Outworld: Awakening

"Hahaha... Kid, you really have a mouth on ya. If you had shut up ya mouth, you wouldn't have to suffer. Well, I ain't complaining." A lanky bandit snickered.

Holding a mace, he licked his lips as he stared at Adam. His partners laughed, not bothering to glance at Adam who would soon suffer. They believed the bald headed man was enough to eliminate him.

Wallace watched as the lanky bandit approached, he wanted to assist Adam, but his feet would not allow him.

Unlike him, Adam's gaze lingered on the burly leader. He didn't even pay attention to the snide remark of the approaching bandit.

"Kid, where you looking at? Too scared to run, boy? Don't blame ya. It ain't personal, but I gotta to do what the boss says."

For the first time, Adam's gaze shifted. The lanky bandit already stood before him, his firm grip tightened around the metal handle of the mace.

"Close your eyes, kid. This is—"

"You talk too much," Adam interjected as he launched a fist to the side of bandit's skull, aiming for his temple. Before the bandit could retreat, Adam's fist turned into a one-knuckle punch, slamming into the temple of the bandit.

His eyes dimmed, seemly rolling to the back of his head as his grip on the mace loosened. A spilled second after the mace thumped on the ground, the body of the bandit followed.

'Huh? What the hell happened? Why did the bandit drop to the ground?' Wallace thought.

Just like him, the bandits stared wide eyed, unable to comprehend what had happened.

"They're are weaker than I expected. I overestimated their abilities by comparing them to Vicar's clones..." Adam muttered.

Wallace's jaw dropped as he heard Adam's faint words, 'Who the hell is this kid?' He thought.

"Who is there?! Show yourself! How dare you ambush a member of Scarion?!"

Since their eyes could not follow Adam's movement earlier, the bandits believed someone else had killed their colleague.

Wallace snapped back to reality as he heard the furious roar of the burly bandit. If he had not heard Adam's whisper; he, too, would have believed someone else killed the bandit.

"Show yourself?! We—" Before the burly bandit could finish his declaration, Adam's laughter reached him. His bloodshot eyes shifted towards Adam, and he gritted his teeth as he said, "What's so funny? Do you know who we are?!"

Despite his roar, Adam's laughter only amplified.

"Merek, let me teach this brat a lesson he'll never forget. He obviously—"

"You guys are truly pitiable. Not only are you weaker than mere clones, it seems your stupider, too," Adam said.

"I will make sure you die a wretched death!" The burly bandit—Merek, declared.

The five bandits slowly increased the distance between each other as they cautiously approached Adam. Their bloodshot eyes roamed their surrounding, hoping to catch a glimpse of the mysterious assailant.

"Don't worry, no one will intrude. Five against one, that's more than fair. I wouldn't have it any other way. Oh. Do you mind lending me a weapon?"

Adam's gaze lingered on a stubby bandit who held twin axes.

'Is he mad? Wait... he is actually serious.' The corner of Wallace's eyes twitched as he stared at Adam. The bandits also had the same reaction; however, Adam's words only poured fuel into the raging inferno that was their fury.

"I will—"

Before the stubby bandit could finish his statement, Adam unleashed a frightening turn of speed towards his direction.

His grip around the axes tightened, and his bloodl.u.s.t towered above him.

'What an idiot. I'll make sure hack you to pieces. Huh? What's he doing?'

The bandit watched as Adam made a grasping motion with both hands.

'What's he doing?'

"Brat, I'll Kill... huh?" While the stubby bandit's words echoed, his grip on the axes loosened, and they flew of like birds released from their captivity; and, Adam caught both axes which glowed red.

"My axe... Give it back!" The stubby bandit screamed.

"Here. You can have it," Adam retorted.

With a flick of his wrist, he sent the axes into midair once again. The glowing axes tore through the air, unleashing an eerie echo as it headed towards its target. Chills went down the spine of the stubby bandit as he traced its trajectory.

His legs went limp, sweat covering his forehead. For a spilled second the axes seemed to disappear, only to emerge right before his eyes. Before he could make a sound, the axes buried deep into his skull, and the coppery smell of fresh blood pervaded the air.

The four bandits stopped in their tracks, their hearts in their mouths. Like the lanky bandit, they had no idea what happened. One minute, they saw Adam charging towards their colleague; only to hear him shout about his axes being stolen. Before they could comprehend what was going on, he lay flat on the ground, with his axes buried into his skull.

"Why are you stopping? Don't you want to kill me?"

Adam's words brought the bandits back to reality. He held the twin axes that had killed the stubby bandit a few seconds ago.

With a flick of his wrist, the two axes flew once again. This time, they targeted individual foes. A spilled second later, the bodies of two other bandits fell to the ground.

'Is this kid an Awakened? Oh no. I have to get out of here.'

