Primordial Awakening: I Can Evolve My Skills Infinitely

Ding!

[You have left the safe zone of the "Forsaken" kingdom.]

Sam stepped beyond the borders of the kingdom after finishing his talk with Seraphine and Belle.

The so-called "gate" system that the [Eternal] group—and probably other factions—were planning to set up wasn't active yet.

That meant he could still move freely without anyone tracking him.

Once he was far enough away from the kingdom's walls and the crowds faded behind him, he activated his skill.

Hatred Wings!

The power burst out instantly, and two massive wings unfolded from his back.

They stretched wide, dark and radiant at the same time, the feathers rippling like shadows burning with embers.

There was no pain, but he could feel something new—an undercurrent of hatred trickling faintly through his veins.

It wasn't overwhelming, not even close.

But it was there, quiet and cold, like venom slowly threading through his body.

'Weird.'

The [Hatred Wings] were majestic, even now, before they reached their full potential.

And the moment they appeared, people nearby noticed.

Gasps followed immediately.

"Holy shit, look at those wings…"

"Which race is he from? Could he be a dragon?"

"He looks human. No scales, no horns, no draconic features… but those wings… damn."

Sam ignored the chatter.

Without giving anyone a chance to look closer or recognize him, he gave one strong flap.

Wind howled as he shot upward, rising above the trees and rooftops in an instant.

His wings strained, but they held.

He could feel their strength.

The description of the skill had been clear: his speed, control, and flight would only improve the more he mastered them.

And right now, it seemed he was doing well enough.

Another flap carried him higher, and then he leveled his wings, tilting forward.

He launched across the skies toward the [Fourth Zone].

The speed was astonishing.

The wings made him at least three times faster than running on foot, maybe even more.

The land blurred beneath him as fields, rivers, and forests streamed by.

He reached the [First Barrier] in minutes and broke through it with ease.

The same for the [Second Barrier], then the [Third].

Until finally, the landscape shifted, and he entered the [Fourth Zone].

The aftermath of the [Third Mission] was still visible.

Several groups of awakeners had only just completed it, and most were still resting and recovering near the safe areas.

That meant Sam was the only one pressing forward into this place.

'Alright,' Sam thought, a grin spreading across his face.

'Time to grind.'

His wings still spread wide, he skimmed the ground, flying low as he rushed deeper into the zone.

It didn't take long before he found his first target.

A pale figure floated across the darkened path.

---

[Vengeful Ghost]

[Level: 85]

[Skills: Fly, Invisibility, Vengeful Strike]

[Description: A ghost bound by corruption, driven to violence.]

[Hell-Mode Analysis: We can slash through ghosts, right?]

Slash!

[You have killed "Vengeful Ghost."]

Sam slid his blade back into place.

"I guess we can."

The ghost's body shattered into fragments of mist, leaving behind its glowing core.

Sam absorbed it immediately, feeling the faint trickle of energy.

Not nearly enough to make a difference in his level, but still something.

He walked forward without pause.

With a thought, he dismissed his wings, letting them fold back into nothingness.

For now, he wanted to fight on foot.

He knew that eventually he would need to learn how to battle while flying—especially against aerial enemies—but until he had more time in the [Dimension of Time], it was better to refine what he already excelled at.

His eyes scanned the forest around him.

Unlike the earlier zones, where the monsters felt random and mixed together, this one was different.

Here, there was a theme.

A unity.

The air was cold.

The ground was shrouded in mist.

Every shape in the shadows seemed twisted, ghastly, corrupted.

The [Fourth Zone] was a place of the dead.

Everything here was either a ghost or some form of undead.

---

[Night Ghost Wolf]

[Level: 85]

[Skills: Ghost Claws, Translucent Orbs, Shimmering Fur]

[Description: A wolf that died and rose again as a ghost under corruption.]

---

[The Reaper (Boss)]

[Level: 85]

[Skills: Scythe Summon, Cleave, Extract Soul]

[Description: A reaper that tears souls from its victims, feeding corruption.]

---

Sam encountered them one after another.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

None could withstand his strength.

Even bosses that would devastate a team of awakeners crumbled with a single strike.

He didn't need to summon his primordial clone. He didn't need to rely on his skills.

His blade alone was enough.

The hours bled away as he hunted, carving through endless waves of undead.

Every ghost, every monster, every creature was his.

And because no other awakeners had yet entered this zone, every single enemy targeted him alone.

It was perfect. Just pure, uninterrupted grinding.

And after hundreds of corpses fell to his blade—

Ding!

[Congratulations to Sam Walker for leveling up to Level 6 of the Ascendant Rank!]

Sam's grin widened.

"Good enough."

It would only get harder from here.

Each level demanded far more experience than the last, and for someone like him, it was dozens of times more than what others required.

But it didn't matter.

If he kept up this pace, day after day, he would make it.

And even if he didn't reach Level 10 by the time he evolved all his skills, the [Maze of the Damned] would surely provide what he needed.

He pressed onward, continuing his hunt, until eventually the forest gave way to something new.

In the distance, a structure rose into view.

A massive transparent wall shimmered, stretching upward endlessly, separating the rest of the zone.

In front of it, a monument stood, dark and looming. At its center, an altar.

Upon the altar, a single orb spun slowly, pulsing with dim light.

Sam walked closer. As he approached, the system responded.

Ding!

[Touch the "Orb of the Damned" to enter the "Maze of the Damned," and prove your worth.]

[It is the only way forward.]

So this was it. The next mission wasn't spread across the open zone.

It was locked inside a sub-zone, just like the first and second missions.

Sam nodded to himself. That was expected.

But still… standing here, looking at the altar, he felt something strange.

The aura seeping from the orb was chilling, heavy, oppressive.

A wide grin tugged at his lips.

Ahead of the altar, past the transparent wall, the [Fourth Barrier] shimmered, preventing anyone from entering the [Fifth Zone] without completing the mission first.

He stared at it for a moment, then looked back at the orb.

"Oh well."

He had no intention of stepping in just yet. Not now.

The weight pressing off that altar told him he wasn't ready, not because of weakness, but because this wasn't the right time.

And then, as if to confirm it, a panel appeared.

[We have prepared a VERY special challenge for you, Primordial =)]

The voice of the beings echoed in his mind through the message.

[But watching your struggle to grow stronger entertains us. So keep going. Keep sharpening yourself. We'll see if you can succeed again.]

"Hm."

Sam's face didn't change.

He accepted their words with calm detachment.

As long as he wasn't being forced, he didn't care.

They could laugh. They could threaten. It didn't matter.

All that mattered was the strength he gained.

With a final look at the altar, he turned back.

'Time to call it a day.'

He opened his [Realm Map], the vast outline of the [Upper Realm] unfolding before his eyes.

He selected his house inside the [Forsaken] kingdom.

Ding!

[Do you wish to teleport to "House" inside of the "Forsaken Kingdom"?]

"Yes."

Ding!

[You are going to be teleported.]

The light wrapped around him, pulling him away from the ghastly zone and back toward safety.

His first day of grinding was complete. But he knew it was only the beginning.

There was still a long path ahead before his skills were all evolved, trained, and perfected.