Outworld: Awakening

The Awakened from Stormlight, Oleander, and Slivertop sprinted towards the tower. A colorless portal had opened in midair, raising a cloud of dust. Less than a minute after Adam's disappearance, no one remained in the ruins.

Meanwhile, Adam found himself in a cold cave partially illuminated by some glistening crystals lining in the cave's ceiling.

[You have entered a dungeon!]

'A cave? I was expecting something different. Where do I go now?'

In front of him were four dimly lit tunnels. Despite his mask, Adam could smell a thick and nauseating stench akin to that of feces and decomposing carcass.

'System, retrieve the map from the Inventory.'

An amulet appeared in Adam's hands.

[Student Profile]

[Student 009]

Name: Adam.

Year: One.

Blessing: Weapon Manipulation.

Level: E.

Class: Attack (Manipulator).

Supporters: None!

Rank in solo category: 490/490

Current Location: Targarth.

{Mission}

- Eliminate a red-eared Goblin tribe.

- Obtain the scepter of the Goblin chief to clear this mission.

A familiar map projected in midair. A flickering purple star represented his current location, and with each passing second, the black crucifix which represented the lesser dungeons flickered out of existence with many more replacing them. Adam could also see the location of the guild representing Varidan in the Targarth.

'Stormlight? Never heard of them. They must be a regional power.'

Only a few guilds had the resources to plant a base in the different nations. Apart from the massive guilds, smaller guilds usually dominated a particular area, and only explored dungeons in the area. If the strength of their members increased, these smaller guilds would branch out to other locations. Stormlight, was one of such guilds. As a rising power in Targarth, Varidan approached them to form a partnership. They would act as Varidan's representative, while they would receive an enormous fee each year. And, as a bonus, they didn't have to give Varidan students preferential treatments.

[Seventy-three Potential Sources of Danger Detected]

[Establishing Connection to The Omen...]

[Connection Successfully Established.]

'That many? Is that just one tribe?' Adam stared at the first tunnel on his left. With light steps, Adam walked into the tunnel.

Twenty minutes later, members of Slivertop stood before the four tunnels.

"Commander, which do we choose?" Bart asked.

He had only joined Slivertop a week ago; he didn't know much about the dungeon yet.

"Bart, I told you to read the report before coming. What the hell is wrong with you? Do—"

"There is no need shouting at him, Kade. Just tell him," Sigvid interjected. His probing gaze wandered around the cave, searching for something or someone.

"We can only enter the first three tunnels from your right. The last one is off limits," Kade explained.

"Why? What's so special about it?" Bart scratched his arm as Kade's fierce gaze landed on him. He truly wanted to know what laid at the end of the tunnel.

"This is the last time. Read your reports before a mission."

Despite Kade's words, Bart could not hide his delight as he awaited Kade's explanation.

"The last tunnel leads to the lair of the roughback goblins. Even if by some miracle we team up with Stormlight and Oleander, there is no way we can clear it. Even if all the members of our guild partake in the raid, it wouldn't change the result. Only guilds outside Targarth can attempt the raid, and they would take some considerable damage. Be careful, these tunnels are interconnected. If you get lost, that's it. Those roughback goblins are cannibalistic and suicidal." Kade explained.

Bart swallowed a mouthful of saliva, fear covered his limpid eyes as he stared the tunnel. From Kade's explanation, he knew that only death awaited anyone who ventured into its hollow path.

"Sir, which—?"

"Kade, do they ever come out from their lair? If they are that dangerous, surely, they must detest our presence, right?"

"F.u.c.k.i.n.g hell. Use that brain of yours. Do you think we would be here if they left their lair? Enough with the questions, Bart."

Ignoring Bart, Kade turned his attention to Sigvid. "Commander, which do we choose this time?"

Bart, Isi and the other members of Slivertop turned their attention to Sigvid. Only he could choose their hunting ground.

"From the numbers Stormlight brought here, it's likely they would raid the lair of the pink-eyed goblins. They suffered quite the loss the last time they faced them. The babes from Oleander would probably target the lair of those slime eating goblins. That they are revealing so much skin is proof enough. That leaves the lair of the red-eared goblin. Those bastards annoy the hell out of me, but we can definitely eliminate them. Remember, we are here for the Fermo Crystals. Unfortunately, we can't get it without killing those smelling creatures."

Sigvid's eyes wandered as he spoke. Bart and Kade noticed. They wondered what occupied his mind.

"Commander, what are you searching for? Did you notice something?" Isi asked.

