This time, Aethryon did not rush forward.
The moment he entered the clearing, he could feel a dominant spirit beast aura spreading through the area. The aura seemed to surround the flower and felt quite powerful.
Instead of attacking immediately, Aethryon began carefully examining the surroundings. He lowered his body deeper into the grass and silently observed the clearing.
There were deep claw marks in the soil. In some areas, the grass had been completely flattened. Around the flower, there was also a distinct circular zone, as if something regularly moved around that spot.
Aethryon thought for a few seconds.
his guess was correct…
this was the territory of a hundred-year spirit beast.
Aethryon remained hidden for half an hour, patiently waiting. His small body stayed completely still within the grass. He even slowed his breathing, trying not to draw any attention.
And finally…
The true owner of the territory appeared.
The grass suddenly parted as a two-meter-tall lion stepped into the clearing with heavy footsteps. But this was no ordinary lion.
Its fur looked as if it were made of flames. Crimson and orange hues flickered constantly, like real fire dancing across its body. With every step it took, the air around it shimmered with heat.
Aethryon was slightly surprised when he saw it.
"A fire-type spirit beast…"
He thought for a moment.
"What is it doing here?"
This part of the Beginner Forest was usually inhabited by neutral or plant-type spirit beasts. Fire-type spirit beasts typically lived in volcanic or extremely hot regions.
Which meant…
either this lion had come from very far away,
or…
that fire flower was the reason.
Aethryon shifted his gaze back toward the flower.
Now he was far more cautious.
But Aethryon was absolutely certain about one thing.
That flower… would be extremely beneficial to him.
His instincts told him so. It felt as if every cell in his body was being drawn toward the flower. A strange hunger had awakened within him.
But there was also another reality.
Aethryon slowly raised his head and looked at the lion in the clearing.
"…that overgrown cat."
The lion's massive body burned like living fire. Every step it took caused tiny sparks to scatter across the ground.
Aethryon thought for a moment.
"That thing could eat me in one bite."
He paused.
Then his eyes shifted back to the flower again.
"…but the flower looks very delicious."
Two thoughts were fighting inside the small snake.
Survival instinct: Run.
Greed: Eat the flower.
Aethryon stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then he reached a very serious conclusion.
"Maybe… I can do both."
Aethryon immediately opened the System Shop.
While browsing the shop during his free time before, he remembered seeing a particular item. After searching for a few seconds, he found it again.
[Rapid Escape: Increases your movement speed by 200% for 10 minutes: 10 System Points]
Aethryon stared at the description for a few seconds.
This meant spending about a quarter of the points he currently had.
The small snake tried to convince himself that it wasn't a big deal.
"It's fine…"
But deep inside, his heart hurt a little.
After all, he had hunted for days to gather those points.
Aethryon looked again at the flame-like flower in the clearing.
Then he let out a slow sigh.
"I hope my instincts aren't lying to me."
And he pressed purchase.
However, Aethryon didn't use the pill immediately.
He decided to wait first.
The Flame Lion was still standing in the middle of the clearing. Trying to execute his plan right in front of such a creature… would be a terrible idea.
So Aethryon patiently remained hidden in the grass. One eye was on the flower, while the other carefully observed the lion's movements.
After a while, the Flame Lion lifted its head. It let out a deep growl and slowly stood up. Then it walked around the flower once, as if checking its territory.
Aethryon held his breath.
Finally, the lion turned and began walking toward the edge of the clearing with heavy steps.
Aethryon waited for a few more seconds.
Then his eyes lit up.
"This is the chance."
Aethryon didn't wait any longer.
Without hesitation, he swallowed the Rapid Escape pill.
Instantly, he felt his body become lighter. His muscles surged with energy, and his movements became unbelievably fast. It almost felt like the world itself had slowed down.
"Nice…"
Aethryon shot forward like an arrow.
He tore through the grass and reached the center of the clearing in a flash, swinging his tail.
Snap!
The flame-like flower was cut from its root.
At that exact moment, a terrifying roar echoed from the distance.
The Flame Lion had sensed the disturbance. It burst out of its resting spot and charged toward the clearing.
The ground trembled beneath each of its steps.
Aethryon glanced back for a moment.
"…very fast."
For a brief second, he wanted to turn back and say something to the lion.
"If you don't eat your food on time, someone else will take it right out of your mouth."
But then he quickly reconsidered.
Saying that would require him to stop.
And Aethryon absolutely did not have that kind of courage.
So he did the only sensible thing.
He ran.
And he ran very, very fast.
Aethryon fully took advantage of his increased speed and small body.
He shot through the grass like an arrow, turning every narrow gap into an escape route. He slid between thick roots, under fallen branches, and through dense bushes without slowing down.
The Flame Lion chasing him from behind was much larger. It was powerful, but moving through such tight spaces wasn't easy for it.
At one point, Aethryon slipped through a narrow gap beneath a fallen tree trunk.
The lion tried to follow through the same path.
Crack!
The trunk shifted loudly, and the lion let out an irritated roar.
Hearing that, Aethryon made a quick internal observation.
"My body may be small…"
He paused for a split second.
"…but it's extremely useful when running away."
The small snake continued forward without slowing down.
After about ten minutes, the effect of the pill slowly faded.
Aethryon's speed returned to normal. The strange lightness in his body disappeared, and his muscles finally relaxed. But something else had happened as well.
He had completely lost the Flame Lion.
The forest was quiet again. The furious roars from behind were no longer echoing through the trees.
Aethryon stopped for a moment and carefully observed his surroundings.
No danger.
Then he slowly lifted his head and looked at the flame flower he was still holding with his tail.
He stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then a joyful thought burst into his mind.
"I'm alive!"
The small snake lightly flicked his tail.
"And… the flower is mine."
Today had turned out to be a very good day.