But now... he’d decided...

He wanted her to be his as well.

Not because of love.

Not yet.

But because Logan understood better than anyone just how terrifying Avery Adams would become in the future.

In the original story, she’d eventually risen into one of humanity’s strongest figures, becoming a nightmare on the battlefield during the later arcs.

And more importantly...

One of the protagonist’s greatest supporters.

Logan’s eyes flickered faintly.

Since he was no longer planning on following the original storyline anyway, there was naturally no reason to allow such a valuable heroine to end up beside another man.

While Logan was lost in thought, the crowd around the monolith suddenly stirred slightly.

A small commotion spread through the plaza.

"Wait... look over there..."

"Is that...?"

"No way. Why is she here?"

Logan’s brows raised faintly as he instinctively followed the direction of everyone’s gaze.

Several figures could be seen descending from one of the floating transport platforms above.

At the center of the group was a young woman with long silver-blue hair that swayed lightly behind her.

Her appearance instantly drew attention the moment she stepped into view.

Beautiful.

That was the first thought that surfaced in nearly everyone’s minds.

Her features were delicate yet cold, carrying an untouchable aura around her.

A simple academy uniform rested against her slender figure perfectly while her calm blue eyes swept across the surroundings indifferently.

Numerous students subconsciously lowered their voices upon seeing her.

"Avery Adams..."

"So it’s really her..."

"She actually came personally?"

Logan stared at the girl silently.

The real person looked even more striking than he’d imagined while writing her.

But what truly caught his attention wasn’t her appearance.

It was the strange sensation surrounding her body.

The space around Avery occasionally distorted faintly for split seconds, almost as though multiple overlapping images of her existed simultaneously.

Probability overlap.

A side effect of Quantum Duplication.

At her current level, she still couldn’t control the passive leakage completely.

Several elite-looking students followed behind her respectfully while speaking in lowered voices, yet Avery herself appeared entirely uninterested in her surroundings.

Her expression remained calm.

Detached.

As though nothing here truly mattered to her.

Then suddenly—

Her footsteps paused slightly.

Avery’s eyes shifted.

Directly toward Logan.

For a brief moment, their gazes met across the crowded plaza.

Logan’s expression remained calm.

Avery narrowed her eyes faintly.

Something about him felt... strange.

It lasted for less than a second before she looked away once more and continued walking forward.

The surrounding students immediately made way for her group almost instinctively.

"Damn..."

"She’s terrifying..."

"I heard she defeated a fourth-year during a simulation battle."

"That rumor’s real?"

Logan quietly watched her disappearing figure before withdrawing his gaze.

As expected of one of the strongest heroines.

Even her presence alone was enough to pressure an entire crowd unconsciously.

But Logan wasn’t intimidated.

Instead...

The corner of his lips curved upward slightly.

Interesting.

...

On Avery’s side, the Elite-looking students recalled the young man who exchanged glances with Avery and couldn’t help asking.

"Is that him? The strongest freshman?"

"I heard he possesses a series of strange origin abilities."

"Avery, should we recruit him into our faction?" one of them suddenly asked.

However, he was quickly met with Avery’s piercing cold eyes. Hastily he shut his mouth.

The group continued walking.

As they continued, the lady beside him whispered in a hushed voice, chiding her friend.

"Why would you ask her that? Don’t you know that Avery hates lowering herself to the crowd? If he’s worthy enough he’d come to the faction and ask to join!"

"Oh... sorry... sorry... I completely forgot."

...

Back on Logan’s end.

Logan slowly withdrew his gaze from Avery’s disappearing figure before calmly continuing toward the registration hall alongside the crowd.

The atmosphere around the plaza had changed slightly after her appearance.

Numerous students were still whispering amongst themselves excitedly.

"A monster among monsters..."

"I heard even some instructors can’t handle her properly during training."

"Do you think we’ll ever reach that level?"

"Forget reaching it. I’d be happy just surviving the first semester..."

Logan ignored the surrounding conversations entirely.

His attention shifted toward the massive building ahead.

The registration hall.

Unlike the towering structures surrounding it, the hall itself possessed a simpler appearance.

But the pressure radiating from the place was far heavier.

Dozens of academy guards stood stationed around the entrance silently.

Each of them radiated powerful Origin fluctuations that far surpassed ordinary students.

Logan’s eyes flickered slightly.

None of them were weak, being at the Origin Expert Rank, the ank above origin Initiate!

Just the guards alone would probably be enough to suppress an entire group of first years effortlessly.

The flow of students gradually slowed as everyone entered the hall in batches.

The moment Logan stepped inside, a wave of cold air brushed against his skin.

The hall was enormous.

Far larger than it appeared from outside.

Bright white lights illuminated the metallic interior while countless lines stretched across the hall in organized rows.

At the very front stood several black crystal pillars connected to holographic screens.

Students continuously stepped forward one after another, placing their bracelets against the crystals for verification.

Every few seconds, mechanical notifications echoed throughout the hall.

[Identity confirmed.]

[Department Assigned.]

[Dormitory Number Assigned.]

[Welcome to The Origin Academy.]

The process moved quickly.

Yet despite the massive number of students present, the atmosphere remained strangely tense.

Especially whenever someone approached the crystal pillars.

Logan calmly observed the reactions around him.

Some students looked confident.

Others visibly swallowed nervously before stepping forward.

One boy even began muttering prayers under his breath.

Logan already knew why.

The crystal pillars weren’t simply verifying identity.

They were also evaluating Origin Energy fluctuations.

A giant holographic screen above the hall continuously displayed the results publicly.

[Origin Rank: B]

[Compatibility Score: 71]

[Evaluation: Above Average]

The surrounding students immediately reacted.

"B-rank? Damn..."

"That’s already impressive."

"I only awakened a C-rank..."

Another student stepped forward shortly after.

The crystal flickered briefly.

Then:

[Origin Rank: D]

[Compatibility Score: 39]

[Evaluation: Standard]

The student’s expression instantly darkened while several nearby people quietly shook their heads sympathetically.

Not only did it instantly establish hierarchy...

It also crushed weaker students psychologically before classes even began.

It was extremely typical for a high-ranked academy that was solely focused on sifting through the week and only producing the strong.

Suddenly, another loud reaction erupted nearby.

A girl with white, frost-like hair stood before one of the crystals ice subconciously formed around her body. Logan recognised her as one of the S-rank students from before.

The crystal emitted a bright golden light.

[Origin Rank: S]

[Compatibility Score: 91]

[Evaluation: Exceptional]

The hall immediately burst into commotion.

"S-rank?!"

"Another monster?!"

"She’s definitely getting recruited by one of the elite factions..."

The white-haired girl lifted her chin proudly under the envious gazes around her before walking away confidently.

Logan watched silently.

The academy was already dividing students into categories before they’d even attended a single class.

Talent.

Potential.

Value.

Everything here revolved around those three things.

And the weak?

They would simply become background characters crushed beneath the brilliance of others.

A familiar reality.

Eventually, the line shortened further and further.

Before long—

Logan found himself standing before one of the black crystal pillars.