Chaptee 14:Realization

---

The crowd was in disbelief. Dragon Mountain had not chosen any disciple since, well, since what most people called the Big Bang. And now, out of nowhere, a mere kid had stepped up, and Dragon Mountain had accepted him.

"I, Dragon Mountain, also accept the girl named Succubus," boomed the mountain, its voice echoing through the valley.

Gasps spread through the crowd. Not only had Dragon Mountain accepted one disciple today, but now it was accepting another. Two in one day! People glanced around in shock, trying to catch a glimpse of this "Succubus." But what they saw left them even more dumbfounded. There, stepping forward, was a skinny little girl.

"Wait, hold up a minute," someone in the crowd muttered, expressing the thoughts everyone else shared. "Succubus? Isn't she supposed to be, I don't know, busty? Full of sex appeal? This girl looks like... like a stick! She's the complete opposite of what a succubus should be!"

Murmurs rippled through the audience, but Dragon Mountain cared little for their thoughts. It addressed the girl directly, its booming voice silencing the whispers.

"Take on your full form," the mountain commanded. "Input your power into the hole. You too," it added, gesturing toward Aris, the boy it had just accepted.

The skinny girl—no, Succubus—stepped forward. With every eye glued to her, she hesitated only briefly before placing her small, trembling hand into the hole carved into Dragon Mountain's stone. A dense surge of magical power erupted from her, swirling into the hole as though drawn by some invisible force. In an instant, her frail appearance transformed. Her body filled out—her chest swelled to the size of melons, her hips widened, and her overall figure became the epitome of seduction, though she still retained a hint of cuteness.

A collective intake of breath came from the boys in the crowd, some of whom found themselves struggling to contain their excitement, Aris included.

But as quickly as it happened, it ended. Succubus withdrew her hand, and the magic faded. Her voluptuous form vanished, and she returned to her former self—skinny, plain, and almost unrecognizable from the transformation they had just witnessed. A wave of disappointment passed through the boys in the crowd, their hearts sinking as if they'd just lost something precious. Even Aris felt a strange pang of emptiness.

Then it was Aris's turn. The murmurs continued as he stepped up, determined not to be outshone by Succubus's display. He placed his hand into the hole, and unlike the fiery, red energy that had flowed from Succubus, his magic was colorless, almost invisible. Yet, Dragon Mountain seemed to absorb it eagerly.

When the ritual was complete, the mountain spoke again. "You both have proven yourselves. These badges," it said as golden badges appeared in front of them, "are your symbols of acceptance. You may now proceed."

With that, Aris and Succubus made their way into Dragon Mountain, following the path that led to the rooms prepared for them. Aris couldn't help but feel a strange mix of emotions—he had been chosen, but what now?

As the door to his room closed behind him, silence enveloped him. The room was simple, yet elegant, its beauty understated but undeniable. Aris let out a deep breath. The day's events had been overwhelming, and he needed time to process everything.

He sat on the floor, legs crossed, and focused his mind. The magical energy within him was still stirring, eager to be tapped into. This was the moment to cultivate, to refine his abilities, and to grow stronger. He shut his eyes and began to draw in mana from the surrounding air, channeling it through his body as he'd been taught. But something was different this time—there was a strange pull, a new clarity that he hadn't experienced before.

Time passed slowly, and as Aris delved deeper into his cultivation, he felt his senses heighten. The energy swirling inside him was transforming, becoming more refined and potent. And with it came a realization: he had been holding back all along. There was more to his talent than he had ever realized.

A thought struck him like a bolt of lightning. What if he could do more than just cultivate his own strength? What if he could use his unique ability to observe and perfect the techniques of others? His mind raced as the possibilities began to unfold before him. He could build an entire library of techniques, each one perfected, each one more powerful than the last. Aris's heart pounded with excitement. This was no ordinary cultivation path—this was something entirely new.

He could see it now, the way forward. His talent wasn't just about increasing his own power—it was about analyzing, understanding, and perfecting the techniques of those around him. Every move, every spell, every form of magic or martial skill could be improved upon. He would become the ultimate cultivator, not just by mastering his own abilities, but by mastering the techniques of others and elevating them to levels they had never even dreamed of.

He thought back to Succubus's transformation. Her technique had been powerful, but it was flawed. The energy she released was unstable, wild. Aris knew, in that moment, that he could improve it. He could take her fire-elemental power and perfect it, make it more efficient, more controlled.

And it wasn't just her. Every disciple in Dragon Mountain, every enemy he would ever face—they all had techniques that he could learn from, perfect, and incorporate into his own growing library of super techniques. With each new skill he mastered, his own abilities would multiply.

A grin spread across Aris's face. This was the key to his future. Not just cultivating like everyone else, but using his talent to absorb and enhance the abilities of others. He would become unbeatable, not because he was stronger, but because he could master any technique, make it better, and make it his own.

He opened his eyes, feeling more energized than ever. This was it. He had found his path, his own method of cultivation. It was as if the whole world had opened up before him.

Just as the realization hit him, a knock came at the door. But Aris barely noticed, his mind still racing with ideas. He had no time for distractions now. He would begin perfecting techniques immediately, and soon, everyone would know his name—not just as the disciple of Dragon Mountain, but as the one who created the ultimate library of perfected techniques.

----