[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method":3,"chapter-heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-522":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Heretic Trainer: The Gym Is My Cultivation Method",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1633713,2099,"Chapter 522: Cowards Became Traitors","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-522",522,"\u003Cp>Sianor looked at Rachel and spoke up. \"By the way, what option do you think Hagan will choose?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel paused mid-bite, her fork hovering in the air. \"Hmm... I’m not sure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced to the side, then added, \"You should ask Arden.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor raised a brow. \"Arden?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel nodded. \"He’s the one who gave me that idea earlier.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor turned and spotted Arden sitting not far away, eating quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Arden heard his name, he paused mid-bite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He set his utensil down, then looked over with a small, polite smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir Sianor?\" he said, turning slightly toward him. \"What would you like to ask?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor returned the smile. \"I want to know what option you think Hagan will choose.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden adjusted his glasses with a light touch. \"I think they won’t choose any of the options.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor’s brows pulled together. \"Not choose?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden nodded. \"Yes. All three options are too harmful for them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rested his hand lightly against the table as he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’ve grown comfortable as grand faction leaders, living with wealth and stability. Each option would strip away that comfort.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor frowned slightly. \"But they still have to choose, don’t they?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden gave a small nod. \"They do. And that’s why they’ll choose the fourth option.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor blinked, surprised. \"A fourth option? Do they even have one?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden’s smile didn’t fade. \"Of course they do. Like I said, people like them don’t want to change their current lives. So they always prepare a backup plan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor crossed his arms, studying him. \"Then what is this ’fourth option’?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden tilted his head a little. \"It’s similar to the third option.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor frowned deeper. \"But you said they wouldn’t give up their status.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They won’t,\" Arden replied calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor stared at him for a moment. \"Then explain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arden shook his head lightly, picking up his utensil again. \"It’s hard to explain clearly right now... let’s just wait and see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor fell silent. He glanced ahead, his expression thoughtful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fourth option, huh...he thought.Let’s see what they do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in the main hall, night had already fallen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor and the others were waiting for Hagan and the rest, unsure what choice they would make.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room felt tense, filled with quiet anticipation. No one spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the guards stood still, listening for any sign from beyond the doors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, suddenly, the large doors creaked open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone turned, expecting Hagan and the others to walk in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it wasn’t him or any others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single figure entered instead, riding a large black bird wreathed in dark flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The creature’s wings folded slowly as it stepped inside, heat rippling through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel’s eyes widened. Sorian frowned, his expression tightening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How... how can you be here?\" Rachel asked, her voice low but sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor’s gaze sharpened as he studied the man. A rider on a black flame bird... and from the look on Sorian’s face...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sorian stepped forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. \"Black Chimera...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man smiled faintly, as if amused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s right,\" he said. \"Pelion, the Chimera General of the Black Chimera.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bird let out a low, crackling sound, embers drifting from its feathers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor’s aura shifted, subtle but unmistakable. The air around him grew heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How did you get in here?\" he asked, his voice calm but edged with warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Pelion could answer, a Solrmian steward rushed in from the side, breathless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sovereign Sianor!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stumbled forward, barely catching himself. \"The guards... all of them have been killed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence fell over the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor’s eyes hardened. Slowly, he turned back to Pelion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You...\" His voice dropped. \"How dare you come here and kill my guards?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pelion only smirked, completely at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sianor, Sianor...\" he said lightly, shaking his head. \"Your guards... sorry about that. They were just too weak.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few embers drifted to the floor and faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor didn’t look at him. His eyes stayed fixed on the man before them. \"What the hell are you doing here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man chuckled under his breath, clearly unfazed. \"Heh... I’m here to give you a deal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor frowned slightly, his posture still steady. \"A deal?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pelion nodded once, casually, as if they were discussing trade instead of war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"War is troublesome,\" he said. \"It’s costly, and it takes too many lives. So...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, then smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My great Chimera Lord, Heinkel, thought of something better. Why not settle this in a simpler way?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor’s gaze didn’t waver. \"Say it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pelion’s smile widened just a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A tournament,\" he said. \"Simple enough. If you win, we retreat. No more conflict.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tilted his head slightly, watching for a reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And if we win...\" he continued, voice calm, \"you will accept us as a Grand Faction. An official one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A quiet murmur spread among the people in the hall, but Sianor said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood still on the stage, staring down at Pelion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, his brows pulled together. \"You think this is a game?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pelion let out a soft laugh and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No... not a game,\" he said. \"A real one. Something far more interesting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor’s expression darkened, his aura pressing faintly against the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn you,\" he said under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pelion didn’t react. The smirk never left his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So?\" he asked, spreading his arms slightly, as if presenting an offer too good to refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do we have a deal?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor didn’t answer immediately. His eyes stayed locked on Pelion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Before that,\" Sianor said calmly, \"where is Hagan... and the others?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pelion smiled wider. \"Oh... them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let out a small chuckle. \"They’ve already left.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tilted his head slightly. \"My subordinate escorted them... back to our base.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sorien took a step forward. \"You’re saying...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pelion nodded casually. \"From now on... they are officially part of Black Chimera.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sianor’s brows slowly drew together. \"So that’s it... The forth choice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind Rachel, Arden gave a small nod. \"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He adjusted his glasses slightly. \"I expected they wouldn’t accept any loss.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused. \"But I didn’t expect this outcome.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pelion watched their reactions with interest, clearly amused. \"Hehe... survival instinct.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shrugged. \"Can’t blame them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then his gaze returned to Sianor. \"So...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked again, this time slower. \"What will you choose, Sianor?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1036,"2026-06-06T11:12:30.898Z",1,"novelbin.me","504d8c83ea2e0369b7e8c643d0c7f953e80d6202d61e671fda19e0d341627db9","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-523","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-521",613,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fheretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-cover.jpg"]