New friend

In a lively forest, tall trees reached for the sky, adorned with moss and ivy. Rustling leaves and a gentle breeze created a dance of sunlight on the forest floor.

Intertwined boughs of the trees stood together, accompanied by the sounds of wild life and the occasional rustle of unseen creatures, painting a vibrant scene with emerald canopies, wildflowers, and shafts of sunlight. 

Within the forest, two individuals strolled—a young boy with lengthy black hair and a young girl with pink hair.

"Are you sure you want to come? There are scary monsters here," he asked with a teasing expression.

"Yes," she responded softly, her face revealing traces of fear.

"Alright, well, even if something happens, your big brother will protect you."

"Hmph, I can take care of myself." Her face gained a slight tinge of red as she retorted.

"Is that so?"

They traversed through the forest for a while before coming upon a small lake, whose crystal-clear waters reflected the azure sky above. Lush surroundings embraced the lake, their serenity mirrored in the still surface.

Rippling waves gently lap against the shore, their melodic rhythm a soothing accompaniment to the gentle breeze that sways the tall grasses nearby.

Distant calls of waterfowl echo through the air, adding to the peaceful ambiance.

Zhihui smiled faintly as he spoke.

"Beautiful."

"What is?" the girl asked, looking around with a confused expression.

"Can't you see? Look at all this greenery, this vibrant life, the air is filled with it."

Although Zhihui had never explicitly mentioned it, there was one thing about having his curse that he missed—the ability to experience things for the first time once again.

His challenging childhood, coupled with his memory loss, had given him a very different perspective than most.

For someone who was declared to die at an early stage in his life, even the smallest, most ordinary things held beauty for him. Life, in itself, was beautiful.

"Sights like these... more.. I will explore this universe." he professed in a resolute tone.

"Hmm the air is fresh, but it's your regular forest." she remarked in a neutral tone.

Zhihui's expression tightened, and he quickly moved toward the girl. Scooping her up, he hoisted her over his shoulder and swiftly headed towards a tall tree.

"Put me down!"

He gathered Qi in his legs, feeling a warm sensation in them as he crouched down, then exploded upwards into the air.

As he reached the peak of his jump, he grabbed onto one of the tree branches, then climbed onto it. He jumped once more and landed on another branch.

He repeated this four more times before letting out a satisfied grunt, then placed the girl down, who wore a sour expression as she questioned,

"What are you doing? Why did you bring me up here?"

"Ài, look."

Looking down from above, the forest looked like a big, green carpet. The trees were all mixed together, creating lots of shade below.

The sunlight peeked through the leaves, making patterns on the ground.

They could see paths winding through the bushes, inviting them to explore. It was like a lively picture of plants and animals all playing their part in the forest.

On one side, they observed the lake—a circular expanse of blue nestled in the vast carpet of green.

"Wow."

"This is incredible."

The girl had short pink hair, matching eyes, and an oval face that beamed with a wide smile.

Known as Ai Min, she, too, had been abandoned in a forest. While Zhihui was no saint, he noticed a similarity in their situations.

He decided that he could at least bring her back to the village; he anticipated that this would be the end of their encounter.

However, Zhihui was intrigued to find that, no matter how hard he tried to peer into her, he couldn't. It was as if something was blocking his sight, sparking his curiosity about the complexity of the girl.

Even though she never vocalized it, he sensed that she harbored negative emotions connected to this forest.

He wished that she could eventually perceive the forest's beauty and release the emotions attached to it.

"Oh, our friend is here," Zhihui said with an excited expression as he looked down beneath them.

"Wha-"

Before she could complete her sentence, he seized her once more, leaping from branch to branch. Upon reaching the tree's base, they encountered an unusual scene.

"This..." she started, only to be cut off by Zhihui.

"Apologies for the delay," he remarked, his gaze fixed on the beast before him.

He carefully placed Ai down, her expression marked by fear.

Before them loomed a creature reminiscent of a bear from Zhihui's past life. It stood on all fours, a formidable nine feet in height.

Its massive frame cast an ominous silhouette, and its claws, sharp and formidable, gleamed with an otherworldly metallic luster.

The beasts fur cloaked it in a deep, jet-black hue and its gaze exuded a fierce, untamed presence.

Silence blanketed the surroundings as the two figures locked eyes.

Zhihui's silhouette began emanating a gray Qi, making his worn-out robes flutter in the quietude.

In response, the beast's Qi surged, dark brown in color and a subtle undercurrent of killing intent lurked within.

"Ai, get as far away from here as you can." He used a solemn and deep voice to break the silence.

"Are you sure? shouldn't you escape too?" She asked with a worried tone.

He nodded and replied, "Just wait for me by the lake." 

"This won't take long."

Ai wore a pained expression, glancing back as she departed. Despite being a young girl, she was smart, knowing Zhihui's skill and understanding that in this situation she would only hinder him.

After a few moments, only Zhihui and the beast remained, maintaining an unbroken gaze, with neither of them looking away.

Zhihui squinted his eyes and said,

"Come here, baby, I promise not to hurt you."

The beast, as if comprehending his words, growled and lunged at him. Its movement defied its size and its claws dug into the ground with each powerful stride.

GROOWLLL

As the beast's figure gradually enlarged in his view, Zhihui's lips curled, revealing a cruel smile.

'Sage Mode' 

His surroundings blurred in his vision, the background fading away as the figure of the beast sharpened. Thoughts and emotions receded, replaced by a cold, calculating indifference that washed over him.

In this heightened state of focus, there existed only him and the beast. The small details of the creature became more apparent in the thick black fur, revealing scars or scratches, perhaps made by nails.

Whether there were more beasts like it in the forest, he didn't know, and at this moment, he didn't care. Drawing the sword from the sheath on his back, the beast inched closer.

However, he stood resolute, gripping the sword tightly with its tip directed at the ground.

He wasn't done yet.

'Mind Split'