Heretic Trainer: The Gym Is My Cultivation Method

Sianor leaned forward, straining to see what was unfolding in the arena.

He rubbed his eyes, trying to convince himself that what he was seeing wasn’t some kind of illusion. ”What the hell is happening?”

Beside him, Floren’s fan slowly lowered, though he didn’t seem to notice.

He was just as stunned as Sianor. ”I don’t know... but I’ve seen something like this before.”

At that, both of them turned toward Dahlia.

She was smiling faintly, adjusting her hold on Giselle as if nothing were out of the ordinary. ”Looks like it’s finally her turn.”

Sianor’s eyes widened as realization struck. ”You mean... Rachel is going through the same thing that happened to you?”

Floren tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharpening. ”That transformation... the one that pushed you into the Perfection Realm, right?”

Dahlia nodded once, her attention already returning to Rachel. ”Exactly. Rachel has entered the same state I once did.”

Sianor’s expression tightened. ”That doesn’t make sense.”

Floren remained silent this time, letting Sianor continue.

”I could understand it in your case,” Sianor said, frowning. ”You have dragon blood. But Rachel... she doesn’t have any beast bloodline, does she?”

Dahlia turned to him with a small, knowing smile. ”No, she doesn’t. But you need to understand... our cultivation paths are very different.”

Sianor frowned, clearly confused. ”Different? I thought your cultivation was just about strengthening the body.”

Dahlia nodded. ”That’s part of it, yes. But what you’re missing is the goal. We don’t just train to become stronger; we cultivate to break the limits of the body... to transcend it. To become something closer to a god.”

She turned her gaze back to Rachel, a faint grin forming. ”And more importantly, even if we all possess powerful bodies, each of us has a unique physique.”

Placing a hand over her chest, she continued, ”Take me, for example. My physique is essentially draconic. Because of that, when I use a higher-ranked dragon bloodline, I can evolve, pushing myself into the Perfection Realm.”

She glanced back at Sianor and Floren. ”But not everyone can do what I do. Our physiques differ, and so do the paths available to us.”

Sianor’s eyes widened as the realization finally settled in. He was beginning to understand the true nature of Garion’s cultivation path.

Floren raised his fan again, a slow smirk spreading across his face. ”I see... to think your cultivation path is this refined.”

Dahlia laughed, unapologetically proud. ”Of course it is. That’s why we call ourselves the God Gym.”

Sianor blinked, still processing everything, before quickly asking, ”Then what about Rachel? What’s her unique physique? How is she able to evolve like this?”

Dahlia’s gaze shifted back to the arena, her expression turning thoughtful. ”If I remember correctly... her unique physique is called Radiant Love.”

She paused briefly, as if choosing her words. ”The more deeply she loves, and the more people she cares for, the stronger she becomes. That emotional connection isn’t a weakness... it’s the very source of her power.”

Sianor and Floren both fell silent, caught off guard.

Sianor, in particular, didn’t know how to respond. The idea was so unexpected that it left him momentarily speechless.

Floren tilted his head slightly, raising his fan to partially cover his face.

”Radiant... Love?” he repeated, skepticism lacing his tone. ”That’s really considered a unique physique?”

Dahlia grinned, clearly amused by his reaction. ”Of course it is. There are even stranger physiques out there.”

She gestured lightly toward the arena. ”As for why she’s evolving now... it’s probably because of the love she’s receiving.”

Her eyes softened slightly as she continued, ”Just look at what happened earlier. She was completely overwhelmed by Heinkel.”

”Everyone here who has already reached the Perfection Realm... we all felt it: pity, concern, even a bit of helplessness watching her like that.”

Dahlia’s gaze sharpened again. ”That collective emotion might have been enough to trigger her transformation.”

Sianor nodded slowly, absorbing the explanation. ”I see... that actually makes sense.”

Floren’s eyes gleamed with interest, his fan lifting slightly as a faint smile formed.

”Now that’s fascinating. I wonder... what kind of physique I’d develop if I trained along your path.”

Dahlia grinned immediately. ”Oh? Are you thinking of joining the God Gym?”

Sianor shot Floren a disbelieving look. ”You can’t be serious.”

Floren chuckled softly, unfazed. ”I’m just saying... it’s worth considering. Let’s talk about it after this is over.”

Dahlia nodded, clearly pleased. ”Deal. For now...”

She turned her attention fully back to the arena. ”Let’s watch how this unfolds.”

---

A soft pink light began to seep into Rachel’s body, slowly threading its way through her hair and eyes until both shimmered with a radiant rose hue.

The transformation was gradual but undeniable; something within her had awakened.

As the glow faded, she descended gently back to the ground.

For a brief moment, she stood motionless, her head slightly bowed, as if adjusting to the power now coursing through her.

Then she lifted her gaze and studied her hands, flexing her fingers as though testing their strength. ”So this is it... the power of the God Physique.”

She exhaled softly and turned her attention to Heinkel, her expression steady but resolute.

Raising her hands into a ready stance, she said, ”Let’s begin, Heinkel.”

Her fingers curled into tight fists. ”Now that I’ve evolved... I’ll show you what these hands can truly do.”

Across from her, Heinkel had watched the entire transformation unfold. Yet there was no fear in his eyes, only disdain.

He scoffed. ”You think that changes anything, Rachel?”

A smirk tugged at his lips as he added, ”I am still the perfect chimera. I won’t lose, here or ever.”

Rachel didn’t flinch. Instead, a faint, knowing smile crossed her face.

”I know what you were,” she replied calmly. ”But that’s all in the past now.”

Her eyes sharpened with determination. ”Because I’ll be the one to bring down the so-called perfect chimera.”

Heinkel raised his hands, mirroring her stance, his smirk widening.

”Then show me,” he said. ”Let’s see if you really can, Rachel.”