Garion raised a hand slightly. "Alright. Take your time thinking about it."

Seira and Valtor both stiffened.

"But," Garion continued calmly, "let me help you make your choice."

Before anyone could ask what he meant...

Someone appeared near the entrance without warning.

Several disciples flinched.

Dahlia's head snapped up. Clara froze mid-breath. Even the twins stiffened.

A woman stood there, calm and warm, dressed simply.

Her posture was relaxed, her expression gentle, and her eyes carried a familiar kindness.

Garion stepped aside and gestured toward her. "Everyone," he said, "meet your new elder."

He smiled wider. "Rachel Revalis."

For half a second, no one moved.

Then...

"Mom?!"

Rynor shouted first, nearly tripping over his chair as he rushed forward.

"Mom!" Rynar followed right behind him, eyes wide. "What are you doing here?!"

They stopped in front of her, disbelief written all over their faces.

Rachel laughed softly. "Easy, easy. You're both still loud as ever."

The twins stared at her like she might vanish.

"How can you be here?" Rynor demanded. "Since when...?"

Garion spoke calmly behind them. "Didn't I ask her before to join the God Gym as an elder?"

The twins turned slowly.

"…You did?" Rynar said.

Rynor frowned. "We thought you were joking."

Garion smirked. "Of course not."

Dahlia walked over with a bright smile. "Nice to meet you, Elder Rachel."

Clara waved enthusiastically. "Welcome! Please forgive the chaos. It's permanent."

Eliza simply gave a small nod, standing quietly beside them.

Rachel smiled warmly at all of them. "It's nice to see you again too, Dahlia. Clara. Eliza."

Dahlia tilted her head. "So… what exactly are you doing now, Elder Rachel?"

Garion answered instead. "She's here to lead by example."

He turned slightly. "Like this."

Rachel reached into her sleeve and calmly took out a familiar reinforced bottle.

Black liquid.

The room stiffened.

Dahlia's smile vanished. "…Don't tell me."

The twins' faces went pale.

"No," Rynor said quickly. "Mom, don't."

Rynar stepped forward. "You don't have to do this."

Rachel looked at them gently. "I know."

She placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "But this is my choice."

She turned toward the others. "I want to support all of you."

Her voice was warm but steady. "If I ask you to endure something I wouldn't face myself, that wouldn't be right."

Seira's eyes narrowed slightly.

Valtor swallowed hard.

Rachel lifted the bottle. "That's why I'm taking this."

"Mom!" both twins shouted at once.

Rachel smiled. "Don't worry, Rynar. Rynor."

She uncorked the bottle.

"And besides," she added lightly, "I've already raised you two. I can handle pain."

Without hesitation, she drank it.

All of it.

The moment the liquid hit her throat, her expression twisted.

"Ueegh!" She cried out, hand flying to her mouth. "That's… so bad!"

Several people winced in sympathy.

Clara gagged. "Yep. That reaction checks out."

Before anyone could say anything else...

Mana exploded outward.

White and yellow light surged from Rachel's body, swirling violently.

The air trembled as the energy wrapped around her, forming a smooth, glowing cocoon.

Everyone froze.

Dahlia's eyes widened. "It really… did it."

Clara swallowed. "That's not mana fluctuation. That's awakening."

Rika took a step back. "So it really forces a [Unique Physique]…"

Inside the cocoon, Rachel's voice suddenly rang out.

"Ah! Ngh…"

The scream was sharp and raw. It wasn't something she tried to hide.

Several nearby disciples flinched.

The twins panicked immediately.

"Mom!" Rynor shouted, rushing forward.

Rynar grabbed his arm. "Don't! You can't touch it!"

The cocoon shook again as another scream came from inside, louder this time.

"IT... HURTS!"

Rynor's hands trembled. "This is insane. Why would she..."

Dahlia moved fast. She stepped in front of them, arms spread. "Hey. Stop."

Her voice was firm but warm. "Look at the cocoon. It's stable."

Clara nodded quickly. "Yeah, yeah, it's violent, but it's not collapsing."

Eliza silently stood beside the twins, placing a hand on Rynor's sleeve.

She didn't say anything, but the gesture was steady.

Inside the cocoon, Rachel gasped for breath.

"I'm… fine…!" she shouted, her voice strained but clear. "Don't… panic…!"

Another wave of mana surged.

Rachel's voice cracked again. "Oh! This is... worse than childbirth…!"

Clara winced. "Wow. That comparison alone scares me."

Garion watched closely, arms crossed, eyes sharp. He didn't intervene.

Valtor stared at the cocoon, jaw clenched.

His heart pounded harder with every second.

"She did it," he muttered.

Dahlia glanced at him. "Valtor..."

Before she could finish...

Valtor grabbed the black bottle from the table.

Rika's eyes widened. "Wait!"

Valtor popped the cork.

"What the hell am I hesitating for?" he said loudly. "I'm the young master of the Vulkran Clan!"

He laughed once, sharp and stubborn. "I'm not losing to a woman."

Rynor spun around. "You idiot, don't..."

Too late.

Valtor tilted his head back and drank it.

All of it.

The reaction was instant.

"WHAT IS THIS TASTE?!" Valtor roared. "IT'S SWEET... NO... SOUR... WHY IS IT SPICY?!"

He staggered forward, choking. "THIS IS AN ATTACK!"

Then his body locked.

Mana detonated from his chest, violent and blazing.

Red light exploded outward, smashing into the air before snapping back and wrapping around him.

Another cocoon formed.

Dahlia cursed under her breath. "He didn't even blink."

Clara stared. "This is contagious stupidity."

From inside Valtor's cocoon came a deep, furious shout.

"RAAAAGH! DAMN IT! THIS HURTS!"

The cocoon shook violently, far more aggressively than Rachel's.

Seira watched everything in silence.

Her eyes flicked from Rachel's cocoon...

To Valtor's.

Her lips tightened.

"…Tch."

She stepped forward.

"Seira?" Dahlia called.

Seira grabbed the last bottle.

Clara shouted, "NO THINKING FIRST?!"

Seira uncorked it without hesitation.

"I won't let anyone beat me," she said flatly. "Especially that musclehead."

She drank.

For half a second, nothing happened.

Then...

Her face twisted.

"…This taste," she muttered. "Disgusting."

She swallowed again anyway.

Mana erupted.

Cold blue-white light burst outward, sharp and clean, freezing the air around her as it curled back in.

Frost crackled across the floor as a third cocoon formed, smooth and icy.

Inside, Seira's voice cut through the chaos.

"…So this… is pain."

Her breath hitched.

"Ngh…!"

The cocoon trembled.

"But I won't scream," she said, voice shaking but controlled. "I refuse."

Another surge hit her, and despite herself...

"Agh!"

Her teeth clenched hard.

Three cocoons now stood in the room.

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