Elsewhere, Isabella was also on the hunt.
Whenever she snatched someone's nameplate, she had Elvin throw them out of the Shadow Forest.
Along the way, she encountered many mages trapped in magic arrays. It wasn't hard to guess that this was Ning Busan's handiwork.
Although their methods differed, their goal was the same: to eliminate everyone else from the game.
Elvin smiled cheerfully after counting the nameplates. “My dear Isabella, we already have one hundred and sixty-three nameplates.”
A cunning gleam flashed in Isabella's eyes. “Elvin, let's go find Ning Busan.”
Elvin held the opposite opinion. “Even if we do nothing now, we're sure to win. There's no need to look for unnecessary trouble.”
Isabella pouted. “But I just hate him and want to teach him a lesson.”
Elvin said dotingly, “Whatever you say.”
Elvin flew high into the air, looking down over the entire forest to search for Ning Busan's trail.
“Found him!” Elvin spotted Ning Busan. “He's to the southeast, about seven hundred meters away from us.”
The corners of Isabella's mouth curved upward. “Excellent! Elvin, let's go find him right now!”
She and Elvin moved quickly, soon arriving at Ning Busan's location.
It was a swampland, the air thick with heavy moisture and the stench of decay.
Along the edges of the swamp, exposed tree roots twisted like gnarled black tentacles.
“Come out, Ning Busan,” Isabella shouted loudly. “I know you're here.”
The shadows of the trees shifted slightly.
Isabella waved her wand, launching a beam of golden light toward the source of the movement.
Ning Busan rolled out of the bushes in a rather disheveled manner, dodging Isabella's attack before fleeing deeper into the swamp.
Isabella was thrilled. “Ning Busan, don't run!”
However, as she gave chase along Ning Busan's escape route, her surroundings instantly transformed.
It was as if she had been plunged into an endless labyrinth, surrounded by towering walls with no end in sight.
Isabella's heart tightened.
A magic array had been set up here, severing all contact with the outside world.
If Elvin tried to force his way into this labyrinth, it would probably take him a long time.
Isabella fumed with rage. “Ning Busan, you're so despicable!”
Ning Busan revealed himself and smiled faintly. “All's fair in war.”
Isabella's magic was not to be underestimated, and the elf's combat strength was also incredibly formidable. Thus, Ning Busan had to separate them and defeat them one by one.
“I don't even need Elvin to deal with you!” Isabella snorted coldly, her eyes gleaming with confidence as if victory were already within her grasp.
Isabella raised her wand high. Holy light swirled around her, and even the air became saturated with the essence of light magic.
A dazzling pillar of light struck down from the sky, aiming straight at Ning Busan standing opposite her.
Ning Busan's figure looked exceptionally fragile under the illumination of the pillar of light, as if he might be swallowed by the radiance at any moment.
Yet, the corners of his mouth curved into a mocking smirk.
Just as the pillar of light was about to strike him, his body was suddenly enveloped in a layer of pitch-black mist. The light pillar vanished instantly like a stone sinking into the ocean.
Seeing this, Isabella's brow furrowed slightly, a faint sense of unease rising in her heart.
Refusing to believe it, she waved her wand again and chanted an even more powerful incantation, her wand emitting a brilliant glow.
Countless arrows of light coalesced in the air, raining down toward Ning Busan like a torrential downpour.
However, Ning Busan merely raised his hand gently, a pitch-black vortex emerging in his palm.
The moment those light arrows drew near him, they were swallowed up by the vortex without a trace.
Isabella's expression finally changed. She realized she had underestimated Ning Busan's strength.
“How... How is this possible?” Isabella muttered. “Light counters darkness; the two are completely incompatible. How could it be absorbed?”
Ning Busan's voice was deep. “Light and darkness have never been truly opposing forces. You are too conceited, Isabella.”
Ning Busan raised his hand. The ground began to shake violently as countless black chains erupted from beneath the earth, instantly wrapping around Isabella's body.
The chains were covered in eerie runes, radiating a suffocating dark aura.
Under the corrosion of the darkness, Isabella's light magic rapidly drained away, as if being sucked dry by the chains.
Isabella went pale with shock. “You... You can actually channel the power of Hell...”
Ning Busan walked up to her with slow steps. Looking down at her, there wasn't a single shred of tenderness in his eyes—only a fierce desire for victory.
“You've lost. Hand over the nameplates.”
Isabella's face was filled with resentment.
She struggled desperately, but the more she thrashed, the tighter the chains wound around her.
Right then, an arrow pierced through the air, its tip pointing straight at the center of Ning Busan's back.
Ning Busan's palm was coated in armor formed from condensed dark elements. He reached out and caught the arrow directly.
“Let Isabella go!”
Elvin quickly drew three arrows from his quiver, nocked them on his bowstring, and muttered an elven incantation under his breath.
A green light instantly enveloped the arrows, as if they held the very power of the forest.
Ning Busan pressed the tip of the arrow against Isabella's neck, staring coldly at Elvin.
Elvin's heart sank, and he hastily lowered his bow. “Don't hurt her.”
Ning Busan said, “Give me the nameplates, and I'll release her.”
Without a moment's hesitation, Elvin took off his necklace and threw it to Ning Busan.
Ning Busan opened the necklace's magic space and saw that it was crammed full of nameplates.
Having achieved his goal, Ning Busan's grim expression softened instantly. He released the chains binding Isabella as promised.
He gave Isabella a warm smile. “Thanks for the match!”
After saying this, Ning Busan used spatial teleportation to depart.
He hid inside a concealed underground cave and poured out all the nameplates.
The clattering sound alone was enough to fill him with delight.
“I have two hundred and sixty-two nameplates now.” After finishing his count, Ning Busan stroked his chin. “As long as nothing unexpected happens over the next three days, I'll be the ultimate winner.”
He would just lie low here until the end of the competition. Surely nothing unexpected would happen, right?
...
Meanwhile, on Isabella's side, the labyrinth magic array abruptly vanished due to Ning Busan's departure, causing her to fall straight into the swamp.
Although Elvin was quick enough to pull her out, her dress was still splattered with mud.
This was the first time Isabella had ever suffered such a great humiliation. Her eyes turned red with rage. “Ning Busan, that detestable jerk! I'm going to kill him!”
Elvin's face was filled with pity. “Isabella, you're hurt.”
“It's just a minor scratch, it's fine.” A blazing fighting spirit burned in Isabella's eyes. “I only fell into Ning Busan's trap because I let my guard down!”
“There are still three days left. I still have a chance to turn the tables.”
Elvin unconditionally supported all her decisions. “What do you plan to do?”
Isabella narrowed her eyes. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend!”
She released all the mages whom Ning Busan had trapped.
Dozens of black-and-blue mages gathered together, complaining bitterly about Ning Busan's violent behavior.
Their experiences were remarkably similar to Phil's. Even though they had clearly handed over all their nameplates, Ning Busan had still given them a brutal beating out of concern that they might be hiding some.
It could be said that everyone present had fallen victim to Ning Busan's ruthless hands.
Once everyone calmed down, Isabella needed only a single soft sentence to stir up their emotions again and unite them:
“My friends, do you want revenge?”
Raging fire filled everyone's eyes. “Yes!”
Isabella curved her lips. “Then let's join forces and give him a grand present~”
Without Ning Busan suspecting a thing, an alliance of avengers had quietly been formed.
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