Apocalypse Gachapon

Chapter 1691: Americas fight back

At that moment, a flicker of regret passed through the Women Guard members.

If they hadnʼt opposed Cloud Peak earlier, would that Eastern faction have refrained from using the Nebula Card?

But such thoughts were futile now. Even if they hadnʼt taken a stand, they might still have been eliminated. The immediate concern was avoiding that terrifying guardian beastʼs star.

Since the Women Guard had landed on their own Star No. 4 in the first round, theoretically, they could advance any number of stars this time.

However, the nebula now shrouded Stars No. 2 to No. 11. Without using any cards, their progress would be agonizingly slow.

Ella, representing her faction, struck the Soaring Crystal. Her tension was palpable.

Once the crystal left Star No. 4 (no longer theirs), it moved as if through molasses—slow, sluggish, as if it might drop at any moment.

The Women Guard watched with bated breath.

Star No. 7 was a death trap. Ye Zhongmingʼs powerful guardian beast still lurked there, now under Gyanendraʼs control. Though Gyanendra was nominally their ally, landing there would force them to pay an exorbitant toll, likely bankrupting them.

Even if Gyanendra reimbursed them later per their agreement, that would take several rounds. Who knew if theyʼd survive that long? Could the Women Guard or even Gyanendra make it out alive?
No guarantees.

Best to avoid that star altogether.

As the Soaring Crystal descended, the Women Guard relaxed slightly. It seemed destined for Star No. 6—Great Americaʼs territory.

Confirming Star No. 6, they sighed in relief. Next round, even within the nebula, a full-strength strike would keep them clear of Star No. 7.

But Star No. 6 belonged to Great America. Per their alliance terms, they couldnʼt occupy it—only pay the toll.

The Women Guard paid silently. Though not ruinous, the sum stung after their earlier expenditures.

With the second round winding down, only the Mechanical Genius remained, still on Star No. 1.

His unique abilities meant his battles always involved his mechanical puppets, unaffected by team combat restrictions. He struck the crystal, landing slowly on Star No. 4—now held by the Cannibal Chain.

Without ceremony, he chose to challenge, securing victory far more easily than his earlier battle on Star No. 1.

Then he fell silent, taking no further action.

This infuriated Governor Spade.

Great America, already battered from consecutive challenges, desperately needed allies. The Mechanical Genius—with his intact forces and strength rivaling Cloud Peakʼs—was ideal.

Yet Spade couldnʼt complain. Advancing three stars within the nebula was commendable.

As the second round concluded, the hierarchy remained unchanged: the strong stayed strong, the weak stayed weak.

The Cannibal Chain struck next, landing again on Star No. 6—sharing it with the Women Guard under Great Americaʼs ownership.

After a pause, Wu Xiu opted for full-team combat this time. This meant advancing at most two stars next round, skirting the deadly Star No. 7 to reach Cloud Peakʼs Star No. 8, where theyʼd pay the toll.

Self-preservation united the Cannibal Chain, Women Guard, Mechanical Genius, and Gyanendra.

Secretly, they all hoped Cloud Peak and Great America would annihilate each other.

Next up: Great America.

They shared Star No. 11 with Cloud Peak. Though invisible to each other, Spade felt his enemyʼs breath on his neck.

Approaching the stone platform, he lifted the hammer—then halted abruptly.

This moment was broadcast to all.

No one knew what Spade planned.

”Ye Zhongming—thatʼs your name, right? Eastern names are so awkward. You keep trying to kick others out, but did you think they wouldnʼt retaliate?”

Slowly, Spade drew a card from his spatial equipment.

”See the stars ahead? From No. 12 to No. 20, only one belongs to you! Your ally holds three. This stretch... will be a long crawl for you.”

He activated the card.

”Great America uses the Nebula Card, designating coverage from Bright Star No. 12 to No. 20.”

Cloud Peak wasnʼt the only one with a Nebula Card!

Spadeʼs message was clear: With just one Cloud Peak star in this range, slow progress would force repeated tolls or battles, draining their resources.

”This isnʼt over, Ye Zhongming.” Spadeʼs voice trembled with excitement.

”Great America uses the Minor King Card—Type: Difficulty Surge. Target: Cloud Peak. For the next ten stars, Cloud Peakʼs challenge difficulty doubles, and required equivalent values double.”

Following Cloud Peakʼs lead, Great America had played their Minor King Card!

After a two-second pause, the announcement continued:

”Minor King Card has priority. Conflicting card effects within its scope are nullified.”

The meaning was plain:

Within those ten stars, no other cards could counter the Minor King Cardʼs effects. Cloud Peak was locked into this brutal state.

Most critically, the Immunity Card would fail—Cloud Peak couldnʼt evade this onslaught.

”Iʼll be waiting up ahead!”

With that, Spade struck the Soaring Crystal onto Star No. 13, owned by the Cannibal Chain.