Chapter 254: A Narrow Escape

’Damn.’

Now this was a Divine Artifact. This was what a real Divine Artifact in Dominion looked like. Marcus felt his mouth practically watering as he stared at the descriptions. With equipment like this, someone could turn the entire world upside down.

Compared to Alana’s gear, his own equipment suddenly felt like children’s toys. Low tier scraps that he would almost feel embarrassed showing anyone. A wave of intense gear envy rose in his chest.

’When will I ever get something that powerful?’

Thanks to the thirty minute invincibility granted by the Hundred-Flower Cloud Robe, Alana herself was completely safe. The situation had become almost ridiculous. The supposed hero who had rushed in to rescue the damsel had ended up becoming the one being carried through the crisis.

What shocked him even more was Alana herself. This gentle looking girl had a Luck stat exceeding fifty.

’Is this what the Body of a Hundred Flowers can do?’

The moment Marcus’s temporary invincibility ended, the pursuing Mythic Beasts and Eight-Tailed Vixen Spirits would instantly tear him apart. Then Alana would have to revive him again with the Asclepius’ Herbal Staff.

It was humiliating.

He was supposed to be the rescuer, yet the woman he came to save had resurrected him over and over again.

“Giddy up!”

Marcus urged the Violet Thunderwing Steed to fly faster, pushing it to its absolute limit. Unfortunately, his repeated deaths slowed them down badly. Whenever he revived without triggering the invincibility effect, the monsters would immediately kill him again, forcing Alana to spend another resurrection.

Little by little, the distance between them and their pursuers shrank. Even worse, the staff only had five resurrection charges remaining.

Time was running out.

“Alana, I don’t think we’re going to make it,” Marcus said with an awkward smile.

In the stories people loved to tell, the hero always defeated the demon lord and carried the princess safely away. Today, it seemed the hero was going to fail.

Alana turned toward him.

A gentle, sincere smile appeared on her lips.

“Thank you for coming for me,” she said softly. “I’m happy.”

Her calm acceptance only made Marcus feel even more helpless.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I couldn’t get you out of here.”

“It’s my fault for involving you,” she whispered.

The smile faded from her face, replaced by quiet sorrow. Her clear eyes slowly filled with tears, and one crystal drop slid down her cheek before falling onto Marcus’s hand.

The tear felt strangely cold against his skin.

“Don’t say that,” Marcus replied gently, brushing the tear away with his fingers. “I came because I wanted to. No regrets. No blaming anyone.”

He smiled at her, though the feeling in his chest surprised even himself. Dominion felt so real that the line between the game world and reality had long since blurred.

“If there’s a next life, I’ll find you,” Alana said softly.

She caught the hand he had used to wipe away her tear and leaned her head lightly against his chest.

“I’ll find you too,” Marcus promised.

He squeezed her hand and placed another light kiss on her forehead.

“That’s my mark.”

“Mhm.”

Alana looked at him as if she wanted to carve his face into her memory forever.

Players could resurrect endlessly in this world, but NPCs only had one life. Once they died, they were gone forever unless some miracle of reincarnation occurred.

For a moment they simply held each other as the remaining resurrection charges ticked down.

When only two lives remained, they quietly prepared themselves for the end.

Then suddenly something appeared in the distant sky. A gray speck streaked toward them like a meteor.

It tore straight through the swarm of flying monsters surrounding the Phantom Peach Grove. Every movement left destruction behind it. One or two monsters would spiral downward with each flash of motion, their dying cries echoing through the air.

The figure was unbelievably fast.

As it drew closer, Marcus realized it was not a monster at all. It was an old man dressed in simple gray robes.

He had no mount, not even a flying device. He was simply flying through the sky by relying on his own internal energy.

Marcus stared in awe.

’He’s like a god.’

Aside from the Five Elements Arch-Sorcerer, Zion , this was the first human powerhouse he had encountered who possessed such terrifying strength.

“He’s incredible!” Marcus exclaimed.

“Grandfather! It’s Grandfather!” Alana cried out in delight. “He followed the scent of my flowers and found me!”

She waved her arms excitedly.

“Grandfather! Over here!”

The gray robed old man was indeed Silas Vance, the Saint Doctor. Seeing his overwhelming presence instantly rekindled hope in Marcus’s chest. They quickly canceled the Pure Mist Cloud effect so he could locate them easily.

“Alana!”

Silas arrived beside them in the blink of an eye. The worry on his face softened when he confirmed she was safe, but the moment he noticed the four Eight-Tailed Vixen Spirits chasing them his expression turned grim.

Even he could not face four of them at once. There was only one option left.

“Eight-Beast Arts. Aether Eagle!”

Silas moved his hands rapidly, releasing a surge of powerful energy. The energy condensed in midair, forming a massive purple eagle that radiated majestic power.

The eagle gave a piercing cry that sounded almost alive, then it separated from his body and spread its wings wide.

Beneath the eagle a shimmering purple portal opened in the sky.

“Go! Now!” Silas shouted.

“Eight-Beast Arts. Hurricane Strike!”

A violent storm erupted from his palm, forming a roaring wall of wind that intercepted the incoming petals and blocked the pursuing Vixen Spirits.

“Giddy up!”

Marcus did not hesitate. He spurred the Violet Thunderwing Steed straight toward the portal.

“Grandfather, watch out!” Alana screamed.

Marcus turned just in time to see the hurricane barrier shredded apart by the storm of petals. A spray of blood followed as hundreds of razor sharp petals slammed into Silas Vance’s body.

The attack left him gravely wounded.

Yet he used the force of the impact to propel himself backward through the air. His body shot toward the portal just as it began collapsing.

“Move!”

