Outworld: Awakening - 69 Upgrade

“You’re not messing with me, right?” X said, with her brows furrowed. A few minutes had passed since she awakened. Before she could rip on Adam for using his ability on her, he greeted her with the news of what ensued between him and the conductor. Emphasizing his suspicions of the supposed upgraded cabin.

“Do you honestly think I have nothing better to do than play such a stupid prank? Adam asked sarcastically. “I don’t know about you, but I believe we must leave the ship as soon as possible. That conductor—”

“What? Leave the ship?” X interjected, unable to hide her disapproval.

“Of course. Or, what do you suggest we do?” Adam retorted.

Silence greeted his words, X only bowed her head. Exasperated that her journey of luxury would potential be short lived.

‘Nothing good ever happens with this guy… This was supposed to be my vacation… The next port is in Wrathriver Necropolis. Damn it! I don’t want to go to that cesspit.’ With each passing second, X’s expression turned uglier, while she muttered audible curses.

Meanwhile, Adam only watched her from his seat, not saying a word. He had already decided; nothing would stop him from leaving, X only had to decide if she would leave with him or continue in the flying ship. Moments later, X finally raised her head.

“You owe me big time for this… you don’t know how long I’ve waited to be pampered,” X said. Staring fiercely at Adam with eyes full of resentment.

“It’s decided then, we’ll disembark at the port in Wrathriver Necropolis,” Adam said, sporting a wry smile. “Hopefully, we will get another vessel to Vihir there,” Adam dryly added.

‘Oh, fuck off… A vessel to Vihir in Wrathriver Necropolis? Does he think he’s talking to a kid? We would be lucky to find a vessel going to Targarth…’ X’s glares silently intensified without saying a word.

Adam, on the other hand, slowly closed his eyes. He also knew the possibility of finding a vessel in Wrathriver Necropolis was minimal. However, he wouldn’t compromise. His instincts warned him he had to get as far away from the conductor as possible. Sacrificing the luxury of the flying ship was better than any potential danger, he thought.

Just then, a knock echoed. Instinctively, Adam and X turned their heads towards the door, and then a brooding voice followed. “Hello, esteemed passengers. My name is Korg. I am the conductor’s assistant. I’m here to escort you to your new room.”

‘So quick? But it isn’t morning yet,’ Adam mused.

Wordlessly, Adam and X stared at each other. With a nod, they both rose to their feet. X approached the door, while Adam remained standing with his arms folded across his chest.

“Pardon the intrusion,” Korg said as X opened the door.

For a moment, both Adam and X’s eyes quivered as they stared at him. With a height of over 6.5ft, he towered over Adam and X. However, the most intimidating aspect of the masked assistant was his hulking frame. His black suit could barely contain his bulging muscles. From Adam and X’s perspective, his clothes would tear at any moment.

“Mr. Ulric and Mrs. Uri, I presume?” Korg said, bowing slightly. He had gotten used to people staring at him in awe.

Meanwhile, Adam and X silently nodded. Staring at such a perfect body left different thoughts brewing in their minds.

“Fantastic. Kindly follow me,” Korg said, still maintaining a bow.

“Huh? Do we just leave like that? What about our belongings?” Adam asked.

“Don’t worry about your luggage, sir. Someone will send it to your new room. Please let me know if you have any other concerns,” Korg said.

“No. That will be all. We would like to go now. Please lead the way,” X said, speaking in a sultry voice.

Unconsciously, Adam turned his head towards her direction, noticing her beaming smile and roaming eyes.

‘Is this for real? Or is she putting up an act?’ Adam’s lips curved into a smirk.

Although he had not known as for a long time, he didn’t peg her as someone who would go gaga for a man’s body. Then again, Korg’s body approached the realm of perfection. Even Adam felt a little envious of such a body, however, it was only a fleeting emotion.

Saying nothing, Korg lifted his head before walking out of the room with Adam and X following behind. While X struck a conversation with the hulking man, Adam quietly observed paintings donning the luxurious hallway. The further they walked, the more Adam realized the ships immensity. Although ten minutes had passed since they left their previous room, yet they had not arrived at their new room.

‘How long is this going to take? Could he be leading us to a secluded place? Does he intend to interrogate or eliminate us?’ Adam’s wandered. He sported the same bland expression as before. Masking his snake-like vigilance.

Unlike him, X spent the last ten minutes chatting with Korg. Despite her flirtatious demeanor, Adam couldn’t determine whether it was an act. Although he assumed a demeanor that showed he wasn’t interested in their conversation, he listened to every word. And, despite X’s best efforts, Korg barely gave out any information about himself.

A minute later, the trio arrived before a beautiful wooden door, which had the carvings of swallows on its surface.

‘Finally. It seems we are here…’

The same moment the thought filled Adam’s mind, Korg’s voice followed, “This is where I bid you farewell. Beyond this door lies your room. An attendant will bring your luggage soon. Have a pleasant trip.”

Korg gave one last bow before taking a different path in the interconnected hallways.

[Potential Source of Danger Detected]

“Why are you staring at another man? Is he your type or something? oh… I didn’t know you swing that way. Well, that explains a lot,” X said, draping her arms around Adam’s shoulders.

“Huh? Did your brains get fried or something?” Adam retorted, forcefully freeing himself from X’s embrace.

