Heretic Trainer: The Gym Is My Cultivation Method

Raviel wiped the blood from his blade, exhaled once, then turned to Rendric.

"Rendric. Handle everything here."

Rendric straightened despite his bruises.

"What should we secure first, Patriarch?"

"Everything useful," Raviel said.

"Pack whatever can be moved into the flying ship. And you know what's most important."

Rendric nodded firmly. "The [Origins]. I'll get them immediately."

"Good." Raviel clapped his shoulder once, then faced Aveline and the God Gym disciples.

Aveline adjusted her cloak and stepped closer. "Where now?"

Raviel pointed toward the city in the distance.

"Let's head to the gym. Garion should be there."

Dahlia brightened immediately.

"Finally. I've been itching to see how much damage Master caused."

Arden quietly muttered, "Hopefully not… too much."

Eliza sighed. "You already know the answer."

Clara bounced on her heels. "I bet he punched someone through a building."

Aveline raised an eyebrow. "Is… that normal?"

The four disciples all nodded at once.

Raviel groaned and rubbed his face. "Please don't let him have leveled the entire city…"

---

Raviel and the others stepped into the town, stopping in their tracks the moment they saw the scene.

Most of the city was untouched.

But the area around the God Gym… was completely flattened.

Raviel rubbed his temples. "...Of course."

Dahlia squinted. "Yup. This is definitely Master's work."

Arden sighed softly. "At least it's only the surroundings."

Clara pointed ahead. "Look! There they are!"

Everyone followed her finger and froze.

Right in front of the gym, amidst a big pile of rubble, Garion sat casually beside a grill made from crushed stone.

Rynar and Rynor were next to him, turning skewers while smoke rose lazily into the sky.

Rynar looked up. "Oh. They're back."

Rynor waved. "Yo!"

Garion looked over his shoulder, eyes widening a little.

"Oh? You guys made it faster than I thought."

Dahlia rushed forward. "Master!"

Garion lifted a brow. "Relax. No one died. Except the idiots who asked for it."

He glanced at Raviel.

"So, Raviel. I already handled your grand elder. You saw him, right?"

Raviel nodded slowly. "Yeah… I saw him. I killed what was left."

"Good," Garion said calmly.

"That means the mess is wrapped up. Now, did you finish your preparations?"

Raviel straightened. "I told Rendric to manage everything. The elders are packing what we need."

Garion smirked. "Looks like it's fate, huh?"

Raviel let out a long, tired sigh. "What can I say? With everything that happened… it's the only choice."

Garion crossed his arms. "Then what about your people? Have you picked who's coming with you?"

"Rendric and the loyal elders will join me," Raviel said.

Garion raised a brow. "Just them?"

Raviel let out a tired breath.

"After Rakir's betrayal, it became clear who actually stood with me. The rest… they were only Revalis by name."

Garion clicked his tongue softly.

"Makes sense. Betrayal cleans out the trash faster than training ever could."

Aveline looked around the area, her eyes lingering on the silent city.

"And this city? What happens now?"

Raviel's expression twisted, somewhere between frustration and resignation.

"Honestly… I'll leave it. Most people here aren't truly Revalis anyway. This was just a border town, filled with merchants and outsiders."

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"Since the town is already known to everyone, I'll just let the ones who want to stay… govern it themselves."

Garion nodded slowly. "Letting the leftovers handle the leftovers, huh? Fair enough."

Aveline exhaled. "At least there won't be more bloodshed."

Rynar sat down beside them, still holding a skewer.

"Yeah, Master, Patriarch Raviel… Sit first. You two look like you aged ten years."

Rynor nodded rapidly. "Seriously. If you keep making that face, the wrinkles will be permanent."

Raviel glared. "Shut it."

Garion laughed and patted the ground beside him.

"Sit. Eat. Breathe. After this, we'll move."

Raviel hesitated… then finally sat down with a heavy sigh.

Dahlia, Clara, and Eliza settled in behind Garion, each grabbing a piece of roasted meat.

Aveline watched the smoke rise into the sky, then quietly took a seat next to Raviel.

"…Thank you," she whispered.

Raviel blinked. "For what?"

"For not giving up," she said softly.

Raviel huffed, but a small smile tugged at his lips. "If I gave up now, Garion would beat me."

Garion smirked. "Damn right."

Everyone laughed, the tension fading a little.

Garion lifted a skewer toward them.

"Alright. Eat first. After this…"

He glanced toward the horizon.

"…we move."

---

A dim chamber flickered with pale blue light, and a man stood in the center, breathing hard, fists trembling.

"Damn it… DAMN IT!"

He slammed his fist into the table, cracking the surface. Papers, maps, and jade slips scattered across the floor.

"How can this be…? How can BOTH plans fail?!"

He paced back and forth, steps sharp and uneven, like he was one breath away from tearing the whole room apart.

"Avenora… ruined."

He kicked a fallen scroll aside.

"Revalis… ruined."

He grabbed his hair, dragging his hands down his face.

"And all because of that damned Garion…"

His voice dropped to a furious growl.

"How can he be this strong? In JUST a year?! That shouldn't be possible…"

He punched the wall so hard dust fell from the ceiling.

"He ruined Avenora. He ruined Revalis. He even took Demon Gate Island like it was nothing!"

His chest heaved.

"And those useless elders from the second-rate sects… what were they thinking? Renting weak assassins to kill him? Idiots!"

He barked a bitter laugh.

"Kill him? They couldn't even slow him down!"

Another punch. Another crack in the wall.

He stood still for a moment, shoulders rising and falling as he tried to calm himself.

"…Garion…"

He spoke the name like poison.

"That man… is becoming a threat."

His eyes narrowed, murderous intent filling the room.

"If I underestimate him again, it'll be MY head next."

He turned toward the window, looking out at the dark horizon.

"It seems… from now on, I need to be more careful."

His hand tightened into a fist.

"He's not an easy opponent anymore."