Zorfi ran towards the nearby trees, thinking the beast wouldn't be able to get past them. However, the beast began to move and chase Zorfi.
*BRAKKK!!!*
The creature easily smashed through the trees blocking its path, its swift steps locked on its target.
This action had a significant impact; some of the animals in the treeline were forced to flee. The beast was on a rampage and could not be stopped.
"DAMN, IT CAN DESTROY TREES WITHOUT SUFFERING AT ALL???!"
Zorfi was utterly shocked by the sight, and he continued to run as fast as he could, hoping to escape the beast's pursuit.
The chase between Zorfi and the beast could have devastating consequences for the forest if the beast didn't stop. For his life, Zorfi continued to run breathlessly, overcoming obstacles in front of him to avoid the greater threat behind him.
"COME ON! I HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO! I CAN'T DIE ILL HERE!" Zorfi shouted.
Zorfi continued running without stopping, but without realizing it, he hit a large branch in front of him, causing him to fall and crash into the tree trunk in front of him.
*CRASH!*
"AHH!"
The chase between them ended when Zorfi fell. The beast stopped in its tracks, and with a ferocious expression, it prepared to pounce on Zorfi alive.
"Ah... I... Have to... Bro—"
"BANG!"
"AHH!"
As Zorfi was about to get up, the beast stomped one of its feet hard on the ground, unleashing a wave of force that sent Zorfi flying hard into the tree trunk once again. However, this time, the tree trunk shattered instantly, splitting it in two.
The tree trunk above nearly hit Zorfi, but fortunately, he managed to escape by rolling to the side, still having a little strength to live. His reflexes saved his life, but unfortunately, he suffered quite severe injuries from the attack.
"Grrrrr..."
"Tch! Hah... At least... I'm safe... For now..." he said in a low voice, spitting dirty blood from his mouth.
In that situation, Zorfi was on the verge of despair. He could no longer exert any strength, powerless to even move his legs. The beast had already opened its mouth, indicating it was ready to devour Zorfi alive.
(Is this... the end for me?) Zorfi thought to himself.
*BOOM!!!*
Just as the beast was about to devour Zorfi, a sudden attack from the east struck its eye with an explosion, sending blue smoke billowing out. The explosion caused pain in his eyes, and he couldn't see anything due to the thick smoke.
Then, a figure dressed entirely in black with orange stripes approached Zorfi.
"Who... Who... Are you...?"
Zorfi's vision blurred and he was powerless, unable to see the figure clearly. Finally, he closed his eyes and fainted on the spot.
The mysterious figure checked his pulse, and it was still beating. "He still has a chance to live." The mysterious figure then took Zorfi somewhere and left the beast as quickly as possible before his vision recovered.
A few moments after Zorfi was taken by the mysterious figure, the beast regained consciousness and saw that Zorfi was no longer in front of him, unable to check on him.
The beast, enraged and furious, let out a loud roar that could be heard for miles across the forest. It appeared determined and promised that if it found Zorfi again, it would be sure to eat him alive.
...----------------
Rong Clan Residence
The sky brightened again with warm rays, a place filled with martial arts academies. Zorfi lay on the bed, his body covered in bandages.
Then, the mysterious person from earlier arrived with a teapot and two small cups. He placed them on the table.
"Ah..."
"Hm?"
At that moment, Zorfi made a sound, indicating he had regained consciousness. He slowly opened his eyes and finally saw everything clearly. He saw that he was in an ancient house with a medieval feel from an Eastern country.
"W-Where is this...?" Zorfi said softly, trying to get up.
"Don't stand up yet, you're still recovering. Here, I'll make you some hot tea. So you can recover quickly," the mysterious person replied.
Zorfi glanced at the person. He was wearing the same clothes as the person who saved him in the forest. Zorfi was sure it was him.
"You... You're the one who saved me from that wild beast, right? I'm truly grateful to you for saving my life," Zorfi said politely.
"It's nothing. I was just passing by and saw you were in danger, so I helped you. By the way, my name is Fang Yun, and I'm a disciple of the Rong Clan. And you're currently at the Rong Clan residence," Fang Yun replied, introducing himself.
"Nice to meet you, Fang Yun."
Fang Yun smiled and nodded in response. Zorfi truly didn't expect to be saved by someone who held the title of disciple of a renowned clan... he thought.
"By the way, what's your name?" Fang Yun asked as he poured tea into a cup.
"My name is Zorfi Argenta. It might sound different, but you can call me Zo or Fi, too," Zorfi replied, scratching his head.
Fang Yun was confused upon hearing that name, as he had never heard it before. "Zorfi Argenta? I just found out there was a surname called Argenta... Or not?" Fang Yun asked, putting down the teapot and handing Zorfi one of the cups.
"Thank you, not a surname, but... How can I explain... Ah! I was actually born in the southeast. There, we don't use surnames for family names. We have our own names."
"No wonder, but... the southeast is so far away. Are you some kind of wanderer who likes to explore the world?"
"You could say it like that, haha!"
They continued to talk to each other, growing closer and getting to know each other, which led to them becoming friends.
Moments later, Zorfi was sitting relaxed, wearing the clothes Fang Yun had given him. Zorfi asked about his previous clothes, which turned out to be damaged and unfit for use. So, Fang Yun threw them away and gone.