"Beast, you dare!" the golden-robed youth roared as he spotted Fang Mu snatching the herb. His body tensed, ready to lunge after him—
But before he could move, the lion-like beast pounced, forcing him back into battle.
Fang Mu let out a low chuckle, his throat vibrating with excitement. The moment his webbed mouth wrapped around the herb, a surge of warmth spread through his body. He could feel it—an extraordinary power hidden within the herb.
Without wasting a second, he yanked the herb from the ground and bolted.
"Scram!" the youth bellowed, his eyes burning with fury. He had witnessed it all, but the lion-like beast refused to give him an opening.
Fang Mu didn’t look back. He only knew one thing—he had to get away before either of them turned their wrath on him.
Clenching the herb tightly in his mouth, he leaped forward, his small body moving with surprising agility. Each bound sent his heart racing, a mix of exhilaration and dread surging through him. Excitement, because he had just snatched something precious right under the noses of powerful beings. Fear, because if they finished their fight and realized he was gone, they might come after him.
The ground still trembled from the battle behind him, explosions echoing through the trees. The fight wasn’t over yet—but for how long?
Fang Mu maneuvered through the dense forest, weaving through thick undergrowth and leaping over gnarled roots. The air was damp with the scent of earth and vegetation. His body moved on instinct, every muscle working to put as much distance as possible between himself and the battlefield.
He had the herb. Now, he just needed to find a safe place to consume it before anyone caught up to him.
_
 
Meanwhile, the golden-robed youth grew increasingly irritated. The lion beast was relentless, refusing to back down. Their strength was evenly matched, making it impossible for him to end the fight quickly.
“Beast, stop! The herb is gone!” the youth shouted, blocking another vicious swipe from the beast’s massive claws.
But the creature refused to back down. It fought with relentless fury, its golden eyes blazing with rage. Every pounce and swipe forced the youth to retreat, his body accumulating bruises and scratches with each passing moment. His breath grew heavy, his muscles ached, and he knew—if he dragged this fight out any longer, he would only put himself in even greater danger.
"You stubborn fool," the youth spat, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "I have no choice but to use it!"
He couldn't afford to waste any more time. Every passing moment drained more of his mana, pushing him closer to the jaws of death.
Gritting his teeth, Jerome reached into his robes, fingers closing around the cool metal of the medallion. He pulled it out, its surface gleaming with intricate engravings, pulsing faintly with hidden power.
"This ends now," he muttered under his breath.
A blinding light erupted from the medallion, followed by an enormous fireball. The scorching flames roared as they engulfed the beast, swallowing it whole.
The Thunder Lion let out a deafening roar and growl, its body thrashing violently as the searing heat consumed it. For a brief moment, its golden eyes burned with fury—then, its struggles ceased. The charred remains of the once-mighty beast crumbled, turning to ash that scattered in the wind.
The youth exhaled heavily, his shoulders slumping. His gaze darkened.
“That damn three-eyed toad…” He muttered, his fists clenching as the anger surged within him. The thought of that lowly creature stealing the Acdilla Herb made his blood boil. He wanted to hunt it down, to tear it apart with his own hands.
But he knew better.
In his current state, chasing after it was too risky. His mana reserves were dangerously low, and if he ran into another high-tier beast, it could cost him his life. If only he hadn’t forgotten to bring a potion, he would have hunted that thieving beast to the ends of the forest.
“Damn it… damn it!” he cursed under his breath.
Just then, a powerful gust of wind swept through the clearing. A figure descended from above, her emerald robe billowing in the breeze. A young woman landed gracefully before him, her piercing green eyes scanning his bruised form.
“Brother Jerome, what happened to you?” she asked, concern lacing her voice.
"Shelly?"
“Nothing ,I just fought a Thunder Lion,” he replied, his voice laced with exhaustion.
Her's eyes widened in shock. “You fought a Thunder Lion? By yourself?”
She knew how powerful those beasts were. Even for a skilled caster, taking one down alone was nearly impossible.
“No,” Jerome admitted, shaking his head. “I had to use my master’s medallion… and that Thunder Lion was just an infant.”
Shelly’s eyes widened even further. “What?”
