Chapter 10:Mastermind(4)

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**In the Grit Forest:**

The ground beneath Aris's feet trembled, and the ominous growl of the beast echoed through the twisted trees. He slowed his pace, his senses heightened, as he approached the hidden area where the most powerful cultivation arts were said to be kept.

He had no weapons, no resources for a fight, but he didn't need them. Aris's greatest weapon was his talent: *Inspiration*. The ability to observe and study the techniques of others, perfect them, and make them his own. But this time, he needed to use it in a way that would deceive the beast guarding the treasure.

Aris crouched behind a thick tree, peering into the clearing where the guardian beast lurked. The creature was massive, with dark, matted fur and glowing red eyes. It prowled around the entrance to a cave, its sharp claws tearing at the earth.

Aris knew he couldn't fight this beast head-on. Instead, he needed to manipulate it, to turn its own strength against it. He focused on the creature, watching its every movement, studying the way it moved, the way it breathed. *Inspiration* kicked in, allowing him to absorb the essence of the beast's power, to understand how it fought and defended its territory.

But he didn't just copy what he saw—he perfected it in his mind. He imagined the beast's strength and ferocity, but without its blind aggression. He imagined speed and agility, but with precision and control. He knew that if he could trick the beast into thinking he was one of its own, even for a moment, he could gain the upper hand.

Aris stepped into the clearing, his body moving with a fluidity that mirrored the beast's own movements. He let out a low growl, imitating the sound he had heard earlier, and locked eyes with the creature.

The beast paused, its ears twitching, confused by the presence of what it perceived as another predator. Aris knew this was his chance. He had to deceive it, to make it believe that he was no threat, that he was a part of the forest just like it was.

He slowly approached the creature, his heart pounding in his chest. The beast snarled but didn't attack. Aris kept his movements slow and deliberate, maintaining eye contact, and channeled the perfected version of the beast's strength through his own body.

When he was close enough, he made his move. In a sudden burst of speed, Aris feinted to the left, drawing the beast's attention. The creature lunged, its massive jaws snapping shut where Aris had been just moments before. But Aris wasn't there. He had anticipated the attack, using the beast's own perfected speed against it, and had already moved to the side, out of its reach.

As the beast recovered from its failed strike, Aris used *Inspiration* again, this time to perfect a technique of his own. He imagined a counterattack, not with brute force, but with precision and timing. He visualized the beast's next move, calculating the exact moment when it would be vulnerable.

The beast roared in frustration and charged again, but Aris was ready. He sidestepped the attack and, in one fluid motion, delivered a strike to the beast's side, a spot he had identified as its weak point through his study. The creature staggered, its massive body reeling from the unexpected blow.

But Aris didn't stop there. He knew he couldn't defeat the beast outright, so he needed to keep it off-balance, to keep it guessing. He circled around, always staying just out of reach, using the perfected movements and techniques he had learned to stay one step ahead.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Aris saw his opportunity. The beast, exhausted from the constant feints and strikes, hesitated for just a moment. It was all he needed. Aris surged forward, his perfected technique allowing him to slip past the creature's defenses and strike at its heart.

The beast let out one final, ear-splitting roar before collapsing to the ground. Aris stood over it, breathing heavily, his heart racing with the thrill of victory. He had done it—he had outsmarted the guardian of the Grit Forest, not with brute force, but with cunning and deception.

As the beast lay still, Aris turned his attention to the entrance of the cave. The hidden area he had spoken of earlier lay just beyond, waiting for him to claim the cultivation art. He smirked, the thrill of his deceitful victory still fresh in his mind. The other players would never know the truth of what had happened here, but that suited Aris just fine.

With the guardian defeated and the path clear, Aris stepped into the cave, ready to claim the power that lay within.

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