Dahlia gritted her teeth and tried to push herself up.

"What the hell is this?" she shouted, claws scraping against the floor.

"I know Master's [Unique Physique] is related to gravity, but this…"

She looked around at the others.

Valtor was on one knee, flames trembling instead of roaring.

"This isn't an attack," he growled. "It's just… there."

Rynor pressed a hand to the ground, veins bulging. "He didn't even activate anything."

Rynar clenched his jaw. "No stance. No skill. Nothing."

Clara lay flat on her palms, illusions completely gone. "Okay, this is unfair. Very unfair."

Seira's elegant ice had shattered, and she was forced to kneel, one hand braced on the floor.

Her eyes narrowed. "This pressure is constant. Not fluctuating."

Even Eliza had reappeared fully, her body pinned, unable to slip away.

She said nothing, but her eyes were wide.

Dahlia looked up at Garion. "Master," she said, breathing hard.

"How are we being pressed down without you activating your power?"

Garion smiled calmly, completely unaffected.

"Because I don't need to activate it anymore."

They all froze.

Garion took a slow step forward. The pressure did not change. It simply followed.

"I've entered the Third Realm," he said. "The [Living Domain Realm]."

Dahlia's eyes widened. "Third Realm?"

Valtor sucked in a breath. "You're serious?"

Garion nodded. "In this realm, my body defines the space around me."

He looked at them one by one. "You didn't rush at me."

He tapped the floor lightly with his foot. "You rushed into my domain."

Realization hit them all at once.

Rynor muttered, "So the moment we got close…"

"…we were already suppressed," Rynar finished.

Garion smirked. "Exactly."

Dahlia swallowed. "Since when did you become Third Realm, Master?"

Garion shrugged. "A while ago."

Clara stared at him. "You didn't tell anyone."

"I didn't need to," Garion replied. "Results speak louder."

He turned slightly and gestured toward the exit.

"If you want to understand it properly, the book about the Third Realm is already in the library."

Seira lifted her head, pride burning in her eyes despite being pinned. "…You planned this."

Garion smiled wider. "Of course."

The pressure eased suddenly.

Everyone collapsed onto the floor, gasping.

Garion looked down at all of them, arms crossed, expression relaxed.

"Now get up," he said. "And go study."

At the edge of the arena, Rika and Rena watched everything with wide eyes.

Rika let out a long breath. "Thank goodness we didn't join."

Rena nodded quickly. "Yeah. That would've been embarrassing."

Dahlia finally stood up and stretched her arms, smiling despite the pain. "So this is the gap we need to close."

She looked at Garion. "You really don't plan on slowing down, do you?"

Garion smirked. "Not even a little."

He turned toward the exit. "Library. Now."

No one complained.

Not this time.

---

Arden and Dion moved slowly through the thick forest, their steps careful and quiet.

The deeper they went, the worse the air felt.

When they finally stepped into a wide clearing, both of them froze.

In front of them was a massive black portal.

It hovered in midair, tall and wide, its surface twisting slowly like a living thing.

Dark mana leaked from it constantly, thick and foul.

The ground around it was cracked and blackened, with plants twisted into ugly shapes that barely looked alive.

Dion stared, mouth slightly open. "…That's big."

Arden swallowed. His fingers tightened unconsciously. "That's not normal."

Dion took a cautious step forward, then stopped as the aura washed over him.

His face twisted in discomfort. "Is this… a treasure realm?"

Arden shook his head immediately. "It has the structure of one."

He narrowed his eyes. "But I doubt it's actually a treasure realm."

Dion glanced at him. "Why?"

Arden gestured toward the portal. "Just from the aura alone, it's already disgusting. There's nothing welcoming about it."

Dion inhaled slowly, then grimaced. "Yeah… it feels wrong."

He looked at the portal again, his expression turning serious.

"Could this be the reason this place is called Demon Gate Island?"

Arden nodded slowly. "That's what I'm thinking."

He crouched and pressed his hand to the ground. "The mana here is too polluted."

Dion clenched his fist. "So this thing might be the foundation."

"The source of the demonic beasts," Arden continued.

"And the reason Second Realm and Third Realm beasts fall asleep and awaken irregularly."

Before Dion could respond, a deep sound echoed through the clearing.

"Humans?"

Both of them stiffened instantly.

Arden spun around. Dion jumped back, eyes scanning the shadows.

"How can you be here?"

The voice came again, calm but overwhelming.

The ground trembled.

From the darkness behind the trees, something massive emerged.

A gigantic black tortoise stepped forward, its shell etched with ancient patterns.

Each step made the earth sink slightly.

Coiled atop its shell was a long black serpent, its eyes glowing faintly as it lifted its head.

Dion sucked in a sharp breath. "…That thing just talked."

Arden felt his heart pound. "A demonic beast… that can speak."

The tortoise lowered its massive head, eyes cold and unreadable.

"Humans," it said again. "Why are you here?"

The serpent hissed softly. "And how did you come this deep?"

Arden steadied himself and took a step forward despite the pressure crushing down on him. "I came to search for the reason."

The tortoise's eyes narrowed slightly.

"The reason for what?" the serpent asked.

Arden spoke clearly. "Why this island is called Demon Gate Island."

He clenched his fist. "And why Second Realm and Third Realm demonic beasts sleep and awaken without pattern."

For a moment, neither beast spoke.

The serpent's tongue flicked out slowly.

Then the tortoise spoke, its voice heavy and final. "Leave."

Dion frowned. "That's it?"

The serpent's eyes gleamed. "Humans like you do not need to know."

Arden did not move and kept staring back at them.

The pressure in the clearing intensified, as if warning them.

The tortoise's voice rumbled again. "Turn back."

"Or," the serpent added quietly, "you will not leave."

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