Headmaster Axton stood in front of the fourth-floor entrance alongside the other guards. He remained perfectly still, his eyes closed in deep concentration.
It had been twenty minutes since the fourth floor had shaken from within, and nothing had happened since then. But the Headmaster knew it wasn't over yet.
Did he really manage to enter that place? If he did… I'll have to report this to the Main School. This is great news, Axton thought, a small smile forming on his face.
No one had ever entered the fifth floor since the founding of this branch in Klown City. Even Axton himself had been refused entry, no matter how hard he tried. The thought that his personal disciple could do it filled him with satisfaction.
Even if his disciple wasn't the chosen one, Axton still felt proud.
He could only imagine the envy he would receive once the Elders and other members from the Main School learned that his personal disciple had been chosen by the Great Serpent.
As he waited patiently, the entire building suddenly shook once more. Feeling the intense vibrations, Axton opened his eyes and stared at the entrance with anticipation. Please, let it be real!
Apollo stood up after healing the wounds on his chest. He hadn't fully healed—his muscles were still exposed, and his skin was parted—but he had managed to heal his organs, which was the most important part. His muscles and skin would heal on their own, though it would take time.
He walked towards the circular platform and stood in front of the floating scroll.
Immediately, Apollo's body felt revitalized as he neared the object.
Swallowing nervously, he raised his hand and touched the scroll. A cooling sensation traveled from his hand, spreading throughout his entire body. Slowly, he unfurled it, and intense light bathed his face.
At first, all he could see was white, but soon, the figure of the Great Serpent emerged, rising from the scroll and circling above him. The snake roared into the air.
The beggar watched in fascination as the Great Serpent dove toward him, mouth wide open.
Instinctively, Apollo raised his hands above his head, but it was useless—the serpent entered his body!
After a moment, Apollo examined himself. He felt light, as though his body had been rejuvenated. Although his injuries weren't fully healed, he felt as if he could go another round against the humanoid Great Serpent. Shaking his head, he looked around for the scroll and tilted his head in confusion when he couldn't find it.
"Where is—?" Apollo stopped mid-sentence as realization struck. The technique… it's inside my brain?
Excited, he brought up the technique. It felt as though he were looking at another interface, yet it wasn't quite the same.
Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation:
Description: This high-level technique allows the Chosen One to channel the power of the Great Serpent, gradually transforming into a colossal serpent. With each stage of mastery, the user gains serpent-like traits, enhanced senses, regenerative scales, and more, until full transformation is achieved.
Reading the description, Apollo's eyes widened in disbelief, and soon a laugh escaped his lips. "Hahaha! This is amazing!"
Apollo laughed for a while before he continued reading the full technique. There were five stages he needed to complete in order to fully master it. And when he read the final stage, he became even more satisfied.
Final Stage: Great Serpent Embodiment – Full transformation into the Great Serpent, gaining control over massive torrents of water and devastating tail strikes.
"So basically, I can transform!" Apollo clenched his fist. Although he didn't know the full strength of the Great Serpent, they were known as Legendary Creatures of immense power, so formidable that even Ancestor cultivators didn't dare provoke them. Their strength was such that a single attack could raze an entire continent to the ground. Just imagining it made the beggar's blood boil.
Should I learn it now? Apollo considered, glancing around his surroundings.
Then he looked down at his chest. "Hmm, I should do it back at my beggar spot."
He could use the place the Headmaster gave him, but he felt drawn to return to his beggar spot instead. It was a matter of preference, and Apollo realized he had grown attached to that little corner.
He also missed the food from his previous life that the Filly restaurant provided for him.
Taking one last look around, he started walking toward the exit, whistling a tune. This was a great day for him. He was satisfied with what he had gained, and although he had almost died in his fight with the clone of the Great Serpent, it was all worth it. Just thinking about transforming into a serpent, flying through the air, and causing massive waves with a flick of his tail made him walk faster.
Axton waited, tapping his foot rhythmically against the floor. He was starting to worry as his personal disciple had not yet returned. Although he didn't know exactly what lay within the fifth floor, he was aware there was a trial—and the possibility of death.
Just as his worry reached its peak, the entrance creaked open, and Axton's eyes widened with anticipation.
A small head peeked out from behind the door, scanning the area before revealing its full body.
"Personal Disciple Yoma," Axton greeted, regaining his composure.
"Oh, Headmaster! What brings you here? We just met, and now you're here again. Did you miss me?" Apollo asked, adjusting his robe.
He shifted the torn part to his side and created another tear on the opposite side to balance it out. It looked like a rough design, but it would do to hide the fact that he was injured. His robe was already full of rips and wear, so one more hole wouldn't make a difference. He still used his Cleaning Bead to make himself look more presentable, wiping away the remaining blood.
Headmaster Axton was momentarily speechless. Shaking his head, he replied, "We heard explosions, and the entire building started vibrating, so I came to investigate what was happening."
"Right, I felt that too," Apollo said casually. Of course, he did—he was the one who caused it.
Axton studied his disciple for a moment before raising his hand. A transparent dome enveloped the two of them. They had just met a few hours ago, but it seemed another serious conversation was needed.
"Tell me the truth. You entered that place, didn't you?" Axton asked, his voice filled with expectation.
"Place? What place?" Apollo tilted his head, a look of 'confusion' on his face. "Oh, do you mean that white area? The training room?"
Apollo had already decided he wouldn't admit to possessing that overpowered technique. It was up to the Headmaster to draw his own conclusions.