Outworld: Awakening

"In this test, you have 10 minutes to eliminate an unranked Demonkin. Failure will result in expulsion. Please utter a weapon of choice and it would appear in the test room. Good luck."

A scowl donned Adam's face as he heard the declaration.

'What kind of registration is this? What weapon should I choose? Oh, yeah. Let's try that.'

Adam's lips curved into a smile as he stared at rumbling walls which released a dust cloud into the room. With each passing second, the dust gradually enveloped the entirety of the room.

"You may begin now."

A spilled second after the announcer's declaration, a deafening roar reverberated in the room; and, a violent breeze dispersed the rising dust. Revealing a grotesque figure standing over ten feet high.

The humanoid creature had pulsating red sores all over its body, with some secreting a yellow-purple liquid.

It had a long, elephant-like trunk which wiggled like a venomous snake. It's black eyes scanned the entirety of the room, however, all it saw were hundreds of weapons littered on the floor.

"Where are you looking? I'm right here."

Instinctively, the aberration raised its head, locking gazes with Adam who stood on a hovering spear.

It unleashed a sickening scream as the sores on its body turned purple. Bending its knees, the elephant-like trunk stretched like a spear, one that secreted a foul smelling liquid. Despite the fact that the Demonkin was about to launch its attack, Adam continued to smile at it.

A spilled second later, the beast launched itself into midair. Its spear pointing at Adam's head.

Midway through its leap, Adam's smile brightened as he clicked his fingers. Unperturbed by the actions of the human before it, the Demonkin continued in its assault.

The same moment Adam clicked his fingers; swords, arrows, spears and other weapons floated in the air. Before making a beeline for the Demonkin.

Before the Demonkin could reach within three meters of Adam, various weapons impaled it from different angles. Adam watched as the eyes of the aberration rolled into the back of its eyes. Before its body touched the ground, it was already dead.

"Congratulations on clearing the first trial in thirty seconds. Please, don't approach the corpse of the Demonkin. The next trial will begin in 9 minutes."

While the announcer's voice echoed, Adam watched as the walls parted again. Despite it being open, he couldn't see anything. A few seconds later, hundreds of chains emerged from the darkness, before dragging the corpse of the Demonkin into it.

'So, the time to rest is the remaining time for the first trial. I wonder what will happen next.'

Just as this thought filled Adam's mind, the spear under his feet disappeared, and so did the other weapons, too.

Adjusting his body in midair, Adam landed perfectly on his feet.

'What's going on? Why did they disappear?'

Confused, Adam slowly observed his surroundings. At that moment, the red tiles slowly turned white.

"Student 009, the results of your trial as been updated. You ranked 21st among Year one students. Therefore, you're entitled to a reward. Please choose between, the passage of Emria and the works of Pyren. After the next trial, please let us know your decision."

'Passage of Emria? Works of who? Damn it. Vicar screwed me over. If I'd killed that beast as soon as it emerged, would I have gotten better rewards? Well, it's not as if I'd know what's good.' Deep in thought, Adam sat on the floor as he slowly awaited the next trial.

A few minutes later, the white tiles in the room turned red once more. Before Adam could rise to his feet, the announcer's voice echoed.

"The next trial will determine if you have any Ill intentions towards the Varidan towers. It will also test if you are affiliated with the Demons. In essence, it will test if you're an Omen Awakened."

Adam shuddered at the declaration. Before he could react, a high-pitched echo filled his ears. Adam's gaze grew hazy and his body unresponsive.

At that same moment, the walls in front of him parted, and two hulking figures emerged.

"I don't want to be here so late in the night. I have a busy day tomorrow. Why couldn't they get someone else to do this?"

"Doneuuald, I'm not in the mood to listen to your complaints. The let's finish our work and get out of here."

The moment they finished speaking, the duo towered over Adam's body; staring at his quivering eyes.

"What's happening to—"

"Just sleep. You'll wake up if you're not an agent of the Demons," Doneuuald interjected.

Adam's vision grew dark, and his body listless fell to the ground. The last thing he saw were the faces of the new arrivals. One had the head of an Elephant while the other had the head of a rhino.

With a height of eight feet and a body thrice the size of an average man, coupled with their facial appearance. They unleashed a menacing aura as they stared at Adam's body.

"Doneuuald, you handle him. I handled the last one."

At that moment, Doneuuald who had a rhino's head, removed a flute from his gray trenchcoat. With no delay, he blew on it, and it produced a melodious tune as his hands danced across the surface of the flute. Reacting to the tune, the white tiles emitted different colors which fell on Adam's body.

Meanwhile, Adam found himself in a familiar place. He lay face first in the shallow, crystal-clear waters.

"Were those Aviskin, too? Why did I come back to this place?" Adam muttered as he raised his head. His reflection greeted his blue eyes.

"Should you be so relaxed? Have you forgotten that you're an Omen Awakened?"

Adam rose to a sitting postion as he heard the demonic voice. He had forgotten that he was being tested to determine the source of his awakening.

'Why would I forget something so important? This is unlike me.'

Unbeknownst to Adam, Doneuuald's tune was partly responsible.

