Logan spent the following day tending to the young steppe eagle, whom he had now named Midnight because of its striking dark feathers and the eerily quiet way it followed him, always at his side. The bond between them grew as they spent more time together, and Logan began to feel a sense of responsibility toward the bird that he hadn't expected. Midnight was a reminder of the quieter parts of himself—the parts that weren't hardened by his past or shaped by the mercenary life he led.
As the days passed, Logan found himself spending more time alone with Midnight, speaking to the bird in the way one might speak to a companion, though no words were exchanged. The young eagle was a constant presence at his side, even when Logan was training or eating.
Meanwhile, the tension within the team, which had been high after the earlier conflicts, began to settle. Matthew and Jessica were the first to break the silence after the incident at the campfire. Matthew, who had been the most vocal against Logan, was the one to approach him first.
"Look, man, I've been an ass," Matthew began, his voice surprisingly sincere as he walked up to Logan while he was feeding Midnight. "I know I've been giving you shit, and I guess… I guess I was just trying to put you in a box. You're not some... 'Loner Hero,' are you?"
Logan glanced at Matthew but didn't say anything, waiting for him to continue.
"I get it now, alright?" Matthew said, taking a deep breath. "You're not some guy who needs to be the center of attention, and you're not out here trying to be everyone's savior. You just... do what you need to do. And I respect that."
Logan gave a small nod, his expression still unreadable. Midnight, sensing Logan's calm, hopped closer to him, resting its wings.
"You're good, Matthew," Logan finally responded in his usual low tone. "I don't need a 'hero' title. Just... stay out of my way when I'm doing my thing, and we're good."
Matthew cracked a smile, relieved that Logan had acknowledged him. "I can do that. And no more making things awkward between us." He extended a hand, and Logan shook it firmly, a silent agreement passing between them.
Next, it was Jessica's turn. She had kept her distance, but after seeing how the team had started to reconcile, she couldn't remain cold forever. She walked up to Logan, her expression hesitant.
"Logan, I... I shouldn't have acted like I did," Jessica started, a little embarrassed. "I just thought you were... different, in a bad way. But now, I see I was wrong."
Logan didn't speak right away, but he regarded her with a steady gaze. Midnight chirped softly, as though in agreement with the moment of resolution.
"I don't need anyone to feel sorry for me, Jessica," Logan said. "But I'm not the enemy here. I'm just trying to do what needs to be done."
Jessica nodded, more understanding now than before. "I know. I guess I was just trying too hard to fit things into my head. I get it now."
There was a brief silence before Logan gave her a small, almost imperceptible smile. "It's alright. We'll get through this together."
With that, the rift that had divided the team seemed to close, the air between them lighter. Logan, Matthew, Jessica, and William continued to bond in their own ways over the following days, and Midnight seemed to bring an unspoken calm to the group. They were not yet friends, but they were more than teammates. The wilderness program had already begun to test their endurance, and each day, they were pushed to their limits.
As the team prepared for the next phase of the test, they could feel the heat of competition rising. News had spread of their past encounters and their earlier struggles, and now the real tests awaited them: They would be facing off against some of the top teams in the academy.
"The next few days are going to be tough," William said as they huddled together, preparing their packs and supplies. "But we've got each other's backs. Midnight included."
Logan nodded, his eyes hardening with focus. The competition was only getting tougher. But Logan wasn't worried about the other teams. He had something stronger now than just his abilities—he had a team. A team that might not understand him completely, but one that was starting to see the value of working together.
As the sun began to set and the team made their way toward the staging area for the next challenge, Logan felt a renewed sense of purpose. Midnight perched on his shoulder, looking out over the horizon, ready for whatever came next.
"We're ready," Logan muttered under his breath, more to himself than anyone else.
The team stood together in silence for a moment, their eyes focused ahead. There were no more words needed—only action. And together, they would face whatever came next, as a team.
Chapter 25 Continuation – The Final Days of the Wilderness Program
The past few days had been brutal, with Logan and his team enduring both the harsh conditions of the wilderness and the constant clashes with other teams. Food was scarce, and every night was a battle for survival. They had encountered rival super teams who sought to take them down for supplies, but with Logan's tactical mind, William's brute endurance, Matthew's ingenuity, and Jessica's unique tactics,they had managed to hold their own.
