing on Bright Star No. 22, which belonged to the Mechanical Genius. This was a stroke of luck amid misfortune—while tougher than the stars owned by factions like the Women Guard or the Cannibal Chain, it was still better than landing on one of Cloud Peak’s monstrously fortified stars.

However, as soon as they arrived, the space’s announcement rang out.

When no cards were used, the space’s announcements were death sentences.

“Misfortune Card takes effect. For the next three rounds, Greater America will face demonic attacks in every round.”

“Annihilation Thunderstrike appears this round. Target: Bright Star No. 21.”

Greater America was on Bright Star No. 22, and due to the Overclock Card, they were guaranteed to be attacked.

“Bright Star No. 21, owned by Cloud Peak, has been struck by Annihilation Thunderstrike. Guardian Beast severely injured.”

“Bright Star No. 20, owned by the Cannibal Chain, has been struck by Annihilation Thunderstrike. Guardian Beast destroyed. Bright Star annihilated.”

Just like during the Mechanical Genius’s turn, the thunder first struck stars without factions before targeting the faction’s current location.

Spade screeched orders, commanding his team to deploy defensive equipment against the impending thunder.

But faced with an attack of this magnitude, over 60% of his subordinates chose to scatter and flee.

It was an instinctive act of self-preservation.

Great America wasn’t like the Mechanical Genius—that faction was unique, consisting of just one living person who controlled all the powerful war puppets.

When the thunder struck, he could sacrifice puppet after puppet to neutralize its terrifying might.

But Great America couldn’t do that. This was an alliance-based faction, held together by shared interests. At the first sign of danger, everyone’s first thought wasn’t about solving the problem—it was about saving themselves.

Against the Annihilation Thunderstrike, only the most elite evolved stood a chance of resisting. Everyone else, no matter how hard they tried, would be wasting their energy.

So when the thunder descended, what else could they do but run? Wait to be used as cannon fodder to weaken the thunder’s power? Sacrifice themselves so others could survive?

Don’t joke around. They’d rather all die together than play the role of martyrs.

Spade’s face turned green. Seeing only a handful of people activating defensive equipment, he knew there was no way they could withstand the thunder.

He could only scream hoarsely, shouting that if they didn’t resist, everyone would die.

This shouting had some effect—at least the high-level evolved knew they couldn’t run. If even they fled, leaving no one to block the thunder, they’d truly be doomed.

So the moment the thunder descended, many powerful skills and defensive gear were unleashed toward the sky.

As a trial, the Annihilation Thunderstrike wasn’t an unblockable attack—otherwise, this wheel space would lose all meaning, and the Mountain King Plate would never be obtained.

But its power was immense, requiring a heavy price to resist.

Among the current factions, the strongest were undoubtedly Cloud Peak and the Mechanical Genius. After them came the Cannibal Chain and Great America—both elite factions with their own specialties.

If the Cannibal Chain had faced this thunder (excluding the Mechanical Genius, who was essentially a one-man faction), they might have mounted the best defense among all present factions besides Cloud Peak. Even Ye Zhongming had to admire their level of control over their subordinates.

But Great America, despite having comparable strength, fell far short. Again, this was the inherent weakness of alliance-based factions.

Still, with their raw power, they could have survived the thunder—even at great cost.

But sometimes, things that should be achievable fail due to disunity. And when this disunity runs from top to bottom, the outcome is as disastrous as possible.

The ones fleeing weren’t just the ordinary evolved—their leader, Governor Spade, ran too.

Yes. Faced with the thunder, after ordering everyone to resist or die, Spade—who had been posturing as ready for a desperate fight—turned and fled.

He was the soul of the faction, its strongest member. Only if he also committed to a full defense could they possibly withstand the Annihilation Thunderstrike.

But he ran.

Unlike the others who tried to escape the thunder’s range and let others “take the hit,” Spade pulled out an item—a flute or xiao-like instrument. At first, those around him thought it was defensive gear.

But when Spade activated it, the item transformed into another Spade, standing motionless in place.

The thunder struck. The evolved’s skills crumbled pathetically against its might—even those that slightly dimmed its brilliance had minimal effect. The high-level evolved’s defensive gear fared better, causing the thunder to pause momentarily, just as it had when the Mechanical Genius defended against it.

In that instant, many felt hope, believing they, like the Mechanical Genius, would survive.

But… after the pause, the thunder slammed mercilessly into Greater America’s ranks and the Bright Star.

On the light screen, the other factions witnessed the now-familiar sight of a star’s destruction. Many couldn’t believe it.

Greater America—the faction that had just been in third place—was finished, just like that?

“Look! There!”

A sharp-eyed observer pointed excitedly at the upper left corner of the chaotic light screen.

Everyone looked. Sure enough, amid the billowing smoke, a figure floated in the air.

The smoke obscured details, but everyone recognized him at a glance—Spade. That physique couldn’t belong to anyone else.

But… why wasn’t he dead? The Bright Star had been destroyed.

“Bright Star No. 22 annihilated. Greater America disqualified. One survivor. Due to faction elimination, removed from space.”

“All Greater America’s Bright Stars are now unclaimed. Factions passing through may choose to purchase Guardian Beasts. The first to purchase gains ownership.”

“Remaining factions: 5.”

After five rounds, the first faction had been eliminated.

Outside the space, on a wind-battered mountain peak, a figure materialized mid-air and crashed to the ground. His hill-like frame left a massive crater in the hard earth.

Spade stood up, chuckling. Though he’d expended a precious life-saving artifact, he’d successfully escaped the wheel space. As he’d predicted, elimination meant expulsion.

Once Great America lost all hope, he’d resolved to flee. Though he’d lost his subordinates, he could always recruit more. Though he’d lost a valuable artifact, the wealth he’d gained in the space could buy several similar items. Best of all, the exorbitant tolls paid by Cloud Peak and others no longer had to be shared with his subordinates. They were all his!

Spade opened his dimensional storage, eager to inspect his gains, but what followed was a roar of fury and despair.

“Where’s my money?! WHERE’S MY MONEY?!”

The roar lasted only seconds before cutting off abruptly—because Spade saw it.

Hovering not far above him, staring down with icy indifference… was a demon.