Once everything had finally settled down, Rudeous turned to face Noah and Rowan.

"Mr. Starwind… Prince, thank you very much," he said with a deep nod of gratitude.

Even though he had gathered the courage to stand tall before Arthur, Rudeous knew very well. His situation would not have been resolved so easily without their help.

Of course, with Logan involved, nothing ever seemed impossible anymore. But considering his age, Rudeous didn't want him to act disrespectfully toward his elders, no matter how justified it might be.

"Mr. Smith, please don't diminish us by saying thank you like that," Rowan replied with a polite smile. "Afterall Logan is a friend of mine."

Though Rowan said those words casually, but the moment they left his mouth, everyone except a few were stunned. "What did he just say?" Charles muttered in confusion.

Everyone had assumed Rowan had only shown up because someone from the royal family was requested to handle the matter, that Logan had asked for a powerful figurehead to represent authority.

But to hear Rowan openly acknowledge Logan as a friend… that was completely unexpected.

Rudeous, however, didn't look surprised.

He and Alice already knew how close Rowan and Daliah were with Logan.

But the others? They were clearly taken aback. Even Noah was stunned.

Everyone knew how reserved Rowan usually was. He barely smiled, rarely spoke, especially in public. His presence always carried a quiet, distant dignity.

But now… seeing him so approachable, so open, especially because of Logan was truly a shock for them all.

Afterward, they all entered the house once more and gathered again in the hall room.

For a moment, silence hung in the air.

Then Ali finally spoke. "I don't think anyone here has any doubts left. So, I believe it's time we start planning for Logan's participation in the Showdown of Prowess. That's the best way to convince the other kingdoms that what Logan is saying is true… that those we're fighting in the dungeons are actually humans."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Indeed, at this point, none of them harbored even a sliver of doubt.

"When this showdown of prowess is going to start?" Logan asked at last, his voice calm but firm. "I need to convince everyone, so no one kills unnecessarily. And once I defeat the dungeon boss in the Kingdom of Slomyr… I'll ask him directly if there's a way to turn these humans back into their original forms."

"I think it's scheduled in about a month," someone replied.

At that moment, Lilith suddenly chimed in, her tone sharp but curious.

"So… are you going to hold back again? Or will you give it your all this time?"

It was a question many had silently carried.

After everything that had happened, no one doubted it anymore that Logan had definitely held back during the last Arcadia Young Elite Tournament.

Logan's gaze shifted to Lilith… then swept across the entire room.

He could see it in their eyes. They were all wondering the same thing.

"No," he said clearly. "I won't hold back this time. But I still won't use magic. It'll be easier for them to understand the gravity of the situation that way."

"Sounds good," Ali nodded. "And I don't think that'll be a problem for you anyway."

Many stayed silent, but the look on their faces said it all... they agreed.

"When are you going to teach us the cultivation technique?" Robert suddenly asked after a moment of thought.

Unlike the others, he and Charles didn't have the luxury of time... after all, they were the only ones here not from this kingdom.

Logan opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Rowan's calm voice cut in.

"I believe I can take over the teaching," Rowan said gently. "Let Logan focus on his training for the next one month. Even though he's already strong… he mentioned he still needs to improve if he's to defeat that dungeon boss."

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle in the room.

"Yes, it's important that we convince the other kingdoms. But our top priority right now… is that dungeon boss."

Another pause.

"Which is why… letting him utilize every second from now on would be the wisest choice."

A thoughtful silence followed.

Even the S-Class hunters, who had gotten caught up in the excitement of the upcoming tournament, realized they had momentarily overlooked the bigger picture.

"He never fails to impress me," John murmured under his breath, clearly moved by Rowan's foresight.

Ali nodded after a moment of thought. "That's a solid plan, Rowan," he said. "If Logan focuses fully on improving his strength, and you handle the teaching, we can progress faster."

Rowan gave a slight smile, but didn't say anything further. As usual, his silence spoke louder than most people's words.

"Then the question is," Charles spoke up, "where should the training take place?"

Everyone glanced at each other.

"We need a place that's not just secure, but also well-equipped," Noah added. "Teaching cultivation to this many people can't be done casually in some open field."

"What about the palace grounds?" Daliah offered.

But Rowan shook his head gently. "That may cause unnecessary attention. If other kingdoms hear that a new technique is being taught inside royal grounds, we might invite suspicion before the tournament even begins."

Ali raised his hand. "Then what about the Hunter's Guild?"

Rowan turned to him. "That actually sounds ideal."

Charles and Robert both exchanged glances and nodded.

"Alright then," Ali confirmed. "Rowan will teach the technique at the Hunter's Guild. I'll notify the staff to make the necessary arrangements."

With the plan settled, the atmosphere in the room began to ease.

One by one, everyone began preparing to leave.

Ali stood and stretched. "I'll go inform the guild right away. And I'll have someone prepare a secure chamber for the cultivation training."

"I'll accompany you," said John, brushing imaginary dust off his coat. But before stepping out, he looked at Logan.

"Oh, by the way," he said with a grin. "I'll forward your name for the Showdown of Prowess right away. Best of luck Logan."

Logan gave a quiet nod. "Thanks."

No further words were needed.

Soon, the group started dispersing, each person heading off with renewed clarity and purpose. A storm was coming, and they all understood now… that Logan was going to stand at its very center.

_______

The next morning arrived quietly.

The sunlight filtered through the trees outside, but Logan was already deep into his training.

He sat in lotus position inside his room, surrounded by still air and soft light.

In front of him floated the spiritual energy orb Nolan had given him. It glowed faintly, blue wisps of spiritual energy drifting off it like mist, swirling into Logan's body with every calm breath he took.

His chest slowly rose and fell as he absorbed the pure energy into his internal network.

Each breath felt like the universe opening.

Each inhale brought power. And each exhale cleansed his mind of distractions.

He could feel it, his body becoming lighter, sharper. The fine threads of energy weaving through his veins were growing thicker, stronger.

There was no limit to the orb's energy.

It was as if… it was a limitless pit.

Day after day, hour after hour, Logan meditated like this. No movement, no words, only quiet cultivation. His senses sharpened. His reflexes grew more precise. Even the sound of a distant bird's wing became vivid in his perception.

The world outside moved fast. But in here, Logan moved deeper.

Two weeks passed in this rhythm.

But on the fifteenth day, during a quiet afternoon as golden light filled the chamber, something suddenly stirred in the air.

The orb pulsed.

And without warning, a soft hum vibrated through the room, followed by a gentle voice.

A female voice.

Audrey appeared, floating in midair just a few feet away. Her form shimmered faintly, outlined in light as her blade hovered like a guardian spirit.

Her soft voice cut through the silence.

"I thought you'd be more interested in learning how to use magic with your internal energy," she said.

Logan didn't answer right away. He stayed still for a moment, his breathing slow and measured, before finally opening his eyes. When he spoke, his voice was calm and steady.

"Yes, I'm interested," he said. "But until now, I've been focusing on pushing my internal energy even further... for two reasons. First, so that even in the event of an accident, I won't need to rely on magic to win the showdown of prowess. Second, the greater my energy reserves, the easier I believe the learning will be."

"Nice plan. But having more energy or not doesn't dictate whether your learning will be easy. What truly matters… is your comprehension."

"Comprehension?" Logan echoed, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," Audrey replied. "You'll understand for yourself once I begin teaching you. So… when do you plan to start?"

Logan's eyes sharpened. "Now," he said firmly.

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