X couldn’t stop herself from laughing as she soaked in Adam’s reaction. It was better than she had expected. Adam, on the other hand, opened the door. Revealing an exquisitely designed room. A mix of gold and white coated its walls, while furniture and sculptures which sparkled under the dazzling golden chandeliers decorated the room. With its length twice that of their previous room.

“Wow! There was actually a room this beautiful on the ship?” Adam muttered, unable to mask his awe. In his two lives, it was the most luxurious place had entered.

“Yes! Yes! Yes! Thank you, Mr. Conductor!” X screamed as she entered the room, slightly brushing past Adam.

Like a hungry squirrel, she raced around the room, unable to hide her curiosity. With each passing second, her eyes shone brighter and brighter.

Meanwhile, Adam remained motionless at the room’s entrance. Although he appreciated the quality of the room, it only further enhanced his suspicions, coupled with the system message he received earlier.

“Come! Quick! Hurry!”

Adam snapped back into reality as he heard X’s sudden scream.

[Establishing Connection to The Omen…]

[Connection Successfully Established.]

Using manipulator, Adam unleashed a frightening turn of speed towards the room X’s scream originated. A split second later, he found her shaking in front of a door partially covered by peach velvet curtains.

‘I knew this was too good to be true… Where’s the assailant?’ Adam thought as he scanned the room. However, he couldn’t see nor detect anyone. Within seconds, his vigilance turned into apprehension, and then confusion.

“What’s the—” Before Adam could finish his statement, X screamed as if she had seen a ghost.

“What?! Where is the enemy?!” Adam asked, his eyes roaming the room.

‘Is it any an enemy only visible to her?’ Adam mused.

“Are you trying to kill me or something?!” X said, visibly angry as she tried to calm her thumping heart.

‘Huh? What the hell is she talking about?’ X’s words only further compounded Adam’s confusion. He truly did not understand what was going on.

“You said to hurry, and here I am. Did something happen to—?”

“I know what I said, but how did you get here so fast? Forget about that for now. Look at this,” X said, pointing to the door behind the curtain. She could barely restrain herself from grinning.

‘What the hell is going on? She didn’t scream because of a fucking door, right?’ Adam thought, trying his best not to calm his rising anger.

“What about it?” Adam asked, his voice uncharacteristically low.

“Check out what’s behind the door. Trust me, it won’t disappoint you,” X retorted. Seconds after she finished speaking, she grabbed Adam’s arm before opening the door. Before Adam could voice his dissatisfaction, a wonderful sight came into view.

“See… I told you it won’t disappoint you,” X said, sporting a beaming smile. Like Adam, her eyes roamed the beauty of their surroundings. The moment they opened the door, they left the confines of the flying ship, arriving in a terrace-like space. The light from dazzling star studded skies and the dual moons fell on them, illuminating the vast, desolate skies.

“I didn’t know they had something like this in the flying ship… I feel like I’m actually soaring through the skies…” X twirled around while rambling on and her on. Meanwhile, Adam remained in the same position. Although he appreciated the fantastic scenery, his suspicions still tug at his heart.

‘According to what Igor said, rooms like these are only given to dignitaries… Why would they give nobodies a reception befitting of royalty?’ Adam mused as his eyes roamed the area.

Just then, X’s voice reached him again, “Hey, you like them, right?”

“Huh? What are you talking—?” Before Adam could finish his statement, X stretched her index finger towards him.

‘Is that a golden stag beetle? How did it get up here? Or, was it here from the beginning?’ Adam thought. He knew it was impossible for something like that to fly to the altitude of the flying ship. The only explanation that made sense was the beetle had already boarded back in the port.

“Are you going to take it or what? I saw you staring at one before…” X asked. She donned a sweet smile as she watched the beetle crawl from her finger to her palm.

‘Why the fuck would I want a beetle? Who does she think I—?’

[Potential Source of Danger Detected]

Adam’s expression suddenly turned serious, with his eyes darting his every direction. His strange reaction puzzled X. She wondered why he reacted like that to such a simple question.

“What’s it?” X asked.

However, Adam remained silent. Still observing their surrounding.

“Look at the beetle one more time, Adam. I’m sure you’ll see something beautiful… hahaha…”

Instinctively, Adam followed the advice of the voice in his head. Apart from the fact that it fell on its back, nothing stood out of the ordinary about the beetle. Just as Adam was about to retract his gaze, however, a flowery scent filled his nose. Before he could determine its origin, his vision suddenly grew blurry and a splitting headache assaulted him.

A split second later, his body returned to normal. At that same moment, however, Adam’s lips trembled as he stared at the beetle.

“Put it down,” Adam said, his voice barely audible.

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Put the beetle down now,” Adam repeated, his voice slightly anxious.

Unlike before, he could see X and the beetle emitting a crimson substance. However, what made Adam apprehensive was the current appearance of the creature. It suddenly grew several tiny eyes on its body, and Adam could see a tiny, almost microscopic creature within the center of the beetle.

“Why are you so—huh?” Lightning quick, Adam slapped the beetle out of X’s hands before she could react. Using an even greater speed, he crushed the creature the moment it landed on the floor.

“What’s gotten into you? What did you do that for?” X asked, bewildered by Adam’s strange actions.

“We have to get off this ship, now!”

[Title: Devourer Activated]