Outworld: Awakening

Two hours later.

Adam and Hendrix stood at the entrance of one of the several training halls allocated to E and D level Awakened.

"I don't like the way they are staring at us... I have a bad feeling about this..."

Hendrix's voice trialed off as his wandering gaze observed the surrounding students. Since they left the assembly, they had become the topic of interest for several students. With some actively following after them, not bothering to report to their own training halls.

"Don't worry yourself with what's not important. Many of them are disappointed we are not people of high status they can leech off. Others are assessing what kind of relationship we have with that spikey haired asshole. Then, a few of them are looking forward to putting us in our place. Take a look at that beady eyed bastard, he is one them."

Without being subtle, Adam pointed to a stubby youth who stared with a smug grin. From his countenance, one didn't need to tell Adam and Hendrix what he had in mind.

Hendrix giggled slightly while tugging Adam's arm, "Who would have known that you were a troublemaker? Hahaha..."

Adam chuckled but said nothing further. Under the watchful gaze of the students, the duo walked into the training hall.

Just as they left, five male students approached the stubby youth.

"Oi. Fatty, what were you able to find out? Do you think they're messing around coming to the E and D training hall?"

"Cristoffle, tell your men not to call me that. My name is Hamo, and if you want to get anything, pay the fee. I don't do this for free."

Despite the fact that the five-man group chuckled after they heard his name, Hamo still maintained a brilliant grin. He only stared at one of the five.

Cristoffle had mud brown hair had cut into a loose Pompadour with a high fade. His thick curly mustache alternated between blue, black, white and gray. Unlike the other youths, he had the air of nobility around him.

"Hamo, you truly are a guy who only have eyes for gold," Cristoffle said as he reached for a purple satin bag in this pocket.

"Here. Do you want to count it?" Cristoffle said as he threw the bag at Hamo.

"No need for that. I trust you. Henehe... Fine gentlemen, what would you like to know?"

Less than a second after receiving the bag, it disappeared into his uniform. Hamo smile could pierce the gloomiest of hearts.

"Gold will be the death of you. Don't waste our time, you know why we are here. What do you know about the student that confronted Helias?"

"Hahaha... we will all die for something. Dying for gold doesn't seem that bad to me. I was only able to get his name and his level. According to my sources, his name is Adam and he is from Wazar region. He is a E level Awakened. As for his connection with Helias, there doesn't seem to be anything.

"Helias probably took an interest in him on a whim. You know how eccentric those A level Awakened are. With the assembly concluded, I don't think they would have further contact with each other. Unlike me, most higher level Awakened don't like to mingle with people on your level. Thanks again for the gold, Cristoffle.

"You know how to reach me if you need something else. Don't worry, I'll give you a special discount. I need to go now. Hehehe..."

Cristoffle and his companions bloodshot eyes followed Hamo as he skipped into the distance.

"That f.u.c.k.i.n.g—"

"Are you mad? Don't let him hear you," Cristoffle chided.

"He might not look like it, but that guy is a B level Awakened. You don't want to mess with him," Cristoffle added.

"But, your highness, he's just a supporter. How can we allow him to disrespect your—"

"You don't seem to understand where we are. This isn't Yesal. If you offend a random peasant with a higher level of connection, words can't explain what would happen to you. Even if he's a support class Awakened, do you think you can eliminate him?

"Do you know the number of people that value his information? If need be, hundreds of people would rally and fight for him. Not every support Awakened is weak, and not every attack Awakened is strong. If you remember that, you might live to see your graduation date."

Cristoffle's lackeys lowered their heads as he reprimand them. They had momentarily forgotten the kind of place Varidan Academy was, but with Cristoffle's words, they had regained their calm.

"Your highness, what do we do now? Should we still approach them?"

Cristoffle's brows creased as he played with his mustache, "Let's observe them for a while. With the number of arrogant bastards in this place, it's only a matter of time before someone challenges him. Those who had initially thought he had a frightening background would want to put him in his place. If he's someone smart, he would beg the instructor to send him to the support class. Let's go inside. I recon we'll hear something interesting."

Saying nothing further, Cristoffle and his men walked into the training hall.

Within the interior of the building, hundreds of students lined up rows of ten. At the forefront, ten masked individuals wearing black trenchcoats attend to the students.

The students could see a portal behind each instructor, but none of them had any idea where it led to. In the fifth line, Adam and Hendrix stood, and only four students stood ahead of them. Unlike Adam who maintained a calm demeanor, Hendrix talked with ladies either side of his line. While finding the occasional time to talk with the petite lady in front of him.

