Free Web NovelChapter 673: Welcome, New Bugs
Once everyone had settled down, Feron leaned back in his seat and looked around at the group with a curious grin. "Alright, now that we’ve all introduced ourselves, I want to ask something."
Kaelvar raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Feron spread his hands. "Why God Gym?"
The question immediately drew everyone’s attention.
Kaelvar was the first to answer. "Mine is simple. One of their disciples beat me."
Feron blinked. "Yeah, everyone knows that."
Kaelvar’s mouth twitched. "Thanks for reminding me."
A few of them laughed softly.
Kaelvar crossed his arms and continued, "What you don’t know is that the disciple who defeated me used to be just a human from a Low Grade World."
The atmosphere inside the ship immediately changed.
Everyone looked at him.
Kaelvar’s expression became more serious. "Somehow, she eventually became a dragon powerful enough to defeat me easily. Hell, she’s even younger than I am."
This time, even Feron stopped smiling for a moment.
Iris reacted the strongest.
Her golden eyes narrowed as faint flames flickered within them. "Are you sure?"
Kaelvar looked directly at her. "Completely sure."
Iris frowned slightly.
As another dragon, she understood better than most how absurd that sounded.
Azton spoke next. "My reason is simpler. The Azure Battle Palace is a competitor."
Feron looked at him.
Azton continued calmly, "We want to know God Gym’s secret."
Several people immediately nodded.
"That reason makes sense," Feron said.
Oriana smiled faintly. "Mine is even simpler. I want to become stronger."
Feron raised an eyebrow. "You already control the Golden Horizon Merchant Alliance. Why do you need this kind of dangerous training?"
Oriana’s smile faded slightly. "Because controlling everything with intelligence alone has limits."
Feron thought about that for a moment. "Why not go somewhere else?"
Oriana answered without hesitation. "Time."
Feron immediately understood. "Oh."
His grin returned. "That makes sense. Same reason as me."
Kaelvar looked at him. "You too?"
Feron nodded proudly. "I’m lazy, and I like spending time playing around with my harem. Why would I waste years doing something slowly if there’s a dangerous shortcut?"
Iris gave him a sideways look. "At least you’re honest."
Feron laughed. "Always."
Iris crossed her arms. "As for me, I’m mostly following him."
She paused for a moment before adding, "Although now I’m also interested in that dragon named Dahlia."
Loraine and Erlin looked at each other before sighing at the same time.
"We could only follow him," Loraine said calmly.
Erlin nodded. "Pretty much."
Varka, however, immediately grinned. "The one who succeeded was Rovak."
Everyone looked at her.
Her grin became even wilder. "He’s the same race as me."
Varka cracked her knuckles. "So of course I’m not going to lose out."
Alira had been quietly listening from the control area the entire time.
Eventually, she sighed and glanced back at them. "I heard all of you, and honestly, some of your reasons sound pretty shallow."
Several people immediately looked toward her.
Feron raised an eyebrow. "Hey."
Alira ignored him. "Not that I can say much. It’s your money, your lives, and your decision."
Her expression became more serious. "There’s something I need to tell you before we arrive."
The atmosphere inside the ship slowly quieted.
Alira continued, "I’ve been to God Gym several times already, so I know exactly how crazy Garion is."
Kaelvar’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Azton became more attentive.
Even Feron stopped smiling.
Alira folded her arms. "His training methods are insane. Painful, dangerous, exhausting, and probably far worse than whatever you’re imagining right now."
Varka’s grin immediately widened.
Feron noticed and pointed at her. "See? This is exactly why she looks happy."
Varka laughed loudly.
Alira sighed. "Of course she is."
Her gaze moved across the entire group. "I’ll admit one thing, though. The people Garion trains really do become ridiculously strong."
No one argued with that.
Rovak’s livestream had already proved enough.
Alira’s eyes finally stopped on Feron. "Especially you."
Feron blinked. "Me?"
"Yes, you." Alira gave him a flat look. "Prepare yourself to forget comfort for the next few days."
Feron’s expression slowly stiffened.
Alira continued, "No relaxing, no lazy lifestyle, no hiding behind your harem, and definitely no complaining once the training starts."
Feron stared at her. "You sound like you’ve been waiting to say that."
Alira nodded immediately. "I have."
A few people laughed.
Feron leaned back with a helpless sigh. "Great. I already regret talking to you."
Alira ignored him and turned back toward the controls. "Laugh all you want now. I’m warning every one of you properly because I don’t want to hear anyone whining later."
Her voice became firmer. "Prepare yourselves as much as you can. Mentally, physically, whatever. Once you arrive at God Gym, don’t start regretting your decision."
The entire ship became quiet.
Alira glanced back one last time. "I’m serious. You all came here willingly, so remember your reasons when things start getting painful."
No one said a word.
Alira nodded with satisfaction and looked toward the glowing navigation screen in front of her. "We’re almost there."
Her voice became calmer. "Prepare yourselves."
---
Alira’s silver ship finally descended through the violent storm clouds and landed near God Gym’s temporary base.
The hatch opened, and Kaelvar, Azton, Oriana, Feron, Iris, Varka, Loraine, and Erlin stepped outside.
All eight of them had expected Garion, Dahlia, or at least some powerful instructor to greet them.
Instead, a little girl stood in front of the ship with both hands behind her back.
Giselle carefully looked over the eight newcomers from head to toe, then tilted her head. "Oh? Are these the new bugs?"
The entire group froze.
Kaelvar blinked. "What the hell?"
Iris’s eyebrow twitched. "Did this little kid seriously just call us bugs?"
Varka, however, immediately grinned and stepped forward slightly. "Hahaha! I like her."
Feron stared at Giselle in confusion. "Seriously, who is this child?"
Before anyone could say or do anything stupid, Alira walked down from the ship and immediately raised one hand. "Don’t."
Everyone looked toward her.
Alira pointed at Giselle with a tired expression. "I’m warning all of you now. Don’t do anything stupid."
Feron raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Alira gave the entire group a flat look. "Because she’s stronger than all of you."
Silence filled the landing area.
Eight pairs of eyes slowly turned back toward the tiny girl.
Kaelvar’s expression stiffened.
Azton narrowed his eyes slightly.
Even Oriana and Loraine lost some of their calm expressions.
Iris looked openly doubtful, while Varka’s grin only became wider.
Giselle noticed all of their reactions and proudly lifted her chin. "Of course."
She placed both hands on her hips. "I am God Gym’s princess."