She had assumed it was a fully grown beast—strong, dangerous, and worthy of such a struggle. But if it had only been an infant… then just how terrifying would an adult Thunder Lion be?
He let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing his temples. “Even as a cub, it nearly drained me. If I hadn’t used the medallion, I would’ve been the one lying dead in that clearing.”
She frowned. “That’s insane… If a juvenile Thunder Lion was that strong, an adult could probably wipe out an entire squad of caster.”
Shelly’s expression softened with understanding. “I see… that explains why you look like you’ve been through hell.”
Jerome nodded and exhaled heavily. “Do you have any potions? Anything that can help me recover?”
“Oh, of course,” Shelly said, reaching into her robes. She pulled out a small vial, no larger than her finger, and tossed it to him.
Jerome caught it, quickly unscrewing the lid. He drank deeply, the cool liquid sliding down his throat. Almost immediately, he felt a surge of energy coursing through his veins. Though it wasn’t enough to restore him completely, at least a quarter of his strength returned.
He clenched his fists, his eyes darkening.
“That toad… I’ll find it.” he muttered remembering the toad thief under his nose he couldn't help but felt boiled
"Why you fought the thunder lion at the first place" Shelly asked her voice soothing 
"Because the herb"
"Herb?"
"The Acdilla Herb"
Shelly's eyes widened in shock. “An Acdilla Herb? Are you serious?”
Jerome gave a slow nod, his expression grim. “I saw it with my own eyes. That’s why I fought the Thunder Lion in the first place. But while I was busy, that damn three-eyed toad snatched it right from under me.”
Shelly still couldn’t believe it. The Acdilla Herb was a treasure among caster, capable of greatly enhancing their mana reserves and refining spellcasting abilities. If used correctly, it could even help a caster break through bottlenecks. Losing something so precious was no small matter.
“That herb alone could have been worth this whole battle,” Shelly murmured. “And you’re telling me a toad took it?”
Jerome’s jaw tightened. “Not just any toad. That thing was fast. Intelligent. It knew exactly what it was doing.”
Shelly crossed her arms, deep in thought. “If that toad was smart enough to steal it, then it’s probably smart enough to use it. If it consumes the Acdilla Herb…”
Jerome’s fingers twitched. “Then it’ll become even harder to deal with.”
The wind rustled through the trees, carrying with it the lingering scent of burnt flesh and magic. The battlefield was quiet now, but the tension in Jerome’s heart hadn’t lessened.
She sighed. “So what’s your plan?”
Jerome’s eyes gleamed coldly. “I find that toad. And I take back what’s mine.”
"But what if you can't find it?" Shelly pressed.
Shelly smirked, crossing her arms. “So, you’re just going to let a toad steal from you and do nothing about it?”
"No"
Jerome’s jaw tightened. “I never said I’d do nothing. But if I can’t find it, then I’ll just have to accept my bad luck.”
Shelly let out an exaggerated sigh. “Tsk. What a waste… A precious Achilla Herb, eaten by some slimy little creature.” She stuck out her tongue playfully, teasing him.
Jerome shot her a glare. “You ask too many questions, Shelly.”
“I just think it’s funny,” she said with a grin. “You nearly died fighting that Thunder Lion, only for a toad to waltz in and snatch the prize right under your nose.”
Jerome rolled his eyes, too tired to argue. “Enough. I need to rest and recover my strength before going after it. I’ll visit my village first, then I’ll hunt that toad down.”
Shelly stretched her arms behind her head, still amused. “Fine, fine. But don’t take too long. That toad might be out there getting stronger as we speak.”
"No rush. Even if it ate the herb, do you think it has a chance against me?" Jerome said, his voice filled with confidence.
But deep down, he knew Shelly was right.
The Acdilla Herb wasn’t just any ordinary plant—it was a rare treasure capable of strengthening one’s body, enhancing mana, and even triggering evolution in magical beasts. If that toad had truly consumed it… there was no telling how much it could change.
Shelly smirked. "You're confident, huh? But what if it grows wings and breathes fire?"
Jerome scoffed. "Then I'll roast it midair."
She chuckled, shaking her head. "Fine, fine. But first, let’s get back to the village. You need rest before chasing after your little thief."
Jerome hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. But once I recover… that toad is mine."