Omniphage of Apathy

The arena erupted in chaos and fury as the royal guards poured into the arena.

Their ranks moved in perfect synchronization, shields raised and spears poised, ready to crush any resistance. Behind them, the colosseum guards descended like a tide of iron and leather, their weapons drawn to quash the uprising.

The gladiators, though fierce and battle-hardened, were weary and ill-equipped. They had fought for survival every day but this was a war unlike any they had faced. Fear and hope warred in their eyes as they hesitated, uncertain of their fate.

Then, the runes Vastarael had meticulously drawn during his reconnaissance ignited with a blinding sapphire light.

One by one, they detonated in spectacular explosions, shaking the colosseum to its foundation. Walls crumbled, gates shattered and hidden passages were revealed. From the depths of these passages emerged the rest of the enslaved gladiators and captives, some carrying weapons scavenged from fallen guards, others armed with nothing but their fists and fury.

The arena, once a stage for bloodsport, became a battlefield of liberation.

The royal guards quickly regrouped and raised their shields, forming an impenetrable phalanx. The colosseum guards, less disciplined but no less vicious, charged at the escaping slaves, aiming to cut them down before they could reach the freedom promised by the shattered walls.

Vastarael stood in the center of it all in the heavy rain. With a flick of his wrist, shards of sapphire materialized in the air around him, spinning like a deadly halo.

"Go!" He commanded, his voice ringing out above the clash of steel. "Run to freedom! Fight if you can, but live!"

Chainless, moving like a shadow amidst the chaos, took his command to heart. She darted through the arena, her chains snaking out to grab fallen weapons or strike down pursuing guards.

Her priority was clear: protect the slaves who couldn't fight.

She guided them through the newly opened passages as she herded them toward the escape routes they had planned. A mother clutched her child tightly, a young man limped with an elder's arm slung over his shoulder, an injured gladiator leaned on her for support and so on.

To them, Chainless was a beacon of hope in the storm.

Meanwhile, Vastarael sought out the most formidable royal guards, the elite warriors who stood apart from the rest. Their dark armor was etched with patterns of gold and crimson. Their spears hummed with enchantments that radiated deadly intent. They were soldiers who had seen countless wars.

But Vastarael was... excited.

The first of the royal guards lunged at him, their spear thrusting forward. Vastarael sidestepped effortlessly as he raised his hand. A sapphire shard shot forward with blinding speed, piercing the guard's helmet and ending the threat in a single motion.

"Why are humans so easy to kill?"

Another came at him, wielding a greatsword shimmering with energy. Vastarael ducked beneath the swing and with a swift motion, he summoned a sapphire mystic circle under the warrior's feet. The First Star Plasma Circle incinerated him to ash.

More came, in twos and threes, their enchanted weapons glinting in the rain. But Vastarael was relentless. His sapphire shards struck with unerring accuracy, his mystic circles detonated with devastating force, and his reflexes ensnared even the swiftest of his opponents.

The spectators could only watch. What would they do if they had no means of escape? Even though there were some screams and shouts here and there, they all cheered.

Especially the women who saw the handsome wanderer fighting enemies with flawless finesse.

The royal guards began to falter, their ranks thinning as Vastarael pressed his assault.

But the battle was far from over.

At the far end of the arena, a hulking figure emerged. The captain of the royal guard, a towering man clad in black armor trimmed with gold, strode forward with a massive halberd in hand. His presence was like a black sun, drawing attention and fear in equal measure.

Vastarael met his gaze, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"You must be the best they have to offer," he said, his voice carrying a note of challenge. "Let's see if you can make this interesting. I just fought a lava bug two days ago you know."

The captain roared, his halberd cleaving through the air with terrifying speed. Vastarael leaped back, his sapphire shards blocking the attack. The impact sent shockwaves through the ground, but Vastarael remained unfazed.

Their duel began, each clash of weapon and mysticism shaking the arena. Vastarael's agility and precision met the captain's overwhelming strength and relentless attacks.

Meanwhile, Chainless had successfully led the last of the non-combatants to safety. She turned back to the battlefield, her gaze locking onto Vastarael as he faced the captain. Her chains coiled and uncoiled like serpents, ready to strike if needed.

The rain poured harder, mingling with the blood that stained the arena floor. The enslaved gladiators, emboldened by Vastarael's example, fought with everything they had, their cries of defiance echoing against the storm.

The captain of the royal guards snarled as he lunged forward, his halberd cleaving through the rain with a force that seemed to split the air itself. As the halberd came crashing down, he sidestepped effortlessly.

"You're slow."

With a flick of his wrist, sapphire shards materialized around him, hovering like deadly stars. He thrust his hand forward, sending a barrage of the shards toward the captain.

The captain raised his shield, deflecting the shards with a clang, but Vastarael was already moving. He closed the distance in an instant. He summoned a sapphire mystic circle beneath the captain's feet. He dodged the plasma beam.

"You're not very creative, are you?" Vastarael taunted, his smirk widening. "You're like a wild beast with strength but no skill."

