A minute of silence ensued as both Zeke and the kneeling gorilla stood rooted on their spots. Zeke was at a loss as to what to do. The gorilla can't seem to speak human language too, so communication is impossible. Just as Zeke was about to attempt conversing again, he heard a voice inside his mind.
[Forgive me, oh Noble One's descendant. This one didn't know of your bloodline and thus offended you. I am willing to offer my head in exchange for your forgiveness.]
The voice inside his head seemed to be apologetic, but Zeke was a bit shocked as the voice sounded a bit... feminine?
"You.... can you understand me?"
The gorilla didn't dare to raise its head as it only replied with a telepathic voice.
[Yes, oh Noble One. This one learned from other humans who went in my part of the forest. I deeply apologize for my unspeakable actions. Please punish me, oh Noble One!]
The gorilla slammed its head to the ground even more that it caved in. Blood was seeping out but the gorilla didn't bother.
Zeke was stumped. He didn't know what to do with the kneeling gorilla. In one hand, he felt very furious just by the thought of this gorilla pushing him to his limits. However, if it weren't for this, he wouldn't have gotten Z's inheritance. He felt two contrasting emotions. He didn't decide immediately, but he decided to ask the gorilla first why it surrendered just like that.
"Why are you so scared and servile of my bloodline?"
[The first Golden Dragon was the one who pardoned this one's ancestor. Back then, this one's ancestor was forced to relocate from the Beast Continent due to a sudden rebellion. He didn't know of the current rules back then, which was the prohibition of transferring from another continent to another. This was apparently a rule jointly set up by the powerful figures of all continents, with one of them being the Golden Dragon. This one's ancestor wasn't a high figure back then, so he hadn't caught wind of the news. When he resided here in this unoccupied forest, he didn't expect the top figure of Dragon Continent to sense him. He was prepared to beg for forgiveness, but the Golden Dragon paid him no heed and only gave him a condition, which was to avoid harming the younger generations unless they seek harm first.]
The gorilla continuously spoke telepathically. Zeke could sense the gorilla's zeal and worship for its ancestor as well as the Golden Dragon. What puzzle Zeke was that the gorilla's sense of worship of the Golden Dragon seemed to be larger than that of its own ancestor.
'Just what is this...'
"Why do I feel like you worship my bloodline ancestor more than yours?"
[This one's father taught me that when speaking about a figure as high as Golden Dragon, one couldn't have any hate or jealousy towards the figure. It was not included in the law, but it was just that these figures deserve respect for their power. Them having that kind of power was already worthy of respect, but the Golden Dragon also pardoned this one's Ancestor, hence allowing our bloodline to be passed on. This one would always feel grateful for the Noble Golden Dragon.]
While the gorilla mentioned the Golden Dragon and its Ancestor, it couldn't help but have a zealous tone. Zeke more or less understood this gorilla. He stood there motionless, in deep thought.
Sensing the descendant of her savior standing still, the gorilla became even more nervous.
[Please, oh Noble One. Please accept my life as an exchange for my unspeakable actions!]
Zeke, who was cringing inwardly from the gorilla's speech, jolted awake when he heard the gorilla's words. Just as the gorilla raised its hand to chop its own head, Zeke rushed in and lightly slapped the gorilla, shocking it. It's expression changed from resolution to despair. As it was about to slam its head to the ground again, it heard Zeke's voice.
"Why are you so bent on dying? Also, please stop lowering your head. It feels uncomfortable talking to someone kissing the ground."
The gorilla was puzzled, and when it looked up to match Zeke's gaze from underneath his mask, it didn't sense an angry stare but a joyful one, as if it was being looked at as a treasure.
"Since you want to get punished badly, I have an idea."
Hearing this, the gorilla originally attempted to slam its head again but remembering Zeke's displeasure regarding kowtowing, it didn't avert its gaze. Zeke couldn't help but smile brilliantly under his mask.
------------------------
Meanwhile, in another part of the forest.
Multiple bloodied figures were running towards the direction of Zeke. It was the group with a young woman in the middle. However, compared to earlier, they were clearly missing some members.
