Qingyin noticed the red wild berries in Sunri’s hand.
The Riftbeast sniffed the air, a low growl rolling from deep in its throat.
It had no interest in the berries—
only in the trespassers on its territory.
Qingyin knew she couldn’t wait any longer.
She drove her staff into the soil and formed a seal with one hand.
Water?light gathered at her fingertips.
“Water?Veil Barrier,” she whispered.
A sheet of water burst from the ground, rising before Sunri—
just as the Riftbeast’s claws struck.
The veil shattered instantly into rain.
Sunri glanced toward Qingyin,
as if wanting to speak,
but unable to form the words.
Qingyin clenched her teeth, hands interlocking.
She focused, chanting under her breath.
Five small orbs of water rose beside her,
held aloft by the mistlight.
The Riftbeast swung again, claws descending toward Sunri—
The first orb shot forward,
slamming into its back.
The impact hurled the beast upward,
its massive body sweeping over Sunri before crashing to the ground.
It rolled, landed on all fours,
tearing deep grooves into the earth.
Its silver stripes flickered violently,
like overstimulated nerves.
In the next instant, it charged at Qingyin.
The second orb missed—
the beast leapt aside with impossible speed,
leaving only an afterimage.
The third orb struck nothing but air.
A massive claw closed in on Qingyin’s brow,
its shadow freezing in place—
Sunri crashed into the Riftbeast’s flank,
driving his shoulder hard into its ribs.
The beast staggered,
its claws grazing Qingyin’s cheek,
leaving a thin line of blood.
It regained its footing—
and that was when Pardy walked toward them.
The Riftbeast’s amber pupils contracted,
locking onto its new target.
Sunri reached out, voice cracking.
“Pardy, run!”
Pardy stopped, tilting his head at the charging beast.
Qingyin bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.
She forced the last two water orbs forward.
They collided mid?air, merging into a single massive sphere,
spiraling with water?ridges as it shot toward the Riftbeast.
Boom.
The sphere exploded.
The beast was thrown more than ten meters,
slamming into a boulder hard enough to crack its surface.
It slid to the ground,
its abdomen rising and falling weakly.
Sunri reached Pardy at last,
eyes reddened as he pulled the child close,
hands trembling as he checked him.
“Are you hurt?”
Pardy shook his head
and patted his father’s cheek.
Qingyin collapsed to the ground,
her spirit energy spent.
The blood on her cheek glowed sharply in the mistlight.
She stared at the distant Riftbeast.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
“We… we have to go,” she gasped.
“Its pack could arrive any—”
She didn’t finish.
Pardy slipped from Sunri’s arms
and walked toward the dying Riftbeast.
“Pardy! Don’t!”
Sunri reached for him, but caught only air.
Qingyin forced herself upright.
“Stop!”
Pardy was already standing before the beast.
The Riftbeast opened its eyes with effort,
pupils unfocused.
It looked at the tiny human before it
and let out a faint whimper—
Not a threat.
A plea.
Pardy lifted his hand
and placed it gently on the beast’s brow.
Sunri and Qingyin held their breath.
The world shifted.
A soft silver glow bloomed from Pardy’s palm—
not Sunri’s gold,
but a cool, gentle light.
It rippled outward,
washing over the Riftbeast’s wounds,
seeping into bruises and torn flesh.
The beast shuddered.
Its dim stripes brightened again,
like dying embers stirred back to life.
Wounds closed before their eyes—
bleeding stopped, swelling faded,
internal injuries eased.
Muscles still tore, bones still cracked,
but death loosened its grip.
Dew fell into a puddle nearby,
ripples spreading softly.
The Riftbeast lifted its head with effort
and touched Pardy’s hand with its nose.
Its scattered amber gaze softened,
its movements slow, transformed.
The ancient book opened, pale?gold light rising from the page:
【Name】Pardy
【Archetype】Child
【Level】0 → 1
【Attributes】Innocence / Sensitivity / Unknown
【Skills】+Heal
【Revelation】Distorted
The golden light slowly faded, and the page closed.
Pardy lowered his hand.
The silver glow faded.
Mist gathered again.
The Riftbeast watched him
and heard the child’s whisper—
“Na?na.”
The word was soft as fog,
yet carried a strange power.
The Riftbeast bowed,
gave a low rumble,
and struggled to its feet.
It walked a few steps,
paused to look back,
then turned again—
limping toward the deeper forest,
glancing back repeatedly,
as if beckoning them to follow.
Sunri and Qingyin exchanged a stunned look.
“What… what did he do?”
Qingyin’s voice trembled.
Blood still trickled down her cheek,
but she no longer felt the pain.
Sunri shook his head,
expression tangled.
Pardy took two steps,
turned back—
and smiled.
A smile pure as first snow,
clear as running water.
A thought flickered through Qingyin’s mind:
How can a child be this adorable…?
But the memory of the strange light
made her shake her head and slap her cheeks.
The sting reminded her this wasn’t a dream—
this child was anything but ordinary.
Sunri hesitated only a moment
before following his son.
Qingyin, after a brief pause,
went after them.
The Riftbeast led them through a dense stretch of forest.
Tree trunks were coated in milky, glowing moss,
soft as moonlight,
draping the woods in a dreamlike sheen.
A sweet, comforting floral scent lingered in the air.
In the distance, several Mist?horned beasts rested by a stream.
They lifted their heads when they saw the Riftbeast,
their single horns glowing pale blue,
as if verifying the newcomers’ presence.
But their gazes settled on Pardy.
The lead mother Mist?horned beast gave a gentle hum,
a sound like wind through hollow wood.
She stepped forward—
ignoring the injured Riftbeast
and the two humans—
and lowered her head to touch Pardy’s hand.
Pardy giggled,
a sound bright as bells.
He touched the horn on her forehead—
and its glow shifted from pale blue
to warm gold,
soft as morning light.
Pardy: “Big beast hurt. I touch it—light comes out. Papa shouts.”
Author (hugging him tightly): “He’s just… too cute.”
Snarky Bird: “THE AUTHOR IS BROKEN!! Dr. Lam, hurry—he needs to be exorcised!”
