Arden did not waste another second and ran back toward the building.

"I'll bring everyone," he said over his shoulder.

Garion watched him go, then turned back to Eldrin.

"So," he said, arms crossed, "what happened to that other otherworlder you mentioned?"

Eldrin lowered his head slightly, thinking. "He did… quite well."

Garion raised an eyebrow. "Quite well how?"

"He survived," Eldrin replied. "More than that, he gathered people around him."

Dion, who had stayed behind, blinked. "Gathered?"

Eldrin nodded. "He built a force strong enough to stand on its own. You could say… he created a grand clan."

Garion's eyes widened just a little. "Grand clan?"

Dion sucked in a breath and quickly turned to Garion. "Master, let me explain."

Garion waved a hand. "Go on."

"In this world," Dion said, "powers are divided by rank."

He counted on his fingers. "At the very top are grand powers. Grand clans. Grand sects. Things that even top clans don't dare provoke."

Garion tilted his head. "Then top clans?"

"Second rank," Dion answered immediately. "Below grand. Then high, middle, and low."

Garion let out a low whistle. "That big of a gap?"

"Yes," Dion said seriously. "The difference is not just numbers. Its foundation, history, and monsters disguised as people."

Garion looked back at Eldrin. "So this otherworlder built something at the very top?"

Eldrin nodded slowly. "Yes."

Garion frowned. "And no one talks about it?"

Dion shook his head. "Truthfully? Most people don't even know grand powers exist."

He scratched his head. "For top clans, we only know two."

Garion leaned forward slightly. "Only two?"

"Yes," Dion replied. "One is a sect. The other is a clan."

Garion straightened his back. "Then tell me their names."

Dion looked up at the sky for a moment, clearly organizing his thoughts.

He scratched his cheek, then nodded to himself.

"For the sect… it's called the [Supreme Root Sect]."

Garion repeated it slowly. "Supreme Root Sect?"

Dion nodded. "Yeah. They believe strength is built from the foundation up. Everything starts from the root."

He gestured with his hands as he spoke, trying to explain it clearly.

"Everyone in that sect cultivates slower than almost anyone else in the world."

Garion raised an eyebrow. "Slower?"

"Way slower," Dion confirmed.

"People from other sects break through realms while they're still stabilizing the same level."

Garion frowned slightly. "Then why are they considered grand?"

Dion smiled weakly. "Because once they're at the same level as you… they're stronger. Much stronger."

Garion nodded slowly. "That makes sense."

Dion continued, "That's why they're called Supreme Root. Everything they have is built from the ground up."

Garion leaned back. "Alright. How about the clan?"

Dion's expression shifted. "The clan is called the [Solmira Clan]."

Garion tilted his head. "Solmira."

"They're known as a holy clan," Dion explained.

"Light-based techniques. Purification. Suppression. Anti-demonic methods. Most people see them as righteous protectors."

Garion narrowed his eyes. "If they're a holy clan, then why didn't they destroy the Demon Gate on this island?"

Before Dion could answer, Eldrin let out a quiet sigh.

"Because we were already handling it," Eldrin said.

Garion turned toward him. "That's it?"

Eldrin nodded. "They observed the situation. They judged that the seal was stable enough. So they did nothing."

Garion frowned deeply. "So unless people are dying in front of them, they won't act."

Eldrin did not argue. He simply nodded again.

Garion clicked his tongue. "That's annoying."

He stood up and crossed his arms. "So even when there's clear proof of danger, they choose to wait."

"Yes," Eldrin replied. "That is their way."

Garion stared toward the forest where the Demon Gate lay hidden. His expression hardened.

"…Dang."

He turned back and looked straight at Eldrin. "Don't worry about it."

Eldrin blinked. "What?"

Garion spoke plainly. "The God Gym is on this island."

He spread his arms slightly. "Which means this island is mine."

Dion's eyes widened. "Master…"

Garion continued, voice steady. "If something threatens my territory, I deal with it. I don't wait for permission."

Eldrin studied him closely. "You speak as if your clan is stronger than a grand power."

Garion smirked. "Not stronger."

He paused, then corrected himself. "Better."

Dion let out a weak laugh. "That's… really arrogant."

Garion shrugged. "Arrogance is only a problem when you can't back it up."

Eldrin stared at him for several seconds, then let out a slow breath. "Your master truly is… interesting."

He shook his head slightly. "And extremely confident."

Dion laughed again, louder this time. "You get used to it."

Garion looked back toward the forest. "Grand sect. Grand clan. Demon Gate."

He cracked his knuckles. "Doesn't matter."

"The God Gym is here now."

Before anyone could respond, hurried footsteps echoed from the path leading into the clearing.

"Master!"

Garion turned his head.

Arden had already come back, breathing slightly harder than usual.

Behind him were familiar figures.

Dahlia walked at the front with her usual confident stride, the twins followed close behind, and Clara and Eliza moved together, one noisy and one silent as always.

The moment they stepped into the clearing, everything froze.

A massive azure dragon stood nearby, its presence pressing down on the air.

Dahlia's jaw dropped. "Oh."

Rynor blinked. "That's big."

Rynar squinted. "That's not a training prop, right?"

Clara leaned forward, eyes sparkling. "Oho? A real one? Not an illusion?"

Eliza stopped moving entirely, her gaze fixed on the dragon, her body instinctively fading just a little as if ready to disappear.

The dragon slowly turned its head, calm but overwhelming.

The twins tensed at the same time.

"Master," Rynor said carefully, "why is there a dragon in our yard?"

Rynar added, "And why does it look like it can step on us by accident?"

Garion waved a hand casually. "Calm down."

The group looked at him.

Dahlia frowned. "Calm down?"

Garion nodded. "Yes. Calm down."

Clara crossed her arms. "Master, you can't just say 'calm down' when there's a legendary-looking dragon standing right there."

Dion coughed. "He flew here with us."

That did not help.

Dahlia slowly turned her head toward Dion. "You flew with it?"

Dion nodded. "Yeah."

Rynor stared. "How are you still alive?"

Rynar muttered, "Unfair."

Garion sighed, stepping forward, and stood between his disciples and the dragon.

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