The air inside the training chamber was too quiet. Too peaceful. After the courtyard was damaged, it was under repair. So Logan used this room for his practice temporarily.
Kael, Rudeous, and Mirena stood at the entrance. They could feel the warmth in the air. They looked at Logan and were confused about what Logan was doing.
Because though Logan was in a lotus position, there was no mana circulation. So it was confirmed that Logan wasn't training his mana core for sure.
Was he just relaxing? thought everyone. But then why did the air feel so different?
His eyes were closed in a relaxed manner. And he was breathing in a different way. He inhaled deeply and then released it so slow, so relaxed. And a light mist could be seen coming out of Logan's mouth and nose.
A pressure unlike anything they had ever felt before continued to seep from Logan's body.
"Logan!" Rudeous called, his voice low but urgent. "Alice… she's been kidnapped."
The words hit like a thunderclap.
For a moment, Logan stood frozen. Then—
A low hum echoed through the chamber. The light from the crystal lanterns flickered. Shadows danced madly across the walls.
BOOM.
A pulse of invisible force erupted from Logan, shattering the training dummies around him and cracking the polished stone tiles beneath his feet.
Rudeous stumbled backward.
Kael's knees buckled slightly.
Even Mirena, ever composed, gasped as a heavy, primal weight settled on her chest.
It wasn't magic.
It wasn't aura.
It was something far more terrifying.
Bloodlust.
Ancient, refined, absolute. Like a war god had awakened.
The scent of steel, the chill of death, the echo of dying screams—all wrapped in one suffocating presence.
Their legs trembled.
Mirena's breathing became shallow. Her eyes widened. "Wh-What is this…?"
Logan didn't speak.
The true nature of the boy before them was showing.
Aiden Ferith, the strongest war hero of the past era, had awakened again. Though only for a moment.
Then, as suddenly as it came…
The pressure vanished.
Like a tide retreating back into the ocean.
Logan turned, his eyes once again calm, though colder than ice.
"I'll go alone."
Rudeous clenched his fists. "You're strong, Logan. I admit it. But you're still just a child. It's too dangerous."
"No," Mirena said suddenly. "He should go."
Rudeous looked at her, stunned.
"If we send anyone else, they might kill Alice on the spot. They want him. Only him."
Kael nodded slowly. "She's right. It's too risky to intervene. Besides…" His eyes narrowed slightly. "We all saw what he did. If there's anyone capable of pulling this off… it's him."
Mirena and Kael exchanged a silent glance.
They feared the boy now. He was a threat.
And deep inside, they both hoped…
Maybe this mission would solve their problem for them.
Rudeous hesitated, recalling the courtyard one week ago—the crater, the wind cannon, the impossible punch.
Finally, he let out a long breath. "…Very well."
Logan nodded. "I'll bring her back."
Without another word, he turned and left.
An Hour Later – The Forgotten Forest
The woods groaned with an unnatural silence.
Moonlight filtered through thick fog and long thick trees. Logan walked alone, his black cloak billowing slightly behind him.
He stepped into a big broken building. It seemed like it had been abandoned for ages.
Nine figures were waiting there.
Three stood apart—cloaked in black, their eyes glowing faintly under their hoods. Mages.
One in the middle sneered. "So the brat actually came."
A Tier 4 Black Mage. His aura was foul, like rotting flesh mixed with poison. Like he was wielding death magic.
To his left and right were two Tier 3 Black Mages—one with shadow affinity, the other with bone.
Behind them were six hooded thugs, armed with enchanted blades and poison-tipped darts.
And behind them all—Alice.
Tied to a stone pillar, gagged but conscious. Her eyes widened in disbelief when she saw Logan walk calmly into the trap. She wanted to scream and ask Logan to run back from here. She didn't want her kid to die trying to save her. But she couldn't. Only a muffled sound came out.
"So this is the kid who defeated Zereth?" sneered the cloaked mage in the middle. "Heh. This'll be quick."
He raised his hand.
A wall of black spikes erupted from the ground—directly toward Logan.
But Logan didn't move.
WHOOSH.
In a blur, he vanished.
CRACK!
The Tier 3 shadow mage was launched backward, crashing into a tree and coughing blood before slumping unconscious.
"What—!?" The Tier 4 spun, eyes wide.
Logan was already behind him.
He struck.
The mage barely raised his barrier in time, but the impact sent him flying, cracking his ribs.
Then chaos erupted.
The bone mage summoned a skeletal serpent—but Logan's fist shattered it mid-flight.
The six thugs lunged together. Blades flashed.
Too slow.
Logan weaved through them like wind, fists and feet moving like a storm.
One down.
Two down.
Three—
Four—
Five—
A dagger grazed his arm.
The last thug, though afraid, grinned like a madman thinking he won—until Logan grabbed his face and slammed him into the earth.
Only the Tier 4 remained.
Rage and fear twisted his face. He raised his staff and chanted rapidly.
"By the dead, I summon the—!"
Logan's eyes gleamed.
"Too late."
He crossed the distance in a blink. His punch shattered the staff and dented the man's chest.
The mage coughed blood and collapsed, unconscious.
Silence.
The clearing was filled with the groans of the fallen.
Logan stood alone, barely breathing hard.
He used very little magic attack in fear of hurting Alice. But actually… he didn't need to. After the training for the last 6 months, he reached a height which others could only dream about.
Alice stared at him—eyes wide, trembling.
This… was her son?
This boy who just defeated eight enemies—including a Tier 4 mage?
Was this even real? She felt like she was hallucinating. Or maybe dreaming that this would happen.
Logan turned to her and gently cut the ropes.
"Mom. You're safe now."
"…Logan?" she whispered, her voice shaking.
He smiled faintly, hiding the storm within.
"Let's go home."