Chapter 66
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Jackson Logan. (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Finally, as the entire training ground was filled with gray, the density of the air grew so heavy that simply existing there made it hard to breathe.
"G, grrrrooo!!"
Sensing the threat on instinct, Logan flung Michael aside and charged ferociously toward Si-woo.
The moment he kicked off the ground, the specially reinforced floor caved in pathetically, and a deafening explosion ripped through the air.
"CEO! Get out of—!"
The grotesque, swollen muscles and skin glowing red-hot emanated heat that seemed to scorch the air itself, distorting their vision.
Logan's massive fist hurtled toward Si-woo's face with overwhelming dominance.
But Si-woo didn't dodge. Instead, he lifted his chin with a face bored to the point of indifference.
[Skill Copy - Body Hardening]
The moment his blue eyes flashed, Logan's fist made contact with Si-woo.
Boom!!
A thunderous roar echoed through the training ground, like a massive shell exploding on direct impact.
The shockwave spread in all directions, shredding the special mats meant to absorb it like they were mere paper.
"...Huh?"
What Michael saw made him doubt if it was even real.
Logan's massive fist had clashed head-on with Si-woo's shoulder.
The entire training ground shook as if struck by an earthquake, and a secondary shockwave erupted circularly from the collision of Logan's mana and Si-woo's.
"...?!"
Logan swung his other arm, aiming once more for Si-woo's face.
But as if he'd been waiting, Si-woo grabbed Logan's left arm and squeezed.
"Grahhh!!"
Logan screamed in agony, his left knee buckling.
"What...?"
Only then did Michael notice the golden aura threaded like silk within the chilling gray mana enveloping Si-woo's body.
"...Huh?"
A dazed exclamation slipped from Michael's lips.
It was the mana visible in Si-woo's hand.
The gray mana gathered at his fingertips swirled fiercely, compressing before igniting into a vivid red battle aura like fresh blood.
[Skill Copy - Battle Aura]
Baek Chang-gi's signature red battle aura had fused with Si-woo's gray mana, dwelling in his fist.
Si-woo pressed down on Logan's captured fist, then drove his own straight into the man's exposed abdomen.
Boom!!
The instant the fist sank into his gut, Logan's hulking frame bent upward like a bowstring about to snap.
"Kuhuk...!"
Along with his death rattle, dark red blood foam gushed from Logan's mouth.
Thud!!
Without giving him a moment's respite, Si-woo unleashed another punch straight to Logan's face.
Logan's body rocketed backward, slamming into the alloy wall of the training ground.
Rumble!!
The special alloy wall caved in roundly, spiderweb cracks spreading across it.
"Th-this can't be... "
Amid the ear-shattering boom, Colonel Michael could only stare blankly at the surreal scene, his mind numb.
This was Logan—the man he'd barely held back with all his strength just moments ago.
And in his berserk state, suppressing him had been no easy task.
Yet Han Si-woo had sent that monster flying.
'What am I even seeing right now? And...'
What horrified Michael even more was Si-woo's chillingly calm demeanor as he handled the rampage.
He'd brushed off Logan's strike like a child's play, then flung him aside as if he were the superior being.
"Kraaaah!!"
Logan, embedded in the wall, let out a beastly roar as he hauled himself up again.
His mangled facial muscles writhed grotesquely before forcibly knitting back into place.
Shattered bone fragments clicked sickeningly as they realigned, and torn muscles twisted together, devouring wounds indiscriminately.
'It's like a modified human.'
The way it regenerated by consuming his life force looked eerily similar to the Villain Alliance's modified humans.
Red mana enveloped Logan's entire body, blazing even more ferociously.
He clawed at the floor with both hands, moving like a beast, then kicked off.
"Jeniaaaah!!"
Now fully reduced to an animal, Logan lunged at Si-woo.
[Skill Copy - Swiftness]
Si-woo's form blurred like heat haze oxidizing into nothingness.
By the time Logan's charging hands tore through empty air, Si-woo was already shadowing his back like a ghost.
A battle aura-clad strike immediately pierced Logan's unguarded flank.
"Graaahk!!"
"Not yet."
Ignoring Logan's agonized cry, Si-woo unhesitatingly stomped the back of his right knee joint.
Crack!
"Kwaaaah!!"
With a gruesome fracturing sound, Logan's right leg bent at an unnatural angle.
Si-woo snatched the collar of the collapsing Logan, who had lost his balance.
And then the merciless beating began.
Thud! Crack! Crunch!
He shattered the right shoulder, then smashed the left arm.
Slamming his elbow into the collarbone to crush it, he grabbed the flailing right arm resisting and twisted it viciously.
