Outworld: Awakening

Although the sun had yet to illuminate the vast lands encompassing Varidan Academy, hundreds of students walked towards a white circular building. On its dome roof, one could see cross surrounded by four statues of men wielding weapons. With over twenty floors, the structure towered above the six surrounding dungeons.

"I didn't expect to see so many students," Adam muttered as he glanced at his surrounding. The beautiful building and the surrounding dungeons awed him.

"Haha… This isn't really that much. I heard the Awakened from the previous year were over one thousand."

"Over one thousand?" Adam couldn't hide his disbelief as he stared at Hendrix.

"I'm not kidding. However, that number has dwindled significantly. Less than half of them remain. Before they graduate, I'm sure the number will drop further," Hendrix said.

Adam's brows creased, 'Is the training in Varidan that difficult?' Adam thought.

"What happened to them? Is the training here that difficult?"

A wry smile tugged at the sides of Hendrix's lips, "Yes and no. Most of them died while raiding the dungeons. Unlike other Academies for Awakened, Varidan prioritizes experience over anything else. As long as one doesn't get expelled, or voluntarily apply for expulsion, they would spend a vast majority of their time in the subset dungeons in Varidan."

'I knew it. Vicar wouldn't send me here if it wasn't a difficult place,' Adam thought.

"Well, it all depends on the class you follow as an Awakened," Hendrix added.

Instead of focusing on Adam, his eyes lingered on the endowed behind of a female student.

"Class? What do you mean?" Adam asked.

This was the first time Adam heard anything related to Awakened having classes.

Hendrix's gaze shifted from the behind of the bodacious lady, widening as he stared at Adam. Just like him, those among the surrounding students who listed to their conversation stared at Adam with incredulity.

'I know that look. They are staring at me like an idiot. Did I say something strange?' Adam thought as he met the gazes of the students.

"What? Did I say—"

Before Adam finished his statement, Hendrix pulled him to the side, allowing the staring to walk ahead.

"Hendrix, did I say something strange?" Adam asked.

"You're were not joking?" Hendrix retorted.

Adam scratched the back of his head while nodding.

"You're a strange guy, Adam. You know that most Awakened have different Blessings, right?" Hendrix said.

Without saying a word, Adam nodded.

"Since we have different Blessings, it would be reckless for each of us to do the same task. For example, although Pyren and Emria both had Blessed-level connection to their Blessings, Pyren could never fight the Èṣù head on like Emria did. In the same vein, if Emria had created weapons, it would pale compared to Pyren's. Officially, Pyren's Blessing was categorized as a support class Blessing, while Emria's as an attack class Blessing.

"Other subdivisions exist within the two classes. But, support and attack are the main classes. And, according to previous Varidan data, attack classes usually have the highest casualties. That's the reason I'm joining the support class… Hahaha… I'm grateful for having a Blessing in the class," Hendrix explained.

Adam patted Hendrix on his shoulder, "Thanks. I really didn't know any of that."

"Don't mention it. Let's quicken our pace. We don't want to arrive late. Today is the general assembly after all." Hendrix grinned.

Saying nothing further, the duo quickened their pace as they joined the other excited student in entering the building.

'This is just too much…' Adam thought as he stared at the interior of the building. Its seating arrangement had a mix of an opera house and auditorium. In front of it, was a dais which had several elaborate seats arrange on it. Adam estimated the hall could seat at least five thousand students.

Adam's eyes lingered on five pillars at the edge of the hall, they emitted dazzling and yet cooling lights which illuminated the room.

"Oh, it's you. Why are you staring at the luminescence rocks like that? Is this your first time of seeing one?"

Adam snapped out from his awed state while a frown donned Hendrix's face as he heard the familiar voice from behind. Before they turned their heads, another familiar voice reached them.

"Leave them be, Madeline. Arthur and the others are waiting for us," Isabel said.

"Take care of yourself," Madeline said as she winked at Adam.

Isabel only flashed a smile in their direction, but said nothing. Unlike Adam, Hendrix's fierce gaze followed the duo as they approached a group comprising three males and two females.

"I don't like them at all. And that's saying much, since I practically love all the ladies," Hendrix declared under his breath.

