The next day dawned bright and clear, signaling the start of the support and utilities class. The room was filled with an array of gadgets and devices, each more intriguing than the last. He marveled at the advancements this world had made, particularly the magical method of electricity that powered their tools and the near-infinite storage items that seemed to defy the laws of physics. Though it was inferior to a realm like Tenebris that was capable of creating an artificial sun.
At the front of the class stood the female captain, a middle-aged woman with a calm demeanor who belied her position as a battle-hardened leader. She looked more like a nurturing figure than a captain of the king's fifth general's third brigade. Her presence was reassuring, and Omen found himself drawn to her steady gaze. As she began the lesson, she handed out enormous books filled with information on magical equipment and utilities. The sheer size of the tome was daunting; it would take a normal person a full month or more to read through.
That night though, he eagerly delved into the pages of the book, absorbing knowledge about various magical devices, their uses, and the intricate workings behind them.
Life was becoming too monotonous for Omen, all he had to do was train his combat skills, sustain himself gain new abilities from the hunting expeditions, and once in a while gain the interest of a sergeant or captain during duels, always finding one way or another to draw blood from his opponent no matter how little…still everything was going according to plan. 'Unless the invaders suddenly dropped a nuclear bomb on the arena, what's the worst that could happen'.
The following day marked the most important event of the week: the weekly duels supervised by all five captains. The green lake, a sprawling arena surrounded by lush trees, buzzed with energy as battalions gathered to showcase their strengths. Omen arrived early, taking in the scene as hundreds of spectators milled about, their voices a cacophony of excitement and anticipation.
At the center of the arena stood a massive board, twenty meters wide and four meters tall, displaying the matchups for the day. Each designation number was meticulously arranged in numerical order, with call numbers following a dot. Omen scanned the boar as he searched for his name. His opponent was not from his battalion but from the second company of the third brigade. A small seating platform was set up for the captains, who observed the proceedings with keen interest. The staff sergeant patrolled the area, ensuring that no troublemakers disrupted the event. Among the captains, Captain Don stood out, his imposing figure commanding attention.
"Don't be nervous Omen, you'd do well…", Kol whispered beside him with a smile. Omen, however, completely ignored him. His eyes were glaring at Captain Don himself.
"…also could you introduce me to Virgo..", Kol continued. He had no idea Omen wasn't even listening to him.
'They say a war is ongoing, but they never once said who we're fighting against' Omen looked at the huge captain but soon stopped his train of thought. After all, he was going to soon leave all this behind.
Hours later as the matches continued, the atmosphere shifted with excitement. Next up was Dahlia, the beast woman, who was known for her ferocity in battle. However, today she was unfairly matched against a small, timid boy from the degenerate platoon of the fourth battalion. Omen couldn't help but think of Kiba's human form as he watched the boy shuffle nervously into the arena. The crowd murmured in anticipation, but it was clear that this would be a mismatch.
Dahlia moved quickly towards the lad and smacked him across the cheek. The noise reverberated around the arena, knocking the boy unconscious in a matter of seconds. Any other person would have been extremely glad at their luck to rack up points by facing such a weak opponent, but not Dahlia who was a battle-hardened warrior. 'she wants to even kill General Arthur herself'
After several more matches, the announcer's voice rang out, calling for the next duel. "30, and 21 come forward," Captain Don declared, his voice booming over the crowd. Omen's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the number. "Wait... That's Kol's number," he thought, watching as Kol stepped into the combat square with an anxious expression.
Kol was a special-grade battle slave, but without his active ability, he was at a significant disadvantage. The captain confirmed the designations, and the two boys nodded in acknowledgment. "Alright, you may begin," Captain Don instructed, and the tension in the air thickened.
Omen had never seen how a power like luck would serve someone in battle, so he paid attention. Kol's opponent was a high-grade fighter, known for his powerful battle strength. However, like Kol, he was also stripped of his weapons and active abilities, making this duel a test of pure skill.
"Begin!"
Kol's opponent rushed towards him in anticipation and threw a swift punch at the frail boy. Everybody believed Kol's death was imminent, however as the giant approached, he appeared to have invested too much force in his blow, and having failed to halt his own momentum, he fell to the ground with a loud thud. The crowd was silent for a while before suddenly erupting in disbelief, they spoke loudly amongst themselves in shocked voices.
'How the fuck is that possible!'
'That's some dumb luck'
'well that's Kol's power you fool'
Even Omen was surprised to see such an occurrence, now he really wanted to kill Kol and take his ability.
