Chapter 128: Points Plundered

The Shadow Forest military camp under the veil of night had transformed into a slaughterhouse where blades met in lethal dance. Everyone was present, from the cannon-fodder First-Rank wizard apprentices to the more formidable Second-Rank and even Third-Rank apprentices. To the eyes of mortals, wizards were noble and mysterious beings, but here, they were reduced to mere chicks, their lives snuffed out with effortless ease.

"This is wrong!" Lin Wei’s expression turned somber. "This is certainly not the rhythm of a normal battle!"

Lin Wei darted through the crowd, his movements swift and lethal; almost every strike claimed the life of a First or Second-Rank apprentice.

"What exactly is the Fangs of Blood Shadow planning?"

Although Lin Wei had joined the Fangs of Blood Shadow, he understood nothing of this vast and enigmatic organization.

"More and more First-Rank apprentices are pouring in..." Lin Wei sensed the shift within the camp, his face growing grave. "This is no longer a mere night raid. To be precise, this is a decisive battle! A final struggle between life and death!"

Suddenly, as if sensing something, Lin Wei jerked his head upward. Violent surges of wizard power rippled through the air, creating invisible sonic waves.

"Ingramore?"

Lin Wei’s pupils contracted. Not far away, Ingramore was drenched in blood, struggling against a Third-Rank apprentice of the Fangs of Blood Shadow. Apprentices from both sides instinctively steered clear of them to avoid the aftermath of their collision. The Third-Rank apprentice clearly held a slight edge; bats formed of coagulated blood swarmed around him, relentlessly diving at Ingramore like moths to a flame. Ingramore seemed deeply wary of these blood-bats, dodging with extreme caution, his face tight with the strain of the combat.

"Lin Wei!"

The moment Ingramore turned, he spotted Lin Wei, and a look of relief washed over his face.

"Lin Wei, come help me!" Ingramore roared.

Lin Wei frowned, seemingly weighing the options.

"I don't want the points for this kill! They're yours!" Ingramore shouted through his exertion.

As soon as the words left his lips, Lin Wei offered a faint smile and charged toward the pair.

"Reinforcements?"

The Third-Rank apprentice felt the sudden pressure and began to contemplate retreat.

*Whoosh!*

Star-Dark Quicksand coalesced into a giant web above the Third-Rank apprentice’s head.

"You think you can bind me?!" The apprentice sneered. Blood-red flowers blossomed on his shoulders and slowly drifted toward the sky.

*Hiss, hiss, hiss...*

The moment the blood-red flowers touched the web, a rustling sound of corrosion filled the air. The quicksand web controlled by Lin Wei was devoured entirely.

"Hmm? Are these blood flowers and blood bats both corrosive spells?" Lin Wei’s eyes narrowed, but his momentum did not cease.

In a flash, he appeared directly in front of the Third-Rank apprentice. Ingramore moved simultaneously, blocking the apprentice's retreat. The two trapped him between them.

"Wind Blades!"

Ingramore rapidly unleashed a volley of transparent, razor-thin blades, their speed producing a series of sonic booms.

"Die!" Ingramore shrieked.

At the same time, Lin Wei manipulated the Star-Dark Quicksand into black blades, launching them at the apprentice.

"Blood Armor!"

The Third-Rank apprentice’s body suddenly shriveled, his skin withering at a visible rate as a layer of fresh blood seeped from his pores. The smell of copper filled the nostrils of Lin Wei and Ingramore.

*Rip! Rip!*

When the wind blades and black blades struck the apprentice, they were completely corroded by the film of blood surrounding him.

"Pupil of Darkness!"

"Dream Halo!"

Lin Wei unleashed two spells at once. The Third-Rank apprentice’s eyes glazed over instantly, and the blood film on his body began to fade.

"Die!"

Lin Wei’s hand, shaped like a blade, slashed toward the apprentice’s throat. Just then, a sound of air being torn apart echoed!

An intense sense of crisis flooded Lin Wei’s entire being. He forcibly halted his movement and recoiled. A white bone arrow whistled past him, striking a thick wall. The wall erupted with a thunderous crash, collapsing into a cloud of thick dust and debris.

*Whoosh!*

Another sound of tearing air.

*Splatter!*

A bone arrow instantly pierced the throat of the Third-Rank apprentice.

"What!?"

Lin Wei followed the trajectory of the arrow. Standing there was a man in green robes, his face an unnatural shade of pale, wearing a sinister grin as he looked at Lin Wei and Ingramore.

"Narens!!"

Ingramore was instantly incensed. "You’re stealing my points!"

"Someone from the Shadow Forest?"

Lin Wei understood in an instant. The first arrow, aimed at him, had been fired by this youth named Narens to force him to abandon the thirty points he was about to secure. After Lin Wei retreated, Narens immediately fired the second arrow, claiming the kill and effortlessly reaping the life of the Third-Rank apprentice.

Narens shook his finger at Lin Wei and Ingramore, his eyes filled with undisguised mockery. Without lingering, he turned and walked away.

"I'm sorry, Lin Wei..." Ingramore gritted his teeth.

"Who is he?" Lin Wei asked, his tone surprisingly calm rather than enraged.

"A Third-Rank apprentice. He’s likely the strongest of our lot..." Ingramore’s face twisted with anger. He had used the head of the Third-Rank apprentice as collateral to secure Lin Wei's help, but now that he was safe, the prize he had promised was stolen by another. "Lin Wei, I truly apologize... I will compensate you with an equal amount of points."

"No need... Whatever he has taken, I will make him spit it back out." Lin Wei watched the spot where Narens had vanished, his voice icy.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

Suddenly, deafening explosions echoed throughout the entire Shadow Forest military camp.

"A group battle!" Ingramore reacted instantly.

Toward the northwest rear defense line, brilliant, magnificent flashes of wizardry illuminated the night sky.

"Many people, and quite a few Third-Rank apprentices," Lin Wei said, sensing the intense fluctuations of power.

"Let's go!" Lin Wei commanded.

"We're going over there?!" Ingramore was shocked. "That’s too dangerous!"

"In muddy waters, one can seize opportunities that usually never arise!"

Lin Wei’s figure raced rapidly toward the site of the clash.

"Wait for me!" Ingramore hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and followed.