The woman seemed to be too exhausted, but a look of determination could be seen on her face. Even though she wanted to take a rest now, she didn't want to be a burden to her group. Since they themselves held on, why should she not?
As she was pondering, a scream could be heard from behind. When she looked behind, she saw one of her clansmen sprawled on the ground with a small spear lodged in his leg. The others looked back too, and when they saw another one of their clansmen getting severely injured, some couldn't help but shed tears.
Along the way, they've lost almost a dozen of their clansmen from getting hit by those small spears. Albeit not very durable and small in size, the spears were shot in groups. While they could block most of it, a spear or two getting past them couldn't be avoided.
The middle-aged man finally couldn't take it anymore and stopped dead in his tracks and looked towards the young woman, surprising their whole group. His warped expression softened as he took a quick glance at the other youth beside the woman.
"Young Mistress, please just endure for a bit and don't stop running! I will try my best to hold some of them down while you escape!"
Hearing this, the young woman stopped and turned around. Then, along with the youths beside her, she sprinted back beside the middle-aged man. Not to mention the youths, even the middle-aged man didn't expect such a development. He frowned while he attempted to push her, but the woman stood her ground.
"If you're going to hold them down, then I might as well do it with you!" The young woman declared. She then looked back to the youths and motioned them to start running again. Seeing them standing there without moving even after her signal, she also frowned.
"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? RUN! DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME!" She bellowed.
"What are you saying?! Get over there, Young Mistress!" The middle-aged man started getting angry too.
I'm over here risking my life trying to buy time for you, yet you decided to stay with me? The man wanted to yell his thoughts, but seeing his nephew's determined stare, he knew he couldn't persuade her anymore and just heaved a heavy sigh.
"RUN! We're going to be fine! Just quickly call my father!"
The youths didn't want to, but when they remembered the thought of calling for reinforcements, they made up their mind and ran.
Now, only the middle-aged man, the young woman, and their injured clansman remained. The injured youth fainted from his injury and loss of blood. Although it wasn't a fatal one, it was the first time the youth experienced such a horrible scene and injury. His mental couldn't hold on anymore and coupled with his exhausted physical body, the youth finally fainted.
"Young Mistress, if I can't secure your safety, then even if I get out of here alive, your father would kill me." The man bitterly smiled.
"What are you saying, uncle? We won't die here! Stop being pessimistic and cheer up!" The woman joked, but inwardly, she was riddled with guilt.
It was for her sake that her house dispatched their group in this forest. Her father, the current patriarch, wanted her to gain some fighting experience. Since this forest was very close to the city, he sent her daughter here along with some of her peers in hopes of honing their skills in fighting. Originally, they were only supposed to hunt on the outskirts. However, when they noticed the absence of beasts, they unanimously decided on going further inside. Indeed, it proved to be a disastrous decision. A few minutes of traveling the inner part of the forest, they got surrounded by a group of monkeys wielding small spears. With her powerful uncle, they managed to get out of the encirclement, but not before another horde of those monkeys came tumbling towards them from one side! Overwhelmed by their sheer number, his uncle immediately ordered their retreat. However, never did they expect the monkeys' determination to hunt them. For the past ten minutes, they were getting chased incessantly, with their numbers dwindling from the initial 34 to 14 including their uncle.
Just thinking about her clansmen who got killed, she couldn't help but feel angry but guilty at the same time.
"Here they come! Young Mistress, prepare for battle!" Even while talking to her Young Mistress, the middle-aged man still paid attention to his surroundings. He had been hearing faint noises a while ago and was already lowering his stance, his vigilance at his highest.
The woman gulped. Instantly after that, she took out her dagger and warily looked towards the direction his uncle is facing.
She couldn't help but be sad knowing full well this day might be her last. However, the thought of her clansmen escaping due to her and her uncle's distraction, she soothed his mind. Still, she still pitied her uncle who was forced to risk his life with her. She could only wish she had the ability to turn back time and reject this small expedition of theirs.
However, contrary to expectations, instead of a swarm of monkeys holding spears like they expected, a figure of a masked human appeared from the bushes. The figure's clothes were stained with blood, but as they looked at his body without a shred of injury, they belatedly realized that perhaps that blood wasn't the figure's.