Chapter 301 Their Miraculous Encounter
Chapter 301 Their Miraculous Encounter
After numerous trials and tribulations, Viviana successfully concealed herself within the ravine.
The red pillar of light still marked her location, but its indication was obstructed at the surface of the ravine, as the complex, layered structure within prevented the red light from penetrating. Thus, even if pursuers were to follow, they would be unable to locate the guiding red light once inside the ravine.
Upon reaching the depths of the ravine, Viviana halted, the negative effects inflicted by the goblin shaman still showing no signs of abating.
Her dwindling magic energy would soon be depleted within a matter of minutes. The thought of falling unconscious within the ravine due to exhaustion of her magic caused Viviana to involuntarily embrace herself.
She had proposed hiding in the ravine primarily to avoid burdening the cardinal and obsidian elders, but in reality, the uncertainty of her condition after falling unconscious left her with no sense of security.
Perhaps, she would never wake up again—Viviana couldn't help but think.
After all, for the goblins, tracking down Viviana by following her scent within the ravine didn't seem to be a difficult task.
Amidst her anxiety, Viviana recalled the last time her magic had been depleted, and the ordinary yet deeply memorable young hunter who had left a lasting impression on her.
— (Maybe that encounter would be our last encounter.)
She unconsciously placed her finger on her lips, reminiscing the sensation from "that time" — Ever since parting with the young hunter, she would occasionally perform this gesture.
Viviana found it somewhat unbelievable that, in the face of danger to her own life, she thought not of her family or the two elders, but of the briefly encountered young hunter.
As Viviana was immersed in her memories, the sound of approaching hoofbeats from the entrance of the ravine sent shivers down her spine.
— (Ah, goblins?!)
She gripped her crimson silver longsword, prepared for battle, and silently resolved that if the situation turned dire, she would destroy the supporting structure of the ravine and perish alongside the goblins in the collapse.
Viviana would rather die than allow herself to be defiled by the goblins.
·
Holding her breath and tensing every nerve in her body, Viviana stared intently in the direction from which the enemy might attack. Gradually, however, she grew puzzled.
Since entering the Aqua Net labyrinth, she hadn't encountered any horses, including those of her own family's party, who had all entered the labyrinth on foot. The reason for not bringing horses was that the terrain of the Aqua Nest was mountainous and unsuitable for horses, making them more of a hindrance than a help.
The goblin cavalry consisted entirely of wolf riders, and Viviana had never seen a goblin on horseback. So, whose hoofbeats were gradually approaching the ravine?
As her confusion mounted, a large, robust black warhorse entered her field of vision.
At first, Viviana thought the horse, with its exaggerated size and metallic sheen on its muscles, was a horse-type demon. However, the armor draped over the horse dispelled that notion, making it clear that this was a horse tamed by humans.
Since it was a human-tamed horse, did that mean the person entering the ravine was not a goblin, but a human? Could it be a labyrinth explorer who had entered from another entrance?
Hope ignited within Viviana, as she firmly believed that humans could unite in the face of a common enemy.
And when she saw the owner of the warhorse emerge from the shadows, she was both shocked and overjoyed!
— (Is it... B-Banning?)
— (How can it be you?)
— (Why are you here?)
— (Am I hallucinating?)
In that moment, a myriad of thoughts raced through the young girl's mind, and her eyes welled up with tears.
.
Viviana's lips parted slightly, but she found herself unable to utter a single word.
She stood there, dumbfounded, unable to tear her gaze away from the young man before her. Silently, she wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes, not wanting to show her vulnerability.
Two months had passed, and the young man's attire and equipment were no longer as shabby as before. From his cloak and boots, it was evident that he had become a seasoned bounty hunter.
Moreover, his physique had grown more robust, and Viviana was surprised by his significant growth in such a short time.
"Viviana? Is that you, Viviana?"
The young man lit a luminous magic stone, illuminating Viviana in the darkness.
Hearing the familiar voice, Viviana was certain she hadn't made a mistake and that it wasn't an illusion.
Miraculous encounters like this truly existed in the world!
"Banning? Why are you here?"
Viviana didn't know how to express her joy, still standing there in a daze, but her body couldn't help but tremble slightly, yearning to rush to Banning's side.
However, at that moment, the sound of goblin shouts suddenly erupted from outside the ravine.
It seemed they had discovered their location!
The sudden danger pulled Viviana back to the reality of the Aqua Nest labyrinth, where her life was at stake. Even meeting Banning couldn't change this predicament.
Previously, in the Sandrift Gorge, Banning had been powerless against a single third-tier demon. Now, they faced a group of third and fourth-tier demons, and no matter how much progress Banning had made in two months, he couldn't possibly be their match.
Nevertheless, Banning's appearance could at least resolve another imminent crisis for Viviana, and both of them already understood and had practiced the method to resolve it.
With her magic energy dwindling, Viviana had no time to hesitate!
"Banning! I'm sorry... I don't have time to explain again...!"
Viviana sheathed her crimson silver longsword, removed her veil, and dashed to Banning in a single stride.
Yet, Banning still appeared bewildered, unsure of what to do, which left Viviana both embarrassed and frustrated!
What made her feel even more helpless was that she was shorter than Banning, making it difficult for her to execute the "action" she wanted to perform.
With her life hanging in the balance, Viviana could no longer afford to be concerned about such matters.
Instead of trying to explain with words, she wrapped her arms around Banning's neck, stood on her tiptoes, and pressed her lips against his!