The captain roared in fury, swinging his halberd in a wide arc. Vastarael ducked under the swing and with a sudden burst of energy, he slammed his palm onto the ground, activating a rune he had placed earlier. Sapphire chains shot out of the ground, wrapping around the captain's limbs and immobilizing him.

The captain struggled, his muscles bulging as he tried to break free. Vastarael approached him leisurely, his steps unhurried as he savored the moment.

"You're strong but... brute strength only gets you so far."

With a snap of his fingers, the chains tightened, pulling the captain to his knees. Vastarael leaned in slightly, his smirk turning almost predatory.

"I could let you go but… I won't. Sorry about this. I'm just following orders from an academy system."

He raised his hand, a massive sapphire spike materializing above him. The spike descended with pure force, piercing through the captain's chest and ending his life instantly. The rain seemed to pause for a moment as the captain's lifeless body slumped forward, the light fading from his eyes as lightning flashed.

Vastarael stood over the fallen captain, wiping rain from his face as he turned his gaze toward the royal family. They sat in their protected box in shock, fear, and, in the case of the queen and the princesses, undeniable fascination.

Vastarael wrote a Heat Rune in midair, causing his body to emit steam from vaporizing water. He summoned a colorless spherical essence barrier that prevented his body from getting wet from the rain.

The queen, a strikingly beautiful woman with regal poise, met his gaze with wide eyes. The princesses, both young and stunning, were visibly flushed, their breaths quickening as they stared at him. Even in the midst of chaos, Vastarael's presence was magnetic.

He raised his voice.

"Your Highnesses," he began, his tone dripping with charm, "I must say, I've never seen such radiant beauty gracing a battlefield. Truly, you make the rain seem dull by comparison."

The queen's lips parted slightly in surprise, her cheeks tinged with the faintest hint of pink. The princesses were not as composed, their faces burning red as they averted their gazes, their thighs pressing together in unconscious reaction.

Vastarael's smirk deepened.

"If only circumstances were different," he continued, "perhaps I'd have stayed longer to… enjoy your company."

Behind the smirk, his thoughts were amused.

'This Boon of mine really is something. They're practically falling over themselves.'

Phaenora's voice chimed in his mind.

[You're going to be a player, Veneri. I can feel it.]

He shrugged inwardly, unfazed by her comment.

'I can't help it if they find me irresistible.'

As the gladiators and slaves began to flee, taking advantage of the confusion, Vastarael gave one last glance at the royal family. He executed an exaggerated bow, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Goodbye, my dear queens and princesses. Perhaps we'll meet again. Though... I wouldn't count on it."

With that, he turned and began to run, his form disappearing into the shadows of the rain-soaked colosseum. His departure left chaos. Guards scrambling, the royal women fanning themselves, and the remaining onlookers unable to tear their eyes away from where he had stood.

And as he vanished into the storm, a smile played on his lips. Just as he leapt over a fallen log in the forest around the arena, a sudden notification flashed before his eyes, halting him in his tracks:

[You have completed the Fourth Test. Do you wish to go finish your test here?]

Vastarael blinked in surprise, his eyes narrowing slightly as he read the message again. He stopped running.

Finish here? What does that mean?

He muttered to himself, "Phaenora, what's going on? This wasn't part of the plan."

The familiar voice of Phaenora resonated in his mind, her tone uncertain.

[I... don't know. This isn't me. It must be the academy system directly intervening again.]

Before he could question further, another notification appeared:

[The Omniscient of the Academy has requested an audience with you. Accepting will allow you to ascend directly to the Seventh Level. You have already proven yourself.]

Vastarael tilted his head, confusion giving way to intrigue. He chuckled dryly as he saw the hologram in the rain.

"Well, that's not ominous at all," he said aloud, his tone laced with sarcasm.

Phaenora's voice came again, more cautious this time.

[This is... strange. The Omniscient doesn't interfere with the tests unless something is significant. If you accept, this might bypass the rest of the trials.]

"So, I've already done enough, huh?" He mused, a wry smile playing on his lips. "I guess massacring guards, blowing up an arena and setting slaves free earns some brownie points. But why would they want to talk to me personally? What's the catch here?"

Phaenora hesitated before replying.

[I don't have answers for you. But... but if this is truly an Omniscient, they may see something in you that others don't.]

The rain continued to fall around him as Vastarael weighed his options. Finally, he shrugged, his characteristic confidence returning.

"Well, if they want to talk, I'm not going to hide. Let's see what they have to say."

He reached out mentally, selecting Yes to accept the request. The moment he did, the storm seemed to still, the world around him growing eerily quiet.

[You have accepted the Omniscient's request. Preparing the gateway…]

A shimmering portal of iridescent light began to materialize before him, casting an ethereal glow on the soaked forest floor. It pulsed gently, waiting for him to step through.

But before he stepped through, he paused, as if remembering something.

"I'll go," he murmured, "but not before I finish what I started."

The portal remained steady, as if waiting for his resolve. He turned away from it briefly, his gaze focused on the distant colosseum.

The Omniscient would have to wait. He had something to do first.