Heretic Trainer: The Gym Is My Cultivation Method

Inside the God Gym, deep within the laboratory, laughter echoed against steel walls.

It wasn't normal laughter.

It was sharp, fast, and a little unhinged.

"Hahahaha!"

Mersha leaned over a worktable covered in bottles, notes, and half-dismantled machines.

Her glasses were slightly crooked, her hair a mess, and dark circles sat under her eyes.

She looked exhausted.

And thrilled.

"I did it," she said, giggling to herself. "I actually did it."

Outside the lab, Garion stood with his arms crossed, listening.

The corners of his mouth lifted.

'That laugh,' he thought. 'She's done something.'

He pushed the door open.

The scent hit him immediately.

Garion stopped mid-step.

"…That's new," he muttered.

The smell was horrible.

Not sharp like poison, not sour like spoiled ingredients.

It was everything at once, clashing so hard it made his nose burn.

Mersha noticed him and spun around, eyes shining.

"Master!" she said quickly. "You're here already?"

Garion looked at her, then at the black liquid sitting in a reinforced bottle on the table.

"Mersha," he said calmly, "did you succeed?"

She nodded so fast her glasses nearly slipped off. "Yes! Yes, Master. I finally did it."

She laughed again, pressing her hands against the table to steady herself.

"I didn't even believe it when the readings stabilized. I thought the machine was broken."

Garion walked in fully now, closing the door behind him. "It took you a week."

Mersha puffed her chest out proudly. "And I didn't sleep properly for three days."

"That explains the eyes."

"Hehehe."

Garion stepped closer. "Show me."

Mersha straightened at once.

She reached under the table and carefully lifted a thick, sealed bottle.

The liquid inside was pitch black, dense, and faintly swirling as if it were alive.

She held it out with both hands. "Here."

Garion took it.

The moment he uncorked it slightly to inspect it, the smell intensified.

"…This is impressive," he said honestly.

Mersha smirked. "Right?"

Garion glanced at her. "What is this?"

She tilted her head. "If I were to name it…"

She paused for effect.

"…It would be [Divine Physique Elixir]."

Garion raised an eyebrow. "[Divine Physique Elixir]."

"Yes," Mersha said eagerly. "Anyone who drinks it will instantly awaken their [Unique Physique]."

Garion's eyes sharpened. "…Instantly?"

She nodded hard. "No need to wait until all the cells are transformed."

She pointed at the bottle. "It forces the body there."

Garion let out a low whistle. "That's… extreme."

"I know!" Mersha said, bouncing slightly. "Even I was scared when the results came in."

He looked back at the bottle. "What did you make it from?"

Mersha adjusted her glasses. "The base is still [Condensed Spirit Liquid], [Second Realm Essence], and [Spirit Fruit Extract]."

Garion nodded. "That combination usually leads to the Limit Break Serum."

"Exactly," Mersha said. "If you mix them normally, that's all you get."

She tapped her temple. "But I didn't mix them normally."

Garion glanced at her. "Your [Unique Physique]."

"Yes!" Mersha said happily. "[Transmutation]."

She grabbed a marker and pointed to a messy diagram on the board.

"I didn't just combine the ingredients. I restructured them."

Garion studied the diagram. "You rewrote the compound behavior."

Mersha nodded. "Every ingredient has its own tendency. Healing, amplification, instability."

She waved her hand wildly. "I tore those tendencies apart and rebuilt them into one direction."

Garion crossed his arms. "That's why it took a week."

"Yes!" she said quickly. "It's like rewriting rules while the rules are trying to explode."

She giggled. "Fun, but very dangerous."

Mersha pointed toward a nearby screen. "Come here, Master. You can see everything there."

Garion turned to the machine displaying the data.

---

[Name: Divine Physique Elixir]

[Eligible: Mana Core Cells Realm cultivators]

[Effect: Instantly converts all cells into Perfect Mana Core Cells and forcefully triggers the immediate awakening of a Unique Physique.]

[Flaw: Awakening pain is more than doubled, and the process lasts an entire day. The user remains conscious throughout, suffering extreme physical and mental strain with no way to suppress or escape the sensation.]

[Taste: Absolutely horrendous. Overly sweet, sour, spicy, bitter, salty, and umami all at once, assaulting every sense without relief.]

---

Garion read it slowly.

Then again.

He exhaled.

"…The effect is incredible," he said.

Mersha nodded. "But the flaw…"

"The pain is doubled," Garion continued. "And the awakening lasts a full day."

She scratched her cheek. "Actually… it might feel longer."

Garion looked at her.

"Well," she said carefully, "the body experiences time differently under that much stress."

Garion sighed. "So to the user, it could feel like several days."

"…Yes."

"And the taste."

Mersha made a face. "I tried to fix it."

Garion turned.

"I really did," she said defensively.

"I neutralized bitterness. It made the sweetness worse. I balanced sourness, and the umami exploded."

She waved her hands. "The compound just hates being pleasant."

Garion stared at the bottle again and smiled.

"Don't worry," he said.

Mersha blinked. "Eh?"

Garion recorked the bottle. "Anyone who wants a shortcut should be ready to pay for it."

He looked at her. "Power without effort always demands sacrifice."

Mersha slowly relaxed. "…I see."

Garion nodded. "This isn't for everyone."

He tapped the bottle lightly. "But for those who choose it… this is priceless."

Mersha grinned again, excitement returning. "So it's approved?"

"Yes," Garion said. "With restrictions."

"Of course," she said quickly. "Realm requirement stays firm."

"Good."

He handed the bottle back to her. "Great work."

Mersha beamed. "Hehehe."

Garion turned toward the door. "Prepare a secure storage."

She saluted badly. "Yes, Master!"

Garion smiled and stepped out of the laboratory.

The smile on his face slowly widened as he walked down the quiet corridor.

'Now… they should be back.'

The timing was almost perfect.

He folded his arms as he walked, thoughts already moving ahead.

The [Divine Physique Elixir] was not something to be used lightly.

One mistake, one wrong choice, and it could destroy someone instead of elevating them.

"I need the right testers," he muttered.

His mind immediately settled on two names.

"Seira," he said quietly. "Valtor."

Both were direct disciples.

Both had already proven their will, their discipline, and their ability to endure pain far beyond normal limits.

More importantly...

Both would not hesitate.

Garion's smirk deepened.

"If anyone can survive a forced awakening," he said to himself, "it's them."

Ahead of him, the halls of the God Gym stretched onward, calm and unaware.