Chapter 78: It’s Not Poison... Probably
By the end of the day, the disciples were sprawled all over the floor.
Some lay flat on their backs, others leaned against the walls, too tired to even talk.
Dahlia stood in front of them with her arms crossed, still full of energy.
"Alright, training’s over for today!"
No one cheered. They just groaned quietly in response.
She tilted her head, just realising something.
"By the way... why are you still wearing those old robes?"
The disciples froze. A few looked away, embarrassed.
Dahlia frowned.
"Don’t tell me none of you tried on the training clothes inside your rooms?"
One disciple raised his hand weakly.
"Senior Sister... those clothes... they’re kind of... um... small."
Another added quickly.
"And this! It feels like we’re wearing nothing!"
Dahlia’s face twitched, and she stomped her foot down hard.
"No buts! From tomorrow onward, you’re all wearing those training clothes, got it?!"
A few disciples tried to protest. "But..."
She pointed at them sharply.
"No ’but’! If I have to train in these tight clothes, then so do all of you! I’m not going to be the only one suffering here!"
Garion, who had been watching from the side, chuckled softly.
"She’s right. Those clothes are designed to help your body move better. You’ll get used to it after a day or two."
The disciples groaned again, clearly unconvincing.
Dahlia put her hands on her hips.
"And don’t worry. It’s not like anyone’s going to laugh at you. You’ll all look equally ridiculous."
That got a few nervous laughs from the crowd.
Garion stepped forward, surveying the exhausted group.
"Alright. Enough whining for today. Go back to your rooms, rest well and get ready for tomorrow."
He paused for a moment, then smiled.
"Also, I’ll be giving you all a gift tomorrow. Something that will help with your training."
The disciples suddenly perked up.
"A gift?"
"Really?"
Garion nodded.
"Yes. You’ll need it if you want to survive what comes next."
The hopeful looks on their faces quickly turned to dread.
Dahlia grinned.
"See you all tomorrow, little gym rats."
The hall echoed with one last round of groans before everyone slowly dragged themselves back to their rooms.
---
The next morning came, and the disciples gathered once again.
This time, everyone was wearing the new training gear. Tight sleeveless tops, flexible pants, and light jackets.
The clothes were comfortable, but most of them couldn’t get used to how revealing they felt compared to their old robes.
Some girls crossed their arms, trying to cover themselves. A few boys avoided eye contact, pretending to look at the floor.
Dahlia stood proudly in front of them, hands on her hips, wearing the same outfit.
"Good. Everyone’s finally dressed properly."
She looked around and smirked.
"Don’t look so shy. It’s just skin and fabric. Move around a bit. You’ll feel how easy it is to train with these."
The disciples awkwardly stretched their arms and legs. A few of them mumbled quietly about how strange it felt.
Then, the door opened, and Garion entered the hall carrying two large crates.
"Morning, guys. Before we start training, I want everyone to drink this."
He opened the crates, revealing rows of black-red bottles. Each one shimmred faintly, as if the liquid inside was alive.
The disciples leaned closer, curious bout nervous.
Garion picked one up and held it high.
"This is my new supplement, the Demonic Creatine. It’ll boost your energy, make your muscles stronger, and help you last longer during training."
The group looked at each other uneasily. One boy whispered.
"Demonic? That doesn’t sound healthy or safe at all..."
Garion just smiled faintly.
"Don’t worry about the name. I’m your master. There is no way, I’m gonna poison you guys."
Dahlia frowned slightly as she stared at the bottles.
"Master... this isn’t like that Dragon Force Shake, right?"
Garion grinned.
"Maybe a little. Why?"
Dahlia groaned.
"Because that one almost melted my tongue off."
A few disciples widened their eyes.
"Melt...?"
Garion chuckled.
"Don’t worry. This one’s not that bad. Probably."
He began handing out the bottles to all the disciples.
Dahlia raised an eyebrow.
"Wait, Master. There’s a hundred and one bottles... where’s mine?"
Garion shrugged.
"You’re training them today. This batch is for them. But if you want one..."
He smirked.
"I can give you one too."
Dahlia quickly shook her head.
"No thanks. I’ll pass for now."
Garion smiled.
"Suit yourself."
He turned to the group.
"Alright, everyone. Open it and drink it all. Don’t sip. Just finish it in one go. It works better that way."
The disciples hesitated.
"Drink it," Dahlia ordered.
With nervous faces, they all uncapped the bottles. A strong, spicy smell filled the air immediately.
A few disciples gaged just from the scent.
"What is this smell?!" one coughed.
"It’s like spicy fruit and smoke!"
Garion folded his arms, watching with amusement.
"That means it’s fresh."
They all exchanged looks, counted to three, and drank.
The moment the liquid touched their tongues, chaos began.
"HOT! HOT!"
"MY MOUTH IS ON FIRE!"
"WHY IS IT SPICY?!"
"MASTER, THIS IS POISON!"
Garion laughed softly as some disciples jumped around, fanning their mouths.
"Relax. That’s the demonic energy working through your body. You’ll get used to it in a minute."
Dahlia watched, half-amused and half-sympathetic.
"He wasn’t kidding. This might be even worse than the Dragon Shake."
One girl sat on the floor, fanning her tongue.
"Senior Sister, it’s burning, but... my body feels hot! Like I can move more!"
Garion nodded.
"Exactly. That heat means your body is absorbing energy. Once it settles, you’ll feel stronger and energised."
Another boy’s eyes went wide.
"I actually feel lighter! Like I can run forever!"
A few others nodded in surprise as the burning sensation slowly turned into warmth and energy.
Their fatigue from the previous day started to fade.
Dahlia smirked.
"Alright then, no excuses. Now that you’re energised, it’s time for real training."
Half the group groaned in despair.
"We just started breathing again."
Garion chuckled, leaning against the wall.
"Perfect timing. Dahlia, continue with the full body routine. I’ll monitor their progress."
Dahlia cracked her knuckles.
"Alright, my little demons. Since you drank the Demonic Creatine, let’s see how strong you become. Start with squats again. Three sets, no breaks."
The disciples groaned even louder,
One boy muttered under his breath.
"I should’ve joined a sword sect..."
Garion laughed quietly.
"Too late for that now."