Primordial Awakening: I Can Evolve My Skills Infinitely

The [Pale Monarch] had been struck cleanly by the [Eclypse Slash], the force of the blow slicing through the endless dark like a blade of cold light.

Its massive figure shuddered as if the void itself had recoiled, the swirling emptiness around it convulsing in violent reaction.

The creature's "head," a featureless mass save for the single enormous, bloodshot eye at its center, split neatly down the middle.

The eye flared in sudden brilliance, a sickening glow of crimson and black that seemed to pierce through reality itself.

[...Haha...]

A low, distorted laugh echoed from the depths of the Monarch's broken form.

BOOM! BOOM!

Shockwaves of raw darkness exploded outward, pounding the air in deafening bursts that made the platform tremble beneath Sam's feet.

The immense coils of the Pale Monarch's body began to unravel, threads of shadow peeling away and collapsing into countless fragments.

The void around them writhed like a living thing, then shrank back upon itself, retreating toward the abyss below.

In the next instant, it was simply gone, swallowed by the endless black beneath the platform.

[I tried my hardest... but it wasn't enough...]

The Monarch's broken voice crawled through the air like a whisper carried by a storm.

[I killed you so many times, yet you kept coming back...]

Sam said nothing.

His eyes remained cold and steady, watching as the towering figure trembled on the edge of existence.

[That determination of yours is different...]

The Monarch's cracked eye flickered, its glow faltering.

[Almost... twisted...]

Still, Sam remained silent.

[And yet... I can still see it all unfold...]

The Monarch's voice thinned to a rasp, faint and distant.

[You WILL die... sooner or later.]

"Sure," Sam replied flatly.

The Pale Monarch's split eye flickered one last time before finally dimming to black.

Its massive body sagged inward, dissolving into nothing as the surrounding darkness sank completely into the void below.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Several piercing chimes rang through the still air, followed by the sudden projection of glowing panels.

Their light spread across the [Upper] realm, reaching every corner of the world.

[Global Announcement: The "Fourth Mission" has been completed by the "Primordial."]

The message hung in the air like thunder.

And then—

Ding!

[Congratulations to the "Primordial" for being the first being in history to complete the "Maze of the Damned" and kill the first Monarch: Pale Monarch.]

"Hm."

Sam's simple grunt cut through the flood of notifications.

Across the realm, countless awakeners read the same glowing text with wide eyes.

"Alright, I get the first one, since he killed the boss but..."

"What the hell does the second even mean?"

Confusion spread quickly.

This was only the second time such a strange announcement had ever appeared.

The first had come when Sam cleared the [Seventh Layer] by defeating Zareth, The Forgotten One.

Many had conquered the Seventh Layer before him, yet the mysterious system had only recognized Sam's completion with a special global message.

Now it had happened again.

The implication was undeniable, there was something different about the Primordial.

Something the system itself acknowledged.

Sam, however, paid it little attention.

His focus remained fixed on the aftermath of his battle.

'There's no spirit,' he realized, 'Either that means I can't grab the [Pale Monarch] or maybe it's because he was made of void...'

The second one seemed more likely since [True Primordial Spirits] stated that NOTHING he defeated could resist him.

Either way, the fight was done, his objective complete.

But as the panels continued to hover around him, a faint glow in the distance caught his eye.

'Oh?'

He stepped forward, crouching near the dim light.

It pulsed faintly against the black stone of the platform, a shard of strange radiance left behind by the fallen Monarch.

An item drop. Sam reached for it without hesitation.

---

[Eye of the Void]

[Rank: Primordial]

[Description: The "Eye of the Void" allows its wielder to control the void. It is proof that someone has defeated the Pale Monarch.]

[Hell-Mode Analysis: I think we all know where this is going, but... it will be different this time.]

---

"Hm."

Sam studied the floating text for a moment, then slid the item into his [Spatial Inventory].

Something told him this eye would serve a purpose later.

Perhaps a key. Perhaps a weapon. Either way, he would be ready.

Another chime broke the silence.

Ding!

[You have completed your Ascendant Rank advancement task: Defeat the "Pale Monarch."]

[Performance Rating: How the hell did you actually do it— I mean, SSS.]

Sam's lips curled faintly.

And with that notification came the one he had been waiting for.

Ding!

[Congratulations to Sam Walker for advancing to Forsaken Rank!]

"Goddamn, finally."

The words slipped out in a breath of relief.

It had taken countless trials, endless fights, and more close calls than he cared to count, but at last he had reached the rank that once stood at the pinnacle.

