Primordial Awakening: I Can Evolve My Skills Infinitely

Fewer than ten days had passed since Sam's return to the [Forsaken] kingdom, yet the atmosphere around the city had already shifted.

The quiet tension that once lingered in the air had sharpened, as though the entire realm was holding its breath.

Word spread quickly that the [Eternal] group had finished the fourth mission.

Not only that, but they were already making preparations to challenge the fifth, moving faster than anyone expected.

Some awakeners outside of that group even managed to defeat the [Ghost King], though tales of the battle made it sound almost impossible.

The rumors described the boss as monstrously strong, an enemy that tore through teams of fighters without mercy, and the fear that followed sent shivers through the population.

Many weaker awakeners chose to stop advancing altogether rather than face such a terrifying opponent.

'It's happening quicker than I thought,' Sam reflected, watching the restless movement of people in the streets.

'The number of awakeners willing to keep pushing forward is shrinking by the day.'

And no one could predict what awaited them inside the dreaded [Land of Judgment].

[How about we just kill them all and be done with it =)]

"Good idea," Sam replied without hesitation, his lips curling into a faint smile.

"But… no."

[I was messing with you.]

[You have a really bad feeling about this.]

"Yeah. Damn."

The uneasy feeling remained no matter how he tried to push it aside.

During these days of waiting, Sam poured his focus into training and used [Primordial Evolution] as many times as he could.

Through relentless effort, he finally pushed his [Fire Meteor] skill to its peak evolution.

'Only two more left,' he thought with satisfaction.

He had chosen to evolve [Fire Meteor] first because he believed it would prove the most useful in an unexpected fight.

If danger struck without warning, this skill could save his life.

Maybe he was growing more paranoid the deeper he ventured into this cursed world, but caution no longer felt like a weakness.

It felt like survival.

Several days into this routine, Seraphine and Belle came looking for him.

They didn't bother with formalities.

"We managed to kill the [Ghost King]," Belle announced with a grin that bordered on triumphant.

"And it was just the two of us!"

"It… wasn't easy though," Seraphine admitted, scratching her head with an awkward smile.

"Difficult doesn't even cover it."

Sam studied their faces carefully, unable to hide his surprise.

Many teams had tried and failed to defeat the [Ghost King], suffering heavy casualties along the way.

Yet these two had succeeded on their own.

How?

[Plot armor.]

'Yeah,' Sam thought dryly.

'Figured as much.'

Still, he couldn't help wondering how long their so-called plot armor would last.

The sixth and seventh missions wouldn't be forgiving.

Even if Seraphine and Belle continued to grow stronger, breaking through those future challenges would demand weeks of grinding, training, and endless battles against monsters that were only growing stronger.

The next zone's creatures might even reach level ninety-five or one hundred.

The thought alone was enough to make even veterans hesitate.

For now, though, he spent time with them.

Talking helped pass the long, quiet days.

"I'm thinking of buying a mansion," Sam said one evening as they sat together.

"I have more than enough coins.

Might as well live a little better while I still can, even if I end up dying sooner than later."

"Y-You're not going to die," Belle shot back instantly, her eyes shining with conviction.

"You're… AMAZING!"

[...?]

"I agree with her," Seraphine added with a firm nod.

"It's hard to imagine anyone capable of killing you now."

Sam looked at them, their faces full of unshakable belief.

The warmth of their trust was comforting, even if he knew they were unaware of the greater threats lurking beyond their understanding.

"I think the pace will slow from here," Belle continued, leaning forward with thoughtful eyes.

"It'll take longer to grind levels, which is probably why these [Forsaken Coins] exist in the first place—to make life easier while we wait."

"It's also for people who might want to stop completely," Seraphine said softly.

Her gentle smile faltered for a brief moment.

"I feel like… if I get enough coins, and it becomes too hard, maybe…"

She trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.

"Maybe we could live with Sam," Belle teased, flashing a mischievous grin.

"After all, we're—"

"I don't mind," Sam interrupted calmly.

"But if we're buying a mansion, I expect each of you to pay your share."

At the current prices, that would mean roughly six hundred sixty-six thousand Forsaken Coins each.

With the rest of their earnings, they could live comfortably for as long as they wished.

"I want to do it!" Belle declared, slamming her scaled hands against the table.

"I-I want to live with you!"

"I don't mind either," Seraphine said with a quiet spark in her eyes.

"Though I'm sure Sam will be busy most of the time."

"Even then," Belle added, her grin widening, "if I'm with you two, I feel like life will be more fun."

[What the hell are they talking about? We barely even know them…]

'I know you're cold and ruthless,' Sam replied inwardly to the voice in his head, 'so just let me handle this.'

[I know. I'm the part of you that takes over in battle, remember =)]

'Sure.'

Despite the strange turn in conversation, Sam couldn't deny that he was enjoying himself.

It reminded him of the times he spent with Lily, Alicia, and Chloe back in the [Lower] realm—brief moments of normalcy in a world determined to destroy him.

But beneath the laughter and casual talk, a familiar unease stirred in his chest.

It was the same bad feeling that never left, the quiet warning that everything he cared about could disappear at any moment.

That thought pulled his mind back to the first three heroines still trapped in the [Lower] realm.

He hadn't seen any of them since arriving here.

In fact, the number of humans he encountered lately had dropped sharply.

'I haven't met a single person from the [Lower] realm in days,' he realized with a sudden chill.

'What happened to Oliver?

David?

Even those members of the [Inferno] guild or the leaders of the [Awakener Association]?'

The most obvious answer came immediately.

They were dead.

[And it is the correct one.

Abandon those futile hopes.

The truth is clear.]

'Damn.'

Had Oliver, David, and the others really fallen so early?

If so, maybe they never even survived the first mission.

Humans had always been the most underleveled race.

It wouldn't have taken much for them to be wiped out.

He wondered how Seraphine and Belle would react if they learned the truth, if they knew that the people they once fought beside might already be gone.

But Sam forced the thought away.

[Proceed.]

'Right.

It doesn't matter.

I just have to keep moving forward.'

"So," Sam said aloud, snapping back to the present, "once I complete the fifth mission, I'll buy the mansion and we'll see from there."

He smiled faintly as he spoke.

The two girls exchanged a quick glance, then nodded with cheerful grins.

"Did you two enter the [Fifth Zone] yet?" Sam asked, his eyes sharp with interest.

"Anything unusual there?"

"Not really," Belle replied, shaking her head.

"But I did reach level two of the Eternal-rank already."

Her grin widened with pride.

Sam's eyes widened in surprise.

He hadn't even thought to ask about their ranks.

The last time he checked, they were level ten of the immortal-rank.

Completing the [Maze of the Damned] must have advanced them directly to the next stage.

So the rank after immortal was [Eternal].

He made a mental note of the information.

"Good," Sam said firmly.

"Keep leveling and don't risk your lives.

If you need anything, ask me—though I won't do anything too flashy."

"We know," Seraphine said with a soft laugh.

"Thanks."

With that, the two girls headed off to continue their training, determined to grow stronger before the next mission.

Sam watched them go, then turned back toward the city's quiet streets.

For him, it was another stretch of waiting.

More days passed in the same steady rhythm until the moment finally arrived.

Through constant effort, he triggered the final [Primordial Evolution], bringing every one of his core skills to primordial-rank.

'Final check,' he thought, opening his panels.

'With all my skills fully maxed, the next evolutions should come easier when new abilities appear.'

He took a deep breath, steadying himself.

Then he focused on the glowing panels before his eyes, ready to see the results of his relentless work.