Heretic Trainer: The Gym Is My Cultivation Method

The dragon God looked at Garion for a moment before actually smiling.

Without asking anyone’s permission, he walked toward the empty seat across from Garion and calmly sat down.

The moment he settled into the chair, the overwhelming pressure filling the hall became slightly more restrained, though it never disappeared completely.

Bruno released a breath so faint that almost no one noticed.

Paren also relaxed slightly, although his back remained stiff and his attention never left the newcomer.

Garion studied the dragon God for another second before raising an eyebrow. "Before we continue, can I at least know your name?"

The dragon God rested one hand casually on the armrest. "Volkrath."

His golden-red eyes remained fixed on Garion. "Volkrath Volcanion."

Garion nodded as though he had just been introduced to any ordinary guest. "Alright, Volkrath."

Several Volcanion envoys stiffened slightly at how casually he addressed a genuine God.

Varkhazan’s eye twitched.

Garion ignored every reaction around him and leaned forward a little. "So, Volkrath... are you sure you want to threaten me like that?"

The hall became quiet again.

Volkrath stared at Garion for several seconds before letting out a low, amused laugh. "As Varkhazan already told you, it was not a threat."

His voice remained calm. "It was advice."

Garion did not respond immediately.

Volkrath continued, "You are strong. Your faction is also strong. I have no reason to deny either of those things."

His gaze swept briefly across Rachel, Dahlia, Raviel, Aveline, Arden, Mersha, Valtor, and Seira. "For a faction that has only recently risen in this region, God Gym is extraordinary."

His eyes eventually returned to Garion. "However, that is only when viewed from the standards of this region."

The weight behind his voice deepened slightly. "The Volcanion Dragon Clan is one of the top clans of the Red Dragon Race. We possess a High Grade World as our foundation, countless powerful experts, ancient inheritances accumulated across generations, and divine existences protecting the clan."

Volkrath spoke without boasting or raising his voice; these were simply facts. "You would suffer no loss by serving under us."

Garion remained unusually quiet and listened. For once, he did not interrupt with some sarcastic comment.

Volkrath’s golden-red gaze sharpened slightly. "With the Volcanion Dragon Clan supporting you, God Gym could grow faster, expand farther, and do so with considerably less danger than if you continued alone."

Garion slowly tapped a finger against the armrest before a quiet chuckle escaped him. "Volkrath."

The dragon God’s gaze focused more closely on him.

Garion looked back with a relaxed yet unmistakably firm expression. "You’re a dragon, right?"

Volkrath said nothing.

Garion continued anyway. "Dragons are proud as hell. Especially dragons from a top clan like yours."

He leaned forward slightly. "So let me ask you something."

The faint amusement disappeared from his face. "If someone stronger than the Volcanion Dragon Clan suddenly came to your world, sat in front of you, and told your entire clan to lower its head and serve under them..."

Garion held Volkrath’s gaze. "Would you accept?"

The hall went completely silent.

Several Volcanion envoys’ expressions immediately became colder.

One dragon’s tail struck the floor once before going still, while another visibly tightened his hand against the armrest.

Garion glanced across their faces and laughed shortly after. "Looking at all of you, I already know the damn answer."

His gaze returned to Volkrath. "The answer is quite simple, isn’t it? You wouldn’t."

Garion leaned comfortably back in his chair again, unfazed despite the god sitting directly across from him. "You’d rather fight."

The corner of his mouth lifted faintly. "You’d probably rather get your scales ripped off and your world burned to shit than proudly call someone else your master just because they’re stronger."

A few of the Volcanion envoys remained visibly displeased by his wording, but none of them denied it.

Garion spread his hands slightly. "So there you go."

His expression settled into something simple and firm. "I’m just the same as you all."

He looked directly into Volkrath’s golden-red eyes. "I don’t care how powerful your clan is, how ancient your inheritance is, or how many Gods stand behind you."

Garion’s voice remained completely steady. "God Gym bows to nobody."

Volkrath stared at Garion for a long moment before suddenly bursting into loud laughter. "Hahaha...!"

Several Volcanion envoys immediately looked toward their God in surprise.

Even Varkhazan’s expression shifted slightly, as though he had not expected Volkrath to react that way.