The atmosphere in the arena was electric, but Kol's victory felt almost surreal. The applause that followed was muted, with only a handful of his friends from the first company cheering him on. Kol found Omen in the crowd and let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness that guy hadn't eaten for days. He had been focusing a lot on his weapons training and had been missing food. His body finally broke once he tried to punch me," Kol said, a grin spreading across his face. "Lucky me, right?"
Omen offered a noncommittal nod, his mind elsewhere as he waited for the next name to be called. He soon heard it a little while later, and his stomach dropped. "Designation number 17 and Designation number 13 please come up to the platform."
His opponent soon followed a towering figure who stood at six and a half feet tall. Omen could feel the weight of the crowd's attention shift as the man approached. The other recruits hailed him with cheers, he was much more popular than Omen.
As they faced each other on the platform, he could see the confidence radiating from his opponent. He was known for his incredible strength and terrifying battle mannerism, no less ferocious than Dahlia, a force of nature that had caused the deaths of multiple recruits. Most recruits would have been intimidated, perhaps even ready to give up at the sight of such a formidable foe, but not Omen.
'This! This is passive strength!' he thought excitedly, observing the boy's imposing figure. The giant before him was a testament to raw power. Omen knew that while the boy had active abilities, he was currently unable to use them due to the absence of exogene. Still, the passive strength alone was enough to instill fear in the hearts of many. Thankfully, the army allowed violence in these matches, as long as it wasn't directed at fellow platoon members. They supported a culture of aggression but still valued camaraderie among their ranks.
"You may begin!" the announcer declared, and the five captains watched closely, aware of the three famous battle slaves personally recruited by the general. Though most of them, including the sergeants and recruits, had never witnessed them in actual combat, the lackluster performances of Dahlia and Virgo had left a bad impression. They didn't expect much from Omen, and their skepticism was strong.
As soon as the signal was given, the giant charged at Omen with a ferocity that sent an excited shiver down his spine. "Why so grumpy?" Omen joked, trying to lighten the mood, but the moment was short-lived. The giant's fist connected with his skull, sending him staggering backward. The impact was brutal, and before Omen could regain his footing, the giant pounced on him, throwing him onto the concrete floor with a sickening thud.
Omen's body created a deep imprint in the ground, the pain radiating through him as he struggled to breathe. The giant, relentless in his assault, grabbed Omen's head and smashed it into the ground again. The force was overwhelming, and Omen felt his bones creak under the pressure. His handsome face was now a mask of pain, flesh, and bone mashing together in a brutal display of strength.
"Ahh, another one dead," Captain Don sighed, shaking his head in disappointment. He could only award the giant extra contribution points for defeating a special grade, but the loss weighed heavily on him. This boy had been brought in by the general for a reason, and losing Omen was a significant blow. The other recruits watched in horror, their hopes dwindling as they witnessed the brutal display of power. A terrifying level of strength they could never hope for, but still they cheered on.
The arena was filled with a mix of shock and awe as the crowd processed the unexpected turn of events. Those who knew Omen were left speechless, their faces pale with disbelief. Kol, Virgo, and Dahlia stood frozen; their eyes wide as they watched their friend fall so easily to the giant's overwhelming strength. They had never anticipated such a swift defeat, especially given Omen's speed, which was on par with the active abilities of a werebeast. It was a moment that shattered their expectations.
On the other hand, the recruits who were unfamiliar with Omen applauded, believing they had just witnessed an easy victory for the giant. Captain Don was about to award the giant contribution points for his apparent success when his gaze froze, his mouth agape in disbelief.
Before anyone could react, Omen's seemingly lifeless body began to stir. The crowd gasped collectively as he slowly stood up, his smashed skull visibly regenerating. The healing process accelerated, and within moments, his broken legs and hands snapped back into place. His skull twisted back into its original position, and his handsome face reformed, as if the brutal assault had never happened. Omen didn't get hit on purpose because the pain was fun despite its nullification. He simply wanted to gauge the level of innate passive strength. And since it was able to bypass [Enhanced durability] and [Physical attack immunity] then it was the strength he needed.
"Yes, this is the passive strength I need indeed," Omen smiled, a glint of determination in his glowing sapphire eyes. He forced his healing right hand to stop, and in a shocking display of defiance, he bit into his own skin, tearing away a large portion of flesh that had just healed. The gruesome act revealed his protruded femur.
The giant, still reveling in the thrill of his apparent victory, was oblivious to the dread that washed over the crowd. They had stopped cheering, their eyes wide with horror as they watched Omen's transformation. It was only when the giant turned halfway, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, that he realized something was amiss.