Primordial Awakening: I Can Evolve My Skills Infinitely

Fwish!

Sam's figure blurred across the sky, streaking like a shadow of light as he passed through the fourth zone.

Then the third. Then the second.

The landscapes of each zone flashed beneath him, monsters and awakeners fighting.

Finally, the familiar terrain of the first zone stretched out before him.

In the distance, he spotted the colossal walls of the [Forsaken] kingdom rising against the horizon, massive and imposing like an immovable fortress.

The sight stirred a faint sense of relief.

Thankfully, the area around the gates was alive with activity.

Dozens of awakeners fought the lingering monsters near the walls, cutting down creatures to grind levels and harvest rewards.

Many others entered or left the city in steady streams, their movements busy and natural.

It meant Sam could slip inside without drawing suspicion, even though he had just completed the fourth mission, an achievement that would normally turn every head.

His wings sliced through the air one last time before he descended.

The [Primordial Wings] folded neatly as he landed with a soft thud, their faint glow fading from view as he dismissed them.

He brushed the dust from his clothes, squared his shoulders, and strode forward toward the gates.

The moment he crossed into the [Forsaken] kingdom, a sharp chime rang in his ears.

Ding!

[You have received 2,500,000 Forsaken Coins for completing the fourth mission!]

Sam stopped mid-step, his eyes widening.

'Holy shit.'

That amount wasn't just impressive, it was staggering.

With that much money, he could buy one of the grandest mansions in the entire [Forsaken] kingdom.

Even the most extravagant estates, the kind reserved for the wealthiest awakeners, would be within reach.

The system clearly rewarded progress with more than just power.

Anyone who cleared even the fourth mission could live like royalty for the rest of their days.

And if someone managed to clear the fifth?

They might never need to worry about survival again.

They could abandon the endless grind, forget the dangers beyond the walls, and simply live in luxury in this strange realm.

Another chime interrupted the thought, accompanied by a line of text that carried an unsettling tone.

[Destruction is imminent, we can't sit around doing that =)]

Sam exhaled, the faint trace of a smile tugging at his lips.

'Hm.'

Of course, luxury was never an option for him.

From the moment he had entered this world, his path had been set.

He was cursed—bound to face whatever trials lay ahead, no matter how impossible.

And as if to remind him of that truth, another notification appeared.

Ding!

[Due to your clearance of the missions, you have unlocked the "Forsaken Shop".]

"Huh?"

A second panel appeared, bright and inviting.

[This shop allows whoever has the money to do so to buy several items that may aid them.]

[Note: None of these items can be used in actual combat, they are more so to make life "easier" in this forsaken kingdom.]

Sam tilted his head, curiosity flickering despite himself.

"...Interesting."

He didn't care for comfort, but there was no harm in seeing what the shop offered.

A list unfolded before his eyes.

---

[Forsaken Shop:]

[Mechanical Maid — 1,000,000 Forsaken Coins: Never have to worry about cooking, cleaning, or taking care of any household duties.]

[Kingdom Teleporter — 500,000 Forsaken Coins: Teleport anywhere in the kingdom (not outside of it).]

[Forsaken Coins Generator — 10,000,000 Forsaken Coins: Generate 10,000 Forsaken Coins a day, allowing you to never have to do anything.]

...

---

The list went on and on, filled with items that promised to make life inside the kingdom easier, softer, and far more convenient.

Some were simple luxuries, while others bordered on absurd.

The [Forsaken Coins Generator], for instance, was almost broken in its utility.

Once purchased, it produced a steady stream of currency every single day.

Whoever owned it would never need to fight again.

The price was outrageous, ten million coins, but not impossible.

Anyone who managed to clear the sixth mission could probably afford it.

There were other curious items too.

A [Super Computer], a [Communication Divine], a [High-End Connection].

All tools for comfort.

Sam's eyes lingered on the glowing list for a moment longer before he exhaled and closed the shop interface.

'Never opening that thing again unless I have to.'

It was tempting to buy something small, maybe the [Mechanical Maid] for convenience.

But he dismissed the thought as quickly as it came.

He wasn't the type to stay home.

Comfort meant nothing to someone who spent more time in battle than within walls.

His sole purpose was clear—grow stronger, survive the [Upper] realm, and confront whatever waited beyond.

Still, he had work to do before the next mission.

