Chapter 325: Damsel in distress
"They have an enforcer with them… one of those Titled Douluo. My mom and dad—both of them tried to hold him back so I could run. They told me to go. To survive." Her lips trembled. "But they were bleeding… and that man—he's stronger than them."
Her fingers curled into the dirt as her voice cracked. "My mom's a Spirit Douluo, Level 92. My dad's even stronger… 95. But the one chasing us—he's at least Level 97. He's not someone we can match… not even together."
She looked down, guilt and fear pouring from her like a flood. "I didn't want to run. I wanted to help them, but I was too scared. And now… I don't know if they're still alive… I don't even know if I deserve to be…"
Dugu Yan immediately wrapped her arms around the girl, holding her tightly. "You did what they needed you to do," she whispered. "You lived. That's not cowardice. That's strength."
Dave knelt down next to them, his face calm but firm. "Hey. Look at me."
The girl hesitated, then slowly turned her teary gaze toward him.
"Just tell me where they are," he said, voice steady, but carrying a weight that made Meilin glance over sharply. "Tell me where they're fighting. I'll help them."
"You…? But…" the girl looked between them all, overwhelmed. "You don't even know who we are. Why would you—?"
"You're someone who needs help," Dave said simply. "That's enough."
Dugu Yan nodded, still holding the girl close. "You're not alone anymore."
The girl stared at them, stunned—then broke into sobs again, but this time out of release, not panic. The strength had left her body completely now that safety was finally within reach.
Meilin sighed and crouched beside them, gently patting the girl's back. "Just breathe. Let it out. Then tell us everything you remember about the location. The terrain. The direction you ran from."
Dave stood, cracking his knuckles as his expression hardened just a little. "If they're still fighting, we still have time."
Meilin shot him a sharp look. "How can you be so sure?"
"You're just going to charge in? Be strong for someone you barely know? Just like that? You don't even know the whole story!" she snapped, her voice tight with frustration and fear.
Dave turned to her, meeting her gaze evenly. "Take her away," he said quietly but firmly. Then, with a glance back toward the girl, "Get her to safety."
"What are you going to do?" Meilin asked, even though she already suspected the answer.
He looked in the direction the girl had pointed earlier, his tone resolute. "I'm going to find her parents."
"Are you mad?" Meilin asked sharply.
It wasn't that she didn't believe in Dave—she did. But the opponent they were talking about wasn't just any Spirit Master. "The other party is a Titled Douluo. No matter how good Dave is, he can't just walk into a fight like that and expect to win."
Her voice dropped, tense with worry. "This isn't like dealing with an ordinary Spirit Douluo. Each Titled Douluo above Level 95 is a force of nature. They're walking catastrophes… And that old man? He's at least Level 97."
Her eyes flicked in the direction Dave had gone, the unease in her chest tightening.
"This isn't like Dugu Bo," Meilin continued. "He might be a Titled Douluo too, but he's considered one of the weakest among them."
"Don't worry," Dave's voice echoed calmly.
Before either of them could react, he vanished from sight in a swirling surge of water, his figure dissolving like a mirage swept away by the tide.
Meilin stared in disbelief, eyes wide.
Beside her, Dugu Yan placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "It's alright. You might not know… but actually, we're protected by a Titled Douluo too," she said softly.
Meilin blinked. "Wait… what?"
Dugu Yan gave a faint smile. "A hidden one. He's always been in the background, keeping watch. You've met him before."
Realization began to dawn in Meilin's eyes. "Your grandfather…?"
Dugu Yan nodded. "Yes. He's been quietly tailing us ever since we left the academy—trying to make sure we're safe without interfering too much."
Meilin slowly exhaled, some of the tension in her shoulders easing as she processed that revelation.
"Still," she muttered, glancing at the road Dave had taken, "Dave better not do anything stupid."
Dugu Yan smiled faintly, eyes following the same path.
"Knowing him… he probably already has."
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On the other side of the valley, Dave narrowed his eyes toward the distant commotion. Amid the cracked earth and scattered trees, he could make out two figures locked in desperate battle against an old man whose every movement radiated overwhelming pressure. The air rippled with spirit power, the ground trembled beneath each clash, and even from this distance, it was clear—the couple was at a severe disadvantage.
The man they fought… he wasn't just strong. He was a force of nature, a Level 97 Titled Douluo whose presence crushed everything around him like a living storm.
Dave watched silently, then muttered under his breath, "I could call Dugu Bo for her… but no. I want to use this now."
He reached into his inventory and pulled out a sealed parchment card, glowing faintly with an ominous red light.
[Strong Backer Summoning Card]
He got this card from defeating Tang San , the protagonist of this world, It was an hidden mission reward to defeat the protagonist.
Dave stared at it for a moment. "Let's see who comes to answer this one," he whispered.
He pressed the card against his palm, and a sudden surge of energy crackled through the air. The card disintegrated in a burst of crimson flame, and a magic circle flared beneath his feet—intricate and jagged, the runes twisting as if alive. The wind howled, spiraling around him, and the sky above dimmed for just an instant.
"Now that I think about it… this is only my second real summon," Dave thought, smirking to himself. His first had been Trish—a hot demoness, who is now his girlfriend.
'Wait! System this onw won't challenge me to an fight right?' Dave asked remembering hos Trish suddenly fought him and then only after defeating her did she become his servant.
[No, Host this one will just summon a Loyal Servant ]
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