Outworld: Awakening

"Sword..."

"Dagger..."

"Halberd..."

With each passing second, the students summoned their d.e.s.i.r.ed weapon. Arlette's declaration and Adam's defiant attitude had washed away their previous concerns.

Like an excited spectator about to witness a grand show, Arlette distanced herself from the combat area. She had already given the sequence at which the groups would assault Adam. All that remained was to see when Adam would crumble and beg for mercy.

At an interval of five minutes, a new student arrived in the room. Before they could comprehend the situation in the room, Arlette placed them in a group, before giving only a command, "Fight him or you'll be expelled!"

She gave no room for negotiation, they either did her bidding or suffered the fallout.

Meanwhile, the first group surrounded Adam. Comprising three males and two females, and only two wielded weapons. Adam could see the skin on the arms of the students who intended to fight with their fist hardening.

"Hey! I don't know or care what you did to piss off the instructor, but I'd advise you not to try anything silly. Now that we can use out Blessings, you're just a fish on a chopping block waiting to be slaughtered. However, if you surrender, you can make things far easier for us. Although you would probably get expelled, it's at least better than taking a beating, then still ending up expelled. So, what do you say?"

The group leader met Adam's cold eyes, she wore a frown as made known the intentions of her group.

"Your advise works both ways. Do you think you have the upper hand because she permitted the use of your Blessings?"

Asan chuckled as he slowly scanned the surrounding students.

"You might all think I'm stuck here with you, but on the contrary, you are all trapped here with me!"

The students flinched as a chill went down their spines, subconscious they retreated as they stared at Adam. They felt like prey in the presence of a all consuming predator.

'System, realign my stats according to battle mode.'

[Establishing Connection to The Omen...]

[Connection Established]

Name: Adam Staples.

Age: Seventeen.

Race: Human & Demonkin.

{Stats}

Constitution: 5.

Agility: 15.

Endurance: 5.

Luck: 0.5

Dexterity: 12.

Strength: 17.

Charisma: 0.

[Title: Manipulator activated!]

[Manipulation Range: 50m]

A smile danced across Adam's lips as he saw the results of his manipulated stats. Although Varidan Towers correctly assigned him the Class of Manipulator, they believed Adam was only a weapon manipulator. A far cry from the true essence of his ability, and only Adam and Vicar knew the true essence of the Manipulator title.

"We gave you a chance, but—"

Before the petite leader could finish her statement, Adam disappeared and reappeared like ghost before her eyes. As she stared at his glowing blue eyes, dread grip her hearts as she sensed the very presence of death.

With no hesitation, Adam unleashed a devastating uppercut, striking the delicate jawline of the frightened leader.

Adam's blow jilted her brain, instantly knocking her unconscious. While her body rised, Adam grabbed her ankles, and with a flick, he sent her body hurling towards a student wielding a staff.

Adam's swift and brutal actions left the other students shell-shocked. None of them understood how Adam could move so fast.

Meanwhile, the body of the group leader smashed the unsuspecting, staff wielding student, sending both of them tumbling to the ground unconscious. Unlike the young lady who bled from her nose and mouth, the young man only suffered a fractured nose and a cut above his left eye.

"Spread out! He probably has a Blessing relating to body modification. Don't get too close to him!"

The two males turned to the only female left standing, and wasted to time in following her instructions.

"That's useless," Adam said as he stretched out his right arm.

Several confused looks met his actions, which only intensified when they saw him clutching the open air.

"Don't fall for his useless antics! We can—huh?"

The sword in the hands of the young lady quivered as if it had heard the call of it's sovereign. Despite her grip tightening, the young lady watched as the weapon flew out of her hands before making a beeline towards Adam.

"It seems your connection to your weapon is special. You can have it back!"

Rotating mid flight, the sliver sword which had a reddish hue whizzed through the air before impaling the young lady's stomach. Before others could react to the sudden turn of events, like a wisp of smoke, Adam appeared before her. His left hand reached for neck.

"Ona! Don't you dare do anything to her!"

Adam titled his head to side, he could see the last two members fiercely sprinting towards him. A devilish smile graced his lips as he raised Ona via her neck. As she slowly choked, he used his free hand to twist the blade in her stomach, eliciting inhuman screams.

"Are you mad?! Do you want to kill her?! Let her go and fight us like a real man!"

Rage distorted the features of the young man as his chilling gaze met Adam's. However, only Ona's screams greeted his words.

"Coward! Let her go, or else—"

"Or else what? I'd like to see what you can do!" Adam interjected.

His grip around Ona's neck tightened while is icy gaze lingered on the two students.

Unlike him, the duo panicked as they stared at Arlette's direction, however, she ignored them as she stared at a hourglass on the floor.

