Heretic Trainer: The Gym Is My Cultivation Method-Chapter 294: Wait, There Are More Of You?

Chapter 294: Wait, There Are More Of You?
Eldrin looked at Arden closely, his calm eyes studying him from head to toe.
"How," Eldrin asked slowly, "can humans become this strong?"
The forest was quiet as he continued.
"The last time we saw humans," Eldrin said, "they were nothing like you."
Silvar’s tail flicked once. "They were strong by human standards."
Eldrin nodded. "Strong enough to easily kill Second Realm beasts. Some of them could even defeat weaker Third Realm beasts."
Bastor let out a low rumble. "But they were fragile."
Varyn continued coldly, "Their bodies were weak. One direct strike was enough to break them."
Eldrin’s gaze returned to Arden. "They relied too much on mana."
He lifted a claw slightly, sensing Arden again. "But you are different."
Arden felt the pressure of Eldrin’s attention but did not look away.
"The mana radiating from your body," Eldrin said honestly, "is not particularly overwhelming."
Silvar added, "Compared to the humans of the past, it is actually lower."
Eldrin nodded. "Yet your body..."
He paused. "Your body is terrifying."
Arden tilted his head slightly.
"You fought Bastor and Varyn directly," Eldrin continued.
"You withstood crushing earth and cutting water. You kept moving when you should have been destroyed."
Bastor’s eyes narrowed. "That should not be possible."
Varyn hissed softly. "So tell us, human."
Eldrin finished the question. "What changed in the human world while we slept?"
Arden blinked.
Then he laughed.
It was not mocking. Not arrogant. Just honest.
"Nothing changed," Arden said.
The beasts went still.
Silvar frowned. "What?"
Eldrin raised an eyebrow. "Explain."
Arden wiped the dirt from his arm and smiled faintly. "Humans are still the same as before."
Eldrin’s eyes sharpened. "That makes no sense."
Arden shrugged. "It does, if you look at it properly."
He pointed at himself. "The human world didn’t change."
Then he lowered his hand. "We did."
Eldrin stared. "You?"
Arden nodded. "The members of our sect."
Silvar’s eyes narrowed further. "Sect?"
"Yes," Arden replied calmly. "Only us."
He spread his arms slightly. "It’s not humanity that evolved."
"It’s the God Gym."
The name echoed softly in the clearing.
Bastor rumbled deeply. "You dare use the word ’god."
Varyn hissed. "Arrogant."
Arden smiled wider. "So what?"
He clenched his fist, green light flickering briefly across his skin. "We are strong."
He looked straight at them. "Didn’t you just experience it yourselves?"
Silence followed.
Bastor and Varyn frowned deeply.
Eldrin watched Arden for a long moment, then slowly nodded.
"...I see," Eldrin said.
He lifted his head slightly and looked straight at Arden.
"Then let me ask you this. Is the strength you possess related to what you call a
[Unique Physique]
?"
Arden froze for a split second.
His brows drew together. "You know about that?"
Dion blinked in surprise and looked between them. "Wait. How do you even know that term?"
Eldrin’s expression remained calm. "I have seen it."
Both Arden and Dion stiffened.
Eldrin continued, "Not you alone. I have observed members of your sect before."
He raised one claw and counted slowly. "Three females."
Arden’s eyes widened slightly.
"One possessed traits of a dragon," Eldrin said. "Her presence was loud and full of momentum."
Dion sucked in a breath. "That’s Dahlia."
Eldrin nodded once. "Another used illusions, yet her body was not fragile. She fought while laughing."
Arden exhaled. "Clara."
"And the third," Eldrin said, pausing briefly, "was... difficult to sense."
He narrowed his eyes. "Ethereal. Silent. She erased her presence as if she did not exist."
Dion whispered, "Eliza..."
Arden nodded slowly, his expression turning serious. "Those three are our fellow disciples."
Bastor shifted heavily, his massive body creaking slightly.
Varyn lifted his head from the shell, eyes narrowing.
"Wait," the serpent hissed. "There are more like him?"
Bastor’s voice rumbled low. "More humans who can fight us head-on?"
Eldrin nodded again. "Yes."
He looked back at Arden. "From what I sensed, their power was not far from yours."
Bastor’s eyes widened slightly. Varyn’s tongue flicked out in agitation.
"...Impossible," Varyn muttered.
Arden met their gazes calmly. "Of course they are."
The two beasts stared at him.
"They trained the same way I did," Arden continued. "They walk the same path."
Bastor frowned deeply.
Eldrin turned slightly toward Bastor and Varyn. "Now do you understand why I told you both to stop?"
The two fell silent.
Eldrin faced Arden again. "I do not yet understand what this God Gym truly is."
He paused, then spoke honestly. "But any force capable of producing multiple humans like you is not something we can treat lightly."
Dion let out a low whistle. "Yeah... that sounds about right."
Eldrin watched the two of them closely, then spoke again, his tone calm but curious.
"But there is something else that confuses me."
Arden tilted his head slightly. "What is it?"
"You said you are disciples," Eldrin continued. "All of you."
Arden nodded without hesitation. "Yeah. We are."
Bastor’s massive head lowered a little. Varyn’s eyes narrowed.
"That makes no sense," the serpent said. "In every sect we have seen, disciples are the weakest."
Bastor rumbled in agreement. "They are followers. Learners. Not ones who stand at the front."
Dion scratched his head. "Well... that’s usually true."
Arden crossed his arms and shrugged. "Not in our sect."
Eldrin studied Arden again, more carefully this time. "Then that brings me to my next question."
He paused, then asked directly, "Is your master an ancient beast?"
Arden blinked. "Ancient beast?"
Dion almost choked. "Wait, what?"
Eldrin nodded slowly. "That is what I sensed."
He lifted a claw slightly, gesturing toward Arden. "Your
[Unique Physique]
does not feel human in origin."
Arden stiffened.
"It feels closer to a beast physique," Eldrin said.
"When you awaken it, you are not simply gaining power. You are reshaping your body. You are becoming something closer to a beast."
Bastor’s eyes widened. Varyn hissed softly.
"But," Eldrin added, "you remain human."
Arden and Dion stared at him.
"...The hell," Dion muttered.
Arden frowned, looking down at his own hands. "You’re saying... we’re turning into beasts?"
Eldrin shook his head. "Not fully. You do not lose reason. You do not lose form."
He looked back up. "But your bodies are walking the same path as ours. Strength first. Instinct second. Mana follows, not leads."
Both Arden and Dion were really shocked. What the hell was going on? Were they really beasts?