Heretic Trainer: The Gym Is My Cultivation Method-Chapter 293: Ancient Beasts Start Storytime

Chapter 293: Ancient Beasts Start Storytime
Eldrin took a slow breath, then lowered his head slightly as if organizing his thoughts.
"Tell me, human," he said calmly. "Do you know the true name of this island?"
Arden blinked. "This island is called Demon Gate Island, right?"
He paused, then added, "And I have a name. Call me Arden."
Eldrin nodded. "Very well, Arden."
He looked around the forest, his gaze lingering on the twisted trees and darkened ground.
"What you said is correct. That is what this island is called now."
Then his eyes sharpened. "But long ago, it had a different name."
Arden crossed his arms. "Different how?"
"This land was once called the Four Directions Island," Eldrin said.
Arden frowned slightly. "Four Directions Island?"
Eldrin nodded. "Because four great sects ruled this place."
He raised one claw and spoke slowly, clearly.
"The Azure Dragon Sect."
Arden glanced at the wooden dragon’s body and felt a chill.
"The Black Snake Tortoise Sect."
Arden’s eyes shifted to Bastor and Varyn.
"The White Tiger Sect."
Silvar’s tail flicked once.
"And the Vermilion Bird Sect."
Arden’s eyes widened. "Wait."
He leaned forward. "I’ve heard those names before."
Dion spoke from behind him. "Same here. Those were legendary sects."
Arden nodded. "They were said to be top sects that suddenly fell because of a beast tide."
He looked around at the island again, realization slowly settling in. "You’re saying... this island is that place?"
Eldrin nodded. "Yes."
Arden swallowed. "Then that beast tide..."
"It was not ordinary," Eldrin said. "It was a demonic beast tide."
Arden’s gaze slowly drifted toward the massive black gate in the distance. His expression darkened.
"...And that gate," he said quietly. "Is that the reason?"
Eldrin followed his gaze and nodded. "Yes."
He continued, "We named it the Demon Gate because of the mana that leaks from within."
"The mana is corrosive," Eldrin explained.
"It twists beasts, turning them feral. Humans who absorb it grow sick, weak, or lose their minds entirely."
Dion grimaced. "That explains a lot."
Eldrin turned his eyes back to Arden. "That is why I was surprised."
Arden tilted his head. "Surprised by what?"
"That you can withstand this mana," Eldrin replied. "You stand in its presence without collapsing."
Arden nodded. "That’s because of our training."
Eldrin raised an eyebrow. "Training?"
Arden answered simply. "We specialize in strengthening the body first. Mana comes second."
Eldrin stared at him for a moment, then let out a slow breath. "Humans truly have changed."
Arden waved a hand lightly. "It’s not that impressive."
He straightened. "Please continue."
Eldrin nodded. "Very well."
He turned his gaze back toward the black gate.
"And before I go further," Eldrin said, "there is something you should understand."
He shifted his body slightly, then gestured toward himself, Silvar, Bastor, and Varyn.
"We are not just beasts living on this island. We were the guardian beasts of those four sects."
Arden blinked. "Guardian beasts?"
"Yes," Eldrin replied. "That is why the sects took our forms as their symbols and names."
Arden nodded slowly. "That makes sense."
He glanced around at the four of them, then frowned slightly. "But you’re missing one."
Eldrin followed his gaze and nodded. "Correct."
"You’re talking about the Vermilion Bird," Arden said. "She’s still sleeping."
Eldrin nodded again. "Yes. Cindor remains in deep rest."
Arden crossed his arms. "Alright. Go on."
Eldrin took a slow breath.
"When the Demon Gate appeared," he said, "everything changed."
He pointed toward the gate. "The demonic mana pouring out of it corrupted the beasts first."
"Ordinary beasts lost their reason," Eldrin continued. "They became feral. Violent. Demonic beasts."
Dion swallowed hard as he listened.
"And then," Eldrin said, "a massive demonic beast tide formed."
Arden’s fists clenched slightly.
"The four sects tried to fight back," Eldrin went on. "But they were already being affected by the demonic mana."
Silvar spoke coldly, "Their bodies weakened. Their minds dulled. Their techniques lost balance."
Eldrin nodded. "Because of that, a single day was enough."
Arden’s eyes widened. "A day?"
"Yes," Eldrin said quietly. "One day was enough for the destruction of all four sects."
The clearing fell silent.
"As for us," Eldrin continued, "we were resisting the demonic mana with everything we had."
Bastor rumbled, "We could not leave our posts."
Varyn hissed softly. "Helping them directly would have meant losing ourselves."
Arden nodded. "So after the sects were destroyed, what happened next?"
Eldrin lifted his head. "We gathered."
"All four of us," he said. "And we decided to destroy the Demon Gate."
Arden raised an eyebrow. "But you couldn’t enter it, right?"
"Yes," Eldrin replied. "The Demon Gate functions like a twisted treasure realm. Those outside cannot enter it freely."
Arden clicked his tongue. "That’s troublesome."
"That is why," Eldrin said, "we chose another path."
He spoke the name clearly.
"
[Four Legendary Beasts Convergence]
."
The air seemed to tighten slightly as he said it.
"We combined our powers," Eldrin explained. "Earth, water, metal, wood, and fire."
"Bastor and Varyn," he added, "were the core anchors of the seal."
Bastor nodded heavily. "Our bodies bear the greatest burden."
Varyn added, "That is why we reacted so strongly when you fought us."
Eldrin looked at Arden. "If the seal weakens while they are exhausted, the Demon Gate could destabilize."
Arden exhaled slowly. "I see now."
He then asked, "What about the sleeping and awakening cycle?"
Eldrin continued, "The seal cannot be maintained forever."
"Every few years," Eldrin said, "we must loosen it slightly to recover."
"When that happens," Silvar said, "some demonic beasts escape."
"Silvar handles the strongest ones," Eldrin added. "Cindor destroys the weaker ones completely."
"And I," Eldrin said, placing a claw against the ground, "repair and stabilize the land."
"After that," Eldrin finished, "Bastor and Varyn reseal the gate."
"And we sleep again."
Arden nodded slowly. "So you awakened now because..."
"...It is almost time to loosen the seal," Eldrin said.
The black gate pulsed faintly in the distance.
Arden stared at it, understanding finally settling in his eyes.
Then he lifted his head again.
"There’s one more thing," Arden said. "You keep saying four beasts."
He glanced around. "But I count five."
Eldrin smiled slightly, as if he had been waiting for that question.
"Bastor and Varyn are special," Eldrin explained. "Although they appear as two beings, they are in truth a single existence."
Bastor let out a deep rumble. Varyn’s body shifted smoothly along the shell.
"We are one," the serpent said calmly. "Two forms. One core."
Arden’s eyes widened. "...That’s new."
He let out a breath and shook his head with a small laugh. "I never thought I’d see something like that."
He straightened and nodded. "Alright. That answers everything I wanted to know."
Eldrin watched him closely, then spoke again. "Then may it be my turn to ask?"
Arden met his gaze without hesitation. "Sure. Go ahead."