Infinite System Inheritor Return From The Abyss - Chapter 482

482: Chapter 480: Focus 482: Chapter 480: Focus Dayanara walked beside them, her arms folded loosely as her sharp eyes swept over the trees.

The forest seemed endless, every path almost identical, and yet her instincts told her they were not wandering without purpose.  She glanced at the pair ahead of her.

The mother walked with Mist’s small hand clutched tightly in her own, almost too tightly, as if afraid he might slip away.

Mist leaned into her side, his face still blotchy from tears, but calmer now that he was with her.

Dayanara finally broke the silence.”Why are you in the forest?” she asked, her tone calm but firm.

“It’s not a place people just… walk into with a child.” The woman stiffened.

Her lips parted as if she wanted to answer, but the words caught in her throat.

For a moment, her eyes darted sideways, then back down at her son.

She squeezed Mist’s hand, hard enough that he winced faintly but said nothing.

“When we woke up,” the mother finally said, her voice low, “we were already here.” Dayanara frowned.

“Woke up?” “Yes,” the woman said quickly, almost too quickly, as if she wanted to end the conversation there.

She gave a shaky smile and brushed Mist’s hair from his forehead.

“That’s all I know.” Mist looked up at Dayanara, his small eyes shining with confusion, then clung even closer to his mother.

Dayanara slowed her steps, suspicion weighing heavier in her chest.

Woke up in the forest?

Both of them?

That doesn’t make sense.

But she said nothing more for now.

Instead, she kept walking in silence, listening to the crunch of leaves under their feet, her hand never straying far from her blade.

If this is a trap… I’ll know soon enough.

They walked in silence for a while, when Mist suddenly tugged his mother’s hand and tilted his head.

“Did you hear that Mother?” he whispered.

Dayanara slowed, her eyes narrowing.

The mother looked equally confused, pausing mid-step.

The three of them stood still, listening.

At first, there was only the rustling of branches and the distant call of a bird.

Then, faint but steady, came the sound of rushing water.

Mist’s face brightened.

“Water!” Without waiting, he pulled his mother’s hand and they both hurried forward.

Dayanara followed, cautious but hopeful.

Soon enough, the trees parted, revealing a clear river flowing gently under the sunlight.

Dayanara let out a small sigh of relief, the tension in her shoulders easing for the first time since she found them.

“Finally…” she muttered under her breath.

Meanwhile, the mother and child went straight to the water’s edge.

Mist crouched down and splashed his hands into the cool stream, laughing softly, while his mother cupped water in her palms and drank greedily.

She then rubbed at her face, washing away some of the dirt smeared on her cheeks.

Dayanara stood a few steps back, arms crossed, watching them.

Their clothes were stained, ripped and their skin pale and sticky with sweat and grime.

Mist’s hair clung to his forehead in messy strands.

 “They’ve been here for more than a day.” Dayanara’s eyes lingered on the river a little too long.

At first, it was calm, just the steady flow of water against the rocks.

But then… she noticed The ripples were wrong.

The current was shifting, swirling unnaturally as if something massive was moving underneath.

“Get out of the water!” Dayanara shouted, her voice sharp as she broke into a run.

The mother startled, scooping Mist up immediately, confusion flashing across her face.

Dayanara was already pulling out her two stick weapons, the wood gleaming faintly as mana surged through her grip.

The ground trembled, the water bulged- Then it burst.

With a violent splash, dark, slimy tentacles shot out of the river, lashing at the air.

One of them whipped forward, crashing down right behind Mist, its impact splattering water and mud.

Mist screamed, clinging tighter to his mother.

“Tch-!” Dayanara twisted her body, sliding to the side as one slammed down where she had been standing, shattering the ground.

Another whipped in from above, but she crossed her sticks and deflected, sparks of mana bursting as wood clashed against the monstrous force.

“Stay back!” she barked to the mother and Mist, spinning and striking another tentacle that lunged at her legs.

The impact rattled her arms, but she held her ground.

For a moment, it seemed she had the upper hand as she dodged and countered the flurry of strikes.

But then, two tentacles broke past her defense.

She barely turned in time to see them surge past her one slamming into the mother, coiling tight around her waist, the other wrapping around Mist’s small frame.

“No!” Dayanara’s heart dropped.

Dayanara didn’t hesitate.

The moment the tentacles pulled the mother and Mist underwater, she dove in after them, her body slicing through the cold current.

Her eyes stung as she forced them open underwater, kicking hard to follow the thrashing shapes ahead.

The twin sticks in her hands glowed faintly, pulsing with mana as if ready for her call.

[System Alert!]Monster Identified: Abyssal OctobeastClass: B-Rank Aquatic PredatorKnown Abilities: Constriction, Drowning Pull, Ink Cloud, Tentacle Slash Dayanara’s heart pounded.

‘B-Rank…?

Just my luck.’ She pushed forward, arms and legs burning as she swam faster.

Ahead, she saw it-a massive shadow moving in the murky water, dozens of tentacles writhing around a bulbous body with glowing red eyes.

The mother was being dragged to the left, Mist to the right, their bodies struggling helplessly against the crushing grip.

“No way I’m letting you take them!” Dayanara roared through bubbles, tightening her grip on her sticks as she charged toward the Octobeast.

ayanara kicked hard, her eyes locked on Mist and his mother.

Just a little more and she could reach- BAM!

Her body jolted sideways, pain shooting through her ribs.

The impact was so strong it knocked the air from her lungs, bubbles bursting out as she clutched her side in shock.

Her vision blurred for a second before she forced herself to focus.

Not the giant Octobeast ahead, but a smaller one, its tentacles shorter, but moving twice as fast.

Its glowing eyes narrowed as it lashed its limb around again, the force making Dayanara spin in the water.

Her chest tightened, burning from lack of air.

She clenched her teeth, ‘damn it.

if I lose focus now, they’re dead!’