Chapter 82: Pain That Builds Power
Dahlia looked at the disciples lined up in the training hall.
They were all bright-eyed and restless, practically full of energy after the chaos of breakfast.
She crossed her arms, smirking.
"Looks like all of you are full of energy. Good. Today, we’re doing a more real training."
A few groans came from the back.
"Senior Sister, we just finished breakfast..."
"My stomach still hurts..."
"Can we rest for five more minutes?"
Dahlia slammed her fist to her palm.
"No! You think strength waits for you? Move your lazy bodies?"
The disciples quickly stood straighter.
Garion walked in from the side, carrying a familiar crate, making every single disciple’s face go pale.
Garion smiled faintly.
"Like usual, one bottle each."
He set the crate down in front of them and began handing out the bottles.
The disciples took them reluctantly, already recalling the painful spicy memories of yesterday.
"Oh no... not again..."
"My tongue still burns from the last one..."
Soon, every disciple had a bottle of Demonic Creatine in hand.
But soon, when Dahlia checked the crate, there was still one left.
She frowned, turning back to the disciples.
"Who didn’t get one?"
The disciples looked around quickly and shook their heads.
"We all got ours, Senior Sister."
Dahlia blinked, confused.
"Then why is there..."
She stopped mid-sentence. Her eyes slowly turned toward Garion.
"Wait... Don’t tell me..."
Garion’s smirk widened.
"Exactly, Dahlia. With both Demonic Creatine and Demonic Protein, these disciples grew stronger in a very short time."
He picked up the last bottle and gave it to her.
"So, I think it’s time you start taking it too."
Dahlia’s face twitched.
"No way. I’m fine. I don’t need that."
Garion chuckled.
"You said that about the training suits, too."
"That’s different!" she protested.
"This thing nearly made me breathe fire just from smelling it yesterday!"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Scared?"
Dahlia glared back.
"Me? Scared? Never."
Garion shrugged, presenting the bottle.
"Then drink it."
The disciples began whispering among themselves, watching the show.
"Senior Sister’s going to drink it?"
"This is going to be good..."
"I hope she doesn’t explode."
Dahlia sighed, grabbing the bottle from Garion’s hand.
"Fine! But if I die, I’ll haunt you for the rest of your life!"
Garion smiled.
"Deal."
She opened the bottle. Steam rose immediately, and the spicy smell hit her nose, enough to sting her eyes.
She grimaced.
"Smells like... burning peppers mixed with pain."
"Accurate description," Garion grinned.
The disciples leaned closer, holding their breath.
Dahlia glared at them.
"What are you all looking at? Never seen courage before?"
Then she tilted the bottle back and drank it in one go.
The effect was instant. Her face turned red, her eyes widened, and she started fanning her mouth.
"Hot! HOT! Why is it so spicy?! It’s worse than the other supplements I drink!"
The disciples burst out laughing. Some even clapped.
"Senior Sister finally knows our pain!"
Garion chuckled quietly.
"How is it?"
She glared at him.
"It’s horrible! My tongue’s on fire!"
"But you feel stronger, don’t you?" Garion grinned.
Dahlia paused, flexing her arms a bit. A faint red glow began to form around her skin, lighting her veins.
"I indeed do feel stronger."
Garion nodded.
"See? Pain is temporary, but the power is there. No pain, no gain, right?"
Dahlia sighed, still fanning her mouth.
"Yeah, yeah... next time, warn me if it tastes like lava."
The disciples continued laughing, but then Garion raised his voice.
"Alright, enough. Everyone, finish your bottles. We will start in five minutes."
Groans filled the air as they all reluctantly lifted their bottles.
Dahlia smirked through her burning tongue.
"Come on, you heard Master! If I can drink it, so can you!"
One disciple whispered weakly.
"Yeah, but we didn’t challenge him to prove our courage..."
Still, one by one, they drank, faces twisting and eyes watering from the heat.
Garion and Dahlia watched the chaos unfold, both smiling on their own way.
"Alright! Let’s start the day."
And just like that, another morning of pain began once again.
---
The effect of the Demonic Creatine was hitting everyone hard, especially Dahlia.
She wasn’t just fired up, but she was practically blazing with energy.
She clapped her hands loudly, startling the disciples.
"Alright! Enough resting! Since I’m all fired up, we’re going harder today!"
The disciples groaned in unison.
"Senior Sister, please... have mercy..."
"My arms still hurt from yesterday’s bench press..."
"I think my legs are still squatting even when I sleep..."
Dahlia smirked, cracking her knuckles.
"Good. That means it’s working."
She started pacing back and forth in front of them, steam rising from her shoulders.
"I’ve already taught you push-ups, planks, sit-ups, bench presses, squats, bicep curls, and overhead tricep extensions. But guess what?"
She stopped and looked around, eyes glowing faintly.
"That’s not even half of what I can teach you."
A wave of despair went through the crowd.
"There’s... more of these torture exercises?"
Dahlia grinned.
"Oh, there’s much more."
She pointed toward the rack of weights and bars.
"Today, we’re going to learn the rest. Pay attention, and remember everything. Because if you forget..."
She raised her fist.
"You’ll be doing double sets."
The disciples nodded quickly, straightening their backs.
Dahlai smirked, stepping forward.
"Good. Let’s start with lunges. This one’s for your legs, glutes and balance. Watch me!"
She picked up two heavy dumbbells, stepped forward deeply, and lowered herself with perfect form.
"Keep your chest up, step straight, and don’t wobble! If you fall, I’ll make you crawl!"
A few disciples tried to copy her. One stumbled, another lost balance.
"Too slow! Focus! This is not a dance!"
She dropped the dumbbells and clapped again.
"Next! Shoulder press! Grab the barbells!"
She lifted the barbell easily over her head, her arms steady.
"This one builds your shoulder and upper back! Keep your back straight!"
The disciples followed, struggling to lift their bars.
One disciple groaned.
"Senior Sister, this is too heavy!"
Dahlia walked over, eyes narrowing.
"Too heavy? The only heavy thing here is your laziness!"
The disciple could only frown and tried his best to lift it.
Then Dahlia cracked her neck.
"Next, we’re doing pull-ups. And you’re all doing twenty."
The disciples groaned again, but Dahlia was already showing them the form.
She gripped the bar, pulling herself up with ease, moving her body like a machine.
"This is what real training looks like!"
The disciples forced themselves to follow, arms shaking and faces red.
Dahlia landed back on the ground, clapped once more, and pointed to the next set of equipment.
"We’re not done yet! We still have deadlifts and rows! You wanted strength... Then earn it!"
Garion watched from afar, smiling as the hall filled with the sound of metal clanking, grunts, and Dahlia’s shouts.