Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Jackson Logan (2)
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Six days later, in the sublevel 2 basement of Miracle Management's Washington branch.
The First Isolation Training Ground was lined with special alloy walls a meter thick, coated in mana-resistant material.
Hiss—
A chill blast of air rushed in as the door slid open with the sound of escaping pressure.
Siwoo, Lieutenant Jackson Logan, and Colonel Michael stepped inside.
"This should hold up just fine."
Siwoo nodded in satisfaction as he surveyed the training ground interior.
Shock-absorbing devices covered the central floor, and state-of-the-art vital monitoring equipment stood ready to track Lieutenant Logan's condition in real time.
"Of course. We selected only the best equipment for Lieutenant Logan."
Colonel Michael replied with a resolute expression.
He looked more tense than ever.
And for good reason—this awakening was America's pride on the line, a pivotal turning point that could sway the course of the war.
Lieutenant Logan, dressed in training gear, took position in the center.
He kept a bright expression as if it were nothing, but his body jerked and hesitated repeatedly.
'The pressure must be immense.'
The cheers from his comrades, the expectations from above, the fear of the unknown S-rank realm.
All of it weighed on him like a massive burden crushing his shoulders.
Siwoo turned to Colonel Michael.
"Colonel, monitor things from outside. If anything goes wrong, come in immediately."
"...Yes, sir. Understood, CEO."
Colonel Michael gave Logan a meaningful glance before exiting the training ground with heavy steps.
Bam—
The door sealed shut, turning the space into a sealed chamber. Silence descended.
The only sounds were Logan's ragged breathing and the steady hum of machinery.
"Hoo..."
Seeing how tense he was, Siwoo pulled a small box from his pocket.
He approached Logan and handed it over.
"Lieutenant Logan."
"Yes, sir! CEO!"
Logan snapped to attention reflexively and responded.
"Do you know what this is?"
"An Elixir... right?"
"Yes. Drink it the moment it hits. Before your whole body feels like it's burning up. It'll help stabilize your mana."
"Yes, sir. I'll remember."
"Remember it well. The pain of mana overwhelming you will scorch your entire body. You have to endure. There's only one way."
Siwoo pointed to Logan's chest with his index finger.
"Your heart. That's all I know. Loyalty to your nation, deep love for your family, drive toward your dreams. Think of all those things."
"..."
"Don't think of awakening as just mana expanding. What did I tell you?"
"That it's a process of your vessel changing."
"Right. Your current body breaks down and reforms into one with expanded mana circuits. The Elixir can mitigate mana rampage to some degree, but it can't stop mental collapse. You just have to endure. Nothing else."
"...Yes, sir."
Heart's Eye.
📛 Name:Jackson Logan
🏷️ Rank:A
⭐ Potential:S-rank Awakening in Progress / In 10 Minutes
⚠️ Notes:Body filled with latent mana for awakening. Rampage risk: Medium (40%)
40%.
Not a low number by any means.
Anything over 20% was classified as high-risk, so 40% meant roughly a 50-50 shot at disaster.
'The unsettling part is not knowing exactly what he's craving.'
On the surface, Logan was the perfect soldier.
But humans always have desires, flaws.
No one in this world is perfect.
Finding and addressing that was key, but...
Unlike with Lee Ji-ah, he had far too little information on Logan to judge easily.
That's why Siwoo opted for the premium Elixir and full scientific monitoring to control it.
The main reason awakenings and reawakenings fail is their unpredictability—beyond human foresight.
But Siwoo could predict the timing, so he planned to control it instead.
If predictable, then preparable.
Siwoo watched Logan as they waited.
"Lieutenant Logan. Why do you want to grow stronger?"
"...To protect."
"Who?"
"...My homeland, my comrades, and the people I love."
Even hearing Logan's noble resolve, Siwoo's unease lingered.
Why?
His answer rang true, yet something didn't connect.
Was it tied to his desires?
Was that truly his driving force?
He couldn't shake the feeling it fell short.
"...I see. But the moment that desire to protect turns to fear, it might consume you."
"..."
"I haven't experienced it myself, so I don't know everything. But I've heard enough. Right now, think selfishly. Focus only on what you want. That's how you'll endure."
"..."
Siwoo glanced at the Elixir in Logan's hand.
"It's time. Drink it."
Logan stared at the Elixir with trembling hands, swallowed hard.
Then he looked to Siwoo with pleading eyes.
'...Will it be okay?'
"...?!"
Only then did Siwoo realize the depth of Logan's fear.
Logan downed the Elixir in one gulp.
That was when it hit.
"Grrrrr...!"
As if on cue, Logan clutched his chest and dropped to his knees.
Veins writhed like earthworms across his body, bulging out.
A blue glow flickered beneath his skin, radiating light.
"Arrrgh!"
Logan screamed as unimaginable pain overwhelmed him.
