Elder Rachel stood near the entrance of the God Gym, hands folded calmly in front of her as usual.

Then she noticed familiar figures coming.

Her eyes lifted, and she immediately saw them.

Dahlia, Eliza, Arden, Dion, Clara, and the twins Rynar and Rynor were walking back into the grounds.

Rachel's face softened in relief.

"They're back," she murmured.

She stepped forward a little, already preparing to ask if they were hurt.

Her gaze moved over them one by one, checking their posture, their breathing, and the small signs she had learnt to read as a mother.

Then she paused.

Her brows knit together slightly.

"…Where is Garion?" she asked.

The group slowed.

Rynor scratched the back of his head. "…Uh."

Rynar clicked his tongue and looked away. "Tch."

Rachel's heart sank just a little.

"What happened?" she asked, her voice still gentle but firmer now.

Dahlia let out a long sigh and rubbed her neck.

"Master's still in the demon world."

Rachel stiffened.

"…What?"

Dahlia looked at her and spoke honestly.

"He destroyed the Demon Gate from the other side. Completely."

Arden stepped forward quickly.

"The gate collapsed after that," he added carefully. "There was no stable path back."

Rachel's eyes widened.

"He destroyed it… from the other side?"

Clara folded her arms.

"Yeah. Very on brand."

Rachel's hands tightened slightly at her sides.

"Then what should we do?" she asked. "He's alone there."

Dahlia shook her head immediately.

"Don't worry, Elder Rachel."

She smiled, confident and warm.

"You know, Master. If anyone can walk around the demon world like it's a training ground, it's him."

Dion chuckled lightly.

"He probably thinks it's good cardio."

Rynor grinned.

"Yeah. Demons run faster than treadmills."

Rynar snorted.

"He's fine. If anything, the demon world should be worried."

Rachel listened quietly.

Her worry did not disappear, but it eased.

She nodded slowly. "…You're right."

She looked toward the horizon, as if trying to feel Garion's presence from afar.

"He is strong," she said softly. "Stronger than anyone I've ever met."

Eliza stepped closer and gently placed a hand on Rachel's sleeve.

She said nothing, but her touch carried quiet reassurance.

Rachel smiled faintly and rested her hand over Eliza's.

"Thank you," she said.

She straightened her posture again, calm returning to her voice.

"Then we'll wait," Rachel said. "And we'll keep the God Gym running until he comes back."

The disciples nodded almost automatically.

For a brief moment, the yard was quiet.

Then Rachel smiled.

It wasn't her usual gentle smile.

It was sharper. More determined.

"Since Garion isn't here," she continued, hands folding behind her back, "that means I'm the one in charge for now."

Dahlia blinked. "…Oh."

Rynor glanced at Rynar. "Uh oh."

Rynar crossed his arms. "This feels dangerous."

Rachel ignored them and continued calmly.

"We'll be changing the training structure."

Several heads snapped up at once.

"Changing?" Arden asked carefully.

Rachel nodded.

"I've spent a lot of time in the library. There are many methods we haven't used yet."

She looked around at all of them, eyes warm but firm.

"Techniques to improve endurance. Stability. Mental focus. Recovery."

Mersha suddenly popped up from behind a training rack, eyes shining.

"And I made new supplements!"

Everyone froze.

"…What kind of supplements?" Dion asked slowly.

Mersha giggled and hugged a large bottle to her chest.

"They work even better than before. Faster absorption. Better muscle response. Slightly more burning."

"Only slightly," she added quickly.

Dahlia frowned. "Elder Rachel… Maybe slow down a bit?"

Rachel smiled at her. "How could I?"

She clasped her hands together.

"Garion is away. That means when he comes back, I want him to see how much we've grown."

Dahlia opened her mouth, then closed it.

"…That's unfair," she muttered.

"But the island isn't that dangerous anymore," Arden said gently. "The Demon Gate is gone."

Rachel turned to him, still smiling.

"So what?"

She spoke softly, but her words were clear.

"This world is always dangerous. Even without demons."

She looked at each of them in turn.

"And if we don't grow stronger, other sects will look down on us."

Rynor cracked his neck.

"Tch. I hate being looked down on."

Rynar nodded.

"Yeah. That part I agree with."

Rachel smiled wider.

"Good."

She pointed toward the training grounds.

"So we train more."

Then she added, almost casually,

"And of course, we'll be drinking Mersha's new supplements."

Mersha cheered.

"Supplements time!"

Dahlia groaned.

"Master leaves for one trip and everything gets worse."

Rachel's smile softened again.

"Stronger," she corrected. "Not worse."

She looked toward the sky.

"When Garion comes back," she said quietly, "I want him to be proud."

The disciples exchanged looks.

Then, one by one, they nodded.

Training resumed.

Harder than before.

---

Far away, beyond ordinary lands and mortal borders, the Solmira Clan stood untouched by chaos.

Inside a vast, quiet hall of pale stone and glowing sigils, several figures gathered around a suspended map of the world.

Lines of light traced mountains, seas, and forbidden zones.

One of those lights flickered.

Then vanished.

A soft murmur spread through the hall.

"…Strange," one of them said. "The Demon Gate on Demon Gate Island has disappeared."

Another figure turned sharply.

"Disappeared?"

"Yes," the first replied calmly. "Completely."

A pause followed.

"That Demon Gate was classified as a top-rank gate," someone else said. "It cannot simply vanish."

The first speaker folded his arms. "I know. And yet, it is gone."

Silence settled, heavier than before.

"…Are you certain?" a woman asked. "A misreading, perhaps?"

The man shook his head slowly. "I have never been wrong. Not once."

The woman frowned. "Never?"

"Never," he repeated.

Another elder stepped forward, gaze fixed on the empty space where the mark had been.

"If that is true, then something unprecedented has occurred."

He tapped the map lightly.

"That gate was left untouched because the guardian beasts maintained balance."

"But now," the elder continued, "if the gate is gone…"

He did not finish the sentence.

Everyone understood.

The balance had changed.

"…Then this is no longer a hypothetical," someone said quietly.

A final figure, who had remained silent until now, spoke.

"Send someone."

All eyes turned to him.

"This was a top-rank Demon Gate," he continued. "Its disappearance cannot be ignored."

He straightened slightly.

"We did not act before because intervention was unnecessary."

His gaze hardened. "But if something truly happened there…"

He nodded once.

"Then observation is required."

The others exchanged glances, then slowly nodded.

"…Very well," one said. "We will send someone."

The map shimmered faintly, the empty space pulsing once as if acknowledging the decision.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.