Primordial Awakening: I Can Evolve My Skills Infinitely

Usually, even against the other [Forsaken Lords], Sam always had time.

Time to clear the layer first, figure things out.

Time to leave, take a breath, prepare himself before stepping into the sub-layer.

That's how it had always gone.

Even with the [Roaring Titan], who had forced Sam to enter the sub-layer on his second entry into the third layer.

Even with [Asmodeus], who had only given him three days to enter.

No matter how tight the pressure got, there had always been at least some breathing room.

A moment to collect his thoughts. To refocus.

Sometimes that pause alone helped him win, helped him gather the determination he needed, or even evolve a skill just enough to turn the tide.

But now... Against Jevil? There was no such thing.

Jevil had forced him into the sub-layer on his very first entry into the [Fifth Layer].

There hadn't even been time to breathe.

But strangely, it didn't bother Sam as much as it should've.

Because he needed to kill Jevil to complete his [Advancement Task].

Killing him wasn't optional.

If Sam wanted to grow stronger, if he wanted to move forward at all—he had to defeat Jevil.

There was no path forward otherwise.

His goal, his next evolution, everything... it was all tied to this fight.

That knowledge alone steadied him as he looked ahead.

A tower loomed in the distance, massive and imposing.

It was different from the others he'd seen. Not just in size, but in its appearance.

This one had a huge mask carved right into the front. A jester mask.

One half smiling. The other half weeping.

This was Jevil's domain, without a doubt.

Panels floated in the air in front of him.

[There are no trials, child~]

[It's just you and me now~ Come on, enter my domain~]

Sam sighed as he read the text, the eerie tone almost echoing in his mind.

Deep down, in the core of his soul, he knew the truth. There was no escape.

This wasn't a trial he could skip or delay.

He either killed Jevil… or he died here.

And though Sam could feel the gap in power between himself and this [Forsaken Lord], he still didn't hesitate.

He was ready to face it, even if it was alone—

Fwish! Swash!

Something dropped beside him.

Sam turned just in time to see the [Forsaken Clone] land beside him, its crimson eyes glowing, its usual grin stretched wide.

"…Never mind," Sam muttered with a slight shrug. "Not alone, then."

The clone had probably leapt in right after him during that shockwave blast.

And honestly? Sam was glad.

It made a difference, having it at his side. Even if only a little.

Together, they walked toward the [Jester Tower], Sam leading the way, his expression hardened with determination.

But just as they neared the gates...

BOOM!

A deafening explosion echoed out, and a wave of white mist erupted across the path.

Sam stepped back immediately, instincts kicking in.

But the clone stepped forward, its smile stretching even wider, as if amused by the development.

And when the mist finally cleared, he saw him.

Floating in the air, arms wide open as if welcoming them, was Jevil.

The fifth [Forsaken Lord]. The one behind everything in this layer.

"Well, well~" Jevil sang, spinning slowly in the air. "To have you standing before me after all this preparation~ It feels wonderful!"

Sam said nothing.

Jevil's smile grew.

"Y'know, it almost makes me happy the others failed to stop you," he went on, "Because now… I get to kill you myself~"

A wave of darkness flared from his body as his mask lit up, both the smiling and the weeping side letting out trails of thick aura.

Sam took that moment to size him up.

He was tall, maybe two meters, comparable in size to Asmodeus.

But his aura? Much denser. Wilder. More volatile.

He wore a white shirt tucked into black trousers, a flowing white cape stretching all the way to his heels.

His hat was a jester's cap, white as snow, with two playing cards dangling from either side.

But most striking of all was the mask.

It was the same mask Sam had seen before, on the panels, on the cards, on the tower itself.

This was no illusion. This was the real thing.

And yet, even with that overwhelming presence in front of him, Sam didn't retreat.

He stepped forward instead, just like the clone beside him.

Jevil grinned.

"It seems that determination of yours made you stronger~" he said. "I wonder... will it be enough?"

His tone was playful, but there was a real question beneath it.

Jevil was curious. He wanted to know how far Sam could go.

"After all~" Jevil continued, "What awaits you next is..." He paused, tilting his head. "Ah, but never mind. This is only the [Lower Realm] anyway~ If you survive, you'll see."

That was when the [Forsaken Clone] struck.

It lunged forward without hesitation, its sword glowing with primordial energy as it swung at Jevil's head.

But—

Poof!

Jevil vanished in a cloud of white mist just as the strike was about to land.

"I'll be waiting inside~" his voice echoed, faint and teasing.

The clone landed hard, its aura flaring with frustration.

But it didn't stay down.

It stood tall again, glancing at Sam with a fierce glow in its eyes, as if saying: "We'll kill him soon."

Sam nodded.

They moved forward together. There was no turning back now.

Unlike regular layers, there was no exit in a sub-layer even if combat hadn't been triggered.

The only way out… was forward.

They reached the gate of the tower.

As Sam stepped closer, it creaked open slowly.

Then, he stepped inside.

A strange pulling sensation yanked at him.

His vision blurred as space warped, and a moment later—

He landed.

Ding!

[You have entered the "First Floor" of the "Jester Tower"]

"…Huh," Sam muttered. "So I do have to go through the floors again?"

It was odd.

Most sub-layers introduced entirely new environments or strange, custom challenges.

He had expected something like that again.

But this… this felt like a repeat of a normal tower climb.

Then he remembered Jevil's words:

'There are no trials… it's just you against me…'

So maybe… Maybe Jevil would be waiting on every floor?

Poof!

A sudden burst of mist appeared ahead, and there he was. Jevil.

The smiling side of his mask glowed intensely now, leaking aura through its holes like smoke from a fire.

"So you came, child~" he laughed. "And now you're trapped in my tower, just like the others~!"

Sam narrowed his eyes.

He wouldn't let this being get inside his head.

He would push forward. He had to.

[Your determination fuels your soul. Keep going.]

He nodded, steadying his stance, his eyes locked on Jevil.

'I wonder why all the [Forsaken Lords] talk about fighting the Primordials,' Sam thought. 'Even though the Primordials should've been long gone by the time the [Forsaken] realm appeared... Or maybe I'm wrong?'

There were still so many questions. So many mysteries.

Every [Forsaken Lord] had mentioned fighting them, or hinted at their involvement.

But Sam didn't have time for answers. Not now.

Because Jevil… was powering up.

[Jester Tower, Floor One.]

The words appeared as Jevil raised his hand.

Snap!

Suddenly, ten cards burst into the air around him.

They spun rapidly, glowing with vibrant power, each one brimming with energy that made the air vibrate.

"You thought my disciples had even a fraction of my power?" Jevil laughed, eyes wide with excitement. "Let's see how long you last~"

Sam didn't flinch. He was ready.

And beside him, the [Forsaken Clone] took its stance too, its smile sharpening, hungry for a fight.

It was just them… against Jevil.