Driven by curiosity, Logan kept studying his familiar space.
After checking it again and again, he was sure the space was steadily getting bigger.
This discovery left him stunned, because it went against the notes Principal Mark had given him.
According to those notes, once a familiar tamer opens their familiar space, the only way to make it larger is by raising their stage.
When raising stage, a familiar tamer's body and soul enter a state of transformation.
In that state, they keep absorbing energy from the surroundings to make sure the process succeeds.
During this, the familiar space is often widened by a huge amount of energy.
That's the main way a familiar space grows.
But Logan's stage was still stuck at the elite level, with no breakthrough.
Even so, his familiar space was still growing. It was hard to believe.
Still, a bigger familiar space is only good for a familiar tamer. There's no downside.
Logan planned to leave the familiar space later and ask Kerparos about it. But before he could act, a sharp pain burst from inside his body and yanked his mind back to reality.
When he opened his eyes, everything in front of him cracked like shattered glass, splitting into countless cracks.
Crack...
A series of breaking sounds rang by his ears, and the scene around him fell into total darkness.
He didn't know how long it was before familiar voices echoed by his ear again.
"Logan?"
"Master?"
"Logan?"
"Look! He seems awake!"
...
The voices soon tore away the darkness before Logan's eyes
Right now, Lilith, Kerparos, Yelena, and Sawako were standing by him, looking tense.
On the other side, Jessica, with her Golden Deer, was expertly using the healing skill [Reviving Wind].
Seeing Logan regain consciousness, everyone let out a sigh of relief.
From what they told him, Logan slowly pieced together what had happened when he opened his familiar space.
The Blood Cultivation Realm collapsed?
The City Lord saved me?
And told me to go to the City Lord's Office to pay him back after I woke up?
These bits of info left Logan a bit confused.
He didn't remember owing the City Lord money.
But since the City Lord saved him, going to the City Lord's Office was no problem.
With that thought, Logan quickly stood up, straightened his clothes, and waved to Yelena and Sawako to say goodbye: "After this Blood Cultivation Realm crisis, we've formed a life-and-death bond. Let's keep in touch."
After saying that, he picked up his phone and added the two girls' contacts.
Having just escaped death, Yelena and Sawako looked at Logan with much softer eyes.
"Thanks to you, we might not have made it out of the Blood Cultivation Realm alive," Yelena said, blushing. She gave Logan a hug and gently brushed her hair against his neck.
Logan caught a whiff of fragrance, a faint scent of violets that made him sniff without thinking. "We're teammates. No need to be so polite." As he spoke, he gently patted Yelena's back.
Feeling the warmth of his palm, Yelena flinched like a little rabbit that had been burned and pulled away from his chest. "I-I'll go back to Storm Wind City to file the exploration report. Then I'll wait for you at the Genius Training Camp."
As soon as she finished, she forced down her pounding heart and walked out of the medical tent.
Seeing this, Sawako gave Logan a light punch on the chest. "Thanks for this time. See you at the Genius Training Camp."
Then she leaned in by his shoulder and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. "I won't lose to you then!"
Hearing two people mention the Genius Training Camp in a row, Logan felt confused.
In Twilight City, places called Genius Training Camp are everywhere.
Some teach dance, some yoga, some academic classes, and some do combat training.
But Logan had never heard that high school students needed to join a "Genius Training Camp," and even do it together with students from other cities.
Confused, Logan held Sawako's wrist and asked, "What is this Genius Training Camp you're talking about? Is it a college entrance prep class for familiar tamers?"
Hearing his question, Jessica, who was packing nearby, rolled her eyes.
Sawako, whose wrist Logan was holding, stared at him like he was an alien, speechless.
In the end, Jessica reacted first and started explaining with a teasing tone: "Sawako, forgive this slacker. He hasn't shown up to class for two months straight."
"What? He skipped class for two months and he's still this strong? Logan, give the rest of us a break!" Sawako yelped in shock after hearing Jessica.
She quickly ran out of the tent and dragged Yelena back in.
After hearing how much Logan had been skipping class, Yelena looked at him like he was a monster. "In the familiar tamer world, the Genius Training Camp is also called the cradle of 'supernovas.'"
"Every year, the Federation gathers talented eighteen-year-olds for a 100-day training camp."
"During that time, each genius goes through many tests and trials until the strongest one is chosen."
"Then the Federation assigns a near Saint-level familiar tamer to take that winner as a disciple, and gives them 100 days of one-on-one coaching to help them train."
"During this period, the Federation spares no expense, pouring in treasures, gear, potions, familiars, and other training resources to raise that genius."
"After the hundred days, that genius has to accept challenges from all peers across the Federation."
"Only someone who fights 300 matches in a row and wins every single one will be given the title [Supernova] by the Federation."
"The [Supernova] title means you're unbeatable in your age group—the very top among your peers in the Federation."
Here, Yelena paused and looked at Sawako.
Sawako got the hint, put her hands on her hips, and said proudly, "So only youths who get into the Genius Training Camp even have a shot at becoming a [Supernova]."
"But the Genius Training Camp isn't only run by the Federation. Temple and the Black Church have their own versions of the [Supernova] program too, just more secretive."
"Oh right, I remember—the title for Temple's supernova is [Divine Maiden], and the Black Church's is [Imperial Princess]. Any one of these three showing up is an absolute powerhouse who outshines their whole generation."
"But a [Supernova] doesn't appear every year. Fighting 300 same-age challengers in a row without sleep or rest—people like that are beyond 'genius.' They're absolute monsters."
"As far as I know, the last [Supernova] appeared eight years ago, and she was a real beauty."
"Sadly, to protect her privacy, the Federation never showed her face. Only a few people know who she is."
...
After hearing all this, Logan's curiosity burned even stronger.
He had just opened his familiar space, and he didn't know where he stood among people his age. He really wanted to meet those young geniuses.
So after thinking for a moment, Logan raised an eyebrow at Yelena and Sawako. "Then how did you two get the qualification to join the Genius Training Camp?"
Asked so directly, Yelena and Sawako both patted their foreheads, speechless.
They couldn't understand how someone as strong as Logan didn't have a spot in the Genius Training Camp—and didn't even know what it was.
In the end, Yelena offered a sincere suggestion: "Logan, I think you should ask the City Lord of Twilight City. Every main city's lord has recommendation slots. You're so strong—she has no reason not to recommend you."
"That's right. If Twilight City won't recommend you, transfer to my Edo Castle. I'll have my grandpa write you a recommendation letter," Sawako said, eyes blinking, a wide, hopeful grin on her face.
Logan nodded quietly.
He didn't want to waste a second on this trip to the City Lord's Office.
Jessica still had to stay in the camp to treat other wounded and couldn't leave.
So after saying goodbye to Yelena and Sawako, Logan took Lilith and Kerparos and left the temporary military camp.
...