Heretic Trainer: The Gym Is My Cultivation Method

Everyone soon took their seats inside the main hall.

The room had been prepared simply, without excessive decorations or some ridiculous display of wealth, but it still carried the unmistakable weight of God Gym’s current status.

Rachel sat beside Garion with her usual calm authority.

Dahlia remained slightly behind them with both arms crossed, her silver-black disaster aura restrained but never completely hidden.

Raviel, Aveline, Arden, Mersha, Valtor, and Seira stayed nearby, each representing part of God Gym’s core strength.

Across from them sat Varkhazan Volcanion and the other Volcanion Dragon Clan envoys.

Bruno and Paren remained between both sides, acting as witnesses and temporary mediators in case the conversation somehow went to shit.

Garion leaned comfortably against his chair and looked directly at the leading envoy. "Alright, Envoy Varkhazan. What exactly do you want from coming all the way here?"

Bruno’s eyelid twitched slightly.

"At least try to say it more politely, you bastard."

Fortunately, Varkhazan did not appear offended.

Instead, a faint smile appeared on his face, his golden-red eyes carrying obvious interest. "We came because we are quite interested in you, Garion."

Garion raised an eyebrow and pointed at himself. "Me?"

"And God Gym," Varkhazan added calmly.

His gaze briefly shifted toward Kaelvar Ignis, who remained near Patriarch Dravion and Elder Varan.

"We received reports that a junior of the Ignis Dragon Clan entered your faction while still in the Awakening Realm and emerged as a Star Realm cultivator only one month later."

The hall became noticeably quieter.

Varkhazan continued, "More importantly, his foundation was completely stable. There was none of the prolonged instability normally expected after such an absurdly rapid breakthrough, nor did he require years of closed-door cultivation simply to stabilize his new realm."

Kaelvar’s expression remained controlled, though his eyes flickered faintly.

Even now, that month inside God Gym was something he would never forget.

Varkhazan’s attention then shifted toward Dahlia. "And then there is your disciple."

Dahlia looked directly back at him without the slightest fear.

Varkhazan studied her for a moment. "Dahlia Draconia, correct?"

Dahlia’s lips curved slightly. "That’s me."

Varkhazan’s golden-red eyes became sharper. "We heard that you defeated Kaelvar during the Newbie Tournament, before he underwent God Gym’s training."

He rested one hand over the other as his tail moved slowly behind his chair. "A young dragon-like existence originating from a Low Grade World, less than one hundred years old, defeating a talented junior of the Ignis Dragon Clan."

His voice contained neither mockery nor anger, only genuine interest. "To us, something like that is far from ordinary."

Garion let out a quiet chuckle. "Yeah, Dahlia isn’t exactly normal."

Dahlia immediately glanced toward him. "That sounds like an insult."

"It’s praise," Garion replied.

Dahlia’s eye twitched. "Your praise sucks."

Rachel released a soft sigh but made no effort to stop them.

At this point, she knew trying would probably accomplish nothing.

Varkhazan watched their casual exchange for several seconds before letting out a quiet laugh. "I see."

His gaze briefly moved around the hall. "God Gym truly has a rather strange atmosphere."

Garion looked pleased. "That’s part of the service."

Varkhazan’s amusement remained for another moment before gradually disappearing.

He leaned forward slightly. "Then allow me to be direct."

The atmosphere changed.

A faint volcanic pressure spread from Varkhazan’s body, not enough to threaten anyone, but enough to make the seriousness of his next words obvious.

Varkhazan looked first toward Garion, then toward Dahlia. "The Volcanion Dragon Clan wishes to extend an offer."

Garion remained relaxed. "What kind of offer?"

Varkhazan answered without hesitation. "We want God Gym to come under the protection and authority of the Volcanion Dragon Clan."

The hall immediately fell silent.

Varkhazan’s golden-red eyes then settled directly on Dahlia. "And as for Dahlia Draconia... We want her to join our clan."

