"There are four levels of beasts in our world. First, the Wild Beasts; second, the Enchanted Beasts; third, the Magical Beasts; and lastly, the Legendary Beasts.
Wild Beasts are the animals we consume, such as chickens, pigs, cows, and ducks. There are also common beasts we keep as pets, like dogs, horses, and cats. In short, these are animals that pose little to no threat to humans.
'Not much threat?'
Well, some Wild Beasts are considered dangerous, like leopards and lions. However, an ordinary person can kill them, and they, in turn, can kill an ordinary person.
'Oh, I see,' Shelly nodded as she listened to Jerome's explanation. 'What about Enchanted Beasts?'
Enchanted Beasts are animals with unique abilities, and they are a genuine threat to humans. For example, that Three-Eyed Frog over there,' Jerome said, pointing at the motionless vicious beast. 'Their abilities depend on their color. Some can spit acid, poison, or even paralyze you with a single bite.
'But they're not much of a threat to casters, except for apprentices like us.'
'Not much of a threat again?'
Let's just say they're the lowest beings in the Beast Record, somewhere between Wild Beasts and Enchanted Beasts. They're not particularly harmful, and even an ordinary person can kill them.
'Unless we encounter a Fierce Gator, Redhead Lion, or Featherless Vulture. Those are Mage-tier beasts and can pose a real threat to casters, especially apprentices like us.'
'Oh.'
'What about Magical Beasts and Legendary Beasts?'
'Magical Beasts, from what I know, have the power to destroy entire cities and villages. Even Teacher couldn't handle one, even if all the teachers teamed up. Only the Principal might stand a chance.'
'That's incredibly powerful.'
'At that point, they're no longer just animals. They're proper monsters.'
'What if a Magical Beast attacks our academy or the city?'
'We don't need to worry. Such monsters rarely appear.'
'Oh, and what about Legendary Beasts? If Magical Beasts are that strong, how much more powerful are Legendary Beasts?'
'Legendary Beasts...'
'In the history of our academy, only one Beast King has ever appeared, and that was—' Before Jerome could finish, Shelly interrupted.
'I know! It's the Fire Dragon,' she blurted out.
'I thought you didn't read books.'
'I don't, but I got interested because our academy's mountain has the head of a monster.'
'Just because of that?' Jerome smirked. 'But you're right.'
'The Fire Dragon was the first and only Legendary Beast to appear on our continent. It's said that many casters were killed, and the history of magic was almost erased. Thankfully, one person bravely fought it.'
'Who was it, Brother Jerome?' Shelly asked.
'Isn't it obvious? The founder of our academy, who defeated that monster. He used its head as a training ground for fire casters. That's why our academy is renowned across the Arcanas continent. Even now, anyone who approaches it without mastery of fire magic will turn to ashes. Sadly, our founder eventually died from severe injuries sustained in the battle.'
'Even a Mage can be killed,' Shelly thought to herself, wondering how strong the founder was compared to their teacher, who was a Mage.
'To this day, no documented Beast King has appeared in the last four hundred years.'
'Wow, you're so smart, Brother Jerome!'
'That's why you should listen to me and stay away from that thing,' Jerome smiled.
'But I think it's already dead while you were explaining, Brother Jerome.'
'You're so stubborn,' Jerome said, using his magic staff. He chanted for a few seconds, and chunks of ice formed, targeting the Three-Eyed Toad.
Boom!
A cloud of dust and debris flew into the air. When the dust settled, the Three-Eyed Toad was frozen solid.
'That should do it. It's definitely dead now.'
'Shelly, hold my magic staff,' Jerome said, handing it to her.
'What are you going to do, Brother Jerome?' she asked, taking the staff.
'Don't follow me. Do you see those hopping things over there?' Jerome pointed to the tadpoles on the ground. Shelly immediately looked where he was pointing.
'Those are called Three-Eyed Poles. Even though they're small, their bite can paralyze you.'
'Why are you going?'
'I have armanent boots that can protect me. You don't, so just wait here.'
'Okay, Brother Jerome,' Shelly reluctantly agreed and waited.
Jerome quickly walked over to the frozen Three-Eyed Toad, ignoring the tadpoles he stepped on. Using both arms, he lifted the toad. 'Of course, we'll sell this at the Pill Hall. Its blood can be used to make detoxification pills, and its third eye can be used as an amulet against illusion spells.'
