Heretic Trainer: The Gym Is My Cultivation Method-Chapter 479: That Fight Just Got Worse

Garion looked up as Darius remained embedded in the ceiling, cracks spreading around the impact point.

"...Looks like it’s already decided," he said quietly.

Pelion stood beside him, watching the scene without moving.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Decided?" he repeated. "You really think it’s that simple?"

Garion glanced at him. "...What do you mean?"

Pelion kept his eyes on Darius. "It seems you still don’t understand how far our path goes."

---

Meanwhile, on the battlefield... Dahlia stood on the ground, her gaze fixed upward at the hole where Darius had been thrown.

She rolled her shoulder once, loosening the tension. "...Is that it?"

Her wings shifted slightly behind her. "Are you finished already?"

She stepped forward, her expression calm but sharp. "...Are you really that weak, Father?"

Her eyes hardened. "To think you were the reason I suffered all this time..."

She let out a short breath. "...Just how stupid was I?"

For a brief moment, there was silence.

Then... A roar erupted from above.

"YOU!!!"

Darius’ voice thundered through the hall. "How dare you belittle me! How dare you disrespect me..."

His tone grew heavier. "...the Patriarch of the strongest dragon clan!"

The space above them shifted. Then his body began to change.

His form twisted, expanding rapidly. Muscles stretched, bones reshaped, and his entire body grew larger.

The humanoid shape broke apart and what emerged from it... Was a full, genuine demonic red dragon.

Dahlia looked up at it. Then she let out a short laugh. "...Hey."

She tilted her head slightly. "...Is this for real?"

---

Below, Pelion’s faint smile widened just a little. "Now..."

He turned his head toward Garion. "What do you think?"

Garion didn’t answer immediately. His eyes remained fixed on Darius’ new form.

Pelion continued, his tone calm. "This is the peak of the third realm. Becoming one with the beast."

He lifted his hand slightly, gesturing toward Darius. "At this stage, the beast is completely consumed... its will erased. All its power is taken... and then pushed even further."

Garion watched closely, his eyes narrowing slightly. "...But is he still in control?"

Above them, Darius roared again. The sound shook the entire hall.

But something about it felt different. It didn’t carry the same clarity as before.

Garion pointed upward slightly. "...Look at him."

His voice lowered. "He doesn’t look like a patriarch anymore."

There was a short pause. "...He looks like a beast."

Pelion shrugged lightly. "Yeah... he does."

He tapped his temple with one finger. "But he’s still in there."

His eyes remained calm. "This stage isn’t just power. It’s a struggle."

He pointed toward Darius’ head. "The dragon and the host fight for control. Whoever wins becomes the dominant will."

Garion let out a quiet breath. "...Your path is insane."

He shook his head slightly. "There are way too many risks."

Pelion nodded. "That’s true."

Then he smiled faintly. "But the power you gain from it... is worth something."

He glanced back at the battlefield. "Let’s just enjoy the show."

---

Nearby, Rachel stepped forward, her hands tightening slightly as she looked at Dahlia. "...Dahlia..."

Garion glanced at her briefly. "Relax, Rachel."

His tone stayed calm. "You know how strong she is."

Rachel looked at him, still uneasy. "...I do, but..."

Garion cut in gently. "If you’re going to worry..."

He tilted his head slightly toward Darius. "...worry about her father instead."

Rachel blinked. Then she let out a small laugh. "...You really are something, Garion."

Garion smiled faintly. But his eyes never left Dahlia.

Beneath that calm expression... He was watching her closely.

And despite what he said... He was still worried.

---

Darius didn’t hesitate.

His massive head pulled back slightly, his chest expanding as energy gathered deep within him.

He opened his mouth and roared.

[Dragon Tyrant Roar]

The sound burst across the hall. The pressure followed instantly.

Dahlia’s body stiffened for a split second. "...Tch."

Her brows tightened as she halted mid-air, her movement interrupted by the sudden force.

She hadn’t expected it. She shook her hand once, trying to clear the lingering effect. "Damn it..."

Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Darius. "...To think your power reached this level."

Before she could fully recover, Darius opened his mouth again.

[Infernal Dragon Breath]

A massive stream of demonic flame shot forward.

Dahlia frowned but didn’t step back. "Going straight for a breath attack?"

She pulled her head back slightly and inhaled. "Don’t think you’re the only one."

[Sky Dragon Breath]

A stream of wind and thunder burst from her mouth, clashing directly against Darius’ flames.

The two attacks collided in mid-air.

For a moment, neither side gave way. The energies pressed against each other, holding the line.

But as time passed, Dahlia’s breath began to weaken.

Her expression tightened. "...Damn it."

Her eyes sharpened. "How is his breath stronger than mine?"

The flames pushed forward. They broke through.

The demonic fire surged toward her, engulfing her body.

Dahlia endured it, her body holding against the heat. Her dragon form absorbed most of the damage. "...Tch."

She exhaled sharply. "...Good thing my body’s tough."

For a brief second, she relaxed.

Then, Darius appeared right in front of her.

Dahlia’s eyes widened slightly. "...What the hell? How are you already here?"

Darius didn’t answer.

His claw was already raised, burning with condensed demonic energy.

[Crimson Talon Rend]

Dahlia reacted immediately. "Damn it!"

She raised her own claw to meet his.

The two collided.

But this time, Darius was stronger.

The difference was clear. Her defense didn’t hold. His claw broke through and struck her body directly.

The force sent her crashing down. The ground shattered on impact.

The floor cracked beneath her, fragments scattering outward. But it wasn’t over.

Dahlia pushed herself up almost immediately, her body still burning from the lingering flames. "...Damn it..."

She clenched her jaw. "What is this...?"

Her head felt heavy. A sharp pain started to build behind her eyes. "This isn’t normal..."

What she didn’t realize was the flames weren’t just heat.

They carried demonic energy. It wasn’t just burning her body. It was affecting her mind. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Dahlia steadied herself and looked up at Darius again. Her expression hardened. "...Damn it."

She took a slow breath. "The fight just got worse."