"Master, I sense several powerful presences nearby. They seem to be seekers."

'Only a hundred remain so it's normal to see strong people.'

"There's a particular one who completed the Earthen Mastery, his energy is dangerously pure."

'Completion?'

"Yes, his cultivation isn't high but his Earth Magic is definitely unbeatable."

Just as the Quad-Spirit finished speaking, a man appeared from a nearby big bush. He glanced at Arthur's direction but didn't do anything and continued searching for his target. His face was easy to forget and apart from a transparent yellow energy spiraling around him, he looked normal, perhaps even weak.

He did notice Arthur even though the latter was invisible and using skills to hide himself but he didn't seem interested in a pointless fight and soon vanished from the parasite's sight.

That man wasn't the only strong person Arthur met in that ghastly place. There were two robots that seemed more advanced than the one he faced on the previous floor, a very well known puppet master and even an actual pirate captain. Each looked unique and wielded different weapons but the one thing they had in common is that they were very strong, as much as a peak Overgod if not more.

Apart from a few dark horses, the majority of the remaining contestants were clan master, sect leaders, or part of some organization and they didn't lack any wealth, their goal was only the top prizes, which cannot be found anywhere else in the multiverse.

Location his target, the shaman, isn't easy as it seems even for someone like Arthur. He was given no clue and although this place isn't particularly big, there are many places to hide and the dense fog made it close to impossible to see anything thirty to forty meters away.

Unlike the parasite, many Hiders were already caught and, surprisingly, Hach'ara found his target in less than a minute. The Red Tower would make a short announcement every time a Seeker found his or her target and proceeded to waiting room. Till now, exactly 7 were caught so 14 contestants are no longer on this floor. Arthur searched every corner, he stretched his sense underground and even managed to find other hiders, who he didn't bother interacting with.

After twenty minutes, Arthur grasped the layout of the map and was now entering the only unexplored area. The ground was muddy and filled with tall inky black bushes that emitted a nauseating odor. Arthur didn't get too close, he floated several meters above ground and stretched his Sixth Sense while looking at his map, which was practically useless on this floor as if the tower was purposely limiting its functions.

"Master, there are totems a few centimeters underground. They act as detectors."

"Then the Shaman is definitely here."

"I cannot pinpoint his presence but there is more than one Hider in this area."-Spirit

The invisible wraith circled around the area, taking some precautions in case the Shaman tried to leave. Arthur planted a two-layer formation to isolate his target and block his escape route. He still doesn't know if he just needs to find the Hider or physically touch him and although the Shaman isn't as strong as Maxine, for example, it's still not a reason to rush in recklessly.

Fifty or so meters from where Arthur was, the tattoed shaman was laying on the ground and holding a charm, ready to flee if things go awry. He planted five totems in strategic locations and they should be able to buy him enough time, however, that thought didn't last long.

The muddy ground slightly shook then his connection with the totems was cut off, the last thing he sensed was large vines which wrapped around his creations then turned them into dust. Without needing to ascertain anything, the Shaman jumped from the ground, barely able to dodge two vines that sprung from the ground. He held the charm and chanted a short verse, making his tattoos shine with a blue and conjuring some sort of a flying boat made of water.

Without looking back, he controlled the boat and headed to the opposite direction but the rustling came from everywhere. Dozens of long vines appeared around him, blocking his path and trying to immobilize him. The Shaman took a deep breath, chanted something again then spat a wave of flames that incinerated the vines.

A short distance away, there was another Hider who was disturbed by these events and was forced to reveal herself. She had long green-hair and wore a medium-sized armor, she was none other than Maxine, who knew that her companion was nearby but was too preoccupied about her situation.

She couldn't jump in and help him since she didn't know who her Seeker was. If it's someone like Ber Von Xin then showing will only complicate things, she could only hope the Shaman would successfully escape.

After one last glance at her teammate, Max gritted her teeth and tiptoed, trying to leave the area without arousing any suspicion. Of course, Arthur did notice this female player, who was really bad at Stealth but he didn't pay her any attention. Had she intervened, the Quad-Spirit was more than ready to block her until Arthur caught his target.

When the vines were turned into ash, the water boat increased in speed, piercing through the fog and about to leave this small area only to smash into a white wall made of light. Half of the boat vanished and the shaman lost his balance, almost falling into the bosom of the countless never-ending vines.

He held his charm and was about to chant again but his body suddenly plummeted to the ground. In a split second, his body was covered by his vines and only his face was shown. Arthur was just about to go and touch him only for a deafening alarm to echo across the whole floor.

*30 minutes have passed, from this point onwards, the roles will be reversed. The new Seekers can catch any Hider and they'll be teleported to the next floor. The new hiders need to remain hidden for half-an hour.*

Arthur was flabbergasted, not knowing how to react.

'What the hell is this?'

He was just a step away from succeeding only for this to happen. As he was lost in thought, a rapid figure came rushing at him, however, before she could strike the parasite, her body suddenly slowed down then was blasted by raging flames.

Maxine grunted and cut the flames in half before smiling at Arthur, who just snapped out of his daze.

"I never expected such a twist! Hehehehe"

Her laugh sounded evil rather than innocent, she got rid of the vines binding the shaman and signaled for him to corner Arthur.

"You do know that one single physical contact is enough, right?"

In response, Arthur stared back at the green-haired woman, his palm releasing Dark Magic.

The player charged at him again but even two steps, her body fell again, not because of the spirit's interference but a result of what Arthur said.

"Ok'od (Kneel)."

He used Dragon Words, something that even Maxine cannot resist. Her knee touched the ground and her body was forced to stop moving, a visible expression of confusion plastering on her face.

The Shaman tried to do something but he couldn't resist Arthur's Dark Magic, which was like a tsunami, engulfing him within seconds. In the end, he was trapped in a world of darkness, unable to do anything but wait.