Outworld: Awakening

[Potential Source of Danger Detected]

[Establishing Connection to The Omen...]

[Connection Successfully Established.]

'Huh? This is not good.'

With a kip-up, Adam rose into midair, before somersaulting a few meters away from his previous location. Raising his head, Adam stared at a spear embedded into the marble floor.

'If I didn't get the system's warning, that would have been me,' Adam thought as he subconsciously rubbed his left t.h.i.g.h.

"Oh. You could dodge that? I wanted to give you a quick route out of Varidan, but it seems my judgement was wrong. What's your name?"

Adam's gaze fell on a six feet tall instructor. Clad in a sleeveless tight-fitting training gear, the beaming lights bounced off her lean muscles and chiseled abs. She packed her c.h.e.s.tnut hair into a ponytail while her hazel eyes met Adam's gaze. Her left hand hung on her waist, while she motioned with her right index finger for Adam to hurry over.

"Somebody… help me…"

For the first time, Adam's gaze shifted from the athletic beauty before him as he scanned his surrounding.

'Isn't this the same place Niamh brought me to take the test? Did she do that to all of them? This instructor Arlette might be a pyscho.'

A chill went down Adam's spine as he stared at over twenty students who had various weapons impaling either of their limbs. Some wept while begging for help, while others futilely tried to rise to their feet.

"Hey! Eyes on me!" Arlette barked.

Saying nothing, Adam's eyes once again fall on Arlette. Just like before, she motioned for him to come closer, albeit donning a frown. Adam could see the sides of her rosy pink lips twitching as she summoned him. He knew that if he delayed further, he might join the other students writhing in pain.

With this thought in mind, Adam approached Arlette in light steps, cautiously observing his surroundings. He didn't want a scenario where someone or something would sneak up on him. Although he had the system for that, he felt it was best to prepare for the unexpected.

"Name?" Arlette asked as he got within five feet from her position.

"Adam."

"Age?" Arlette asked.

"Seventeen." Once again Adam wasted no time in his response.

"Seventeen, huh? Not too bad." A faint smile dance across Arlette's lips as she stared at Adam.

"If you're here, it means you're in the attack class. Do you intend to form a party with your friends, or do you—?"

"I chose the solo category. I intend to explore the dungeons alone," Adam interjected.

'Did I hear him right? A seventeen year old D or E Awakened challenging the dungeons solo? Is he seeking a quick death?' Arlette's small mouth opened as she blinked in quick succession.

Some students writhing in pain, could not believe what they heard. Others believed Adam to be a braggart. Majority of them focused their attention on him, despite their pain, they had to know what would ensue.

"Adam, I will ask you once again. Remember, as an instructor, I've access to such an information. If you're doing this to impress someone or—"

Adam's chuckle interjected Arlette, "Instructor, please confirm my statement."

Without saying a word, Arlette retreated to the northern section of the room. There, Adam could see a black trenchcoat neatly folded beside a pair of twin daggers. Adam and the conscious students watched as she retrieved a white crystal which suddenly turned blue.

'It looks like the crystal the Aviskin guard used that time. Oh, she's done already.'

The students watched as Arlette made her way back to Adam's location. Unlike before, she wore a scowl which distorted her beautiful face. Most of the students swallowed hard as they avoided her gaze. None of them wanted anything to do with what they believed was the result of Adam's lies.

"Instructor, have you confirmed if what—?"

"Silence! Do you know what you have done? Who do you think you are? Do you think this is some fantasy or something?!"

Only a meter separated Adam and Arlette. Neither averted their gaze as they glared at each other.

Some students pitied Adam, while others didn't. However, they were all curious what made Adam lie.

"Do you think entering a dungeon solo is a joke? Even the safety of those in parties are not guaranteed, yet you want to wander in them alone. Do I need to remind you that your are only an E rank Awakened? Even a sane A rank Awakened wouldn't dare choose the solo option!"

Despite Arlette shouting in his face, Adam said nothing and show no reaction. Which further infuriated Arlette.

From the one-sided conversation, the students knew that Adam didn't lie earlier, and it left them stupefied.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" Arlette asked.

"Instructor, what do you want me to say? I have made my decision. I thought we were free to do as we pleased, I didn't know I'd be hounded for choosing what I thought was best for me," Adam said.

[Potential Source of Danger Detected]

[Establishing Connection to The Omen...]

[Connection Successfully Established.]

Adam retreated as he heard the system's notification. He could see the fury in Arlette's eyes.

"Consider it my mistake. I want to see what makes you have so much confidence." Arlette's lips curved into a beautiful smile as she stared at Adam.

'Damn it. She definitely has something bad in mind.'

Adam could not shake off the thought, a world of pain awaited him in his imminent future.

