All the hunting groups had returned to the God Gym by nightfall.

Disciples dragged themselves in through the gates, some groaning and some leaning on each other as they walked.

The smell of blood, sweat, and demonic beasts still clung to them.

Valtor dropped his weapon the moment he stepped inside and let himself fall backward onto the ground.

"I'm… so tired," he groaned, staring up at the ceiling.

Seira stood a few steps away, arms crossed.

Her posture was straight, her chin lifted, and her expression cold as ever.

In just one week, the two of them had fought more than most new disciples did.

Even though they had started as First Realm cultivators, they were thrown into hunt after hunt.

And because of that...

They were the first among the new disciples to break through to the Second Realm.

Valtor still couldn't believe it.

He pushed himself up onto one elbow and stared at his hands.

"A week," he muttered. "Just one damn week."

Back in the Vulkran Clan, reaching the Second Realm took years.

Here?

It just happened.

The twins walked past them, both smirking.

"Wow," Rynor said. "Already tired after one week of hunting?"

Rynar cracked his knuckles. "That's disappointing."

Valtor glared at them. "Don't lump me in with you two."

He pointed at them weakly. "You've been in the God Gym for over a year."

Rynor shrugged. "True."

Rynar nodded. "And you've only been here a little over two weeks."

The twins laughed together.

"Okay, okay," Rynor said. "Fair enough."

"But," Rynar added, pointing toward the inner halls, "get up."

Valtor frowned. "Why?"

"You don't want dinner to end, right?"

Valtor's eyes widened. "…Damn it."

He groaned loudly but forced himself up anyway, legs shaking as he stood. "This place is cruel."

Dahlia watched the whole thing from nearby, hands on her hips.

She sighed. "You boys really complain a lot."

Valtor shot her a look. "You're smiling way too much for someone who fought as much as we did."

Dahlia laughed lightly. "Because it was fun."

Then her gaze shifted to Seira.

The ice princess sat down slowly, movements controlled and precise.

As expected.

But Dahlia could see it.

Seira's breathing was shallow. Her shoulders were stiff.

There were faint cuts along her arms that she hadn't bothered to treat yet.

After everything she'd endured this week, she was exhausted.

Extremely exhausted.

Still, she didn't show it.

Dahlia stepped closer and crouched slightly.

"You know," she said quietly, "you can sit properly. No one's judging you."

Seira didn't look at her. "I am."

Dahlia smiled wryly. "Figures."

Valtor glanced over, noticing Seira's pale face. "You okay?"

Seira's eyes flicked to him. "Obviously."

Valtor opened his mouth, then closed it. "…Right."

The truth was obvious to anyone paying attention.

Pure mana filled the God Gym constantly, far denser than anywhere outside.

On top of that, the supplements they drank every morning and night...

Managed to push their bodies past their normal limit, but the taste...

It was really unforgettable.

Valtor shuddered just thinking about it. "I swear, if I have to drink that thing one more time..."

"You will," Rynor said cheerfully.

Rynar nodded. "Twice a day."

Valtor groaned again.

Seira closed her eyes briefly, then opened them. "If this is the price," she said coldly, "then pay it."

Dahlia watched her and smiled softly.

'Still the same ice princess,' she thought. 'Even after all that.'

But beneath that pride...

Seira had endured everything without complaint.

---

Garion walked into the restaurant with his hands behind his back, posture relaxed.

A smirk sat on his face.

"Welcome back, my dear disciples."

The words echoed clearly through the hall.

Every conversation stopped.

Dahlia froze mid-step, one foot still in the air.

The twins stiffened where they sat.

Clara's grin vanished instantly.

Even Eliza, who had been quietly eating in a corner, paused and slowly looked up.

…That was bad.

Very bad.

Dahlia slowly turned her head. "Ah."

Rynor leaned toward Rynar and whispered, "He never says that."

Rynar nodded grimly. "Yeah. He only talks like that when something terrible is about to happen."

Clara's eyes darted to the entrance. "Guys. Guys. Don't panic. Maybe he's just in a good mood."

She laughed weakly. "Right? Right?"

No one answered her.

Then they noticed someone standing beside Garion.

Mersha.

She was smiling brightly.

Too brightly.

Her glasses were slightly crooked, her hair messy, and thick dark circles hung under her eyes.

She looked like she hadn't slept in days.

Dahlia's cheerful smile slowly faded. "…Oh no."

Rika squinted. "Why does she look proud?"

Rena leaned forward. "Why does she always look proud when we're about to suffer?"

Garion stepped aside just enough for everyone to see Mersha clearly.

"You're all back from hunting," he said calmly. "Good timing."

The twins exchanged looks.

Clara slapped a hand over her mouth. "Nope. I know this look. I know this look."

Dahlia crossed her arms. "Master," she said carefully, still smiling, "you're being very… polite today."

Garion nodded. "I am."

That made it worse.

Mersha bounced slightly on her heels. "Hi...!"

No one greeted her back.

Rynor groaned. "Why does she look like that?"

Rynar rubbed his face. "She looks like she invented pain again."

Their eyes drifted to the memory of the red and green bottles.

Everyone remembered.

The red potion gave insane strength for hours...

But afterward, their bodies were completely paralyzed, and every part of their bodies screamed.

Even breathing felt wrong.

The green potion gave endless energy, but once it wore off, hunger hit like a curse.

Deep soreness followed, spreading through every joint and muscle.

They were brutal.

But they were First Realm supplements.

Back then, even the side effects were manageable for disciples like Dahlia and the twins.

Now?

Dahlia glanced at Garion's smirk, then at Mersha's excited grin.

Her smile tightened. "…These aren't the First Realm anymore, are they?"

Garion didn't answer right away.

He walked past the tables, eyes scanning them like a trainer inspecting exhausted athletes. "You all performed well."

Rynor blinked. "That's… suspicious."

Garion stopped. "Several of you reached the Second Realm."

The room stirred.

All of them didn't like Garion's words at all.

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