Apocalypse Gachapon

Chapter 1702: First to be eliminated (2)

Strictly speaking, Greater Americaʼs strike of the Soaring Crystal this time exceeded Bright Star No. 20, freeing them from the nebulaʼs 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 Kingʼs 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 Peakʼs monstrously fortified stars.

However, as soon as they arrived, the spaceʼs announcement rang out.

When no cards were used, the spaceʼs 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 Geniusʼs turn, the thunder first struck stars without factions before targeting the factionʼs 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 wasnʼt 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 couldnʼt do that. This was an alliance-based faction, held together by shared interests. At the first sign of danger, everyoneʼs first thought wasnʼt 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 thunderʼs power? Sacrifice themselves so others could survive?

Donʼt joke around. Theyʼd rather all die together than play the role of martyrs.

Spadeʼs 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 didnʼt resist, everyone would die.

This shouting had some effect—at least the high-level evolved knew they couldnʼt run. If even they fled, leaving no one to block the thunder, theyʼd 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 wasnʼt 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 werenʼt 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 thunderʼs 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 evolvedʼs skills crumbled pathetically against its might—even those that slightly dimmed its brilliance had minimal effect. The high-level evolvedʼs 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 Americaʼs ranks and the Bright Star.

On the light screen, the other factions witnessed the now-familiar sight of a starʼs destruction. Many couldnʼt 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 couldnʼt belong to anyone else.

But... why wasnʼt 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 Americaʼs 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 heʼd expended a precious life-saving artifact, heʼd successfully escaped the wheel space. As heʼd predicted, elimination meant expulsion.

Once Great America lost all hope, heʼd resolved to flee. Though heʼd lost his subordinates, he could always recruit more. Though heʼd lost a valuable artifact, the wealth heʼd 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.

”Whereʼs my money?! WHEREʼS 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.