Three of his skills were ready for evolution.

"[Gaze of the Primordial], [Void Rush], and [Fire Meteor]," he murmured to himself.

Fire Meteor was the most obvious powerhouse among them.

Its destructive potential was clear even at its current stage.

But the other two held unknown possibilities.

He would need time to refine them all.

Twelve days, at least, to push each skill to its next evolution.

Sam flexed his fingers as a quiet thought settled in.

'I'm probably the only one who's completed the [Fourth Mission].'

It wasn't arrogance. It was simple reality.

If the difficulty continued to climb the way it had so far, the sixth or seventh mission might be beyond nearly everyone else.

Even the [Eternal] group, dangerous and relentless as they were, could take all the time they wanted to grind levels after all.

So there was no need to risk their lives that much.

Many had already reached level ten of immortal-rank.

For them, clearing the [Maze of the Damned] was probably their ticket to the next stage, the rank just below the final one.

Sam, however, had only recently entered forsaken-rank.

He still needed to grow.

'I'll spend the coming days grinding and evolving my skills,' he decided. 'But I doubt I'll gain even a single level.'

He would also need to visit the [Fifth Zone].

Not to challenge it yet, but to see it for himself.

With his clearance, he had access now.

And if the pattern held true, more than half the corruption of this world had already been wiped away.

Every zone lost its corruption once someone cleared the mission tied to it.

If all the zones were eventually cleansed, maybe—just maybe—the final realm would open.

That was a distant future.

For now, the [Monarchs] loomed far larger as threats.

They were almost certainly aware of his battle with the [Pale Monarch].

They were watching.

And they would not face him fairly. Sam's lips curved in a faint, defiant smirk.

'Maybe I'll wait a bit and buy a mansion,' he mused, 'Why not?'

Once enough people cleared the fourth mission, the market would flood with new wealth.

A small taste of luxury, even if temporary, was still tempting.

He wasn't planning to stay here forever, but he was still human.

Even he could admit that the idea of a grand home held a strange pull.

A faint ripple passed through his vision as a familiar voice echoed in his mind.

[Abandon those meaningless ideals, we just need to proceed forward.]

Sam chuckled softly.

"Nah, I think I'll do it."

Seraphine and Belle weren't anywhere nearby, which likely meant they were challenging the [Maze of the Damned] themselves, either together or with a team.

The voice inside him sharpened, distorted with static.

[There is no need to care about any of these beings... we are the only important ones =)]

"Hm."

Sam could sense it clearly now.

The tone of [Hell-Mode Analysis] was growing darker, more ruthless with every mission.

But that was weird, since he knew that [Hell-Mode Analysis] was his own consciousness whispering back at him.

That meant he, too, was changing.

[The "Forsaken" path calls out to us.]

[We cannot worry about things like these, because if death takes us, then our kind will be gone.]

"Doesn't change the fact that we can still have friends," Sam muttered. "Or do nothing if we want to."

[What? Do you actually care about these girls?]

"Perhaps."

[Haha… you think that maybe you'll be able to have a "harem" life, don't you?]

"..."

[But no… there isn't anything of the sort for us. It's just us against the world =)]

[Let's not waste any time fooling around.]

Sam narrowed his eyes, letting his aura flare for a heartbeat, raw power pulsing through his veins.

"No," he said firmly. "I'll do what I feel like doing."

[So be it =), but we both already know that it's inevitable.]

The voice faded with a faint hiss, leaving only the quiet hum of the city around him.

Sam could feel the truth in those words.

The deeper he went, the more ruthless he became.

Piece by piece, he was starting to resemble the [Primordial Clone], the twisted being whose smile still haunted his memory.

Maybe that was the natural path for someone like him.

[Most of our kind was like this. There is no reason to reject it.]

"Whatever."

He dismissed the thought with a shake of his head and closed the panels with a flick of his hand.

The glow faded from his eyes as he turned and began walking toward his apartment.

'I should check up on them,' he thought, meaning Seraphine and Belle.

But deep inside his soul, another fire burned brighter than any lingering doubt.

The fire of determination.

It demanded that he keep pushing forward, no matter how long the road stretched or how high the obstacles rose.

He couldn't stop. If he did, the beings above, those watching from the shadows, would end him without hesitation.

'I'll evolve my skills,' Sam resolved. 'I'll train, and prepare for what's to come.'