"Not really. We weren't the first to enter the dungeon, but there is no sign of that brat coming here. Only one path leads to this place, yet I have seen no signs he came here. Where could he have gone? Aren't you guys curious why the dungeon opened ahead of time?"

Sigvid explained his thoughts. Truly, he couldn't explain the mystery behind Adam's sudden disappearance. His men too donned contemplative demeanors. They hadn't thought about it that much. In fact, they concluded in their minds it was only a coincidence the portal opened when Adam approached it.

"Commander, there is no point fussing over it. He probably went out as soon as he came in. That brat stinks like a coward. Remember, his party members are yet to arrive. Let's go hunt those bastards before the others catch— "

Before Kade could finish his statement, the earth beneath their feet rumbled, their bodies vibrated in tandem.

"What was that?" Bart said. His left hand hung on the hilt of his sword, with his eyes shifting between the four tunnels.

"Relax. It's a common occurrence here. You would have known if you read the damn report. Unfortunately, it seems either Stormlight or Oleander have started their hunt. We can't delay anymore, boys. Let's go hunt some ugly bastards."

In a heptagonal formation, members of Slivertop approached the second tunnel from the right. The thick smell of feces assaulted their noses. The light from the crystals couldn't illuminate everything in front of them, and since it was suicidal to ignite a torch, they cautiously proceeded into the depths of the tunnel.

"Kade, are you okay guarding the rear alone?" Sigvid whispered.

Kade nodded while making a hand signal. At the base of their formation, he had the responsibility of guarding, informing and foiling all plans of an ambush.

"Don't worry, boys. It's only dark here. Their lair won't be this dark. We'll be there in ten minutes. Remember, wait for my signal before you attack. We can't allow them to use the hidden passages. If they join the other tribes, it would be troublesome for us." Sigvid whispered.

His men nodded, their grip around their weapons tightened. Their hearts thumped wildly. Their opponents were red-eared goblins. The smartest of the four tribes in the dungeon. A moment of carelessness could cost them their lives.

The walls produced a unique echo as Sigvid gently tapped its wet surface. A common method used by those raiding the dungeon. Each of the four tunnels produced a unique sound when touched in a certain way. With this method, the Awakened would know when they had deviated from their intended path.

"Commander, look. It's the tunnel's exit."

"Keep your voice down, Bart. Their scouts patrol this area," Sigvid whispered.

He gestured towards the men, and they broke the heptagonal formation. They walked in pairs, covering the blind spot of their partner.

"Remember, boys, we have to…" Sigvid's words trialed off as he stepped out from the tunnel.

Blood and unidentifiable body fluids dyed the cave's walls, while a mountain of corpses littered the soaked ground. An acidic coppery smell pervaded the air as a stream of green blood flowed in the macabre scene.

"What the hell happened here?" Kade muttered. He rubbed his eyes multiple times, he had to be certain what he saw wasn't an illusion.

The corpses of over seventy goblins littered the ground. Unlike typical goblins, they had red ears which contrasted with their green skins.

"Did the roughback tribe eliminate them?" Kade asked.

"Although there is a great deal of resentment between the tribes, they would never result to such a wide scale massacre. The roughback tribe only consider us Awakened as the enemy. They hardly confront the other tribes. Someone else is responsible for this," Sigvid said.

He flinched as he stared at the injuries on the corpses. Some had their skulls bashed by a blunt object. While others had their limbs, guts, throat, eyes and other organs ripped from their bodies.

"Could a human really do this? No ranked D Awakened could ever accomplish such a feat. Who could massacre an entire tribe in minutes?" Kade asked.

The others also wanted to know the answer to the question. Coincidentally, they all remembered the vibrations they felt earlier.

"Forget about the corpses. We can figure out what happened to them later. Search for the Fermo Crystals. If the roughback tribe had a hand in this, they wouldn't touch them."

Overcoming their initial surprise, the group fanned out on Sigvid's orders.

Ten minutes later, the group reconvened. A scowl donned their faces.

"Commander, we might have miscalculated. It seems one of Stormlight or Oleander came here before us. They took anything worth something," Junho said.

Sigvid's countenance darkened. He hadn't expected such a scenario. Although each tunnel produced a precious stone, Slivertop specialized in gathering Fermo Crystals—majorly used for enchanting weapons.

'Did those bastards do it intentionally? Is this a declaration of war?' Sigvid mused.

Absorbed in his thoughts, he paid no attention to Kade and the others who discussed among themselves. They too believed the massacre was a declaration of war from either Stormlight or Oleander.

