Raviel walked toward the center of the training hall and stopped in front of a long metal frame.

"Let's start with something easy," he said, rolling his shoulders once. "Bench press."

Vargan blinked. "…Bench press?"

Raviel paused, then chuckled. "Ah. Right. I forgot."

He tapped the metal bar lightly. "This is an exercise Master Garion introduced. It's normal if you don't know it."

Vargan crossed his arms and looked the setup over. "You people really like strange tools."

Raviel smiled. "Come here. I'll show you."

He moved quickly, loading thick metal plates onto both sides of the bar.

The weights locked in place with a solid sound.

"Let's start with two hundred kilograms," Raviel said casually.

Sarona, standing to the side, narrowed her eyes.

She didn't say anything, but her attention sharpened.

Raviel lay down on the bench, feet planted firmly on the floor.

He wrapped his hands around the bar, tested his grip, then lifted it smoothly off the rack.

"One," he said calmly.

The bar went down, then back up steadily.

He kept going.

By the fifth rep, his breathing was still even.

By the tenth, he pushed the bar back onto the rack and sat up without strain.

Raviel looked over at Vargan. "Easy, right?"

Vargan stared at the bar for a moment, then nodded slowly. "We do similar training."

He stepped closer and inspected the equipment. "But your machine…"

He tapped the bench with a finger. "It makes the movement cleaner."

"We usually lift large stones," Vargan continued. "Crude, but effective."

He looked at the bar again. "Still, is this really two hundred kilograms?"

Raviel nodded. "Of course."

Vargan grinned. "Alright then. Let me try."

He lay down, the bench creaking slightly under his weight. He adjusted his grip, then paused.

"Like this?" he asked.

Raviel corrected his hand position with a quick gesture. "Wider. Lock your shoulders."

Vargan nodded and lifted the bar off the rack.

His eyes widened slightly.

"…Yeah," he muttered. "That's heavy."

"Go on," Raviel said. "Ten reps."

Vargan lowered the bar and pushed it back up.

The first rep was fast.

The second was steady.

By the fourth, his breathing grew heavier.

By the seventh, his arms trembled just a little.

Sarona noticed it immediately.

Vargan growled under his breath and pushed through.

"Nine," he said.

The tenth rep came slower than Raviel's. Much slower.

When he finally racked the bar, Vargan sat up and laughed loudly.

"Hah! Interesting."

Raviel crossed his arms. "Slower than me."

Vargan wiped sweat from his brow. "Maybe."

He looked at the bench again, eyes burning with excitement. "But I like this."

Raviel's lips curled into a small smile. "If you like it, then let's raise the weight."

He reached for more plates. "How about four hundred kilograms?"

Vargan didn't hesitate. "Sure."

The plates were loaded quickly, the metal clanking loudly as they locked into place.

Raviel lay down first. He adjusted his grip, lifted the bar cleanly, and began pressing.

One. Two. Three.

His movements were smooth and controlled, his breathing steady.

By the tenth rep, he pushed the bar back onto the rack without strain and sat up as if nothing had happened.

"Your turn," Raviel said.

Vargan lay down, shoulders tightening as he gripped the bar. The moment he lifted it, his eyes narrowed.

"…Heavy," he muttered.

"Focus," Raviel said. "Same form."

Vargan lowered the bar and pushed it back up.

The first few reps were strong but slower than Raviel's.

By the fifth, his breathing grew rough.

By the seventh, sweat began to form on his face and drip down his temples.

Sarona watched closely, expression unreadable.

Vargan gritted his teeth and forced the bar up again. "Eight."

His arms shook slightly.

"Nine," he growled.

The tenth rep was a struggle.

His muscles tightened hard, veins standing out as he pushed until the bar finally locked into place.

Vargan dropped his head back and laughed, breath heavy. "Now that feels right."

Raviel nodded. "You're strong."

Vargan sat up slowly, sweat dripping down his face. "But you're still ahead."

Raviel tilted his head. "So?"

He gestured toward the bar. "Do you want to increase it more?"

Vargan's grin returned immediately. "Do it."

Raviel nodded. "Alright then."

More plates were added to the bar. The metal rang loudly as the weight settled.

"Five hundred kilograms," Raviel said calmly.

Sarona's eyes narrowed slightly. Even she felt the pressure coming off the bar now.

Raviel lay down like before, grip steady, feet planted. He lifted the bar without hesitation.

One rep. Two. Three.

His pace didn't change.

By the fifth rep, his breathing was still even.

By the tenth, he pushed the bar back onto the rack and sat up, rolling his shoulders once.

"Your turn," he said.

Vargan let out a breath and lay down again. His expression was serious now.

He wrapped his hands tightly around the bar and lifted.

His arms shook immediately.

"…Heavy," he muttered.

"Focus," Raviel said.

Vargan lowered the bar and pushed it back up.

The first few reps were slow but controlled. By the sixth, sweat poured down his face. His jaw clenched hard.

"Seven."

The bar moved slower.

"Eight."

His arms trembled violently.

"Nine!"

He lowered the bar for the last rep and pushed.

Nothing.

The bar stalled halfway up.

Vargan growled and forced more strength out, veins bulging, teeth grinding.

But the bar didn't move.

His grip slipped.

"!!!"

Before the bar could drop...

A hand caught it.

Aveline stood beside the bench, her arm extended upward, lifting the five-hundred-kilogram bar with one hand and placing it back onto the rack smoothly.

The room went silent.

Vargan stared at her, eyes wide. Sarona's breath caught.

"…What?" Vargan said hoarsely.

He pushed himself upright and stared at Aveline. "How… how is that possible?"

His voice rose. "How can a woman lift that weight so easily?"

"With one hand?"

Aveline released the bar and looked at him calmly. "Because I can."

She straightened her posture. "I'm a body cultivator now."

Vargan shook his head hard. "That doesn't answer anything!"

He pointed at the bench. "I'm the patriarch of the Vulkran Clan. Strength is our pride."

His voice trembled. "And I couldn't lift that. But you..."

Vargan was so shocked that he couldn't finish his words after seeing what Aveline had done.

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