As the final day of the wilderness program approached, tensions rose among the students. Rumors spread that Darius Cross, the arrogant leader of the human academy's top team, had gathered a coalition of human teams. Unlike the supers, these human teams had no restrictions on their gears and supplies,making them dangerous opponents. Darius had been vocal about his disdain for supers, claiming that without their powers, they were nothing but weaklings. His goal was simple—humiliate and eliminate every super team they encountered.
Back at the observation base, where both academies' professors and staff monitored the students through surveillance drones, the principal of the human academy, Douglas Graves, smirked as he watched Darius and his coalition overpower yet another struggling super team. He turned toward Principal Mason, the head of the supers academy, and chuckled.
"See that, Mason?" Graves bragged. "You supers rely too much on your powers. Strip them away, and they're just kids playing soldier. Meanwhile, my students are trained to be warriors, with or without enhancements."
Mason, who had remained quiet throughout Graves' taunts, simply sighed. "The program isn't over yet, Graves. Let's see what happens when your 'warriors' run into a real challenge."
Graves scoffed, unconvinced. "There is no challenge, Mason. You'll see soon enough."
As Logan's team rested near a rocky outcrop on the eve of the final day, they heard gunfire-like sounds echoing through the forest—non-lethal rubber rounds and stun grenades issued to the human teams. Matthew, sharpening a makeshift spear, looked up with a scowl.
"Guess the human teams are finally making their move," he muttered. "I told you that Darius guy was gonna pull some crap like this."
William stretched his arms, already prepared for a fight. "Doesn't matter. We've handled supers. We can handle humans too."
Jessica, perched on a fallen log, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, but there's a difference. They're organized. And we're a prime target."
Logan, silent as always, watched the treeline with focused eyes. Midnight, perched on his shoulder, ruffled its feathers uneasily.
"They'll come for us," Logan finally said. "They'll try to outnumber us, corner us. We need to set a trap before they do."
The team quickly got to work, using the environment to their advantage. Matthew set up tripwires using vines, while William stacked heavy logs in key positions for potential ambushes. Jessica scouted ahead in her smaller form, confirming the incoming threat—Darius' coalition had taken out three super teams already and was heading in their direction.
As the night deepened, Darius' coalition finally reached Logan's location. The human teams moved in a disciplined formation, their confidence soaring after dominating their previous encounters.
Darius himself led the charge, barking orders. "Take them out. Show them what real strength looks like!"
The moment the humans entered the clearing, Logan gave the signal.
BOOM!
A log trap collapsed, cutting off half of the coalition from their reinforcements. Before the confused attackers could regroup, William charged forward like a battering ram, his sheer physical strength knocking two human students unconscious before they could react.
Matthew, using his quick reflexes, disarmed an opponent with a well-placed kick and used their own baton against them. Jessica, using her agility and combat skills, darted between enemies, striking at their weak points.
Logan was the deadliest of all. Even without his esper abilities, his training as a mercenary was second nature. He moved through the battlefield with precision, taking down enemies with swift strikes to their pressure points, using the knife he had taken from the academy. Midnight swooped through the air, distracting enemies and clawing at their faces.
The battle was fierce, but Logan's team fought like a well-oiled machine. One by one, the humans fell, overwhelmed by superior tactics and raw combat skill.
As the dust settled, only Darius remained standing, panting heavily as he faced Logan. His once-arrogant expression was now filled with frustration.
"How—how the hell are you this good?!" he shouted. "You're supposed to be weak without your powers!"
Logan, his knife in hand, simply stared at him with his usual unreadable expression. "You rely too much on your arrogance," he said coolly. "I was trained to survive with or without my abilities. What about you?"
Darius, realizing he had no chance, clenched his fists in rage but didn't make another move.
Back at the observation base, Principal Graves had gone silent, his once-confident smirk wiped from his face. The other professors murmured amongst themselves, clearly impressed by Logan's team.
Principal Mason, who had remained composed throughout, finally turned to Graves. "You were saying, Graves?"
Graves scowled but said nothing.
The wilderness program was nearly over, and Logan's team had not only survived but thrived against overwhelming odds. The final day was upon them, and they had already proven themselves beyond expectations.