Dion turned toward his bottle and picked it up from the ground.

Arden blinked. "…That's it?"

Dion popped the cork with his thumb, completely relaxed. "Yep. Done."

Arden stared at him. "Done what? You just awakened, and now you're grabbing a drink?"

Dion glanced back and smirked. "Drink this."

He held the bottle out.

Arden hesitated, then took it.

He looked at the familiar label and frowned. "Isn't this the wine you brewed before?"

He tilted the bottle slightly. "I've drunk this plenty of times already."

"Just drink it," Dion said.

Arden raised an eyebrow. "You're acting suspicious."

Still, he lifted the bottle and took a mouthful.

The moment the wine touched his tongue, his eyes widened.

"…What the hell?"

He froze, then took another sip without thinking.

"No, this is wrong," Arden muttered. "How can it taste like this?"

The wine was smoother. Sweeter, but not heavy.

The flavor was deeper and richer, like it had been aged far longer than it should have been.

"It's better," Arden said slowly. "Not just a little. Way better."

He lowered the bottle and stared at it. "It tastes like it's been aged for years."

Then his eyes snapped up.

"…Don't tell me."

Dion nodded once. "Yeah."

Arden swallowed. "Your [Unique Physique]…"

"Is [Wine]," Dion said plainly.

Arden stood there in silence for a few seconds, processing it.

Then he let out a breath. "I can't believe there's a [Unique Physique] like that."

He shook his head. "Still… I guess it makes sense. Your family is Dulcoria, after all. Famous wine makers."

Dion's smile faded just a little. "Don't lump me in with them."

Arden looked at him.

"They're specialists," Dion continued. "Great brewers, sure. But this?"

He tapped his chest. "This isn't just wine making."

He leaned closer, voice confident. "My [Unique Physique] is [Wine] itself."

Arden felt it then.

His body felt… lighter. His breathing is smoother.

The soreness from guarding Dion for hours had faded without him noticing.

Arden blinked and flexed his fingers. "Wait. My body..."

"You feel it, right?" Dion said with a grin.

Arden nodded slowly. "My fatigue's almost gone."

Dion straightened, clearly pleased. "I can accelerate aging. Improve flavor. Balance the properties."

He paused, then added casually, "And now my wine has healing effects too."

Arden's head snapped up. "Healing?"

"Not instant miracles," Dion said. "But enough to help recovery."

Arden stared at the bottle like it had turned into a treasure. "That's ridiculous."

"I know," Dion replied proudly.

Then he laughed and waved a hand. "So do me a favor."

Arden looked up. "What?"

"Help me ask Master for better fruits," Dion said. "If I get good ingredients..."

He paused, then grinned wider. "I can brew wines that at least lessen the damage after drinking those horrendous supplements."

Arden's face twitched.

The memory of [Demonic Protein] flashed through his mind... the bitterness, the nausea, the regret.

He slowly looked back down at the bottle in his hands, then up at Dion.

"…I'll talk to him," he said without hesitation.

Dion let out a satisfied chuckle and nodded. "Thanks."

He stretched his arms and rolled his shoulders. "I'll make sure there's plenty."

Arden shook his head with a helpless smile. "You really are dangerous in your own way."

Dion smirked. "Just wait until everyone realizes it."

The two of them stood there quietly for a moment, the forest calm once more.

---

Eldrin and Silvar stood facing each other in the quiet depths beneath Demon Gate Island.

Eldrin broke the silence first. "Why haven't the other three awakened yet?"

Silvar's ears twitched slightly. He didn't look away. "It's already been a week."

Eldrin exhaled slowly. "Bastor and Varyn are the most important link of the seal. They can't awaken freely."

He folded his arms, expression calm but clearly annoyed. "And Cindor…"

He paused, then shook his head. "That one always burns everything before sleeping. There's never anything left."

Silvar let out a quiet snort. "That bird never changes."

Eldrin clicked his tongue. "So what do you expect them to do? Wake up faster?"

Silvar crossed his arms. "No. I expect patience."

Eldrin glanced aside. "Patience is easy to say when nothing is cracking."

Silvar's gaze sharpened. "The seal is stable. Barely. That's enough for now."

Eldrin was silent for a moment, then spoke again. "Then what about the humans?"

Silvar's eyes narrowed slightly. "What about them?"

"Do we go meet them?" Eldrin asked. "Or do we just keep waiting?"

Silvar didn't answer right away.

"The humans this time are different," Eldrin continued. "You've felt it too."

Silvar finally nodded. "I have."

He turned his head slightly, as if watching something far away. "I've been observing them these past days."

"And?" Eldrin asked.

"They don't cultivate like normal humans," Silvar said flatly.

"They treat their bodies like weapons. Like tools. Like something meant to be rebuilt."

Eldrin's expression darkened. "Just like I said before."

Silvar continued, "They advance too fast. And they don't rely on domains the way they should."

Eldrin clenched his jaw. "That makes them dangerous."

"Yes," Silvar agreed. "And unpredictable."

Silence fell again.

"So?" Eldrin asked at last. "Do we approach them?"

Silvar shook his head. "Not yet."

Eldrin raised an eyebrow.

"We watch," Silvar said. "We learn. If we act too soon, we reveal ourselves."

Eldrin nodded slowly. "Caution, then."

Silvar's voice dropped. "Because if these humans notice us first…"

He didn't finish the sentence.

Eldrin didn't need him to.

---

On the God Archipelago, two figures had already arrived.

One was a man with a massive build and short red hair, his presence alone making the air feel heavier.

He rolled his shoulders once, cracking his neck as he looked around.

Beside him stood a woman with long white hair.

Her expression was cold and unreadable, eyes sharp as she quietly took in the surroundings.

The man let out a low chuckle. "So this is the famous God Archipelago that recently appeared, huh?"

He smirked, gaze sweeping across the distant islands.

"This place feels… interesting."

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