Although Hendrix's voice was barely audible, Adam heard it and he could not stop himself from chuckling. Unlike Hendrix, he had no opinion of Isabel, or Madeline who seemed to have taken an interest in him. In fact, if he had not seen them again, he would have forgotten about their existence. He wondered why Hendrix got triggered by their antics.

"Staring at them would only make you angrier. Let's take our seat," Adam urged.

As Adam took one final glance at Madeline and Isabel, he noticed the former pointed towards his direction while talking to a bald young man. The moment their gazes met, a smile crept on the lips of the young man.

"Adam, what are you doing? Are you still staring at those pompous brats?"

Adam averted his gaze as he heard Hendrix's words. Without saying a word, he walked towards the empty seat beside him.

Although over six hundred students had taken their seat in the hall, hundreds more trooped in with each passing minute. An excited and anxious atmosphere filled the hall.

From his seating position, Adam could identify some students who stood out among the large crowd. Other students fought subtly amongst themselves to sit next to them, or talk to them.

In a place like Varidan where ones level of connection determined their status, no one needed to tell Adam these youths stood at the higher end of the food chain.

Adam also noticed that some students avoided some individuals at all cost. They had at least four vacant seats around them. Those who sat closest to them were the very embodiment of terror. Their bodies shook and they didn't dare to make a sound nor breathe loudly around these students.

'They are not even trying to hide their murderous intent. Just how many beings have they killed?'

As this thought filled Adam's mind, a youth with spikey gray hair turned towards Adam's direction. At that moment, everyone around Adam's seating position averted their gaze, only Adam met the gray eyes of the youth.

A smile formed at the sides of the youth's lips, "Are you from beyond the walls?" He mouthed.

"No."

Adam's reply was just as inaudible as the question.

Unlike the other students, Adam had no inkling of fear as he met the gray eyes of the youth.

The countenance of the youth turned bland, and he averted his gaze. Those in that direction flinched like the previous students.

'I really need to get my hands on some books. Where the hell is this wall they keep talking about? Why do people assume I come from over there?' Adam thought.

"Adam, are you okay? You aren't feeling any headache, right? What about your eyes? Does it feel as if it's swelling?"

Adam's brow raised as he heard Hendrix's words, "What do you mean?"

"Huh? Oh. I guess you don't know who that is," Hendrix said as he subtly pointed at the spikey haired youth.

"That's Björn Helias, also known as The Vein. Because, if one stares at him for too long, the veins in their body bulge five times its size. I heard some people have died from looking at him funny," Hendrix whispered.

"What? How is that possible? What kind of Blessing is that?" Adam whispered.

"Lower your voice a little bit. Trust me, that guy is bad news. Don't let him take an interest in you. Nobody knows the full extent of his Blessing. However, it is widely known he is among the ten Awakened with A level connection in our year. Even if he stares at you, avert your gaze. People say he is a sadist," Hendrix explained.

Despite whispering, Adam could see how uncomfortable Hendrix was.

'An A ranked Awakened... I wonder how powerful he is?' Adam thought. Despite Hendrix's warning, Adam's gaze shifted towards Helias.

As if sensing Adam's gaze, he turned his head once more. At that moment, all the surrounding students lowered their heads. Only Adam stared into his eyes.

[Establishing Connection to The Omen...]

[Connection Successfully Established.]

[Title: Devourer Activated!]

Just as the system's message appeared in Adam's mind, his irises glowed. At that moment, his hands trembled subconsciously while he could feel something sweet rising from his throat. Just as the feeling appeared, it disappeared.

Helias's mouth opened and he stared at Adam in disbelief. Saying nothing, he rose to his feet. Fear gripped the hearts of the nearby students, they each scrambled out of his way.

A few seconds later, Helias's lanky figure towered over Adam.

Apart from Hendrix, the other students had already vacated their seats, and the scene had drawn the interest of majority of the students in the hall.

"Move."

Hendrix flinched as he heard Helias's thick voice. It betrayed his facial features which resembled that of a teenager. Although he had a faint moustache below his flat nose, one could tell he had not reached twenty.

"All right. We will—"

"Go find another seat. There are thousands of empty seats in the hall, why should we give up ours?"

The mouths of several students dropped as they heard Adam's words. At that moment, several students made subtly enquires about his identity. While others waited patiently for Helias's reaction.

