Chapter 731: The Bet Against a God
Volkrath stared at Garion for several seconds before a smile slowly appeared on his face. "Yes. I did say that."
The Volcanion envoys remained standing, their expressions still cold, but none of them dared speak after Volkrath had raised his hand.
Volkrath slowly tapped one finger against the armrest. "And what you said is not entirely wrong either."
Garion raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Volkrath looked directly at him. "You dare to place the word God in your faction’s name and openly declare that you intend to train and create Gods."
His golden-red eyes carried a faint trace of approval. "So naturally, if your ambitions are genuine, you cannot be someone who is easily frightened by Gods or powerful worlds alone."
The hall became quiet again.
Garion leaned forward with obvious interest after hearing that. "Alright. So what do you want to do now?"
Volkrath’s smile deepened slightly. "Let us make a bet."
Garion’s expression immediately brightened. "Now we’re talking."
Atlas turned toward him almost instantly.
[Why do you sound so happy about this?]
Garion ignored him.
Volkrath continued calmly, "Send someone from God Gym to test their strength against me."
The moment those words fell, several expressions around the hall changed.
Rachel’s gaze immediately sharpened.
Dahlia looked directly at Volkrath, while Bruno’s entire posture became tense again.
Volkrath continued without rushing. "If your side loses, you and God Gym will accept the arrangement we discussed."
His voice became slightly heavier. "God Gym will come under me."
The atmosphere inside the hall immediately grew tense again.
Varkhazan’s lips curved faintly, his confidence obvious. From his perspective, the outcome of such a wager hardly seemed worth questioning.
Volkrath was a genuine Low God. Who inside God Gym could possibly defeat him?
Volkrath kept his attention entirely on Garion. "If your side wins, however, you may ask me for anything within reason."
Garion answered almost instantly. "An Intermediate Grade World."
Varkhazan’s expression changed at once. "You..."
Several other Volcanion envoys also reacted with visible displeasure.
An Intermediate Grade World was not some random treasure, pill, weapon, or pile of Cosmic Coins.
It was an entire world.
Even for a top clan such as the Volcanion Dragon Clan, something of that level still possessed considerable value.
Volkrath raised one hand again before Varkhazan could continue. "Fine."
Varkhazan turned sharply toward him. "Lord Volkrath."
Volkrath completely ignored the objection and continued staring at Garion. "It just so happens that I possess an Intermediate Grade World under my own name."
Garion’s grin immediately widened.
Volkrath leaned comfortably against the back of his chair, his volcanic aura settling around him like controlled magma. "If you win, I will transfer that world to you."
The hall became silent.
Garion tapped one finger against his armrest. "Good."
Volkrath’s smile became sharper. "However, if you lose..."
Garion casually finished the sentence for him. "God Gym comes under you."
Atlas immediately shouted inside Garion’s mind.
[Garion, don’t accept something like this so damn casually!]
Garion did not even acknowledge him.
Rachel looked toward Garion with clear concern, while Dahlia’s expression became serious.
Even Bruno seemed ready to say something.
Garion gave none of them the chance. He looked directly into Volkrath’s golden-red eyes. "Deal."
A gleam of amusement appeared in the dragon God’s gaze. "Good."
The agreement had been made.
Garion leaned back in his chair, looking far too relaxed for someone who had just wagered the future independence of his entire faction against a genuine God.
His smile gradually became more dangerous. "Then let’s see..."
Purple-black gravity faintly stirred around his fingers before disappearing again. "Whether a mere Low God can handle God Gym."
---
Volkrath soon stood from his seat, his golden-red eyes still fixed on Garion. "So, when do you want to fight?"
Garion immediately stood as well, a confident grin spreading across his face. "Whenever you’re ready. Hell, if you want, we can even do it right now."
Volkrath stared at him for a moment before bursting into amused laughter. "Hahaha! As expected of you. Straight to the point."
His golden-red eyes gleamed with interest. "If that’s what you want, then we’ll do it now."
Volkrath raised one hand and began channeling his divine energy outward. "However, we will not fight here."
The surrounding space immediately started trembling beneath the power gathering around his fingers. "My strength is far too destructive for a place like this."
Garion’s eyebrow lifted slightly at those words, as Volkrath had only mentioned his own strength, not even including Garion’s.
Garion almost laughed, but kept it to himself.
"As expected of a proud dragon. Arrogant as hell."
He couldn’t help but imagine what kind of expression Volkrath would make if he actually lost to him.
But imagining it and seeing it happen in real time were two entirely different things.
Garion was almost excited to witness it for himself, so he directly asked, "Where are we fighting?"
Volkrath did not bother explaining further. He casually swept one hand through the air.
RIIIIIP!
Space split open.
A massive crimson spatial rift formed in the middle of the hall before stabilizing into a swirling portal.
On the other side stretched an enormous barren world without cities, civilizations, or any visible intelligent life.
Volkrath pointed toward it. "This portal leads to an empty Low Grade World under my control."
His volcanic aura rolled around his body. "We will fight there."
Without waiting for Garion’s response, Volkrath stepped directly into the portal.
His figure vanished.
A moment later, everyone could faintly see him through the spatial passage, already standing high above the barren landscape of the empty Low Grade World.
Garion immediately started walking toward the portal.
Before he could enter, Rachel stepped forward and lightly caught his arm.
Her calm expression could not completely hide the worry in her eyes. "Be careful, okay?"
Garion stopped and turned toward her.
His expression softened slightly before he gave her a relaxed smile. "Don’t worry."
He placed a hand over hers for a moment. "I’m the leader of God Gym. How the hell can I call myself that if I’m weak enough to lose without even putting up a fight?"
Rachel stared at him. "That is not nearly as reassuring as you think it is."
Garion chuckled. "Just trust me."
Nearby, Dahlia crossed her arms and gave him a flat look. "That’s what you always say right before doing something stupid."
Garion laughed upon hearing that and simply turned back toward the portal.
Atlas hurriedly floated beside him.
[For once in your damn life, please remember that your opponent is an actual God.]
Garion rolled his shoulders as purple-black gravity faintly gathered around his body. "That’s exactly why this’ll be interesting."
Without another moment of hesitation, he stepped through the portal.
The spatial passage swallowed his figure.
A second later, Garion appeared inside the barren Low Grade World, directly opposite Volkrath.
The dragon God stood waiting in the distant sky.
Garion looked at him, cracked his neck once, and smiled. "Alright."
His strange purple-black-white eyes began to glow. "Let’s see what a real God can actually do."