"Commander, let's go back and report to the guild. We can't allow Stormlight or Oleander encroach on our hunting grounds," Kade said. His eyes had turned bloodshot with his grip tightening on the handle of his spear.

"Yes. Let's return to the…" Sigvid paused.

The seven-man party shifted their gaze to the depths of the tunnel. Although faint, they could hear footsteps.

"Take your positions. If it's the scouts of the roughbacks, we will eliminate them, then run for our lives. Don't come out if it's Stormlight or Oleander, their numbers exceed ours," Sigvid whispered.

With each passing second, the footsteps got louder and louder. Cold sweat covered the faces of the men as they observed the tunnel's entrance from the hiding positions.

Kade's heart thumped as he lay buried under seven corpses. He could hear faint mumblings, but they were too incoherent to decipher. Meanwhile, Sigvid hid close to the tunnel's entrance. He had long since unsheathed his sword. Depending on who arrived, he would cleave their head from their neck.

Meanwhile, members of Stormlight and Oleander discussed among themselves as they walked through a tunnel.

"So, the same thing happened to you?" Ayleen, the leader of the Oleander asked.

Her deep-set eyes stared at the leader of Stormlight, Johnathan. He was a giant of a man who had to bend slightly to walk in the tunnel.

"Someone had killed the pink-eyed tribe before we arrived. If we hadn't entered the tunnels at the same time, I would have suspected it was your doing. However, the only suspect now is Slivertop. I don't know how those bastards did it, but they will regret encroaching on our haunting grounds. They know how much we value those eyes, yet they carved them all. How would I face my guild leader if I don't make them pay?"

Oleander and Stormlight had both encountered a similar scenario as the guild members of Slivertop. They had expected the hunt to proceed as usual and looked forward to their potential score, however, their thoughts and countenances changed when the corpses of the goblins tribes greeted them.

"But, how did they do it? The seven of them alone eliminating two tribes? How is that possible?"

Ayleen could not hide her incredulity as she massaged her temple.

"We'll find out soon. Those bastards have a lot to answer for."

Being a Varidan associate, Johnathan felt confident he would get answers. He didn't believe a small guild like Slivertop would dare invoke the wrath of a behemoth like Varidan Academy. The sudden turn of events also puzzled him.

"We are almost at the entrance. Men, prepare for battle," Johnathan declared.

Ayleen too also gave the same instructions to her fellow guild members.

Only a minute had gone since the members of Slivertop hid themselves.

'Damn it. How of them did they send?'

Sigvid feared the worse. The footsteps he heard couldn't belong to a small scouting until. He feared for his life and that of his men. However, if the enemy was the roughback goblins, he would rather fight to the death than let them eat him alive.

The footsteps got louder, at any moment, someone would exit the tunnel.

"Huh? What the hell—"

"Die you goblin sc.u.m!"

Enhance with his Blessing, Sigvid's sword made a beeline to the neck of a member of Stormlight. Caught off guard, there was no way he could react to the sudden attack.

'Shit. It's not a goblin. I can't stop myself.' Sigvid thought.

Inches away for decapitating the neck of the petrified man, a great sword met Sigvid's long sword in midair. A clanking echo followed as both attack cancelled out each other.

"Sigvid, you old fool. How dare you attack a member of Stormlight? So, your guild was actually responsible for the massacre." Johnathan bellowed.

Members of his guild and the ladies from Oleander prepared for battle.

Sigvid's countenance darkened as he retreated.

"What rubbish are you saying, Johnathan? Since the two of you are together, it means you have been in an alliance from the beginning. You obviously broke the treaty when you slaughtered the red-eared goblins. Now you want to silence us. We will never go down without a fight."

Kade, Isi, Bart, and the other emerged from their hiding positions. They would rather go down fighting than leave their lives at the mercy of others.

"What the f.u.c.k are you talking about? You obviously—"

"Wait, Johnathan. Let's here what he has to say."

Johnathan turned to Ayleen. He couldn't believe she believed Sigvid's nonsense.

Ignoring Johnathan's stern gaze, Ayleen turned towards Sigvid.

"Sigvid, are you saying you aren't responsible for what happened to the pink-eyed tribe and gray skinned tribe?"

"What are you talking about? You two obviously massacred the red-eared tribe. You didn't stop there, you also took all the Fermo Crystals. Now, you plan on silencing us to cover your crimes. We will definitely take some of you with us to the afterlife."

