I Can Extract Game Items-Chapter 205: Bounty Placed
A young scout stepped forward, bowing deeply.
"Your Majesty... we have reason to believe she had help."
The council erupted into gasps.
Queen Isilfaris’ eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Help? How could any elf risk such betrayal?"
The scout hesitated, then spoke.
"It had to be someone high ranking... there is no other way she could have escaped."
Another elder leaned forward.
"What nonsense is this? Are you accusing one of the council members?"
The scout took a deep breath.
"I apologise for my insolence but that is the only explanation. Right before my eyes, I witnessed a strange figure that vanished on the same day she was freed. One moment, he was there... the next, he was gone, like a shadow fading in the wind."
Queen Isilfaris clenched her fists.
"Find them. Find the person responsible. We cannot allow this to go unpunished."
Elder Vareth’s voice rang out, full of venom.
"The Sylvalis Kingdom shall hunt this elf down. And when we find them... they will suffer the consequences of his actions."
---
August exhaled sharply as he settled into his newly upgraded VR pod.
The moment he logged in, he was met with a world notification.
[ The Tournament of Kingdoms continues in Thiry Minutes! ]
He was still in the waiting area where players had gathered for the tournament, and he could already see some of the strongest participants discussing strategies.
Across the room, Boris, Lilo, Ezran, and Gregarious were waiting for him.
Lilo smirked when she saw him. "And here I thought you weren’t gonna make it."
Boris grinned. "Yeah, wouldn’t want to miss seeing you get thrown off the platform in the next round."
Ezran shook his head. "He was literally one of the strongest in the last round. Stop talking nonsense, Boris."
Gregarious leaned in dramatically. "Forget the tournament. Did you guys see the new announcement from the Sylvalis Kingdom? Apparently, they’re looking for someone who broke into one of their most secure areas."
August froze for a split second before masking it with a casual shrug.
"Sounds like a poor bastard. Hope he’s got good reflexes."
Lilo narrowed her eyes. "You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?"
August grinned mischievously. "Me? I’ve been a model citizen. Never even stepped foot in Sylvalis."
Ezran chuckled. "Yeah, right. Let’s focus on the tournament. We only have three hours before it continues."
August nodded, but his mind was elsewhere.
If the elves were looking for him, it meant he was now marked by an entire kingdom.
---
August didn’t waste time. After learning about the Sylvalis Kingdom’s recent announcement, he decided to investigate. He had to know if he was truly still a wanted man.
The journey was long, but he didn’t mind. He rode his Hellhorn Charger across the kingdom borders.
The beast’s hooves created bursts of pinkish energy as it galloped.
Soon he arrived at the transportation hub that would teleport him directly to the borders of Sylvalis and paid some coins to use it.
...
...
The elven kingdom was as breathtaking as ever. Tall crystalline trees stretched into the skies with their luminescent leaves glowing in various hues of blue and violet. The very air shimmered with magic.
When he arrived at the outer settlements, he noticed something peculiar.
No one was hostile toward him.
No guards patrolling, searched for an intruder or suspicious figure and there were no wanted posters.
No one even recognized him.
"Excuse me, miss." August approached a female elf tending to a fruit stand.
She turned, blinking at him curiously. "Yes, traveler? How may I help you?"
August played it cool. "I’ve heard rumors that someone broke into the Sylvalis Kingdom recently and released a dangerous criminal from the Hollow Dusk. Do you know anything about it?"
The elf delicate features scrunched in thought as she frowned. "We have only heard about the rumors but perhaps it was baseless because no name or face have been mentioned."
August nodded slowly. "Right... Thanks for your time."
He walked away with his mind reeling in thought.
"So it really did reset..."
The time travel from the dimensional rift had erased the consequences of his actions. It had changed everything.
Except...
That monarch was still out there.
August secretly decided to ventur close to the opening of the Hollow Dusk, the notorious underground prison that once held the dark elven monarch, Melanthis.
It was just as eerie as he remembered. Even just standing at the entry point, he could feel a deep sense of suffering, as if the walls themselves whispered the tormented cries of those who had perished here.
Yet despite the reset, signs of her escape still existed.
A lingering, sinister energy spread faintly in the air.