Just as this thought filled Merek's mind, a muffled groan reached his ears. Instinctively, he turned his head to the side, and his eyes widened.

'Did he do this? How?'

Greeted with the corpses of his underlings, Merek turned around, fleeing with all his might.

Watching the fleeing bandit, Adam's lips curved into a smile. With a flick of his wrist, an axe flew towards Merek. Few seconds later, a hellish scream echoed.

Whistling, Adam walked in light steps towards Wallace.

"Captain, I will get a reward for saving you, right?" Adam said as he stared at Wallace.

Wallace's gaze lingered on the body of the burly bandit, who writhed in pain while clutching his served legs.

'Just like that? He defeated them just like that.'

Wallace couldn't believe his eyes.

"Ahem. Captain? Did you hear me?" Adam said as he placed his right hand on Wallace's shoulder.

Like a startled cat, Wallace flinched, before raising his head, "Huh? Sir, What did you say?"

Adam's brows creased, "Sir? Forget it. These bandits should have some left over change on them. Hopefully, it will be enough to travel to Dratol."

Ignoring Wallace's change in attitude, Adam headed over to the corpses of the bandits. One buy one, he robbed them of what he deemed valuable.

Wallace watched as Adam removed the upper garment of one bandit, before he wore it over his torn top. In light steps, he followed the blood trial of the writhing bandit.

"Where are you going?" Adam said as he towered over Merek.

Merek trembled as he heard Adam's words.

"Please... don't kill me. I'll give you anything you want..." he begged through gritted teeth.

"Okay. That's a fair deal. I want a map. Do you have one?" Adam said.

Wallace who had regained his composure could not believe what he heard, 'Surely, he can't be that naive, right?' He thought.

Just like him, Merek was stunned speechless. That Adam did not carry any weapons nor show any signs of animosity made him a little relieved.

"Well? Do you?" Adam asked, his voice impatient.

"Y-Yes, I do. I'll bring it out now."

Slowly, Merek retrieved a scroll from the inner pocket of his robes. Although Adam didn't ask, he presented all his valuables, too.

Not standing on ceremony, Adam picked all the items while smiling approvingly.

"Captain Wallace, you'll escort me from here on," Adam beaconed.

"Pardon? What about him? What about Bia—?"

"You misunderstood me, Captain. This is not a request. What can I do against hundreds of bandits? Do you have family there?" Adam asked, his gaze turned towards Wallace.

For the first time, Wallace realized the serious of his situation. Although what Adam said sounded cruel, he spoke the truth. What did he expect Adam to do against the thieving bandits? Especially, when Adam had no connection to the city. That Adam fought with the bandits earlier was not an act of kindness; rather, it was his d.e.s.i.r.e to test his strength on beings which were not created from rocks. That they were bandits only made it easier for him to do as he pleased.

"N-No. I'm an orphan and unmarried," Wallace said.

"Good. We'll take another route to avoid the ruckus in the city. Please lead the way," Adam said.

"Yes... yes."

Wasting no time, Wallace went ahead of Adam. Walking towards the northeast. Walking beside him, Adam hummed a little tone as he glanced at the desert. As they took their twentieth step, a sickening scream reached them.

Chills went down Wallace's spine as he heard the scream mixed with that of cutting bones.

"You promised... Ah!"

As Merek's voice filled his ears, he had the urge to turn his head. At that moment, however, a firm hand grabbed his shoulder, and he could hear Adam's voice, "Don't bother yourself with the noise. We have a long journey ahead of us. Let's keep moving."

Wallace swallowed hard, but did not dare to retort. Wasting no time, he lead Adam away from the carnage devouring Biamal.

Five hours later.

Two individuals stood at the spot where Adam fought with the bandits, their gaze lingered on the dismembered body of an unconscious man who bled profusely.

"Master, I'm sorry I couldn't get better pawns," Adelaide whispered with her head lowered.

"It's okay. You did the best you can do on such short notice," Vicar said.

"Master, what do you think?" Adelaide asked as she stared at Vicar.

"He wasted too much time on these useless bastards. However, he is not the same miserable kid from seven years ago. I thought he would have foolishly tried to save everyone in the settlement. But, he still has a lot to learn. Especially if he wants to kill them," Vicar said as he slowly walked towards the Wazar Canyon.

"Master, I think he'll do well in Dratol. Hopefully, he will be able to join us soon. The Masters of the other Gates will soon—"

"Let's not talk about that. If that brat doesn't die, the others wouldn't be able to match him. Let's return, we have been gone for too long."

While Vicar's words echoed, He jumped into the Wazar Canyon. Few seconds later, seventy figures appeared behind Adelaide.

"You heard him, it's time for us to go back."

Just like Vicar, she jumped into the gorge. Seconds later, the seventy figures followed.