Heretic Trainer: The Gym Is My Cultivation Method

Garion’s frown deepened as he stared at Atlas. ”Hey. Why are you quiet?”

Atlas floated in front of him, his tiny silver wings glowing faintly. For once, he did not immediately give a sarcastic answer.

That made Garion even more uncomfortable.

Dahlia also noticed the strange silence and crossed her arms. ”Atlas?”

Atlas looked between the two of them.

Then he smiled a little.

[About Giselle... there is something you should know.]

Garion’s expression immediately changed. ”What?”

Atlas sighed softly.

[Giselle has grown.]

Garion blinked.

For a second, he simply stared at Atlas as if he had heard something completely impossible.

Then his face twisted. ”What the hell do you mean, she has grown?”

Atlas scratched his cheek awkwardly.

[Exactly what it sounds like.]

Garion stepped closer. ”Explain.”

Atlas floated backward slightly and raised both hands.

[You, Rachel, Dahlia, and the others were forced into sleep for five years.]

Garion’s eyes narrowed.

Atlas continued carefully.

[But sleep is not the same as being frozen in time.]

The wind around them suddenly became heavier.

Dahlia’s grin disappeared.

Garion’s voice lowered. ”Atlas.”

Atlas looked at him and spoke plainly.

[Five years passed. Your daughter also experienced those five years. Giselle is no longer a baby.]

Garion froze.

For a long moment, he did not speak.

The wild storms of the planet roared in the distance, but around Garion, the air became strangely still.

His first daughter.

He had thought she was still a baby.

He had thought he could wake Rachel, then hold Giselle again, see her tiny hands, hear her first words, watch her take her first steps, and experience all the small, stupid, precious things fathers were supposed to experience.

But five years had already passed.

Garion slowly clenched his fists. ”I missed it?”

Atlas lowered his gaze slightly.

Garion’s jaw tightened. ”I missed her childhood?”

Dahlia looked away, not knowing what to say.

Atlas quickly added.

[Don’t worry. I injected basic knowledge about this world into her mind while she slept, so she won’t be clueless when she wakes up. She can talk, understand things, and adapt properly.]

Garion suddenly looked at him. ”That’s not the damn problem.”

Atlas paused.

Garion pointed at his own chest, his voice filled with rare frustration. ”Do you know what a father’s happiness is?”

Atlas remained silent.

Garion’s eyes shook slightly. ”It’s watching his daughter grow. Watching her laugh at stupid things. Watching her learn to walk. Hearing her call him Father for the first time.”

His voice became heavier. ”How can you tell me not to worry after that was taken from me?”

Atlas frowned slightly.

[What could I do?]

Garion stopped.

Atlas’s voice became quieter.

[That god suddenly appeared. If I didn’t put all of you into emergency sleep and move you away, you would have died. Rachel would have died. Giselle would have died.]

Garion’s fists trembled.

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then he slowly looked up at the violent sky. ”That god...”

His eyes became cold. ”I’ll remember this.”

Dahlia’s eyebrow twitched. ”Master...”

Garion’s grin slowly returned, but it was not cheerful.

It was dangerous. ”One day, I’ll get revenge.”

Atlas sighed.

[For almost killing you?]

Garion shook his head. ”No.”

He looked toward the storm clouds with burning eyes. ”For not letting me experience my daughter’s childhood.”

Atlas stared at him.

Dahlia stared at him.

Then both of them sighed at the same time.

Atlas muttered.

[Of course that’s the reason.]

Dahlia rubbed her forehead. ”Yeah... that sounds exactly like Master.”

---

Garion kept staring at the stormy sky for a while.

His expression was still dark, but his breathing slowly calmed.

Dahlia stood beside him quietly, which was rare for her.

Atlas floated in front of Garion and sighed.

[Enough glaring at the sky. Revenge can wait. Right now, you need to wake Rachel first.]

Garion slowly lowered his gaze. ”Yeah.”

His voice became quieter. ”Wake her.”

Atlas nodded.

[Stand back a little.]

Dahlia immediately stepped back, but her eyes stayed fixed on Atlas with curiosity.

Garion did not move too far. He only crossed his arms and watched silently.

Atlas raised both tiny hands, and silver light began gathering around his body.

The air in front of them trembled.

Thin glowing lines spread outward like a formation drawn in empty space. Then the lines bent, twisted, and opened into a circular portal.

WHOOSH!

A soft golden-pink light spilled out from within.

Garion’s eyes sharpened.

Dahlia blinked. ”That aura...”

Atlas smiled faintly.

[Love Path. She stabilized well.]

The portal widened.

Then a figure slowly stepped out.

Long beautiful hair flowed behind her, carrying a soft radiant glow. Her eyes opened gently, still slightly unfocused from sleep, but the moment she saw Garion, her gaze became clear.

Rachel appeared.

For a second, the entire wild planet seemed to become quiet.

He only looked at Rachel and Rachel looked back at him.

Then her lips trembled slightly. ”Garion?”

Garion’s usual grin disappeared.

He stepped forward.

Rachel barely had time to react before Garion pulled her into his arms.

He held her tightly, as if afraid she would disappear again.

Rachel froze for a moment.

Then her expression softened, and she slowly wrapped her arms around him. ”You’re alive.”

Garion closed his eyes. ”Yeah.”

Rachel’s voice became softer. ”I knew you would be.”

Dahlia looked away awkwardly, scratching her cheek.

Atlas floated nearby with his arms crossed, pretending not to care.

After a long moment, Rachel finally pulled back slightly and looked around.

Her eyes moved across the violent sky, the dangerous ground, the distant beasts, and the half-built God Gym base.

Then she looked back at Garion. ”Where are we?”

Garion opened his mouth.

Dahlia coughed lightly. ”Master’s new planet.”

Rachel blinked. ”New planet?”

Garion smiled awkwardly. ”Yeah. A lot happened.”

Rachel stared at him for a second.

Then she sighed softly, but a small smile appeared on her face. ”Of course it did.”

Garion laughed weakly.

But before he could explain more, Rachel suddenly frowned.

Her hand moved toward her chest. ”My body feels different.”

Atlas nodded.

[That is because your Love Path has fully awakened.]

Rachel looked at Atlas.

Atlas smiled.

[Congratulations, Rachel. You are no longer just Garion’s wife.]

His glowing eyes narrowed playfully.

[You are now God Gym’s awakened trainer.]

Rachel blinked.

Garion grinned.

Dahlia crossed her arms. ”Welcome back, Elder Rachel.”

Rachel looked between all of them.

Then she smiled gently. ”I see.”

A soft pink-gold aura spread from her body, warm enough to make even the death planet feel a little less hostile.

”Then I suppose I should help my husband before he turns this place into complete chaos.”

Garion immediately looked offended. ”Hey.”

Dahlia and Atlas spoke at the same time.

[Too late.]