Chaos Continent, Tianbi Village.

They named the place after the towering stretch of dark cliffs to the north—so high, they seemed to scrape the sky. A hundred years ago, villagers fleeing war settled here. That’s when they met the Divine Beast. Moved by their plight, it let them stay.

A rule was passed down ever since: mortals must never go near the black cliffs. That place cut off the world of men from the realm of immortals. Cross that line, and heaven will punish.

***

Summer evening.

Sunset stretched every shadow long. Smoke curled lazily from chimneys across the village.

A small figure trudged along the path, hauling firewood twice her height. It was Zara.

By the big tree at the entrance of the village, a few kids were playing around. The moment they spotted her, their eyes lit up like they'd found a new toy. “It’s Zara."

They rushed over, circling her like a pack of wolves. Then they broke into song, their innocent voices laced with cruelty: “Zara, Zara, no dad, no mom, just some trash no one wants around. No dad, no mom, we all hate her, hate her!”

Zara stayed quiet. Her eyes scanned the bunch. Five kids. No way she’d win.

She lowered her head, quickened her step, trying to walk away.

One boy, seeing she didn’t react, got bored. He picked up a stone and threw it at her.

Thud.

Zara dodged sideways, like she had eyes in the back of her head. That one missed, but others didn’t. Small stones rained on her. She winced, gritting her teeth, then broke into a run.

Laughter echoed behind her.

She raced home. But even from a distance, she saw Clara Brooks standing at the gate, smoke practically coming from her ears.

Zara hesitated, her steps faltered, but she walked over and whispered, “Aunt Clara…”

"You little wretch." Clara stormed toward her, broom in hand. Then came the beating.

“You live here, eat what I give—and you dare eat the hen that lays eggs? Little pest, I’ll beat you to death today!”

Zara tried to dodge, ducking and weaving. “I didn’t! I swear I didn’t!”

Clara’s son, Dylan, stood at the doorway, yelling, “Ma, it was her. I saw her eat the chicken!”

Clara got angrier. She swung harder. “Still lying? The bones were found in your nest, you thief!”

Zara was small—short legs, short arms. She couldn't avoid every strike. A few blows landed. Her eyes stung with tears. “I didn’t steal it! I was chopping wood all day, I swear!”

The scuffle grew loud. Neighbors started coming out to watch.The crowd stood for a while, figuring out what had happened. Someone finally stepped in, “Hey Clara, stop hitting her. Zara’s only three. It’s just a chicken for eggs—why argue with a child?”

Clara Brooks rolled her eyes. “Then you raise her if you’re so kind.”

That man quickly backtracked, “Not a chance.”

Three years ago, Mr. Foster suddenly brought back a baby wrapped in cloth, beaming with pride. He told everyone the Divine Beast had entrusted him with this child.

The Divine Beast had said, take good care of her, and Mr. Foster would live long and maybe even become immortal.

So Mr. Foster doted on Zara. Whatever good food or clothes there were, she got the best. Clara Brooks didn’t like it, not one bit. But Mr. Foster was strong-willed and a skilled farmer. Her family still relied on him, so she never dared to speak up.

Then, two months ago, Mr. Foster suddenly died.

It was the start of spring. He had spent the day working in the fields and still had enough energy to chat with others before heading home. They said he went home, played “high-up” with Zara, and shortly after, was dead.

Everyone believed it was Zara who brought his death.

They figured she wasn't some chosen one from the heavens, but a cursed child. Otherwise, how could a healthy old man die just like that, right after being around her?

After Mr. Foster’s death, Thomas Foster tried to abandon Zara multiple times. But no matter how far he dumped her, she’d be back at their door the next morning.

That only made the villagers more certain: the disaster-child had latched onto the Fosters.

Thinking of all this, the man shuddered and said with disdain, “Stealing chickens and eggs at three, she’s bound to grow up rotten.”

Another chimed in, “My eggs went missing a few days ago. Could’ve been her.”

“And several of my cabbages vanished too.”

“I didn’t steal anything,” Zara protested, shaking her head hard. “It wasn’t me!”

“Nonsense. That girl’s been a troublemaker since forever. Once beat up my eldest grandson.”

“Yeah, my son’s been hit by her too.”

“Bad seed, through and through.”

Zara looked around at the crowd, eyes wide with fear. They looked like monsters, ready to eat her alive. She couldn’t take it anymore and bolted through the crowd.

She ran fast, reckless in her desperation to escape those terrifying people.

She didn’t watch where she was going and suddenly stepped onto something soft. Her feet slipped, and she fell face-first to the ground with a thud. Her nose throbbed in pain.

She scrambled up, hands and knees pressing into the dirt, one hand on her nose. Tears sparkled at the corners of her eyes—it really hurt.

Just then, a cold, eerie voice rang out, “You dare step on me, you clueless thing? You’ve got a death wish!”Hearing the voice, Zara froze. She looked around, stunned to find herself inside the forbidden zone of Tianbi Village—the Black Heaven Wall.

The sun was setting fast, and around the towering black wall, the light dimmed even more. Zara trembled a little. “S-Sorry... Huh? A dog?”

What stood before her was a strange creature—snow-white, fluffy, but its four legs were pitch-black. A dog? At least it looked like one.

It wasn't big, just reaching Zara’s knees. With its rounded body and bouncy fur, it looked more cuddly than scary.

The creature paused when it heard her soft voice, then eyed her. “Where’s this brat from?”

Zara’s eyes lit up. At three years old, she instantly got distracted. “You can talk! A talking dog!”

“Watch your mouth!” The white pup snarled, baring tiny teeth. “I’m the Divine Beast, not some mutt!”

But even angry, it looked more cute than fierce.

“Divine Beast? You’re really the Divine Beast?” Zara’s eyes sparkled brighter. She remembered the village myth—Divine Beasts could do anything, even bring the dead back.

Seeing her stare, the creature took two steps back, fur twitching. “Y-Yes, I am... What are you—stop right there!”

Too late. Zara lunged forward and hugged it tight, burying her face into its fur. “Divine Beast, please... bring Grandpa back.”

The Divine Beast shoved at her with a paw, trying to push away her face. “Stay back! Don’t touch me!”

“Please, just save Grandpa... please...” Tears welled up in Zara’s voice.

She didn’t understand death, not fully. But she knew Grandpa was gone.

When Mr. Foster was alive, everything was happy. People were kind.

Now? Everything changed.

Her once-kind Uncle and Aunt Clara turned harsh. She was made to wash clothes, feed chickens, plant vegetables, fetch firewood. If she didn’t do it right, Clara would beat her with a broom. She only got two bowls of rice water a day—no actual rice.

Dylan and the other kids mocked her. The moment she fought back, Clara hit her harder, yelling she was a troublemaker born to wreck everything.

Zara feared the pain too much to stand up for herself anymore.

Remembering all that, she cried even louder. “Grandpa...!”

Neither she nor the Divine Beast noticed the blood trailing from her nose.

Drip.

A drop of bright red landed on the white fur.

Flash!

Blinding white light shot out.

When it faded, Zara blinked, stunned into silence. She looked down at the stiffened creature in her arms. “Huh?”

Something had changed. She could feel it in her head.

The Divine Beast let out a shrill scream. “Ahhhhh!”

Its fur puffed out in all directions. “What did you do?! How did I end up your contract spirit, you little brat?!”