Garion looked at Varkhazan for several seconds before tilting his head slightly. "Under you?"

Varkhazan gave a calm nod. "That is one way to describe it."

Garion’s mouth curved faintly. "So basically, you want God Gym to serve under the Volcanion Dragon Clan."

The atmosphere inside the hall immediately tightened.

Bruno’s expression shifted slightly.

Paren inwardly cursed.

"Damn it. He really had to say it that directly."

Varkhazan, however, did not deny Garion’s interpretation. "You may describe the arrangement however you wish. In practical terms, God Gym would receive the protection and backing of the Volcanion Dragon Clan."

His golden-red gaze remained fixed on Garion. "In exchange, your faction would recognize our authority and operate under us."

Garion stared at him for a moment before chuckling, not loudly or mockingly, but with genuine amusement at what Varkhazan had said.

A few seconds later, Garion stopped laughing and shook his head. "No can do."

Varkhazan’s golden-red eyes sharpened slightly. "You refuse?"

Garion leaned comfortably back in his chair. "Of course I refuse."

Several of the other Volcanion envoys immediately turned toward him, their expressions becoming noticeably colder.

Garion did not seem bothered in the slightest. "God Gym is going to become a top faction."

His voice remained casual, but the confidence behind it was unmistakable. "Not just in this region. Not just inside the Astral Cosmic Civilization."

Garion’s expression sharpened. "I’m talking about the whole damn universe."

The hall became quieter with every word. "One day, God Gym is going to stand above countless factions."

His purple-black-white eyes shifted toward the Volcanion envoys. "And eventually, even above your damn proud Dragon Race."

The hall became completely silent.

Bruno’s face stiffened.

He had fully expected Garion to refuse the offer, but he had never anticipated this kind of rejection.

Garion was practically declaring that the God Gym intended to surpass the entire Dragon Race... right in front of the dragons themselves.

Paren closed his eyes for half a second.

"Of course he said it like that."

Varkhazan’s volcanic pressure gradually became heavier. The temperature inside the hall rose subtly as faint crimson light moved beneath the scales covering his arms. "Bold words."

Garion shrugged. "True words."

Varkhazan studied him for another moment before shifting his attention toward Dahlia. "And you?"

Dahlia crossed her arms tighter. "Don’t want to."

The corner of Varkhazan’s mouth twitched slightly.

Dahlia looked directly into his golden-red eyes without the slightest hesitation. "I already have a master."

She gestured casually toward Garion. "I already have God Gym."

Her tail moved once behind her. "Why the hell would I abandon all that and join some dragon clan just because you suddenly showed up with a bunch of fancy ships?"

Several Volcanion envoys immediately reacted.

Their eyes became colder, and faint traces of volcanic pressure began spreading from their bodies.

Varkhazan raised one hand before any of them could speak.

The pressure immediately stopped growing.

His expression remained controlled, though the faint smile that returned to his face now carried a noticeable edge. "You should understand what refusing our offer means."

Garion’s relaxed expression faded slightly.

Varkhazan continued calmly. "The Volcanion Dragon Clan does not extend its hand often."

His golden-red eyes moved between Garion and Dahlia. "Rejecting an offer like this may make future relations between us... difficult."

Garion’s gaze slowly sharpened. "Is that a threat?"

Varkhazan gave a faint smile. "Consider it advice."

This time, Garion actually laughed mockingly. "Advice, huh?"

Varkhazan’s expression shifted almost imperceptibly.

Garion leaned forward slightly, resting one arm against his knee. "That might sound a little more convincing if you hadn’t brought that guy here with you."

Varkhazan paused.

The other Volcanion envoys became strangely quiet.

Bruno’s eyes immediately sharpened.

Paren’s posture stiffened.

Garion’s gaze moved away from Varkhazan and toward the crimson-gold warships hovering outside the island.

His expression no longer carried any amusement. "Did you really think I wouldn’t notice?"

For the first time since the conversation began, Varkhazan did not answer immediately.