Outworld: Awakening

'Why did I trust this maniac? This is a suicide mission...' Adam's countenance had changed to the very epitome of rage and resentment.

His hands had curled into a fist, while his bloodshot eyes wandered in multiple directions. Eagerly, staring at the advancing walls.

\"K-K-Kid!\"

Adam flinched as he heard the guttural voice. His wandering gaze returned to the visibly stuttering man a few meters away.

\"K-Kid. I-I c-can s-see y-you a-are s-scared o-out...\" before the man could finish his slurred statement, he dropped to his knees while vomiting a blue-black substance. His shriveled hands trembled while mucus dropped from his nose.

'His skin is turning black? Is this poison or what?' Adam could hardly believe his eyes.

Darkened by the night, the skin of the man gradually turned charcoal black while his black hair rapidly turned white.

The most striking change, however, was the eyes of the man. Adam could see a small ring forming above his brows, coupled with a large, pulsating bulge in between his eyes.

'I don't know what's going on, but I don't have time for this. I should finish him now that I have the chance,' Adam thought.

Steeling his heart, he approached a short sword while cautiously observing the trembling Awakened.

'That bastard should have at least told me about his abilities... I can't just... huh?'

Mid-thought, Adam suddenly felt a sharp pain in his back. Before he could scream or comprehend what had happened, he heard a loud wheezing echo.

Just then, he felt pain coursing through his right arm, far greater than anything he had ever experienced. Within seconds, he dropped to his knees, unable to feel his hands. Involuntarily, blood forced its way through his trembling lips.

At that same moment, Adam's eyes quivered as he stared at his right-hand side.

'I-Is that... Is that my arm?' Adam stared with incredulity at the severed arm, which still clenched a familiar short sword.

Subconsciously, Adam lifted his head. At that same moment, he locked gazes with Awakened. His right hand was bȧrėly outstretched while making a grasping motion.

'How did he do it? Was he faking it all along?' Adam's eyes slowly dimmed, his breathing becoming fainter. His vision had turned blurry while blood continued to pour from his severed arm and from his mouth.

Moments later, he fell face first into the soaked earth. Revealing a small dagger buried into his back. Meanwhile, a machete a few inches away had been responsible for severing his arm.

'Even after using my power twice, I can't believe, I, Olkan, can't kill a mere human brat. Damn it! What did that bitch inject me with? When I get out from here, I will raze that stupid town to the ground!'

Olkan struggled to rise to his feet, however, his body continued trembling, unresponsive to his will.

'This is the end for this body...' Olkan sighed dejectedly. His eyes lingered on the moving walls.

'I don't know which bastard set this up, he better prays I don't meet him...' Just then, Olkan's eyes fell on Adam's body.

'Maybe it's a good thing I couldn't kill him. Since this body is useless, let's take over his body. Even though he doesn't have any abilities, a few elixirs should do the trick...'

Just then, the bulge on Olkan's head expanded. Within seconds, it had attained a size comparable to a basketball from its previous orange like size.

Thick blue veins spanned the length of the growth. Meanwhile, Olkan's eyes had turned listless, with drool and blood flowing from his mouth. Coupled with his body spasming as if going into shock.

A moment later, a muffled crack followed. The bones in Olkan's limbs had forcefully punctured his skin, drawing blood and a foul smelling liquid.

Wasting no time, he scurried on all fours. The heavy downpour buried the snaps of his crumbling bones. However, Olkan neither screamed nor flinched as he made his way to Adam's body.

'I have little time... I must complete the transfer in the next...'

Mid-thought, Olkan suddenly halted in his steps. Although his eyes had turned listless white, they focused on Adam's motionless body.

'What was that wave just now? Has the poison started affecting my senses, too?'

Unmoving, Olkan's eyes remained fixated on Adam. However, the rate at which his bones crumbled had increased.

'If the poison can get to my shell, then I don't have anymore time to waste. I must complete the transfer now!'

Hesitating no further, Olkan made a mad dash towards Adam's body. With a few inches separating them, a muffled explosion rocked Olkan's limbs. Mangled flesh and bone, accompanied by fresh blood, and various liquids sprayed into the air. Like Adam, Olkan lay on the ground like a corpse, albeit a mangled one.

Moments later, the bulge on Olkan's head pulsated while gradually increasing. A split second later, an incision appeared on its surface, expelling a foul smelling turbid liquid.

Hidden within the mass of puss and blood, a tiny silkworm-like creature crawled towards Adam's body. Its body had a blue-black sheen which occasionally turned metallic ash. Olkan, the Xyrath, had finally revealed its true form.

Moments after existing its previous host, Olkan burrowed into Adam's left arm, gradually making its way towards his brain. At that same moment, however, black tendrils slowly covered Adam's body. Extending all the way to Olkan's previous host.

'After so many years of strengthening that body, I can't believe I'd have to start over again... I'll make sure I bury that town once I get out of this place. I must reunite with the others.' Olkan had already reached Adam's neck. In a few seconds, it would reach its destination.

'Pavani should have started... huh?' Mid-thought, Olkan suddenly felt the same energy undulation he sensed earlier. Unlike before, however, it restricted his movements.

'What's going on? Is this the power of the person who created the barrier?' Olkan mused, unable to hide his anxiety.

He had never felt such an overbearing sense of dread throughout its existence. Its instincts screamed danger, however, Olkan couldn't move.

'Wait... this feeling... No. No. It couldn't be... This bastard is a…' A sudden sense of realization dawned on Olkan. \"No! No! Please let me—\"

At that same moment, the tendrils had covered every inch of Adam's body. Sealing his injuries and removing the dagger buried in his back. Like Adam, darkness had covered the corpse inches away, too. However, the tendrils twisted and turned the corpse inside out. Pulling it towards Adam's body.

With each passing second, the wrapped corpse became smaller and smaller, until it turned into the size of a small rock. Just then, the tendrils forced the contents into Adam's mouth.

At that moment, his motionless body trembled, while the occasional snapping of bones followed. A split second later, Adam's eyes opened. Revealing a sea of blue amidst endless darkness. An ear deafening roar followed, sending an unending torrent of shock waves in every direction. Shattering the advancing walls.

***

On a towering rock hundreds of meters away from the collapsing makeshift ring, two individuals watched the scene with faint smiles on their faces.

\"Congratulations, Master. You we right as usual,\" Adelaide said, sporting a sweet smile.

Just like her, Vicar had his eyes focused on the monstrosity howling at the desolate skies.

\"This is still not enough, but it's a step in the right direction. You can heal him now,\" Vicar said, while casually stroking his beard.

\"Should I do the usual, too?\"

\"Do you even need to ask? Erase his memories. Once you're done, let him fight the others. Let's see how the demon's power aides his growth,\" Vicar replied.

Saying nothing, Adelaide nodded. A second later, she disappeared.

\"This is just the beginning... it seems it wasn't a waste to live this long...\" Vicar muttered. His smile had gotten even brighter.

Then, like Adelaide, he, too, suddenly disappeared.