Silas caught up to them instantly after passing through, grabbing the reins of the steed as the three of them burst out of the portal in a flash of light.

The sky suddenly brightened. They were free. They had escaped the Phantom Peach Grove.

Marcus inhaled deeply. Only now did he realize how wonderful freedom felt.

“Grandfather!”

Alana jumped down from the steed and rushed to Silas as he collapsed to the ground. Marcus quickly followed behind her.

“Grandfather, are you alright?”

She raised the Asclepius’ Herbal Staff, releasing a wave of green healing light that enveloped his body.

“I’m fine now, Alana,” Silas said.

The staff’s power was incredible. Within moments he regained his strength and stood up again. Seeing that his granddaughter was safe, a warm smile finally appeared on his face.

Marcus looked up at the open blue sky and felt a deep sense of relief.

The mission had succeeded.

The rewards he had already gained, along with whatever might come next, were far beyond anything he had expected.

“Grandfather… your strength…” Alana said anxiously.

Unlike players, NPCs could suffer internal injuries that could not be healed by simple potions.

“It’s nothing serious,” Silas replied with a sigh. “Those four were too strong. If I hadn’t reacted quickly, they would have torn me apart. Their petals shattered most of my internal energy.”

“Let me examine the damage.”

“Don’t worry,” Silas said reassuringly. “I’ve lost about eighty percent of my strength, but a few years of meditation will restore it.”

He then turned his attention toward Marcus. His expression suddenly became stern, almost suspicious.

“Young man,” he said slowly, “why are you with Alana?”

Marcus blinked in disbelief.

’Is he serious? I died more than ten times saving her!’

“Grandfather, he’s a good man!” Alana quickly interjected.

She hurriedly explained everything that had happened during their escape. Her retelling clearly exaggerated Marcus’s bravery, and she looked at him with eyes full of admiration while speaking.

“I see,” Silas said thoughtfully once she finished.

He studied Marcus carefully before nodding.

“To enter the forbidden land of the Vixen Clan alone… regardless of your strength, that courage is commendable.”

Then he asked a question so suddenly that both of them froze.

“Young man, do you love Alana?”

Alana’s face instantly turned bright red.

Marcus himself was caught off guard, but he quickly regained his composure. In the past he might have hesitated or tried to dodge the question.

Now he simply spoke honestly.

“Yes,” he said firmly. “I do.”

Better to be bold than a timid hypocrite, he thought.

“Good.”

Silas nodded with satisfaction.

“I can see that Alana feels the same way.”

Then he spoke words that left Marcus completely stunned.

“I will entrust Alana to you. Are you willing to take her with you and protect her?”

The proposal came so suddenly that Marcus almost wondered if the system had malfunctioned.

This was not a small responsibility.

“I am not joking,” Silas continued. “Entrusting her to you is necessary, but it also carries a burden.”

He glanced toward Alana before explaining.

“She possesses the Body of a Hundred Flowers. Until she absorbs the Essence of a Hundred Flowers, monsters will instinctively seek her out. I used to be able to protect her, but after my injuries I can only deal with enemies around Level 50.”

His gaze returned to Marcus.

“You have great potential. I want you to become her shield.”

Silas’s voice grew serious.

“If you accept her, you are responsible for her safety. If anything happens to her, I will hunt you down myself.”

He paused briefly before adding,

“As long as she remains inside a city, she will be safe. Now tell me, will you protect her?”

“Grandfather…” Alana whispered, her eyes shining with tears.

Marcus finally understood the situation.

According to the old appraiser, Silas Vance possessed the Source of Life and was being hunted by the Demon Race. Staying with him meant constant danger.

Alana had grown up. She could not hide behind her grandfather forever. Silas was simply doing what any grandfather would do. He was trying to secure her future.

And with the Vixen Spirits still searching for them, this decision could not wait.

“I’m willing,” Marcus said firmly. “I’ll take her with me.”

He turned toward Alana. Her choice mattered more than anyone else’s.

“Grandfather, can’t we all go to the city together?” she asked softly.

It was her way of saying yes.

Silas chuckled.

“Silly girl. I’m not suited for city life. Once I recover, I’ll come find you.”

A system notification appeared.

Ding!

“System Notification: Congratulations, Stonehaven! Silas Vance has entrusted his granddaughter Alana to you. Because her Intimacy Level with you exceeds 90, Alana will become your Companion. She will follow your lead, and you must ensure her safety. Do you accept?”

“I accept!”

Alana had become his Companion.

In many ways that was even better than having a pet. Companions did not count toward summon limits.

“Stonehaven,” Silas said, handing him a small jade vial. “You saved my granddaughter and helped us greatly. This contains a drop of the Spring of Life. Consider it my token of gratitude.”

Marcus accepted it without hesitation.

Silas had originally planned to use it to refine a legendary pill, but Marcus was not foolish enough to refuse such a treasure.

This single drop was his key to entering the Elven Canyon.

“This water is extraordinary,” Silas explained. “Besides improving your constitution, it will allow you to pass through the Elven Gate if you ever find the legendary Elven Path.”

He sighed quietly.

“It is the homeland of the Elves. I hope you find it worthy of the journey. I once hoped to use it to create the Ascension Pill, but the necessary herbs were never gathered. Better that it serves a purpose than remain unused.”

Silas was being unbelievably generous.

A final system notification sounded.

Ding!

“System Notification: Congratulations! You have successfully completed the quest: Rescue Alana. Rewards: 500 Reputation, 10,000 Gold. (Main rewards provided by Silas Vance.)”

The mission was complete.

Marcus stood beneath the open sky with a legendary treasure inside his soul, the Vixen Queen resting within his arm, and a Grandmaster tier alchemist companion by his side.

All things considered, it had been a very good day.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep