Chapter 1698: After the calm
But was Great Arica happy?
At the very least, nothing could be discerned from Spade's expression.
Indeed, before him now lay four rewards—one each from Cloud Peak, the chanical Genius, Gyanendra, and the Won Guard.
These items would drive any force on Earth into a frenzy, let alone him. If taken outside, they could propel Greater Arica to beco the most powerful faction in North Arica—perhaps even the entire planet.
They might even give Spade himself a chance to spin a level-nine wheel!
Yet, he simply couldn’t muster any excitent.
He knew that Gyanendra, no matter what cards he still held, had virtually no chance of turning the tables.
The Won Guard? Even worse. They were already weak, and now, with many of their mbers forced to pawn their equipnt, they were in a far worse state than Gyanendra, who still had two trump cards tucked away.
The Cannibal Chain was Cloud Peak’s ally, leaving only himself and the chanical Genius to oppose them.
But... Spade inwardly scoffed. These toll fees were indeed astronomical, but their value only mattered outside—here, they were useless. What good were they now?
With the Won Guard’s fall and their hopes of victory dashed, alliances no longer mattered. Their remaining cards or hidden aces would undoubtedly be used for self-preservation, just to survive the ten rounds and make it out alive.
As for Gyanendra? That old fox had never truly cared about their alliance, and Spade was no different. At this point, he’d settle for the man not causing trouble.
The biggest wild card—the one Spade truly cared about—was the chanical Genius. The entire purpose of this alliance had been to join forces with him, topple Cloud Peak, and strengthen Greater Arica in the process, closing the gap in Bright Star ownership before their final showdown.
Yes, Spade had always planned to exhaust the chanical Genius while crushing Cloud Peak, ensuring his own victory in the end.
Why had he chosen to ally with the chanical Genius over Cloud Peak, despite both having the sa number of Bright Stars? Aside from racial and geographical biases making the chanical Genius feel like a "kinder" target, there was also the fact that madn were rarely as cunning.
But now, the chanical Genius had been bled dry by Cloud Peak. From here on out, he’d have to challenge at every step, including Greater Arica’s Bright Stars.
Forget whether the chanical Genius could survive this attrition; the real crisis was that Greater Arica’s Bright Star count was now at risk of rapid depletion.
Before, the only threats were Cloud Peak and the Cannibal Chain seizing his stars. Now, the chanical Genius, the Won Guard, and even Gyanendra had been added to the mix.
If Spade could still smile after all this, he’d have to be utterly heartless.
After Cloud Peak ca the Won Guard; they advanced one step and chose to challenge, seizing control of Bright Star No. 10 from the Cannibal Chain. But it was clear to everyone that their morale had shattered. The sight of their aged, withering comrades gnawed at their resolve like a relentless tide.
When the chanical Genius struck next, he also landed on Bright Star No. 10. The Won Guard, penniless and unable to purchase a Guardian Beast, handed the star to him effortlessly, deepening their despair.
As the new round began, the Cannibal Chain advanced leisurely, drawing little attention. But when Great Arica’s turn ca, even the despondent Won Guard and the indifferent Cannibal Chain perked up slightly.
Last round, Ye Zhongming had played his ultimate card—the Major Joker—shattering the fragile Western alliance and knocking two factions out of contention. Now, as the mastermind behind it all, what would Spade do?
Would he also... play his Major Joker Card?!
The answer was: No.
Greater Arica simply advanced from Bright Star No. 17 to No. 19.
It was clear Spade had originally aid for No. 18, which belonged to the Won Guard. With the alliance dead, there was no reason not to take it.
But for so reason—perhaps distraction or demoralization—his Soaring Crystal veered off course, landing on No. 19 instead.
That star belonged to Cloud Peak.
Spade cursed his rotten luck... and then paid the toll.
The move left many baffled—and contemptuous. The chanical Genius, in particular, was livid.
He’d been counting on Great Arica to seize Cloud Peak’s star, weakening a direct competitor while forcing them to buy the most expensive Guardian Beast at max level. Even if Cloud Peak landed there later, they’d be crippled. ????Ｎ????????
But instead, this fat bastard had chosen to pay—even at more than double the usual cost!
The chanical Genius unleashed a torrent of curses.
Spade remained unmoved.
As the shock subsided, many realized the truth:
Great Arica had given up.
At first, no one had noticed due to sheer inertia. Spade had been the most active player, forming alliances, flinging cards left and right, acting like the undisputed king. Even in recent rounds, he’d suffered no major losses, remaining one of the top three contenders for the Mountain King Crown.
But once the ntal gears turned, the picture beca clear.
Great Arica had avoided losses, but with a third of the rounds gone, Cloud Peak and the chanical Genius still held strong in star counts. Trailing by half, Spade’s chances of catching up were slim. To win, he’d have to take down both superpowers alone—a near-impossible feat.
As the saying went, wastelanders would fight tooth and nail for anything valuable—but they were also the first to cut their losses when odds turned hopeless.
"Live to fight another day" wasn’t just a saying in the Chinese zone; the whole world understood it.
Great Arica had just secured a windfall. Even after paying Cloud Peak’s toll, how expensive could the remaining Guardian Beasts be? If luck favored him in later rounds, he could target the Won Guard or the Cannibal Chain, or simply buy his way through. By Round 10, even without the crown, he’d walk away filthy rich.
This fat bastard really knew how to quit while he was ahead.
That was the conclusion many reached.
After Greater Arica, it was Gyanendra’s turn. After Cloud Peak’s brutal strike last round, the West Asia Saint was effectively out of the running. His team’s strength could no longer secure victory—or even guarantee survival.
If he failed to last until the final round, the wheel’s whims might simply erase him.
Just as everyone assud he’d play it safe, picking the easiest stars to cling on...
Gyanendra taught them all a lesson in madness.
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