Chapter 379: Solar Genius Defeated by Flavor

Garion glanced toward the side of the arena where Sindral was being carried by several Solmira members.

Sindral’s eyes were closed, his body limp, but his breathing was steady.

“…Is he okay?” Garion asked.

Sorien followed his gaze and smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. I already checked him.”

He folded his hands behind his back. “He’s injured, but nothing serious.”

Garion let out a quiet sigh. “That’s good.”

He looked back toward the arena, then shook his head slightly.

“That last exchange was dangerous,” Garion said. “Fortunately, Dahlia still held back.”

Sorien stopped walking.

“…She held back?” he asked, clearly surprised.

Garion nodded. “Of course.”

He glanced toward where Dahlia was standing with the others.

“She didn’t fully use her dragon power. And she didn’t release everything she had.”

Sorien’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I see…”

He exhaled. “No wonder. I felt something strange during the fight. Like there was more pressure she never released.”

Garion smiled. “That’s normal.”

Then he added, “Still, Sindral did well. He managed to push her far enough to make her that angry.”

Garion paused, then frowned slightly.

“And to be honest,” he said, “what was that skill of his?”

He looked at Sorien directly. “It actually injured Dahlia. You know… her body is currently the strongest in God Gym after me.”

Sorien chuckled softly. “It’s nothing special, Sir Garion.”

He looked up toward the sky. “The sunlight on this island is almost as good as the sunlight within our clan’s territory.”

He continued calmly, “The stronger the sunlight, the stronger that skill becomes.”

Garion nodded slowly. “I see. No wonder.”

“If this were a normal island,” Sorien added, “he would’ve lost much earlier.”

Garion nodded again. “Still, he’s quite good.”

Before Sorien could reply, footsteps approached.

Dahlia and Mersha walked over.

Dahlia stopped in front of Sorien and spoke calmly. “Sir Sorien, please give this to Sindral.”

She nodded toward Mersha.

Mersha held out a small bottle filled with thick green liquid.

“He’s injured,” Dahlia added. “This will help.”

Sorien looked down at the potion. “…What is this?”

Mersha smiled brightly. “A healing potion made specifically for solar-element cultivators.”

Sorien blinked. “…You have that?”

He looked at Mersha more closely. “Are you an alchemist?”

Mersha nodded proudly.

“But Sindral is a Third Realm cultivator,” Sorien said carefully. “Will this really work on him?”

“Of course,” Mersha replied without hesitation. “I’m really good.”

Garion nodded. “It works for me too. Just give it to him.”

Sorien stared at the potion, frowning slightly.

Earlier, Sorien had noticed something strange.

When the small girl mentioned potions, several God Gym disciples had reacted with clear fear.

That alone made him hesitate.

He looked at the green potion in Mersha’s hands again. The liquid inside was thick, almost unnaturally so.

Sorien frowned slightly.

Still… judging by God Gym’s overall personality and strength, poisoning someone here made no sense.

There was no reason for them to do something so petty after already winning.

And more importantly…

He had seen Dahlia drink it.

That thought tipped the scale.

“…Is this safe?” Sorien asked carefully.

Dahlia looked at him like he had just asked something obvious.

“Of course,” she said. “You saw me drink it, right?”

She paused, then added with a frown, “It’s just the taste that’s bad.”

Sorien blinked.

The pieces clicked together.

God Gym was a new faction.

Their methods were different. Their training was extreme. Their recovery methods were probably the same.

They weren’t afraid of pain.

They were afraid of flavor.

In contrast, Grand Factions like Solmira drank potions regularly.

Some tasted bitter, some metallic, some unpleasant, but nothing truly shocking.

Sorien nodded slowly. “I see. So it’s just the taste.”

Dahlia nodded firmly.

With that settled, Sorien turned and called over one of his subordinates.

“Give this to Sindral,” he said. “Tell him to drink it.”

The Solmira member accepted the bottle and hurried off.

Dahlia watched him go, a mischievous smile slowly spreading across her face.

Sindral, still leaning against two of his companions, accepted the potion with a confused look.

“…What is this?” he asked.

The Solmira member replied honestly, “The God Gym gave it to you. They say it’s a healing potion.”

Sindral frowned. “A healing potion?”

He rarely relied on potions.

He believed discipline and light purification were enough.

But after today’s fight, reality had hit hard.

“…Is it safe?” Sindral asked.

The member nodded. “Sir Sorien said it should be fine. He only warned that it might taste bad.”

Sindral hesitated, then sighed. “Alright then.”

He uncorked it.

And drank.

The effect was instant.

Sindral’s face froze.

Then it turned dark.

Very dark.

“…?!”

Dahlia burst out laughing. “Hahaha!”

Sorien stiffened. “What happened?”

He turned to Garion immediately.

Garion smiled calmly. “Don’t worry. It’s just the taste. How could we poison him when you’re standing right here?”

Sorien didn’t answer right away. His eyes narrowed, and he rushed back to Sindral’s side.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, placing a hand on Sindral’s shoulder.

Sindral tried to respond, but his mouth opened and closed uselessly.

“…Bitter,” he croaked at last.

Sorien blinked. “That’s it?”

He frowned deeply. “How can taste alone…”

He stopped mid-sentence.

Curiosity won over caution.

Sorien dipped a finger into the bottle and tasted a single drop.

The reaction was immediate.

His face went stiff. His brows twitched. His shoulders tensed.

“…What the hell,” Sorien muttered.

He straightened slowly, his complexion noticeably paler than before.

“What kind of potion is this…?” he whispered.

He turned toward Garion, disbelief clear in his eyes.

“…This is worse than ours.”

Behind him, Dahlia covered her mouth, shoulders shaking as she tried not to laugh.

Mersha looked proud. “I improved it.”

Sorien stared at her. “…Improved?”

“Yes,” Mersha said cheerfully. “More efficient. Faster absorption. Better regeneration.”

She tilted her head. “Taste wasn’t a priority.”

Garion nodded. “Effectiveness first.”

Sindral finally managed to breathe properly again.

Sweat ran down his temple, but the burns on his body were already fading.

His posture straightened little by little.

“…Annoying sect,” he muttered weakly.

Dahlia grinned. “You’re welcome.”

Sorien let out a long breath and shook his head.

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