Chapter 368: Opening the Arena to Light

Garion turned to face the group that had gathered behind him.

They had come quickly.

Dahlia stood at the front, hands on her hips, eyes bright even this early in the morning.

Arden hovered a step behind her, straightening his clothes while glancing around nervously.

Valtor cracked his neck with a loud grin, already wide awake.

Seira stood with her arms crossed, her face cold and unreadable.

Clara leaned sideways, rocking on her heels with a playful smile.

Eliza stood quietly near the back, silent as always.

Beside them, the twins Rynar and Rynor were already arguing under their breath.

Ragric leaned against the wall with his arms folded, eyes sharp and calculating.

Rovric stood beside him, posture straight and ready.

Behind the main group, other God Gym disciples gathered as well.

They weren’t part of the trial, but none of them wanted to miss this.

Garion swept his gaze over everyone.

“…You’re all here,” he said.

Rynor clicked his tongue. “Barely.”

Rynar yawned and stretched his arms overhead. “Damn it. Who shows up this early for a fight?”

Dahlia let out a long sigh. “They do.”

Rynor glanced at her. “Huh?”

“Their power is light-element,” Dahlia said casually. “Morning sunlight is best for them, so of course they wake up early.”

Arden nodded slowly. “Ah… I see. That makes sense.”

Garion looked at Dahlia with mild surprise. “How do you know that?”

Dahlia blinked, then smiled a little. “Last time I saw Sorien fight Elder Rachel, he used light-element techniques.”

She tilted her head slightly. “So I figured they’d want the best sunlight possible.”

Garion nodded. “I see.”

But he still raised an eyebrow at her.

Dahlia noticed and waved her hand quickly. “Don’t overthink it, Master. Forget about that.”

She clenched her fist and grinned. “Let’s just meet our opponents today. We’re going to win.”

Valtor laughed loudly. “That’s the spirit!”

Seira scoffed. “…Hmph.”

Clara leaned closer to Eliza and whispered, “She’s fired up already.”

Eliza didn’t answer. She simply nodded once.

Garion opened his mouth to speak again…

When suddenly hurried footsteps echoed down the path.

“Maaaster!”

Everyone turned.

Mersha rushed over, nearly tripping as she stopped in front of the group.

Her eyes were bright, and she was holding several small bottles that clinked softly against each other.

“I made potions!” she said excitedly. “Recovery types, stimulation types, emergency boosters, and a few experimental ones!”

Dahlia’s smile vanished instantly.

“No.”

Rynar pointed at her. “Absolutely not.”

Rynor crossed his arms. “Save that crap for later.”

Mersha blinked. “Eh? Why?”

Ragric sighed. “Because we’re not desperate yet.”

Arden spoke carefully. “If we lose, then… maybe. But right now, we don’t even know how the fights will go.”

Mersha pouted. “But preparation is important!”

“It is,” Dahlia said firmly. “Which is why we don’t rely on potions before we even start.”

She leaned closer to Mersha. “If we need them later, we’ll take them. Not before.”

Mersha hesitated, then nodded. “…Okay.”

She tucked the bottles away reluctantly.

Dahlia let out a quiet breath. “Good.”

Garion watched the exchange without interrupting.

Then he spoke.

“Listen carefully,” he said.

The chatter stopped.

“This trial isn’t about tricks. It isn’t about tools. And it isn’t about borrowed strength.”

His eyes moved from one disciple to the next.

“They came here to see what God Gym really is.”

Rovric tightened his grip on his sword. “Then they’ll see it.”

Ragric smirked. “I hope they don’t cry.”

Valtor laughed again. “If they do, I’m laughing louder.”

Seira finally spoke. “…Just point me at my opponent.”

Clara raised her hand. “Same, but with more fun.”

Garion nodded.

“Good,” he said. “Stay sharp. Stay calm.”

He turned toward the arena doors.

“This isn’t just your fight,” he added. “It’s the path itself being tested.”

Dahlia stepped forward, eyes blazing.

“Then let’s show them,” she said, “what this path can do.”

One by one, the disciples straightened.

The trial was about to begin.

—

Garion led the group toward the arena.

The large doors were already open, and inside, Sorien and the Solmira members were waiting in silence.

Their posture was straight, their expressions calm, but their attention sharpened the moment Garion stepped in with his disciples.

Sorien’s eyes moved slowly across the group.

“So these are the disciples of God Gym,” he said.

Garion nodded. “Of course.”

Sorien studied them carefully.

Some were relaxed. Some were tense. Some didn’t hide their confidence at all.

Before Sorien could say anything else, a sudden voice broke the calm.

“…Dahlia?”

Sindral had stepped forward without realizing it. His eyes were fixed on her.

“Is that really you?” he asked, clearly startled. “How are you here?”

Dahlia turned her head, then blinked.

“Oh,” she said. “You’re here too?”

Her brows lifted slightly, then her mouth curved into a small grin.

“So it’s you, huh.”

Sindral straightened immediately. “You joined God Gym?”

Dahlia crossed her arms. “Obviously.”

Sindral frowned. “You left your clan for this place?”

Dahlia opened her mouth…

“Shut it,” she said flatly.

The words came out fast and sharp.

A few Solmira members stiffened.

Sindral froze.

“Save it for later,” Dahlia continued. “We’re not here to chat.”

She stepped forward, eyes bright and confident, then looked back at Garion.

“Master,” she said, smirking, “let’s open it.”

Garion raised an eyebrow. “Open what?”

“The arena,” Dahlia said. “We should show them how strong we are.”

She glanced toward the Solmira side. “Even when they’re at their strongest.”

Garion chuckled. “I see.”

Sorien watched quietly, his gaze thoughtful.

Garion stepped forward and placed one hand on the control panel near the center of the arena floor.

“Alright then,” he said. “Let’s begin.”

He pressed down.

A low hum spread through the arena.

The ceiling above slowly split apart, heavy panels sliding away as sunlight poured down into the hall.

Several Solmira members narrowed their eyes slightly as the light settled around them.

“…Sunlight,” one of them muttered.

Sorien nodded faintly. “Thoughtful design.”

The arena didn’t stop there.

The walls shifted, sections moving outward as the space expanded.

Rows of seating rose from the sides, forming a stadium-like structure.

God Gym disciples who were not part of the trial were guided into the stands, filling the seats with quiet murmurs and focused gazes.

Two raised platforms formed at opposite ends of the arena.

One for God Gym.

One for the Solmira Clan.

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