Sam cleared the [Fifth Layer] once again.
It had beco second nature to him by now, not just because of how powerful he had beco, but because his control over his own abilities had reached another level.
He moved with precision, attacked with purpose, and struck with power that could level any opponent in his path.
Even the [Rune Dragon], the final boss of the layer, a creature that once demanded his full attention and effort, was now nothing more than a one-slash kill.
His skills had grown sharper with every day spent in combat.
His speed, reflexes, and movent had all improved through consistent training.
More than anything, the greatest turning point for him had been the [Dinsion of Ti].
It was a gift, no, a blessing, that had co to him exactly when he needed it most.
That strange space, where ti flowed differently, had allowed Sam to train harder and longer than anyone else possibly could.
In that dinsion, he had pushed himself to the very edge.
He had faced his own clone in battle countless tis.
And through that intense and repeated struggle, he not only perfected his existing abilities but created three entirely new ones.
One for [Primordial Sword Technique]. One for [Tendril of Oblivion]. And one for [Void Rush].
Each of them was powerful. Each of them had cost him days of exhaustion and frustration to figure out.
But each of them would be worth it when the ti ca.
Sam wasn’t sure if those techniques would be enough to defeat the sixth [Forsaken Lord], but he wouldn’t know until he tried.
And tomorrow... he would try.
That was when he would step into the [Sixth Layer].
That was when he would put everything on the line.
He thought to himself for a mont, the thought creeping through his mind like a whisper.
’I guess I’ll finally get to use those abilities... maybe.’
There was no fear in his heart, only determination.
No hesitation, only certainty.
After a long session of training and final checks, Sam gathered the items.
He stored them neatly in his [Spatial Inventory].
Then, without looking back, he stepped out of the [Rune Tower].
Fwish!
He appeared once more in the familiar fields of the third [Outer Ring].
Sam took a breath. This was it.
He was ready to leave.
Before entering the [Sixth Layer], he planned to speak to the girls, just to let them know what was going to happen.
He wasn’t looking for their approval or encouragent.
He simply wanted them to know where he was going.
And then, tomorrow, he would enter the [Sixth Layer].
There, he would face the strongest monsters the Forsaken Realm had to offer.
There, he would confront the sixth [Forsaken Lord].
But deep down, Sam could tell that even if he survived that battle, there would still be sothing more waiting for him.
Sothing worse. Sothing tied to the [Universal Stage] that lood beyond.
And there was still the mystery of the [Lower Realm].
He didn’t know what it truly was. He didn’t understand its purpose.
But for now, it didn’t matter. He would deal with what was in front of him.
And so, with his eyes ahead and resolve unwavering, Sam took a step forward.
Tap!
The sound echoed quietly in the air. But just as his foot landed...
[You’re not leaving.]
A dark panel appeared in front of him, and with it ca an overwhelming wave of aura, suffocating in its intensity.
Sam’s heart skipped a beat.
He spun around.
’Shit.’
He sensed it imdiately, sothing powerful, sothing familiar.
A massive fist covered in swirling black energy was already flying toward him.
He barely dodged in ti.
Fwoosh!
The attack grazed past his face, and Sam backflipped to gain so distance.
[I see your movents have improved.]
Sam looked up.
The figure standing before him was unmistakable.
The sa shadowy being he had fought before.
Its body was wreathed in darkness. Its crimson eyes stared at him without emotion.
Its aura was crushing, ancient, and relentless.
[You really thought you could just walk away, huh? Clear the layer and co back whenever you pleased?]
"You again..."
Fwish!
Another strike ca for him, this one faster, heavier.
Sam dodged again, but the force behind it shook the air.
The creature hadn’t grown weaker. But neither had Sam.
[There are only two weeks left before your world disappears.]
[When that happens, everything ends.]
"Shut up," Sam said, his gaze glowing with the sa deep crimson.
Their auras t.
The first ti, when Sam had been forced to retreat under the pressure, his aura was weaker then the being’s.
But now, they stood evenly. Power against power. Will against will.
[You think this training made you my equal?]
The being laughed.
[How foolish.]
[You don’t even know the limits of my strength.]
Sam said nothing. But he held his sword tighter.
[No matter.]
[They’re watching us right now.]
[And I need to get rid of you.]
’They,’ Sam thought, eyes narrowing.
He stepped into his stance, the [Primordial Sword] resting comfortably in his hands.
This was what he had trained for.
He had spent all this ti in the [Dinsion of Ti] to prepare for this exact mont. He wouldn’t falter now.
[Because you are the Primordial.]
[And that fire inside you, that stubborn will, is the only reason you’re still standing.]
[Keep going.]
Sam’s aura began to swell, rging with the energy of his affinities.
The ground beneath him cracked under the force of his power. He was ready.
This ti, he would give it everything.
[What do you think you’re doing?]
The shadowy being tilted its head.
[Haha. You think this is your decision to make?]
"What?"
Suddenly, its arms extended unnaturally.
Then, with a snap of its fingers—
Crack!
Its eyes blazed brighter, its malicious grin stretching wider.
[You’re never going to see the light again, Primordial.]
[Nobody will ever see you again.]
BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions erupted around him.
Sam tried to move, but chains of dark energy shot up from the ground, wrapping tightly around his arms and legs.
[You see, I can’t stay here on the surface for long because of them.]
[But if I pull you down...]
The shadow grinned.
[Then I can end it all.]
The chains began to drag Sam downward. Slowly but steadily.
Yet even then, Sam didn’t panic.
He just stared down at the chains. Then looked back up at the being.
[Let’s end this, Primordial.]
[All those months ago, I told you that you were powerless.]
[And you’ve done nothing to prove wrong.]
"You sure about that?" Sam replied, a faint grin on his face.
[Futile.]
[That’s what every other one of your kind thought.]
[And all of them... eventually died.]
Fwish! Ding!
Sam looked down.
A dark portal had opened beneath his feet. The chains were forcing him inside it.
The sixth [Forsaken Lord] was sending him into the [Sixth Layer], forcing him into battle on its terms.
He had intended to go there tomorrow. Now, that choice was stolen from him.
[See you in the Abyss, Primordial.]
The darkness consud him.
He felt space stretch, twist, and bend as he passed through it.
And...
Ding!
[You have entered the "Sixth Layer" of the "Forsaken" Realm: The Abyss.]
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