'This Three-Eyed Toad is in its adult phase. I estimate it's worth about two silver coins.'
'Really? Two silver coins?' Shelly's eyes sparkled at the thought of money.
'Yes, and if we sell it, I'll treat you to a restaurant.'
'Let's go, Brother Jerome! Let's sell it!' Shelly said excitedly.
---
Meanwhile, on the ground, Raven struggled to escape his predicament. He was shaken by the events—the cave they were in had been destroyed, his tadpole siblings were scattered, and rocks and sand were flying everywhere.
But what shocked him the most was witnessing the events unfold—how the ground floated and the giant toad (Three-Eyed Toad) turned to ice. He was utterly bewildered. How could the people in this world wield such power? Was this the magic he read about in fairy tales?
'This is no ordinary world I've entered,' he muttered to himself. He was deeply worried for his safety, especially since he was just a tadpole (Three-Eyed Pole). He had no strength to fight against the currents of life.
However, he did gain some information that fueled his determination and motivation to survive.
'So, I'm not just an ordinary frog. I'm a Three-Eyed Toad, an Enchanted Beast,' Raven thought. He needed to grow into a full-fledged Three-Eyed Toad to gain the strength to defend himself and escape danger.
'I wonder what ability I'll have,' Raven imagined what it would be like when he finally became a Three-Eyed Toad.
'Idiots,' he scorned his tadpole siblings, who were clueless and only cared about wriggling around like worms instead of returning to the swamp.
'Forget them,' he muttered. He had no intention of helping his stranded siblings. After a while, he managed to return to the swamp... utterly exhausted.
Once back in the swamp, Raven was struck by intense hunger. He hunted for small algae, but it wasn't enough. So, he decided to hunt for small fish... and moved to deeper waters.
But he couldn't find any small fish—most were bigger than him, and he knew he could easily become their meal. So, he swam cautiously.
Soon, he sensed danger. A fish three times his size appeared and chased him.
'Damn it!' Raven swam as fast as he could, using all his strength to escape, but the fish was faster and gaining on him.
Fear and anxiety gripped him as the fish closed in, inch by inch, until it was just a second away from catching him.
'Damn it!' Raven's heart raced.
'Damn it! If I'm going to die, it won't be like this!' Those were Raven's last thoughts as the fish was about to bite him.
But in an unexpected turn of events, an even larger fish appeared and swallowed the one chasing Raven. Blood and flesh mixed, turning the water red. Only the head of the fish remained, sinking to the bottom.
Raven was chilled by what he had witnessed. 'I'm not safe here. I'll hunt near the surface instead,' he thought.
Before Raven could catch his breath, another fish appeared, just as large as the one that had chased him.
'Damn it!' Raven swam away again, starting another chase.
But this time, he was too exhausted to swim fast. He stopped and refused to run. Even if it meant his death, he wanted to fight back. So, Raven charged at the fish chasing him. Despite the size of the fish's mouth, Raven was swallowed whole.
But that wasn't the end. Raven was still breathing inside the fish. In his final moments, he refused to die without a fight.
So, he bit the fish from the inside, pouring all his frustration and anger into it. The fish writhed in pain, thrashing violently. After a few minutes...
'You thought you could beat me, you bastard!' Raven spat as he emerged from the fish. He didn't waste any time and quickly left, knowing the fish's corpse would attract attention, especially with its blood. Raven was right—moments after he left, other fish swarmed the carcass.
Raven was more determined than ever to grow into a Three-Eyed Toad. As he swam, his stomach growled again. He had no strength left to continue hunting.
'I'll just wait here instead of hunting further!' He was too afraid of encountering another fish and knew he didn't have the strength to fight. He hid among the swamp leaves, waiting for prey.
After a while, luck was on his side. He spotted a fish the size of a palm carrying eggs in its mouth. Raven thought he could take it down, so he slowly approached and bit its head. The fish struggled but couldn't break free from Raven's grip. After a few seconds, the fish stopped moving. Unbeknownst to Raven, his venom had paralyzed it.
'Mmm, mmm, delicious,' Raven said as he devoured the eggs. He never expected raw fish and eggs to taste so good. As he ate, Raven didn't notice his body changing—his white color turned green, and the two bumps on his body began to grow into legs.
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