Power surged through his body as his soul sharpened, the new rank flooding him with strength and clarity.

Another panel appeared, this one dark crimson and heavy with presence.

[It seems you have managed to defeat one of the Monarchs, Primordial.]

Sam narrowed his eyes.

He knew this voice.

[Fascinating. I can definitely see why we are similar now.]

It was the being above.

The one the others whispered of as the "King."

"We're not similar," Sam said coldly.

"I'm killing the others. Then you."

[Sure.]

The reply was soft and dismissive, carrying a quiet amusement that sent a chill down the air.

The panel dissolved, leaving Sam alone on the vast platform surrounded by silent darkness.

Then—Creak...!

The ancient gate through which he had entered groaned open with a slow, echoing sound.

'Oh shit!'

Sam tensed. The sound of approaching footsteps followed immediately after.

He spotted a silver portal forming in the center of the platform and moved toward it at once.

No hesitation. No time to waste.

Figures were already stepping through the gate.

"So this is the boss room, huh?"

"Definitely. But since the Primordial defeated the boss, it should be empty, right?"

The [Eternal] group had arrived.

A team of fifteen Celestials, each exuding overwhelming strength.

Sam vanished into the portal just as their leader, Lucien, stepped onto the platform.

"Hm."

Lucien's sharp eyes swept across the chamber, sensing the lingering traces of power.

"He was here only a few seconds ago," he muttered.

"But he managed to escape."

"Are you kidding me?" one of the others snapped.

"Damn it... we should have been faster. The gate was locked until now."

"It's fine," Lucien said calmly.

"He can't escape forever. The further we go, the more the list of suspects narrows."

The Celestials spread across the platform, scanning the shadows for any clue.

But before they could move further—

Fwish! BAM!

The gate slammed shut behind them, sealing the chamber.

Fwish!

White energy surged upward from the center of the room, and a towering figure emerged from the swirling light.

The [Ghost King].

As the [Maze of the Damned] operated within a singular instance, the boss would always respawn for new challengers.

Even if it had died moments before.

"That's not the Pale Monarch," Lucien observed coolly.

"Strange."

The Celestials stared at the newly risen boss without a flicker of fear.

The Ghost King roared, a guttural scream of hatred and hunger, before charging forward.

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

"Just die," Lucien said flatly.

THUNDER SPEAR: REQUIEM!

A spear of pure lightning materialized in his grip.

He hurled it with deadly precision, the weapon striking the Ghost King with explosive force.

Electricity tore through the creature's body, stunning it in a single, blinding flash.

The rest of the Celestials followed instantly, their combined assault a storm of destruction.

In mere seconds, the Ghost King collapsed into nothingness.

Ding!

[You have completed the "Fourth Mission."]

Lucien lowered his arm with a faint scowl.

"Sure," he muttered.

"But too late. And this wasn't even the Pale Monarch."

Though they remained as efficient and lethal as ever, the group could not hide their frustration.

"Let's go," Lucien commanded.

"We have to be faster next time. Train harder than before."

"YES!" the others roared.

The Celestials lingered just long enough to collect the fallen loot, then departed through the portal in grim silence.

…

Meanwhile—

Fwish! Ding!

Sam stepped out of the silver portal and into the open expanse of the [Fourth Zone].

Cool air swept against his face as he took in the sight.

No ambush. No altar.

Just the sprawling wilds of the zone around him.

He had expected to emerge directly outside the altar where others might be waiting to strike, but the system had sent him elsewhere.

Only those who cleared the mission could exit freely after all, so if he had left, they would have realized who he was.

[THEY should feel lucky =), we would have killed them all.]

"Right."

Sam's faint smile returned as he looked around.

The area was quiet, populated only by a few distant figures locked in battles with roaming monsters.

No one paid him any attention.

Teleporting back to the [Forsaken] kingdom was impossible for now, the cooldown on his [Realm Map] remained too long.

But that didn't matter. Other tasks awaited.

Ding!

[You will be granted several rewards for your performance, Primordial.]

'Here we go.'

[As a reward for your efforts, you have been granted x2 "Skill Tier Advancement Scrolls."]

'Perfect.'

With those, his two remaining skills could finally be pushed to [Tier 2].

And now that he had reached Level 1 of the [Forsaken] Rank, more options awaited.

A new milestone reward. A fresh affinity. The next mission.

And, of course, the mysterious [Mystery Box] since he had been the first to clear it.

Ding!

[Make your choice, Primordial.]

'Good.'

Sam's eyes narrowed with anticipation as the panels before him shimmered into countless possibilities.