Chapter 974

No.1

"She used a photo of you here to extort Grandfather's thirty percent shares."

"Her entire offer to train you was a trap. Your disappearance shattered our parents. They surrendered their shares to her."

Benjamin froze, processing the accusation.

Then he shook his head vehemently.

"Impossible. I don't believe you. Victoria would never do that."

"See for yourself when we get home. Move. Now. If Takashi returns, we're trapped."

She grabbed his arm to pull him up.

He yanked his arm free.

"I said no! What awaits me at home? More backstabbing? More plots over shares?"

"Even Victoria, the one person who cared, has become a stranger. There's nothing left for me there."

No.2

"Here, I can focus. I can improve. I'll return one day and prove gamers can succeed too."

A cold laugh echoed from the staircase.

"You think you can teach him? Arrogant."

Isabella spun around.

Takashi Yamamoto descended the stairs.

He wore burgundy silk pajamas, his chest bare.

He exuded the aura of a decadent playboy.

One hundred bodyguards crowded the entrance behind him, blocking escape.

He wasn't supposed to be here. He should still be at the nightclub.

His return was alarmingly swift.

No.3

Takashi toyed with two jade beads in his palm.

"Disappointed? Didn't expect me? I admit, breaching my security impressed me."

"A gut feeling brought me back early. Good thing I listened."

Isabella met his gaze icily.

"Kidnapping is a crime. You and Tiffany are partners in this?"

"I have no idea what you mean," he replied smoothly.

He turned to Benjamin.

"Benjamin. Come stand by me. Tell her: Did I kidnap you?"

"Yes, Master." Benjamin nodded obediently and moved toward Takashi.

Isabella’s eyes narrowed sharply. She seized Benjamin’s wrist, yanking him firmly behind her. “Stay behind me,” she commanded, her voice low and dangerous. “Don’t move an inch. I won’t hesitate to break your hand. You’d never play another game in your life.” Her threat was delivered with a chilling intensity. Though Benjamin was prideful and resistant, the aura she projected was utterly terrifying. He froze, too scared to argue, and obeyed without another word.

No.4

Isabella knew the situation was escalating. They needed to leave, and fast. “You actually believe you can learn from Takashi Yamamoto?” she scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain. “His skills are mediocre at best. Studying under him will only ruin your potential.” The insult hit its mark perfectly.

Takashi Yamamoto’s face flushed with anger. “How dare you question my ability just because you bypassed my security, Isabella! You’re a clueless woman. Know your place and shut your mouth!” He could tolerate many things, but having his gaming prowess insulted was unforgivable.

Seeing she had successfully provoked him, Isabella locked eyes with him. “If you’re so confident, then prove it. Right here, right now. A one-on-one match. If I win, I take Benjamin and we walk out of here. If I lose… I’m yours to command.” Her challenge hung in the air.

Takashi threw his head back and laughed. “Hahaha! A one-on-one? With me? Did you all hear that?” He turned to his bodyguards, who erupted in mocking laughter. They looked at Isabella as if she were a complete fool.

“A woman challenging Mr. Yamamoto?”

“Do you have any idea who you’re dealing with? He’s been the undefeated champion of Eternal Champions for twenty consecutive seasons!”

“Shouldn’t you be home cooking or sewing? Gaming? That’s a joke!”

Humiliation burned through Benjamin. “Isabella, just leave! You’re embarrassing yourself! And you’re ruining everything for me! Get out of here!” He feared his chance with his idol was crumbling because of her.

Isabella ignored him completely, her cold gaze never leaving Takashi. “Stop wasting time. I’ll ask one more time. Do you dare to accept?”

“Such arrogance! Of course I accept! Let’s do it!” Takashi rolled up his sleeves and strode toward two high-end gaming setups in the basement. He powered them on, smirking arrogantly. “Right here, right now. You win, you both go free. I win… you stay here and serve me.”

No.5

“Deal. I expect you to be a man of your word,” Isabella stated calmly, taking a seat at one of the computers.

