Primordial Awakening: I Can Evolve My Skills Infinitely
Chapter 100: Hatred Affinity’s Milestone, Hatred Bar

Chapter 100: Hatred Affinity’s Milestone, Hatred Bar

[4. You gain no skill now. Instead, you must fill the "Hatred Bar" before reaching Level 10 to unlock a powerful skill unlike any other (Hatred Affinity)]

[Hatred will consume all, even yourself, but if you fail, you receive nothing.]

Sam’s eyes narrowed slightly as he read the new option.

He expected each affinity to give a different milestone reward, just like before, but this one... felt different.

It wasn’t just the wording. It was the risk.

Unlike the others, this one didn’t promise him anything.

No guaranteed reward. No fallback. If he failed, he would walk away with nothing.

But maybe that was the point.

’If there’s nothing guaranteed,’ Sam thought, ’then it’s probably the most powerful one.’

Bigger risk, bigger reward.

Still, he closed his eyes for a moment, thinking carefully.

He couldn’t forget what was hanging over him.

[3 days left.]

The same red countdown hovered above his vision, cold and silent.

Asmodeus had given him a deadline. Three days. That was all the time Sam had before entering the sub-layer and facing the fourth [Forsaken Lord] on his terms.

If he didn’t... then Asmodeus would come to Earth himself.

And Sam had no doubt that if that happened, everything would fall apart.

Asmodeus wasn’t like the other monsters.

He was something that probably even peak [Ascendant] ranks couldn’t fight. Not even close.

’But where is the sub-layer?’ he thought.

The [Underworld] layout was simple, floating islands above a sea of black fire.

But Asmodeus had pointed downward when he spoke.

’So... do I really have to jump into that fire?’

He thought about how the [Forsaken Clone] had died instantly the moment it touched it.

’Maybe that’s the entrance... or maybe it’s just death.’

Either way, he’d find out later.

For now, Sam knew what he needed to do.

He had to get stronger, fast. These milestone rewards were probably his only real boost before the fight.

And more than that... he couldn’t lose. Not when the world was on the line.

[He is in our way.]

’I know,’ Sam muttered. ’But he’s strong, can’t deny it.’

Even worse, Asmodeus had said it himself, this was only the initial phase of something bigger.

Meaning even if Sam won... it might not be over. Maybe it wouldn’t ever be over.

Would he really throw the whole world into chaos just to avoid a fight?

[We will tear him apart, alone.]

Sam looked at the panel again. His choice was clear now.

Shadow could give him a skill right now.

Chaos gave a powerful one, but only after his Advancement Task.

Void on the other hand boosted his attributes.

But Hatred... offered something none of the others did. A chance at something different.

’I choose the Hatred Affinity,’ Sam decided.

The other choices disappeared instantly.

Ding!

[Hatred consumes your being, all of those who stand in our way shall face our wrath.]

A dark crimson aura began to swirl around Sam, seeping into his skin.

His eyes flickered red, his chest tightening slightly.

Something deep inside him responded, not just his power, but his soul.

Then...

Fwish! Ding!

A new panel appeared beside him. Unlike the others, this one didn’t display stats, skills, or bonuses. It was a bar.

[Hatred Bar: 0%]

"...Great."

No instructions. No explanation. Just the bar.

Sam had until he reached Level 10 in his current rank to fill it.

Normally, that wouldn’t be too bad, but he didn’t even know how to build Hatred.

He hadn’t even triggered the [Stars of Hatred] class skill once. Not once.

Still... this was what he picked. And now he had to make it work.

"I’ll figure it out," Sam muttered.

There wasn’t any other choice.

He closed all the panels and turned to the massive gate behind him after grabbing the items he could from the corpse.

---

[Cerberus Fangs]

[Rank: Legendary]

[Description: Fangs of Cerberus in his strongest form, can be used to create incredible weapons.]

---

He was ready to step through, but before he could, several crimson-colored panels appeared in front of him, horned and sharp.

[Say your goodbyes to those you consider close to you, for in 3 days, either you will face me head-on, or I shall destroy everything.]

[Don’t come back unless it is to fight me.]

Then... a roar.

ROOOARRRR!

The voice of Asmodeus echoed like thunder, shaking the sky even here.

Sam said nothing. His eyes flared with a deep light of resolve.

And without hesitation, he stepped forward into the light.

Ding!

[You have conquered the "Fourth Layer" and are now allowed to enter the "Fifth Layer."]

Ding!

[Your performance was astonishing. Your guild "Primordial" has climbed to the Top 15 in the "Guild Ranking."]

A small smirk formed on Sam’s face.

Only the top guilds across the regions had reached this far.

And now, his guild , a solo one, had taken a spot among the strongest in the northern region.

’Not bad,’ he thought.

But it wasn’t enough.

The enemies around him were getting stronger, their intentions more dangerous.

The [Forsaken Lords], the looming realm behind it all, and this strange idea of a prophecy, they all hinted at something even bigger coming.

And if Sam wasn’t strong enough... he’d fall like all the others before him.

As the last of the Primordials, he didn’t have that luxury.

His kind was already dead. If he failed, they’d be forgotten completely. That wasn’t an option.

He had two goals right now. The first: get stronger. Much stronger. Strong enough to kill Asmodeus.

And second: finish all six of the initial layers.

Only then would he know what came next. What waited beyond.

Sam landed on the plains of the second [Outer Ring], before heading toward the train station.

As he ran across the landscape, he checked his phone, curious to see if anything new had popped up.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Dozens of new messages.

’What now...?’

He opened the chat and saw the names right away.

---

[Chloe Vinelord:] How the hell is Sam’s guild already in the top 15?!

[Lily Gremoir:] I swear, I just saw it, it probably means he cleared the "Fourth Layer", though, right?

[Alicia Union:] He definitely did, no other way. And by himself probably... he’s insane.

[Lily Gremoir:] If the other guilds took even a single extra week, Sam probably would’ve overtaken them all, haha!

[Chloe Vinelord:] I’m gonna keep improving my technique before I try the Fourth Layer... gotta be ready!

---

They were all talking about him.

More specifically, about the [Primordial] guild.

People would be looking into it now. Trying to figure out what kind of team had cleared the fourth layer already.

But Sam didn’t care. Let them wonder.

’Though I do wonder how they handled the Cerberus boss,’ Sam thought.

Now that he’d fought it, the [Doom] status alone made everything clear.

That must’ve been what blocked the guilds for so long. Still, that wasn’t his concern anymore.

He returned to the first [Outer Ring] and used the train station to head back to [Ashbourne City].

He had a lot to do, and not much time.

If he wanted any hope of standing against Asmodeus, then the next few days would be everything.

Because if he failed...

[The monsters you are facing are nothing compared to what awaits you next, Primordial.]

[Grow strong enough to tear them all apart, no mercy.]

Sam clenched his fist. He would.