August crouched, running his fingers over a long, jagged gash carved into the ground.
"She’s still out there..." he muttered under his breath.
It defied all logic. If time had reset, Melanthis should have been sealed away again. Yet somehow, she had remained untouched by the paradox.
"How the hell does that work?"
He let out a sigh. If she was still roaming free, it was only a matter of time before she wreaked havoc on the world. He had seen a glimpse of just how powerful she was... there was literally no player who could handle someone on that level of power.
August could tell that this would be a problem in the near future but there was little to nothing he could do about it... for now.
Or so he thought...
The elven kingdom suddenly placed a bounty on her head.
[ 200,000 Gold Coins To Anyone Who Can Locate The Fugitive Elf Melanthis ]
(Bounty Placed By Queen Of Sylvalis Kingdom)
The moment players close to Sylvalis or within it, got this notifications, they got to work.
Adventurers, mercenaries, and powerful players were all flocking to find the escaped monarch for a grand reward.
The problem?
Finding her was one thing. Stopping her was another.
August knew firsthand just how powerful she was.
She wasn’t just some high-level monster—she was a calamity.
And at level 45, he was nowhere near strong enough to face her.
So instead of looking for a fight, he focused on tracking her movements.
If he could find signs of her and report back, perhaps the ones powerful enough from the elven kingdom could take care of the rest.
Unfortunately, there was no time to start looking for her at the moment. He needed to return because the tournament would be resuming soon.
...
As August left Sylvalis and prepared to return to the tournament, a deep unease settled in his gut.
Even with a whole kingdom on high alert, something told him that Melanthis wouldn’t be found so easily.
And if she was anything like before...
By the time someone did find her, it would already be too late.
With a final glance at the elven lands, August spurred his Hellhorn Charger forward.
It was time to return to the Tournament of Kingdoms.
But deep down, he knew, this wouldn’t be the last time he crossed paths with the dark elven monarch.
Not by a long shot.
...
...
The grand coliseum, bathed in golden light, vibrated with energy.
Anticipation filled the air as the remaining 100 players stood in formation, waiting for their matchups. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
Thousands of spectators from various kingdoms filled the arena stands with their cheers echoing like a thunderstorm.
A floating crystal orb hovered above the battlefield, displaying the names of the next set of combatants.
[MATCH PAIRINGS ANNOUNCED!]
☑ Aleman vs. Kieran Stormcrest
☑ Lilo vs. Seraphiel Dawnblade
☑ Boris vs. Arkyn the Crimson Wolf
☑ Ezran vs. Velrick Ironheart
☑ Gregarious vs. Sylva the Silent Wind
Each name was followed by flashes of their battle statistics for the crowd to see. The moment Aleman’s name appeared, the spectators roared in excitement.
"ALEMAN! ALEMAN! ALEMAN!"
He had become one of the most anticipated fighters after the elimination rounds.
Lilo whistled, nudging him. "Wow, someone’s popular."
"Right? And yet I don’t get a single sponsorship," August voiced while smirking under his hood.
Gregarious waved his arms dramatically. "Why am I always up against an assassin or a speedster?! Look at her name—Silent Wind. You just know she’s fast!"
Ezran chuckled. "You’ll be fine, Greg. Just try not to trip over your own feet this time."
The announcer’s voice boomed across the arena.
"The first battle begins now! Step forward, Aleman and Kieran Stormcrest!"
---
BATTLE ONE: ALEMAN VS. KIERAN STORMCREST
August stepped onto the enormous battle platform, gathering mana.
Across from him, Kieran Stormcrest, a 6’2 warrior with golden armor and a greatsword as long as his body, cracked his neck.
"I was hoping to fight you, Aleman," Kieran voiced calmly, charged with confidence. "But I won’t hold back."
"Good," Aleman replied while activating Perfect Veil.
His form distorted continously before vanishing.
"BEGIN!"
Kieran’s sword flashed with lightning, and he swung in a wide arc, causing his attack to rip through the air.
Although, he was attacking blinding, the area of concentration of this particular strike was wide.
Aleman dodged mid-step, using Phantom Blitz to reappear behind Kieran.
His twin daggers glowed as he channeled mana into his finger tips and slashed in a swift X-motion.