Takashi sat at the other. They both clicked the game icon simultaneously. Everyone watched Isabella, their expressions a mix of pity and ridicule. A woman challenging Takashi Yamamoto? This was a foregone conclusion. She would be annihilated in seconds.

Benjamin couldn’t bear to watch. “Isabella, stop this humiliation! You’re no match for Master Yamamoto! Please, just go!” he pleaded, desperate.

“Step back and be quiet,” Isabella shot back dismissively. She logged into her account.

Benjamin was about to protest again when his eyes caught the system notification flashing on her screen: (Welcome back, Boss!)

Boss?

The name sent a jolt through him. It sounded incredibly familiar. His mind raced. Then it hit him. ‘Boss’ was the legendary, anonymous player who had defeated Takashi Yamamoto in a historic match. The only person ever to do so.

Could Isabella possibly be… Boss?

No. That was impossible. It couldn’t be her.

This had to be a coincidence! Isabella Montgomery simply shared the same username as that legendary player. Boss—nothing more than that! Then, Isabella sent a duel challenge to Takashi Yamamoto. A game notification flashed across Takashi’s screen. [Boss has invited you to a 1v1 duel!] A smaller line of text followed below: [Friendly Reminder: Player Boss has previously defeated you—stay alert.]

No.6

Takashi’s expression darkened. His eyelids twitched. Boss—the very player who had humiliated him before—was challenging him again. But wait… He was supposed to be facing Isabella. Why would Boss send him an invitation now?

Unless…

A shocking realization dawned on him. He spun around, his eyes locking onto Isabella’s monitor. Her screen displayed: [Duel request sent. Waiting for opponent to accept…]

Takashi froze. His disbelief was palpable. It was her. Isabella was the one who had crushed him, costing him billions. The Boss he had desperately tried to hunt down. The only person in the world capable of defeating him. The legendary player who had nearly forced him to rename himself “Dog”!

Benjamin Kensington, standing behind Takashi, was equally stunned. His eyes widened in shock. How… how was this possible? His own sister was Boss? The mythical figure every gamer revered?

Even the bodyguards at the entrance were speechless. They knew their master had suffered only one defeat—a humiliation that had followed him everywhere. Rivals and enemies never let him forget it. They had all underestimated Isabella, dismissing her as just another woman who knew nothing about gaming. Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined she was the legendary Boss who had humiliated Takashi Yamamoto.

Isabella remained calm, her gaze cool and impatient. “What’s wrong? Scared now that you know it’s me?”

Takashi snapped back to reality, his face flushing with anger. “Who said that? I made a few mistakes last time. Do you really think you can beat me again?”

He clicked the accept button, and the duel began. Instantly, thirty percent of Takashi’s followers received a notification: [Takashi Yamamoto is now in a 1v1 duel with Boss…]

The online community erupted. Players flooded into the spectator mode. Even those offline dropped everything to log in and watch. The comments section exploded. [Takashi didn’t change his name after losing to Boss last time. Why are they fighting again?]

No.7

[He claimed it was a fluke, that Boss cheated. Let’s see if it was really a coincidence!]

[I still think it was luck. Watch Takashi destroy Boss in seconds!]

Takashi read the comments, his resolve hardening. He had to win this time, no matter what. His reputation depended on it. He remained hyper-focused, waiting for Isabella to select her character. Just like before, she chose the Dancer.

Takashi’s eyes narrowed. The Dancer again? That same character had defeated him last time. But… Hah! He quickly locked in Daji, the Witch—a character known for her instant-kill abilities. The Dancer’s skills were primarily defensive, making her useless against the Witch’s aggressive playstyle. Two of the Dancer’s skills would be completely ineffective in this matchup.

Hah! Isabella didn’t stand a chance this time. Takashi smirked, already envisioning her defeat. He would reclaim his glory and make her beg for mercy on her knees.

Isabella Montgomery kept her eyes fixed on the computer screen, completely ignoring Takashi Yamamoto.

The match began. Since it was a player-versus-player format, both characters started with all their skills unlocked. No leveling up was required.