The trees completely turned black soon enough and the leaves fell off one by one, the vines also started growing thorns that looked completely unnatural and out of place on a vine and started enveloping one member after another as they sucked the vitality.
One of the group members is a fire elemental user who is the first one that managed to break out of the hold, but as the fire spread over the trees and vines they are burning while still going after the group making it hard for the rest of the group members, which made him stop completely.
They could only chop down one branch and one vine at a time to escape from the forest.
Half a day later, they finally came out and the fire elemental user finally let loose as he started burning the forest down.
He is extremely frustrated and the wind elemental user, assisted him in spreading the flames to take out his anger as well.
They are all exhausted.
Even though they tried their best to dodge all kinds of attacks focused on them, they felt extremely dried up because of the vitality that has been occasionally sucked out of them.
They felt like they just fought for a hundred days straight.
They could only bring themselves to check the surroundings before making camp and recovering once again.
And they didn't want to back down yet, because the more traps they encountered the more two of their beliefs were solidified.
One of them is that the other party is weaker than them and that is why they are using the traps and the second is that they are sure that the path they are taking is the correct one.
They didn't know that Sam can see them moving and all their actions, they only believed that these traps are set in the path when they are escaping to their hideout.
While Sam is thinking like that, he saw something else in the surveillance that he left back in the city. Kiran and Vidyut returned safely through the wormhole and they moved to the slums as soon as they did.
They agreed that they will return through the wormhole and move to that spot so that Sam could pick them up. Sam left some surveillance there for that reason.
Sam took one more look at the group that was coming towards them and went to the city through dimensional drifter, and brought the duo back.
They accomplished the task perfectly and they managed to bring some bodies of elites. They worked faster than Sam expected.
It turned out that the administration under leader 1 is a little more flexible and as long one pays the premium price they can hire the elites in the city. They killed them and immediately brought those elites back.
As he waited for the group to continue their journey, he moved out to set up the next trap. It is through a small canyon.
Sam carved out a hollow structure along the length of the canyon and started placing some small liquid energy cell traps. Then he filled the hollow structures with the corrosive liquid mixed with some liquid used for preserving corpses for the undead.
As much as this liquid preserves the dead bodies, it is not pleasant for the living beings to come into contact with this.
As long as the person didn't clean himself properly after coming into contact with it and the cleaning is not just exterior of the body by the blood and flesh completely with their spiritual energy, their vitality will be slowly dripping out.
He set the trap and went back waiting for the people to come.
The next day they did make their way towards the canyon and as soon as they reached, Sam started blasting the canyon walls, they instinctually ran forward as the strange liquid started falling at the mouth of the valley.
They thought that trap might have missed. But as they moved forward, one explosion of another happened with further timing as the rocks along with the corrosive and undead liquid fell on their bodies.
Their clothes dissolved instantly along with the armor and the undead liquid slowly seeped their vitality out and slowly the corrosive liquid started hurting their body in an extremely irritating manner.
They felt like they are being stabbed by hundreds of pins and needles at the same time all the while scalding hot water is being poured on their flesh.
This burning sensation kept on increasing as they exited the canyon and collapsed while rolling around and screaming in pain and they used their spiritual energy to cleanse themselves.
Once again they halted giving Sam time to set up something else that could harass them.
But before he does that, Sam has to do something else.
He visited the store to exchange some heirlooms and also have some talk with Ling Tian.
"So, what is it this time?" Ling Tian asked as soon as he arrived.
"Don't tell me you don't know about the little stunt Hou Yi pulled."
Ling Tian chuckled and said.
"We are taking care of it."
"How long does it take?"
"Actually, they are acting slippery and trying to dodge the responsibility and all the gods that had their players died are suddenly supporting him. You are just messing up the competition a lot and taking their fun away. Since three gods are involved this time, they are thinking of brushing it off with each other."
"Well, I need some knowledge regarding curses. If it is a book of high-level curse spells, then it would be better."
Ling Tian thought for a moment and said.
"I can actually find a way, but the person who has the best curses in the universe is Hel. If we use the previous incident we could get that from her for a cheap price."
"If that is what it takes then do it. But I need the curses. Thank you."
With that, the conversation was over and Sam went back to torturing the group for the next few days.
Meanwhile, Ling Tian is having a conversation with Gambler.
"Why do we have to lie to Sam like this? The only reason that the three gods got away with this until now is that you really didn't care about doing anything. You could have just said that to him."
"Of course, I could have, and do you think he wouldn't understand that if we don't say it. I just want him to be more proactive in contacting us. And this will prompt him to do so.
After all, he is not dumb enough to take such a lame excuse like the gods are dodging the responsibility for this. If he is a little bit more proactive in contacting us when he is in trouble, he would get maximum benefits and we can also maintain a proper relationship with him.
If he had contacted us sooner he would have gotten a lot more than stupid knowledge about curses. He could have gotten some high-level treasures, cultivation resources, and much more."
"Well, he would. But by now, I think he is sure that he doesn't have to resort to these things. He is doing pretty well for himself."
"Doing pretty well? He is doing better than my last toy."
"Well, that previous guy is soft compared to Sam. He might have a superior intellect but he doesn't have interest in destroying things, people, and regimes like Sam does."
"That is true. So, I will get going and deal with the Curse thing and you go deal with whatever you have to do."
Gambler disappeared from the spot and reappeared outside the mansion he was staying in, he first went to Hou Yi's realm once again and stood in the front porch of Hou Yi's mansion.
Hou Yi appeared instantly and asked.
"Why are you here?"
"You know why I am here you piece of shit. Just because some time has passed since the last stunt, doesn't mean I will let you off the hook.
That little stunt you pulled was targeted against my player and now I am here to collect the debt. Do you want to settle now or do you want me to beat the crap out of you and then set up the meeting before shredding your invisible honor into smithereens and then taking what you owe me?"
Hou Yi gnashed his teeth and said.
"If you are that capable why don't you go and demand something from the remaining two involved in the plan. Too much of a coward to do that?"
As soon as he said that, a fissure appeared behind him and a claw grabbed him by the nape.
He could sense what it is, it is a dragon claw.
"Void dragon? When did it become so powerful?" Hou Yi muttered to himself, but Gambler just smiled and said.
"The one who got beat up shouldn't be leaving snide remarks. That doesn't satisfy the rules of winners and losers. So, stay up and tell me what you would use to clear this debt, or I might have wrecked this body of yours."
