Garion went to the restaurant and grabbed a plate without thinking too much.

He sat down, rolled up his sleeves, and dug in.

He was having a big roast chicken.

There were rice and some other side dishes neatly arranged on the side.

He took a big bite.

"…Good."

He chewed slowly this time, eyes half-lidded, actually tasting it.

He scooped some rice, mixed it with sauce, then took another bite of chicken.

"…Really good."

His pace slowed.

Garion stared at the plate while chewing, chopsticks hovering in the air.

"…Huh."

He tilted his head slightly.

"If this chicken was a cultivator…"

He poked the meat lightly with his chopsticks.

"Then the side dishes would be… a domain."

The chicken itself didn't change, but...

"It tastes better when everything around it supports it."

Garion stopped eating.

He leaned back a little, eyes drifting to his hands.

"My body right now…"

He flexed his fingers. Smooth. Strong. Responsive.

"…It's already perfect."

The proof was that he awakened a [Unique Physique].

"So how do I go further?"

He frowned, then glanced back at the plate.

The chicken was still just chicken.

But... when supplemented with sauce and side dishes...

And with the right balance... it became a really good meal.

Garion chuckled quietly.

"…I really am comparing myself to food."

He shook his head, but his eyes were sharp now.

"Still… it makes sense."

He tapped his chest lightly.

"My body is complete. That's the chicken."

He gestured at the dishes.

"The third realm shouldn't change me."

He paused.

"It should change how everything around me interacts with me."

Garion leaned forward, elbows on the table.

"And my path…"

He whispered it under his breath.

"[God Physique Cultivation Path]."

He had read enough novels.

Gods didn't just get stronger bodies.

"They exist inside their own rules."

Their presence alone changed things.

"They don't release mana to control the world."

He smirked faintly.

"The world already knows who they are."

Garion picked up another piece of chicken, but this time he didn't eat it right away.

"So the third realm is a domain."

He nodded slowly.

"But not the mana path's domain."

He took a bite and chewed.

"It'll be my way, a domain where my body is the center."

He swallowed and wiped his mouth.

"…Living Domain Realm."

Garion leaned back in his chair, finally relaxed.

"Yeah," he said quietly. "That sounds right."

He looked at the remaining food and smiled.

"Guess lunch really does help you think."

---

Dahlia stood tall, stretching her shoulders once.

She looked at Eliza, then Clara.

"Now that I've awakened my [Unique Physique]…" she said calmly, "…it looks like the two of you are next."

Clara blinked, then grinned wide. "Heh. Took you long enough to notice."

Eliza nodded softly, her hands resting at her sides. "I can feel it too. My body is… close."

Dahlia smirked. "Good. Then we don't stop here."

She turned and pointed deeper into the forest.

"Let's go find more demonic beasts."

Clara cracked her neck. "Music to my ears."

The juniors behind them swallowed nervously.

"M-More?"

"Didn't we almost die earlier…?"

Dahlia glanced back at them. "Relax. Stay close. Watch carefully."

She stepped forward without hesitation.

"If you want to survive in the God Gym," she added, "this is what you need to see."

Clara waved lazily. "And don't faint. That's annoying to carry."

Eliza was already moving, silent steps leaving barely any sound.

Together, they led the group deeper into the forest.

---

Far deeper inside the woods…

A massive eye snapped open.

"…Hm?"

A huge demonic beast slowly lifted its head.

Its body was hidden among twisted roots and dark shadows, but the pressure it gave off was heavy and old.

It frowned.

"…Strange."

It inhaled slowly.

"Why can't I feel the aura of the third realm demonic red drake?"

Silence answered it.

Its brow furrowed.

"That creature should still be alive."

Then it sensed something else.

Multiple unfamiliar auras.

"…Humans?"

The beast's eyes narrowed.

"Humans shouldn't be here."

Especially not at this time on this island.

It rose to its feet, shaking dirt and leaves loose from its body.

"…And these auras…"

Its lips curled into something close to a smile.

"They're strong."

It turned its head toward the direction Dahlia's group was heading.

"…If the red drake is gone…"

A low growl escaped its throat.

"Then they must be the ones who dealt with it."

The beast stepped forward, crushing a tree root under its claw.

"…Interesting."

Its eyes gleamed.

"Let's take a look."

---

Clara and Eliza moved to the front without anyone telling them to.

Dahlia slowed her steps and stayed behind, arms crossed, watching calmly.

"I've already awakened," she said lightly. "This round is yours."

Clara glanced back with a grin. "Don't worry. We'll catch up."

Eliza nodded, eyes forward. "…We need pressure."

That was enough.

Clara turned and raised her voice.

"Alright! Juniors, move faster! Fight more! Show us what all that screaming and vomiting in training was for!"

The juniors stiffened.

"Yes, Senior Sister!" they shouted together.

First-realm demonic beasts rushed out from the trees.

The juniors didn't freeze this time.

They stepped in.

One junior shouted as he charged, "Don't fall behind!"

Another yelled back, "Like hell I will!"

Blows landed, and beasts fell.

Clara laughed as she watched. "Hey, that one didn't even scream!"

Eliza nodded approvingly. "…Their movements are cleaner."

Nearby, senior disciples roared as they clashed with second-realm beasts.

"COME ON!"

"IS THAT ALL?!"

"DON'T YOU DARE STEAL MY KILL!"

The forest shook with the sounds of battle.

Dahlia smiled for a moment, proud.

Then her smile faded.

"…That's strange."

She looked around slowly.

"…Why did the number of beasts suddenly triple?"

She scanned deeper into the forest.

"…Is it because we went further in?"

Clara kicked a beast away and wiped sweat from her forehead. "What's wrong?"

Dahlia shook her head once.

"…Nothing."

She watched another group of beasts rush in.

"Forget it," she muttered. "More demonic beasts just mean more fighting."

Her eyes sharpened slightly.

"And more pressure."

She glanced at Clara and Eliza.

"…Which is exactly what we need."

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