'Could this be a huge misunderstanding? The same thing also happened to us.'

Ayleen's gaze met Johnathan's. The two had the same thought in mind. Silvertop couldn't be the culprits, they were obviously victims, too.

"Ladies, lower your weapons. They're not our enemies."

Johnathan also gave the same instructions to his members.

Sigvid and the others couldn't tell what was happening. One minute they were prepared to go out in a blaze of glory, the next their opponents sheathed their swords.

"Sigvid, it seems someone is trying to stir a conflict between our guilds. We also experienced a similar scene when we entered out respective tunnels," Johnathan said.

'What?! Someone messed with them, too? Who the f.u.c.k is doing this? Did a higher ranked Awakened enter the dungeon? No. That's not possible. The items in this dungeon wouldn't catch their fancy.'

Sigvid motioned towards his men to lowered their weapons. Although he didn't know if what Johnathan said was true, he felt something was odd about their situation.

"Who could possibly eliminate the three tribes in minutes? Do you think it was the roughback tribe?"

Ayleen and Johnathan stared at each other. They too had the same thought in mind.

"Something must have triggered them to..."

A series of deafening explosions interrupted Ayleen's statement. The cave shook, with small rocks falling to the ground.

'What the hell is going on? This isn't natural. Is the dungeon going to collapse?' Sigvid thought.

"We have to get..."

Midway through his shout, another loud explosion rocked the cave. Before any of the Awakened could react, a section of the cave's walls collapsed.

They saw a bloodied figure running towards their direction. It had numerous lacerations on its green body, while it's rough hunchback bled profusely.

It's shrieks echoed, while a yellowish liquid poured from the side of its mouth.

"A roughback goblin?" Johnathan muttered.

The miserable form of the usually menacing creature left him wide-eyed and confused.

In the groups amazement, they noticed the goblin ran towards their direction. It couldn't mask the fear it's eyes nor the terror on its face.

Despite their enmity towards Awakened, it stared at the group as its savior.

Ten meters before it reached the closest Awakened, two red streaks whizzed through the air. One heading for the neck of the goblin and the other for its legs.

With seconds, the head of the goblin fell on the ground with blood spraying into the air from its twitching corpse. The second streak of light had successfully cleaved the goblin's legs, too.

As soon as they appeared, the red blur disappeared. None of the Awakened could identify what it was.

Silence covered the cave and only the occasional falling rock echoed. Some Awakened couldn't breathe properly as they stared through the hole in the wall.

Goblin corpses from the four tribes littered the ground. Everything they had seen earlier paled in comparison to the lair of the roughback tribe. Even a scene out of a nightmare couldn't be that twisted. Their stomachs churned, and some vomited on the spot.

"The Goblin Lair has been cleared!"

Sigvid's jaw dropped. Nothing made sense to him or anyone else.

'Wait... Could this be the work of the kid from Varidan?'

Sigvid's body shook. Subconsciously, he stared at Kade. He couldn't imagine what would have happened if Kade had provoked Adam earlier.

Meanwhile, Adam stood at the edge of the ruin reading the system's notification. With Manipulator active, his hair had turned black and his irises brown.

[You have left the dungeon!]

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.

- Slayer (Passive).

???

{Status}

Awakened!

{Omen Points}

10.

{Inventory}

- Cataclysm, Runed Blade of Delusions.

- Fermo Crystal (89/89).

- Eyes of Pink-eyed Goblins (76/76).

- Slime sac (89/88)

- Goblin chief Spectre (4/4).

- Hunch sac (72/73).

- Familiar (1/50).

{Level}

-D.

???

'That was disappointing. I didn't expect the goblins to be so weak. I didn't even have to do much. Cataclysm alone was enough to kill them all.'

Adam turned towards the city in the distance.

"Am I allowed to accept another mission immediately? Well, I won't find out until I get to Targarth." With Manipulator active, Adam unleashed a frightening turn of speed as he ran towards Targarth.

Two hours later, Awakened from Stormlight, Oleander, and Silvertop exited the dungeon.

Their eyes scanned the surrounding ruins, however, they couldn't find what they seeked. Like Sigvid, they all suspected Adam was responsible for the abnormalities in the dungeon.

'I have to get back to the guild before him. Maybe he's still in the dungeon. I have to let the Guild leader know about this. If we are lucky, we might be able to recruit him.'

Johnathan could already imagine the guild leader praising him for noticing a talented Awakened.

Members of the three guilds slowly dispersed. They each had to report what they witnessed in the dungeon.