Dull impacts of battle aura-wreathed fists tore flesh and pulverized bone, echoing relentlessly.
"Gr... grrrr...."
As his resistance waned, Logan's massive frame pitched forward, off-balance.
Si-woo mounted his back without missing a beat and stomped down on his right shoulder.
Crack!
Bone pierced through flesh, but Si-woo didn't stop.
He spun his body immediately, driving his heel into Logan's back.
"Ku... euh... ugh...."
Logan lay sprawled, no longer capable of movement, spewing hot breaths.
Though his red mana ceaselessly demanded regeneration, it couldn't keep up with Si-woo's destruction.
Si-woo gazed coldly down at the bloodied Logan and thought.
'...No choice, then.'
Even dragging his broken limbs, Logan bared his teeth and crawled toward Si-woo's ankle, trying to bite.
Si-woo stomped his face, pinning it to the floor.
Logan growled like a beast, but with one press of force from Si-woo, the floor buckled, smashing his face down.
"I'm sorry, Lieutenant Logan."
Michael watched, staring at Logan pinned to the floor.
'...Lieutenant Logan.'
He'd thought this was the day America's hero would be born.
But seeing that man reduced to a rampaging monster reddened Michael's eyes.
He knew Si-woo's judgment was correct.
An Awakener who rampaged without achieving full bloom... never regained their sanity.
Still, giving up on Lieutenant Logan like this felt too heartbreaking.
'...I know there's no way.'
It was just as Michael despaired and lowered his head.
"We'll find a way."
"...Pardon?"
Michael snapped his head up to look at Si-woo.
"...I don't know yet."
Si-woo extended his hand toward the pinned Logan and yanked him up by the hair.
"Gr... gra...."
"Lieutenant Logan. If you can hear me, listen carefully."
"Graa...."
"I'll restrain you until we find a way. So... never give up."
"Graaaah...!"
Si-woo met Logan's eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"...."
Si-woo gathered his mana, focusing it on his vocal cords.
[Skill Copy - Word of Command]
In a low voice, he commanded.
"Sleep."
Only then did the red light in Logan's eyes dim, his eyelids finally closing.
His body went limp like he was falling asleep, collapsing softly.
"...."
Michael stared blankly at the scene.
He couldn't comprehend what had just happened.
He'd been entangled with Logan, and the moment he lost his grip, Logan had charged at Han Si-woo.
He'd chased after with every ounce of strength, but it was too late—the collision came with a boom.
He'd thought Si-woo was done for.
But from that point, impossible events unfolded before his eyes.
Si-woo caught the fist that even he struggled against, then hurled Logan away.
And pummeled him with overwhelming force.
'And that red energy.'
Only now did he realize what that red aura surrounding Si-woo's mana was.
Baek Chang-gi's battle aura, which he'd seen multiple times.
It was unmistakably Baek's power.
Si-woo wielded it effortlessly, his movements mimicking Kim Ye-eun's.
Then used Baek's power again to subdue Logan.
Logan couldn't even counter properly, just taking the one-sided beating.
'...Of course.'
He was always composed, no matter the situation.
In any crisis—even when an S-rank threatened him—he showed no reaction.
Michael had hastily assumed it was thanks to the accompanying S-ranks.
There was no other way to explain it unless the man lacked the sensation of fear entirely.
But now, witnessing this with his own eyes.
He realized his assumption was a massive mistake.
'I was truly insignificant.'
Who would falter against a non-threat?
Suddenly, all of Si-woo's past behaviors clicked together like puzzle pieces.
How pathetic he'd been.
How laughable.
Like a housecat hissing at a predator.
'...Then how strong was Clozer?'
To inflict serious injuries on that Han Si-woo.
Even with Flicker, they'd been strong enough to put Si-woo in critical condition.
If they'd stayed in America... the thought was horrifying.
That was when it happened.
"Colonel."
Si-woo called out to Michael.
Michael alternated glances between Si-woo and Logan, still shaken.
"C-CEO... Lieutenant Logan, he..."
Michael's voice trembled violently.
"Bring the highest-grade mana restraints and life-support devices."
"...Pardon?"
"He won't wake for a while, but we don't know when he'll rampage again. We need to restrain him quickly."
"But... he's already."
"I told you."
"Pardon?"
"We'll find a way."
"...R-really?"
"I don't know. We'll have to try."
"...Understood."
Michael dragged his massive frame toward the entrance with all his might.
That monstrous man's promise to find a way stirred his heart.
The fact that he hadn't given up on Lieutenant Logan filled his mind.
'Hang on, Lieutenant Logan...!'
His face as he ran was a strange mix of despair and hope.