'The hunger seems to have settled down, but I don't know when it would come again. Would I be able to suppress it next time? Is this what the aberration meant by I would beg it to take back what it gave me? Damn it. I wish I can contact Vicar. Although the man is a maniac, he's pretty knowledgeable. I wonder what choice Wallace made? If he ran away, I'll need to find time to search for Erik Gilmore.'

A scowl donned Adam's face as different thoughts flashed through his mind. Since he arrived in Dratol, it had been from incident to another. He didn't even have the time to familiarize himself with his new titles and skills.

"Adam, were you listening to me?"

Adam snapped back to reality as he heard Hendrix's whisper.

"Sure. What's up? Do you need anything?" Adam whispered. He had absolutely no idea what Hendrix said.

"I can't understand you. One minute your listening to me, the next you're in a world of your own. I wish I knew what kind of Blessing you had. Maybe it's responsible for daydreaming," Hendrix said.

'You're always talking about women, do you think I'm a womanizer like you? How many times will I tell you I'm not interested in your pickup lines? You and Jimmy would have gotten along great...' Adam thought as he coughed dryly.

"See. You're doing it again. I said, when you're done, meet me in the cafeteria. Okay?"

"Sure. That's not a problem. Hopefully, we don't waste too much time in here. I would like to visit the library later," Adam said.

"Huh? Library? What do you—?"

"Next!"

Hendrix flinched as he slowly turned his head. Through the eye slits of the instructor's mask, Hendrix knew he was being glared at.

Before Hendrix could say a word, a file appeared on the instructor's hand.

"Proceed to the support class. Being a supporter, you're not eligible to raid a dungeon solo. Step into the portal. Next!"

Wasting no time, Hendrix raced into the portal. Before it swallowed him, he gave Adam a thumbs up while taunting the instructor with strange faces.

'This guy is asking for a beating. Does he really want to make life difficult for himself here? Forming a party or raiding solo? I already know what I'd choose,' Adam thought as he slowly approached the instructor.

Just like before, a file appeared on the hands of the instructor.

"Proceed to the attack class. The instructor on the other side will assign an appropriate attack class based on your Blessing. You're eligible to either choose a party to raid the dungeons, or you can proceed solo. You can't change your decision until your second year. Step into the portal. Next!"

Stepping into the portal, Adam's vision distorted. In the next moment, he found himself in a vast grassy field.

'Where is this? Am I still in Varidan territory?'

Just as this thought filled Adam's mind, the earth in front of him bulged. Without a second thought, Adam retreated as he stared at a seven feet humanoid figured formed from the soil.

[Student Profile]

[Student 009]

Name: Adam.

Year: One.

Blessing: Weapon Manipulation.

Level: E.

Class: Attack (Manipulator).

Adam read the translucent words floating in midair.

'What's going on?' Adam thought.

"Student 009, based on your Blessing, Varidan Towers has assigned you the Manipulator subclass in the attack class. Do you intend to raid dungeons solo, or with a party?"

"Solo!"

Adam didn't hesitate as he declared his intentions.

[Student Profile]

[Student 009]

Name: Adam.

Year: One.

Blessing: Weapon Manipulation.

Level: E.

Class: Attack (Manipulator).

Supporters: None!

Rank in solo category: 490/490.

'Hahaha... I'm the 490th person who chose to go solo. I can't imagine a lot of them coming from the E and D levels. Most people would definitely think something is wrong with me once they find out,' Adam thought.

He couldn't stop himself from laughing as he read his updated student profile.

"You may proceed to instructor Arlette's class. Until your second year, you're to remain with instructor Arlette. Unless you die or she dies. You will also remain in the solo category until you reach your second year. Good luck."

While the monotonous voice echoed, the humanoid figure returned to the earth, and a portal slowly formed before Adam's eyes. He could see darkness slowly devouring the vast grassy field surrounding him, while the portal slowly s.u.c.k.e.d him into its embrace.

"Oh, remember to find Erik Gilmore."

Adam's eyes bulged as he heard the statement, "Vicar is that—?"

Before Adam could finish his statement, the portal swallowed him. Within seconds, he found himself laying on a mable floor with beaming lights falling on him.

"Get up, brat! What kind of piece of shit did they send me this time? You have ten seconds to get up before I make that spot your resting place!"