Heretic Trainer: The Gym Is My Cultivation Method

Arden looked down at his own hands, flexing his fingers and then stroking the glowing tattoos around his body.

"So this is how it feels... to have a [Unique Physique], huh?"

He rolled his shoulders, feeling the surge of power rushing through every part of his body.

"No wonder Master said it was worth that crazy, painful hell. This power... is just incredible."

He could feel the connection between his body and the world around him more clearly than before.

Every blade of grass, every root, every grain of dirt. It was as if the earth itself was breathing with him.

And then, new information suddenly appeared in his mind.

It was about his new physique, how to use it, and what it could do.

"I see... so that's how it works, huh? No wonder I can feel the connection to earth."

He then turned to Asro and smirked, making him flinch and shudder.

For an unknown reason, Asro could feel that Arden had changed so much that it felt terrifying and calm at the same time.

Arden waved his hand inward.

"Alright, Asro. Let's try this again. This time, I'll defeat you for real."

Asrow scowled, baring his teeth.

"Don't think that just changing your hair color and getting some glowing tattoos makes you stronger!"

He raised his hand, pouring all of his mana into the ground.

"Let's see if you can handle this one! [Thorny Roots Burst - Full Bloom]!"

The earth shook violently as dozens of massive thorny roots appeared again and lunged toward Arden

But Arden didn't move. He simply stood there calmly while keeping his eyes on Asor.

Asro frowned.

"What the hell are you doing?! Why aren't you dodging?!"

He wasn't afraid of hurting Arden but about the fact of why Arden was so calm. It's really made him uncomfortable.

The thorny roots then lunged toward Arden from every direction, but the sound that followed wasn't the sound of flesh tearing.

It was just the sound of the thorny roots hitting something hard, like hitting a boulder.

The thorny roots weren't able to pierce or even scratch Arden's skin, and just after it, the roots began to crumble to dust.

Arsor's eyes widened in shock.

"What?! How can this be possible?!"

Arden raised his head slowly, smirking.

"Because... I've awakened the goal of my path, the [Unique Physique]."

He then lifted his hand, letting the faint streams of green mana swirl around his palm.

"And let me tell you that its name is... [Nature]."

Asor froze, confused and frustrated.

"Nature? What kind of ability is that supposed to be?"

Arden's smirk widened as he began to walk toward Asor. Each step he took, the ground under him began to bloom with tiny grass.

"I don't need to explain it, but since you like roots so much..."

He stopped just a few meters away from Asro, his voice calm.

"You should already understand what happens when nature itself turns against you."

Asro frowned, his jaw tightening.

"What the hell are you talking about? Nature against me? Don't talk nonsense!"

He stomped the ground, veins bulging on his head.

"Let me show you what the real wrath of nature looks like! [Thorny Root Burst – Spear End]!"

The ground split open again, and dozens of thick roots appeared, and this time they twisted and merged together, forming a massive spear of thorny roots.

"Let's see if you can block this one, Arden!"

He hurled the enormous root spear toward Arden with crushing force.

Arden didn't flinch. All he did was smirk and pull his fist back.

"This? Is this what you call nature's wrath?"

He clenched his fist hard, and green mana began to gather around it tightly.

"Then let me show you my version of how nature's wrath should be!"

Arden stepped forward and swung his punches, targeting the incoming spear, and the moment he hit it...

The giant root spear shattered instantly, splintering into thousands of pieces before turning to dust midair.

Asro's eyes went wide in shock.

"Wh-What?! That's impossible! My roots are reinforced with all of my mana!"

Arden only grinned, hearing him.

"Then it means that you're just weaker than me, and also don't think that this is over."

Just right after Arden said it, the shockwave from Arden's punch had not dissipated.

Instead it went toward Asro, throwing his body backward across the arena floor.

He hit the ground hard, rolling several times before crashing beside his son, Avro, who was still unconscious from before.

The two of them lay side by side, completely knocked out.

Arden straightened his back, exhaling slowly as green energy flickered faintly around him, turning toward the remaining male members of the Avenora Clan.

"So...? Who's next? Anyone else want to try their luck?"

No one moved.

The men looked at each other, nervous, some stepping back. Even the most prideful ones stayed silent.

Arden raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"What's wrong? Weren't you all laughing before? Come on, make me laugh this time."

Still, no one dared to step forward. Even the elders who had mocked him earlier couldn't meet his eyes.

Arden clicked his tongue softly.

"Tch. That's what I thought."

The arena went completely quiet, broken only by the faint sound of wind rustling the leaves.

Meanwhile, Aveline was still frozen, her eyes wide in disbelief as she turned to Garion.

"Garion... just what in the world was that?!"

Garion chuckled, crossing his arms casually.

"That... is the power of his [Unique Physique], the [Nature]."

Aveline blinked. "I still don't understand."

Garion smirked.

"Alright, let's make it simple. [Mana Trait] only influences mana, whereas a [Unique Physique] influences the entire body."

Aveline frowned slightly, trying to process it.

"So… you're saying his entire being is in tune with nature itself?"

Garion nodded.

"Exactly. Arden was connected to nature itself. When Asro fought him, he wasn't just fighting a person, but he was fighting nature itself."

Aveline exhaled slowly, still staring at Arden in awe.

"That's… terrifying. So no matter how strong Asro was, there was no chance he could win."

Garion nodded again, proud.

"You got it. Asro didn't lose to power or skill, but he lost to the world itself."

Down in the arena, Arden stood tall, looking calm and confident as his green aura gently faded.

The battle was over.