"N-No. We will move. My friend is not well."

Hendrix's body trembled as he stuttered. He instinctively raised his head to appeal on Adam's behalf.

"Did I ask you to speak?" Helias said.

The moment their gaze met, large veins covered Hendrix's forehead, and it quickly extended to other parts of his body.

Most of the students held their breaths as they watched the scene, others couldn't bring themselves to watch the imminent gore.

They wonder what was so special about a mere seat that Adam refused to give it up. Just as this thought filled their minds, their eyes widened.

Adam pushed Hendrix back to his seat while adjusting his head to meet Helias gaze.

Most of the students had the same thought in mind as the stared at the unfolding scene, 'This guy is an idiot. He will definitely suffer permanent damage to his eyes.'

"A-Adam, don't stare into—"

Hendrix's loud cough interrupted him from finishing his statement. Despite his condition he didn't want anything to happen to Adam.

As the seconds passed, the expressions of the students changed again. None of them knew what was happening.

Unlike Hendrix, they couldn't see bulging veins on Adam's forehead, neither did he wince in pain.

"So, it wasn't a fluke. My Blessing doesn't really work on you. Hahaha... there surely is a first time for everything," Helias whispered.

He grinned as he stared at Adam.

"My name is Björn Helias. I'm sorry about your friend. What's your name and where are you from?" Helias whispered.

Silence greeted his words. Unperturbed, he continued smiling.

"Friend, are you okay? I really didn't mean to hurt you. Here have this," Helias said as he removed a small transparent vial containing a blue liquid from his pocket.

"You know what this is, right? This is me sincerely apologizing for my mistake."

Before Hendrix could react, Helias threw the vial towards him. However, before Hendrix could catch it, Adam's right hand caught it.

The sides of his eyes twitched as he stared at Helias.

"Friend, this is me apologizing. Don't worry, it is not something harmful. I can drink it if you want..."

Despite the changes to Helias temperament, Adam still had a fierce gleam in his eyes as he stared at him.

"Uhmm... A-Adam, it really is medicine, and a high quality one at that."

Only after hearing Hendrix's words did Adam's gaze softened. Without averting his gaze he passed the vial to Hendrix who had blue patches all over his face.

Wasting no time, Hendrix downed the contents of the vial as soon as he received it. Within seconds, the blue patches disappeared and his healthy skin returned.

"Friend, do you mind if I seat next to you?"

"I'm not your friend, and you can do whatever you want."

Taking on last glance at Helias, Adam reclined on his seat while closing his eyes. Meanwhile, Helias still maintained his grin.

Saying nothing further, he sat beside Adam with Hendrix sitting next to him. Spreading his arm, he hung them on Adam and Hendrix's shoulders, "Hahaha... we are all friends now. I am Björn Helias of Cemil. You're Adam, right? Where are you from? What about you my tattooed friend?"

Unlike before Helias didn't whisper. Most of the students couldn't believe the sudden turn of events. In fact, it made no sense to them. One minute, Helias wanted to punish Adam and Hendrix, the next minute he talked to them as if they knew each other for long.

"I''m Hendrix Moon of Dratol..."

Just like the students, Hendrix had no idea what was going on. That Adam a E level Awakened acted so haughty before a A level Awakened left him speechless.

Meanwhile, as the students pondered on what they had just seen, and while Hendrix and Helias discussed. Adam's hands curled into a fist, his fingers digging deep into his palm.

'I'm so hungry... I can't control it anymore. Someone make it stop! This is the second time in less than twelve hours,' Adam thought.

He closed his eyes because his Omen had activated.

"Why are you hesitating, Adam? Slaughter them all! Slaughter someone, anyone! The bastard by your side will do nicely! Give in, Adam! I know you want this!"

Adam flinched as he heard the voice. It was the same voice that called his name in Pyren's Valley. Subconsciously, he opened his eyes.

At that moment, however, the lights in the hall dimmed.

Within seconds, a portal opened on the dais. Before the students could react, a melodious voice reached them, "Settle down! On behalf of Varidan Towers, I welcome you all to Varidan Academy. The six thousand seven hundred and eight fifth entrance ceremony will commence now."