"What are you spacing out for? Time is not on our side. One of them is coming here. Look, the stars are changing!"

Adam raised his head, and his mouth dropped. Because, he noticed a vortex distorted the position of the stars. It looked as if something large made its way to the mysterious space.

"Adam, release me. This is the only way they would not notice me. I don't need to tell you what would happen if they find me, right? You will die before you can even do anything!"

"I shouldn't have trusted that bastard Vicar. Why would he send me here when they had something like this? How am I supposed to survive this?" Adam muttered. He totally ignored the voice of the aberration.

A few seconds later, violent explosions rocked the mysterious space as the vortex grew larger. Several ripples formed on the surface of the water.

"Adam! Release me! They're almost here. If I die, you die, too. I thought you wanted to avenge your loved ones?! Is this all—"

"What do you care? I am tired already. I might as well end it all. I'm sure they will forgive me when I see them in heaven," Adam interjected.

"What nonsense are you saying? I know you, and that is not your d.e.s.i.r.e. How can you just give up?! If—"

"I said I don't care anymore! What's the point of it all? It has been seven years, yet I can't find anything about that Demon. What's the point?!" Adam interjected the anxious voice of the aberration for a second time.

At that moment, a crack appeared in the skies, and Adam could hear faint a melodious tune.

"Adam, I will help you! Release me, and we will form a contract. I will offer you power as long as you release me. We don't have to die here. You can still take revenge!"

The hazy silhouette of the aberration appeared on the surface of the water. It's crimson eyes stared at the rapidly expanding tear in the sky.

"What's the point of releasing you? I can't even trust you. You're the reason I can't establish a proper connection to The Omen. Well, I can release you. But, you have... forget it," Adam said as he shook his head.

"What?! Say it? What do you want?!"

It could no longer mask the anxiety in its voice.

"Even if I release you, whatever is coming here will probably still locate you. However, if you merge with me, then—"

"Adam, do you think this is the time to be plotting against me? Do you think I don't know what you're trying to do?"

"Forget it then, we can both perish. You forget that it is a two way thing. You know what I want, and I know you're terrified of being vanquished. Let's see who yields first," Adam said as he shrugged.

With neither Adam nor the aberration speaking further, the cracking sound intensified in the mysterious space. Before long, Adam could see a human leg extending out of the vortex.

"Curse you Adam! Curse you!"

While the aberration cursed, the vortex had vomited the lower half of human figure, and the outline of a human hand slowly revealed itself.

"I agree to your terms! Quickly, release me!"

"Give me your powers first! Then, I will release you. Make your decision!" Adam demanded.

He could see the fury in the eyes of the aberration, however, he didn't care. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to become more powerful, and he would never let it go.

"All right. But, I won't forget this, Adam."

Just as the aberration finished speaking, Adam watched as its shadowy figure morphed into a pebble.

"Reach for it, and my power will be yours. However, once you accept my power, I will be free to hide in your soul. Eventually, you will beg me to take back what I have given you."

Adam paused as he pondered on the threat.

"Hurry! This is what you wanted! Don't you dare back down now!"

Hesitating no further, Adam reached for the pebble. The moment his hand touched the pebble, a devastating explosion rocked the mysterious space. The pebble bore a hole in Adam's hand, before dispersing to every part of his soul.

At that same moment, Adam felt as if his soul was on fire and a great hunger overwhelmed him. He could also hear crashing waves in the distance.

Before he could sort out his emotions, the shallow waters he stood, turned into a deep sea with majestic waves. One of such waves shot through the air like a spear, destroying the vortex in the sky. At that same moment, another wave buried Adam.

The exact moment the wave destroyed the vortex, Doneuuald's flute snapped in two. A spilled second later, Adam's hacking cough echoed in the room.

"Well, that settles it. I doubt there is any Demonkin that would disguise itself as a student. This is waste of time. Huh? What's wrong with you, Doneuuald?"

"Ouin, it's nothing. Let's leave before he wakes up," Doneuuald said.

Saying nothing further, the Ouin and Doneuuald walked out of the room.

A few seconds after they left, the voice of the announcer filled the room once more.

"Congratulations. You have successfully passed the second trial."

'Damn it. My body feels so sore. What the hell happened back there? Where did that wave come from?' Adam thought. He couldn't even hear the voice of the announcer.

[Establishing Connection to The Omen...]

[Connection Successfully Established.]

Name: Adam Staples.

Age: Seventeen.

Race: Human & Demonkin.

{Stats}

Constitution: 5. Agility: 10. Endurance: 12. Luck: 0.5

Dexterity: 12. Strength: 12. Charisma: 5.

{Skills}

Summoning.

Illusion Inducement.

{Title}

Manipulator.

Illusionist.

Devourer.

Dominator.

???

{Status}

Awakened!

{Omen Points}

10.

{Level}

D.

???

"Student 009. Your result has been updated. Based on the results of the trial, you're ranked 40th among the year one students. Proceed to register the name of your Blessing in the records department. Based on the level of skill displayed, your Blessing is ranked Level E. Please proceed to Emria Hall or Pyren Valley to receive your reward."