It felt like every bone in his body was turning to ash.
'It'll be fine. It has to be.'
Siwoo kept Heart's Eye active, monitoring Logan's status.
Target's potential has broken past the critical point.
Mana circuits expanding... 45%... 52%...
Mental state unstable.
Warning: Rampage probability rising 46%... 48%...
The numbers in Siwoo's system messages fluctuated wildly.
Mana pouring from Logan's body shook the training ground, tearing up the floor mats.
Wooooong—!
Blue haze rose around Logan.
"Hahk, hahk...!"
Logan gritted his teeth, clawing at the floor to endure.
His mind flashed white repeatedly, hallucinations whispering.
—You think you can do it?
—You'll fail. Hurt someone again.
—Who do you think you are? You'll make another sacrifice like Jena.
The voices dug into his painful memories.
It felt like his deep-seated anxieties and fears were mocking him.
A vision appeared: a girl sobbing over her mother's loss.
"No... no...!"
Logan clutched his head and wailed.
His mana destabilized, red tints mixing into the blue haze.
Warning: Mana backflow detected.
Warning: Rampage probability rising 60%... 64%...
"Lieutenant Logan! Pull yourself together!"
Siwoo shouted, but Logan just muttered endlessly, unresponsive.
"You have to endure!"
"C... CEO..."
"Focus! L..."
"...Jena. That girl..."
Logan kept crying out a name.
He clenched his jaw, trying to steady his breathing, but the rampaging mana ignored him.
It bucked like a wild colt, growing fiercer.
'...No.'
Rampage probability 72%... 80%...
Red warning windows filled Siwoo's vision.
'This is bad.'
Siwoo sensed something was deeply wrong.
Mental care wouldn't cut it anymore.
His body was already collapsing under the mana load.
Sizzle—
Logan's skin flushed red-hot.
Like iron in a forge, steam vented from his body.
Steam rapidly filled the training ground.
"Gaaargh!!!"
Logan couldn't hold back his screams any longer.
Finally, his eyes rolled back, whites showing, as his muscles hypertrophied abnormally, shredding his clothes.
"...Grrr."
Hot vapor poured from his mouth as he growled like a beast.
Warning: Awakening failed.
Target Jackson Logan entering full rampage state.
Siwoo bit his lip at the system message.
'...Damn it.'
Boom!
Rampaging Logan slammed the floor; the special alloy buckled like paper, shockwaves erupting.
"Colonel Michael!!"
Siwoo raised an arm to shield his face and yelled.
As if waiting, the door flew open, Colonel Michael rushing in.
He asked Siwoo gravely.
"Wh-what happened?"
"...Subdue him first, think later."
That was when it happened.
From the steam emerged a man blazing like fire all over.
His feral eyes locked on Siwoo and Michael.
"Gr...raaahhh!!!"
Logan kicked off the floor and charged.
He closed the distance before Siwoo could react, attempting a body slam.
But Michael blocked Siwoo, grabbing Logan with both hands.
Veins bulging on his arms like they might burst, he took the mad charge head-on.
"Lo... Lieutenant Logan. Snap out of it...!"
Logan ignored him, swinging a fist.
It whistled toward Michael's face.
Scorching heat rippled, singeing skin, but Michael didn't dodge—he caught it barehanded.
Then channeled mana into a test of strength.
"CEO! Evacuate... now!"
"..."
"I'll buy time... Hurry!!"
Michael could barely speak from the strain.
Siwoo glanced toward the entrance at his words.
Clearly, leaving was the smart move.
No need to get involved.
He'd warned them of failure, and it happened.
Cleanup was their problem—Michael's.
"CEO!! Go!!!"
"...Yeah, good luck."
Siwoo turned toward the exit.
As he neared the door, his steps slowed.
'...Just leave.'
Siwoo stopped, pondering.
Why stop? he asked himself.
"..."
Asked again.
Was bailing now truly best?
"..."
They were the ones mistaken.
Mistaken that he could trigger reawakenings.
But did he bear no responsibility?
Was that really enough?
'Is this the outcome I wanted?'
He'd used people for his goals, but never abandoned them.
He'd always made the best calls, led them to reawakening.
Never bailed after screwing up.
He'd always finished what he started.
Now fleeing because it's too much?
'...I may be crazy, but I'm no villain.'
He slowly turned back, eyes on Logan and Michael clashing at full power.
Drew a deep breath into his lungs, exhaled.
Then began loosening up.
[CEO! You need to get out now!]
The speaker blared desperate pleas, but he ignored them.
Silently loosening stiff joints.
"What I started..."
Ash-gray energy rippled from Siwoo's body.
"...I have to clean up."
That low murmur pulled the trigger.
Monstrous mana erupted from him as if unleashed.
Warning: Administrator's mana is being released.
In an instant, overwhelming presence filled the training ground with ashen gray.