"Instructor, we—"

"Listen up, brats! I intended to expel every single one of you earlier, but I've had a pleasant change of mind!"

While Arlette's voice echoed, the white light in the room turned blue. At that moment, the weapons impaling the students vanished into thin air. Adam watched as their injuries headed at a rate visible to the human eye.

Ten seconds after the lights turned blue, all the students had returned to their prime condition.

"Instructor, thank you for—"

"I don't need your thanks. A fate worse than expulsion still awaits some of you, so what's the point of thanking me?"

None of the students understood what Arlette meant by those words. Unlike them, Adam had a ominous sense of foreboding. That Arlette focused on him, rather than the students only reaffirmed his thoughts.

"You want to raid solo, right? Although I don't have the authority to change your decision, however, I can test if you're qualified," Arlette declared.

"Since there are twenty-five of you, form a group of five. Each group will have a go at him for five minutes," Arlette said as she pointed at Adam. "The group that takes him down will receive a special reward. You have a minute to form your groups."

None of the students could comprehend the situation, they each looked at each other, wondering what they ought to do.

Meanwhile, rage distorted Adam's face.

"What are you waiting for? If you don't want to take the opportunity, then you can all f.u.c.k off. The others in the main hall will gladly accept my offer!"

The students flinched as they heard Arlette's shout. Wasting no time, they arranged themselves into five groups.

"You guys are up first," Arlette said as she pointed to a random group.

"Instructor, what is the meaning of this?! Is this how—"

"Silence! I don't care about whatever you have to say. If you find it unfair, quietly lay on the floor and receive your beating. After which, you can voluntarily apply for expulsion. Because, this is what you will experience every time you have a combat class. You think you're some hot shit choosing to go solo, right? Well, I'll see how good you are," Arlette declared.

"I might not have the power to fight the instructor right now, but I will only warn you lot once. I will not show anyone mercy! A fight between us would not end with just tears and broken bones!"

A deafening silence greeted Adam's words, however, the first group halted in their steps. A split second later, the laughter of a young man broke the silence.

"I finally remember why you looked familiar. You are the one who wanted to challenge Helias before the assembly. Who would have thought you were in the same rank with us."

Everyone turned their attention to a brawny young man who looked in his early twenties. Apart from his sturdy physique, everything else about him was bland. However, his words reminded several people of the incident from the assembly.

"Instructor, you don't have to send five of us to handle him. I, alone can handle this poser."

"What's your name?" Arlette said.

"Jeph Anfroy."

"All right, Anfroy. You have ten minutes to make him surrender or knock him out. If you fail, don't show yourself before me again. And, I'd advise you to apply for expulsion. Proceed!"

Arlette didn't glace at Anfroy even once as she spoke, her gaze lingered on Adam.

'Is he smiling? Does he think he can handle all of them? Well, I'll find out what makes him so confident,' Arlette thought.

Taking large strides, Anfroy swaggered towards Adam's position. He sported a cheeky smile as he observed Adam.

"Don't blame me for this, pal. You should have—"

"I hope it's worth it," Adam interjected.

"What do you mean?" Anfroy asked. Only two meters separated him from Adam.

"I'm not in the mood to explain. Unfortunately, you will have to be the sacrificial lamb for the others to know who there are messing with," Adam retorted.

"Hahaha... don't make me laugh. What could you—?"

Before Anfroy finished his statement, Adam unleashed a frightening burst of speed.

At that moment, Anfroy took two steps back, however, Adam appeared before him like a ghost in the night. Sensing danger, Anfroy readjusted his body, before unleashing a ruthless blow towards Adam's head.

With barely inches separating Adam's skull from the fist, he ducked. However, Anfroy's knee sn.a.k.e.d towards his unguarded face.

"I'll shatter that face of..."

Anfroy's words trialed off as Adam again readjusted his body. Before Anfroy could react, Adam had already manoeuvred behind his body.

"Coward! Stop running away and face—"

"Who said I was running away?" Adam interjected.

At that moment, Adam's arms wrapped itself around Anfroy's waist. A split second later, Adam lifted him up, before smashing his head on the ground via a suplex.

With his arms still wrapped around Anfroy's waist, Adam stood up before repeating the same process over and over again.

Two minutes later, Adam towered over Anfroy's unconscious body. Anfroy's fresh blood stained the surrounding floor. With one boot firmly placed on Anfroy's head, Adam stared at the other students.

"This is your last warning. I won't—"

"First group, proceed! Don't worry about breaking the Academy's rule. You have my permission to use your Blessing. Summon any weapon of your choice. Fight without restraint, all your injuries will be healed no matter how severe. No one will die on my watch!"

After Arlette's declaration, the light in the room turned blue.

[Potential Source of Danger Detected]

[Establishing Connection to The Omen...]

[Connection Successfully Established.]

[Title: Manipulator activated]