"Do you people expect me to just willingly accept a beating? I told you all, it won't end with just tears and broken bones. You want to gain rewards using me as a stepping stone, right? Well, you'd have to be living to claim it."

The moment Adam finished his declaration, Ona's screams ceased, and her body went limp. A split second later, her body plumped to the floor.

Ona's fresh blood had stained Adam's uniform, and it trickled down his right hand.

All the students swallowed hard as they stared at Ona's body, for the first time, the seriousness of their situation dawned on them. They were potential fighting someone who was a psychopath.

"Now, who is next?" Adam said.

The mouths of the two young men opened, however, their voice failed them. Their eyes quivered and their legs wobbled. Although a great fire burned within them, their conscience scream that only death awaited them if they did something foolish.

As the duo struggled to overcome the seed of fear in their hearts, the minutes slowly ran down. Like an immovable rock, Adam's gaze wandered all over the room.Those his gaze landed on lowered their head, while they tried to steady their thumping hearts.

He didn't bother with the remaining members of the first group, because he could see the physical manifestation of fear through their eyes.

"Next group, proceed!"

Arlette's calm voice broke the silence in the room. However, none of the students moved from their position. To them, Arlette's words sounded like an execution order.

"Third group, proceed!"

Yet again, silence greeted Arlette's words. A split second later, a drawn hacking cough echoed in the room.

The eyes of the students quivered as they saw Ona, the petite group leader and the young man struggle to rise to their feet.

'He didn't kill her?'

At that moment, they remembered Arlette's declaration that no one would die on her watch.

Ona's body visibly shook as Adam's gaze landed on her. Although she had been healed of all her injuries, the feeling of being stabbed and strangled lingered in her mind. A psychological injury that she may never recover from.

"Fourth group, proceed."

Again, the students remained motionless. Although they knew no one would die, none of them wanted to experience what Ona passed through. That she had been mentally scarred was evident to those present.

"Fifth group, proceed."

This time, a young man stepped forward while clutching his mace. At that moment, however, Adam's gaze landed on him. The blue haired young man halted in his steps and hastily retreated. No one mocked him. Who would? Especially, when they didn't even have the courage to step out.

"The two of you are up," Arlette said as she pointed to two male students. "Unfortunately, enough time didn't pass for others to join your group. You know what you're up against. Fight to your hearts content. You have my permission to use your Blessings. Don't worry, even if you die, you would be brought back to life in this room. Fight without fearing death. You have ten minutes."

Without saying a word, two figures stepped out from the crowd, before approaching Adam in light steps.

Adam could not help but chuckle as his gaze fell on their contrasting physique. As round as a ball, one stood over six feet five inches. His uniform jiggled with every step he took while he placed his small hands on his bald head. Although he closed his eyes, he was able to accurately weave through the students blocking his path earlier.

Meanwhile, the second young man's uniform was uncharacteristically baggy, covering the outline of his thin physique. Neither Adam nor the students could discern his facial features, because he wore a gray muzzle which covered his mouth and nose. Only five feet, he resembled a dwarf walking beside the fat student.

With less than three meters separating them from Adam, the two students stopped in their tracks.

"I seriously admire your work, pal. It's rare to see someone here who is not a scared pampered prick. You even killed one of em to send a message, simply beautiful."

The muzzled youth clapped as his uniform went all over the place. Since he didn't lower his voice, it drew the attention of the other students. Although his words infuriated them, they couldn't say anything.

"My name is Garrett Walsh, the tub of lard over there is Tao Hong. Forgive him, he doesn't speak much. Unlike these fancy bitches, we come from a really bad place. We had to do things we were not really proud of to survive. Coming here is like a fairytale for us, pal. That's why we will do anything to make sure we remain here. Don't worry, pal. You can go crazy if you like, don't hold back. Why would you? You life is literally on the line. Hehehe... thinking about it makes me mushy inside."

Just as Walsh finished his statement, Tao Hong made a series of seal-like sounds which startled most of the students.

"Oh. Pal, it seems tubby can't wait any longer. Remember, don't hold back, okay?" Walsh said.

The moment he finished his declaration, Tao Hong's eyes opened, and Adam's eyes quivered slightly. Because, he couldn't see anything in them.

Adam and the students watched as Walsh's body gradually grew in size, until his bulging muscles ripped apart his uniform. Meanwhile, Tao Hong's body gradually shrunk until he had perfect lean muscles.

At that same moment, the students could see a faint layer of white forming on the arms of the two students.

"They are elementals... It's snow..." Arlette muttered as she stared at the imminent battle. A sly smile donned her lips as she placed an hourglass on the floor.

[Establishing Connection To The Omen...]

[Connection Established.]

[Title: Manipulator and Dominator Activated!]