Eldrin stepped slightly to the side and spoke calmly.

"I am only here to escort him," he said. "This person wishes to meet you."

He gestured forward.

Sorien stepped ahead and gave a small, respectful bow.

"My name is Sorien," he said. "I am from the Solmira Clan."

Rachel's eyebrows lifted just a little.

"Solmira Clan?" she repeated.

But beside her, Dahlia stiffened.

"…Wait," Dahlia said. "Solmira Clan?"

She stared at Sorien more carefully.

"You mean that Solmira Clan?" she asked. "The Grand Clan Solmira Clan?"

Sorien nodded once. "Yes."

Dahlia's eyes widened.

She immediately grabbed Rachel's sleeve and pulled her back a step.

"Elder Rachel," she whispered urgently, "this guy is a big shot."

Rachel blinked. "A big shot?"

Dahlia nodded fast.

"Solmira Clan is a Grand Clan," she explained in simple terms. "Your Revalis Clan is a Top Clan."

She leaned closer.

"A Grand Clan is way stronger," Dahlia continued. "Not just a little. Like… many times stronger."

Rachel understood immediately.

"…I see," Rachel said softly, her expression turning serious. "That is a big shot."

They stepped forward again.

Rachel straightened her posture and smiled politely.

"Sir Sorien," she said gently, "how may we help you?"

Sorien studied them for a moment, then spoke honestly.

"It's nothing," he said. "I'm only here to confirm one thing."

Dahlia crossed her arms. "Confirm what?"

Sorien replied calmly, "Whether you are demonic cultivators."

Dahlia's eyes widened.

"…Demonic cultivators?" she repeated.

Her face twisted with clear disgust.

"How can you even lump us together with those people?" she snapped.

"They cultivate demonic power just to get stronger and end up losing their minds!"

She waved her hand sharply.

"Those idiots rot their brains for power," Dahlia said. "Don't put us in the same group."

Sorien watched her reaction carefully.

The anger was real. The disgust wasn't fake.

He thought for a moment.

This doesn't look like an act.

Still, Solmira required confirmation.

"I see," Sorien said. "Then please allow a simple test."

He reached into his sleeve and took out a small stone. It was dark, smooth, and faintly warm.

"Place your hand on this," he said. "If you possess demonic cultivation, it will react."

Dahlia looked at the stone, then snorted.

"Fine," she said. "Let's get this over with."

She placed her hand on it.

Nothing happened.

Dahlia lifted her hand and looked at Sorien. "See?"

Rachel stepped forward next and gently placed her palm on the stone.

Again... nothing.

Sorien nodded slowly.

"It seems neither of you are demonic cultivators," he said.

Dahlia smirked. "Told you."

Sorien inclined his head.

"My apologies," he said sincerely.

Rachel studied him quietly.

She then raised her eyebrow slightly.

Is this really someone from a grand clan?

Dahlia crossed her arms and stepped half a pace forward.

"Now that you've confirmed we're not demonic cultivators," she said, "let me ask you something."

Sorien looked at her. "Go ahead."

Dahlia tilted her head.

"Why did you even suspect us in the first place?" she asked.

"As far as I remember, we didn't do anything that should make us look like demonic cultivators."

Sorien let out a small breath.

"It's simple," he said. "It was my mission."

He glanced briefly toward Eldrin, then back at Dahlia.

"I was told by the beasts that the Demon Gate was destroyed by Garion," Sorien continued.

"Not only that, but he entered the Demon Gate and destroyed it from the demon world side."

Rachel's expression tightened slightly.

"And from what I know," Sorien added, "a Demon Gate cannot be passed unless one possesses demonic mana. That includes demonic cultivators and demonic beasts."

He spread his hands.

"So naturally, I suspected that Garion and, with his sect, the God Gym... might be a demonic sect."

Dahlia blinked once.

"…I see," she said. "So that's what this was about."

She straightened and spoke plainly.

"We can enter the Demon Gate because we cultivate the [God Physique Cultivation Path]."

Sorien froze.

"…We?" he repeated. "You mean you entered it too?"

Dahlia nodded without hesitation.

"Of course," she said. "We went through the Demon Gate. Walked into demon cities. Fought demons face-to-face."

Sorien's eyes widened.

"You've been to the demon world?" he asked.

"Yeah," Dahlia replied. "And honestly?"

She waved her hand.

"It's worse than you think. Ugly, violent, lawless. Exactly what you'd expect."

Sorien nodded slowly.

"I see…"

He paused, then frowned again.

"But that still doesn't explain it," he said. "How can you enter a Demon Gate without demonic mana?"

He looked directly at Dahlia.

"Is this cultivation path of yours really that strong?"

Dahlia smirked.

"Strong enough," she said.

She tapped her chest with her thumb.

"Our path tempers the body using mana," she explained. "All kinds of mana. Including demonic mana."

Sorien's eyes sharpened.

"So when you entered the Demon Gate..."

"The reason none of you could enter," Dahlia finished, "is because your bodies can't withstand demonic mana."

She spread her arms slightly.

"But ours can."

Sorien went silent.

The pieces clicked together one by one.

"…I understand now," Sorien said quietly.

He lowered his head slightly, then nodded.

"If that is the case," he continued, "then your sect is truly strong."

"But…" Sorien frowned. "How is it that I've never heard of you?"

Dahlia scratched the back of her head.

"That's simple," she said. "It hasn't been that long."

She gestured behind her toward the inner grounds.

"The God Gym has only been standing for a little over a year."

Sorien froze.

"…A year?" he repeated.

His eyes widened slightly.

"That's impossible," he said. "A sect capable of producing people who can enter the demon world and destroy a Demon Gate..."

He stopped himself.

"…And it's only a year old?"

Dahlia nodded casually.

"Yeah."

Rachel watched Sorien closely as his calm cracked for the first time.

A year.

For Solmira, a year was nothing.

For a sect to rise this fast?

That was unheard of.

Sorien took a slow breath.

"…Then this changes everything," he said.

He straightened his posture.

"And Solmira," he added, "will not ignore you any longer."

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