Volkrath leaned comfortably back in his chair, his golden-red eyes filled with genuine amusement. "Yes. What you said is correct."

Garion raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Volkrath’s smile widened. "If someone stronger than the Volcanion Dragon Clan came to our world and demanded that we bow our heads..."

His voice became heavier. "We would fight."

The faint pressure surrounding him deepened, carrying the weight of absolute certainty. "Even if we knew we would lose, we would still fight."

Garion’s mouth curved upward. "See? Then you understand."

Volkrath slowly nodded. "I understand your pride."

A brief silence followed.

The amusement in the dragon God’s eyes gradually faded, replaced by something far sharper. "However, pride does not always save lives."

The temperature inside the hall rose slightly.

A faint crimson glow appeared beneath the scales covering Volkrath’s hands as his voice remained calm, yet the weight behind every word became unmistakably dangerous. "So let me ask you something in return, Garion."

He stared directly into Garion’s strange purple-black-white eyes. "Since you refuse to serve under us, are you prepared to die fighting us?"

Bruno inwardly cursed.

"This damn conversation is getting worse by the second."

Paren remained completely silent beside him, though judging from his stiff expression, he was probably thinking something very similar.

Garion, however, only gave a casual grin. "Seems like it."

Atlas immediately snapped his head toward him.

[Garion.]

Garion completely ignored him and leaned slightly forward. "Also, Volkrath... don’t you know?"

Volkrath’s eyes narrowed faintly. "Know what?"

Garion’s grin became sharper. "Our faction is called God Gym."

The hall went quiet.

Several people glanced toward him.

Garion continued as though what he was saying should have been completely obvious.

"If we were scared shitless every time a God appeared in front of us, we probably shouldn’t have chosen that name in the first place."

Volkrath said nothing.

Garion pointed his thumb toward his own chest. "We are God Gym."

His strange eyes faintly glowed, purple-black gravity twisting together with traces of silver-white light within his pupils. "The gym that trains and builds Gods."

His words echoed throughout the hall like a declaration. For a moment, even the Volcanion envoys forgot to react.

Garion was not merely boasting about becoming stronger someday.

He was openly declaring what God Gym intended to become.

A place capable of creating divine existences.

Garion held Volkrath’s gaze, the relaxed smile never leaving his face. "So tell me, Volkrath..."

His voice became almost teasing. "How the hell could God Gym be afraid of a mere Low God like you?"

The moment those words left his mouth, the atmosphere inside the hall exploded.

BOOOOM!

Several Volcanion envoys immediately shot to their feet.

Violent volcanic pressure erupted from their bodies, causing the temperature to rise sharply as crimson flames flickered around horns, scales, and wings.

Varkhazan’s golden-red eyes turned cold. "Garion."

Rachel calmly rose from her seat.

Her pink aura spread through the hall with warm yet unmistakable authority, pushing against the hostile pressure without hesitation.

Dahlia unfolded her arms.

Behind her, the silver-black disaster aura that had remained restrained until now fully awakened, resembling countless sleeping catastrophes suddenly opening their eyes.

Raviel stepped forward with a stern expression, his presence becoming heavier.

Aveline remained composed, but when she spoke, her voice was smooth and icy. "Everyone will conduct themselves with dignity."

Valtor looked between both sides as excitement immediately appeared across his face. "Damn. Now it’s getting fun."

Seira gave him a cold sideways glance. "Be quiet."

Mersha hugged her notebook tighter against her chest, her eyes practically glowing as she studied the divine pressure filling the hall. "This pressure is wonderful."

Arden rubbed his forehead. "Of course that’s your reaction."

Bruno almost wanted to join him.

Before the confrontation could escalate any further, Volkrath casually raised one hand.

The effect was immediate.

Every Volcanion envoy froze.

Their volcanic pressure did not disappear entirely, but it rapidly settled back down under the authority of their God.

Volkrath did not look at any of them. His attention remained fixed entirely on Garion.

For several long seconds, the dragon God simply stared at him.

Rather than anger, however, the corner of Volkrath’s mouth slowly lifted. "A mere Low God, huh?"

Garion leaned back comfortably again, as though he had not just insulted a genuine God directly to his face. "Yeah."

He casually spread one hand. "That’s what you called yourself earlier, wasn’t it?"