Heretic Trainer: The Gym Is My Cultivation Method

Garion laughed hard as his disciples got excited about the idea of creating huge aura spells to combat huge enemies.

Seeing that Garion laughed, the disciples also laughed, thinking that Garion agreed with them...

But to their surprise... Garion suddenly turned toward them and narrowed his eyes.

"Hell no! We're not creating or even using those kinds of spells!"

All of his disciples, who were just laughing now, froze in shock.

Arden stepped forward, confused as to why Garion said that.

"Master, aren't you the one who mentioned it first? Why did you change your mind so fast?!"

Garion smirked and tapped his chest.

"Because it's just too flashy. Didn't I tell you before that we don't need flashy mana spells to be strong?"

Dahlia pointed at the massive golem.

"Then how do we fight something like that? We can't just punch it and expect it to fall over, right?"

Garion smirked.

Dahlia's eyes narrowed. "Master… don't tell me…"

Garion grinned widely.

"Of course, we punch or kick it just like breaking a big boulder. It was the same principle with a different target."

Clara raised a hand.

"But Master… isn't a giant aura attack basically the same thing? We make a huge mana shape to hit it harder."

Garion shook his head.

"And become a glowing huge target? No thanks."

Arden frowned, thinking.

"Master… the big thing is the aura projection, not our body…"

Garion nodded.

"True. But imagine fighting someone like Elder Asro. His mana trait absorbs mana. Your giant aura attack will just become food for him."

Dahlia clicked her tongue.

"Then we attack before he can even think to absorb it."

Garion nodded slowly.

"That works on one enemy. But what if there is more than one? What if there's a whole group that can do the same thing?"

The disciples fell silent, expressions tightening.

Garion continued, waving a hand.

"And besides, those flashy attacks drain too much mana. Too wasteful. Not efficient at all."

He pointed at Aveline and Raviel, who were still fighting inside their own domains.

"They follow the mana path. They can afford to throw out big spells."

He shrugged.

"And even though Raviel has basically followed the body path, he still has a mana core. That makes it easier for him to create huge constructs."

Then Garion tapped his chest again, harder this time.

"But we're different. Our mana sits inside our cells. Not in a core, not in meridians. So our strength…"

He lifted his hand into a fist, tightening it.

"…is in our body. Not in big spells."

Clara blinked.

"So you're saying we can break things like that golem with… just a punch?"

Garion smirked.

"Exactly. If your body is strong enough, you don't need a giant aura sword. A fist is enough."

He looked at them one by one.

"And don't forget... You all will someday awaken your own [Unique Physiques]. If you want a spell, make one connected to your physique later."

Garion pointed at Arden.

"Like him. His [Nature] physique connects him to forests and plants. So if he really wants to create something, he could form a giant vine fist and punch."

Dahlia frowned.

"But isn't that still a big target? Like the flashy stuff you just banned?"

Garion shook his head.

"No. It's different. It's not a mana construct. It's just vines. Even if there's mana in it, it's tiny. Nature spells can't absorb it like they absorb pure mana."

He tapped his chin.

"And because our mana is inside our cells, we can't pull big chunks of it outside our body easily. That's why we rely on body-strengthening spells instead."

Arden then raised his hand.

"Then what about your [Cannon Fist], Master?"

Garion groaned and rolled his eyes.

"That's a different story. And it's… ugh… really hard to use, okay?"

Dahlia leaned in, smirking.

"Hard even for you?"

Garion clicked his tongue.

"Shut up. I said it's hard, not impossible."

Clara laughed.

"So basically, if Master can barely handle it, we shouldn't even try yet."

Eliza nodded softly. "Agreed. Let's not explode our arms."

Garion pointed at her. "Exactly. Listen to Eliza."

The disciples all sighed at the same time, but smiles slowly formed on their faces.

Garion looked at them, expression turning firm again.

"Alright. Listen up. This is the last reminder."

The disciples straightened unconsciously, backs stiff.

Garion tapped his chest once.

"We all trained on this path, the God Physique Path, for one reason."

He pointed at each of them slowly.

"To make your body into your body into the body of the god. We don't need flashy spells, mana, or anything."

He tapped his chest harder this time.

"So remember this... our body is our ultimate offense and defense. Just ignore the other things. Burn that into your brain."

All disciples nodded at the same time, their eyes sharp and focused.

"We understand, Master."

Garion smirked. "Good. Now, let's get back to the main show."

Everyone turned their eyes toward the arena again.

The battle between Raviel and Aveline had grown even more intense.

Aveline's [Forest Guardian] stood split clean in half.

Both halves hit the ground with a heavy quake.

Aveline frowned for the first time.

Raviel hovered in the air, still wrapped in the remnants of his earlier attack.

He pointed his greatsword downward, grinning with full confidence.

"Don't think this is the same as before, Aveline!"

Aveline narrowed her eyes.

Raviel continued, voice loud and steady.

"My flames before could be absorbed by your vines, but now..."

He smirked, opening his arms wide.

"This is the [Flaming Storm]. A storm doesn't stop."

He raised the sword higher, flames and lightning whipping around him like wild wind.

"It burns everything in its path! Even if your guardian absorbs some..."

He pointed at the broken golem pieces.

"The storm just keeps raging!"

Aveline clicked her tongue softly, her vines curling around her feet as she prepared to respond.

"So you learned persistence, Raviel…"

Raviel smirked. "No. I mastered it."

The air around them crackled again as their mana clashed, the stage trembling from the force.