Primordial Awakening: I Can Evolve My Skills Infinitely
Chapter 97: Clashing with Asmodeus, Three Days Warning

Chapter 97: Clashing with Asmodeus, Three Days Warning

"You don’t even know what you’re fighting for, yet you keep standing against me," Asmodeus muttered, his voice low and grim, like thunder in the distance.

He raised his black trident, its three jagged tips glowing with a deep, molten red as if forged from hatred itself.

"But I’m done with the pretense. Let’s end this here."

Sam didn’t respond. He simply stared.

He was used to analyzing his opponents the moment he stepped onto the battlefield, and Asmodeus was no different.

The [Forsaken Lord] stood tall at around two meters, his body a living furnace of blackened crimson skin that pulsed with power with every breath.

His entire presence radiated something beyond just magic, something deeper, more ancient, a pressure that coiled around the soul and threatened to snap it.

Dark flames circled his body like living snakes, each one a barrier, each one a warning.

Sam could tell they weren’t just for show, they distorted space slightly around them, creating a shifting veil of heat and power.

He wore what looked like ceremonial armor, layered and dense, engraved with symbols Sam couldn’t recognize.

And then there were the horns, ,twisting, sharp, definitely dangerous, and his eyes, cold and abyssal, entirely dark except for those blazing crimson pupils locked directly onto Sam.

Smaller than the [Roaring Titan], sure, but the pressure coming off him was ten times worse.

Suddenly, the flames around Asmodeus surged outward.

Fwish! BOOM!

The entire arena shuddered as the black fire erupted into a dome, forcing a massive barrier around both him and Sam, sealing them in completely.

"No one can help you," Asmodeus declared, spinning the trident with one hand, the weapon humming with dreadful energy, "No one will come to save you."

The trident began to glow darker, an eerie aura pouring out of it.

Sam could feel the energy inside it gathering.

It wasn’t just mana, it was something worse.

And then, without warning—

"DIE."

Fwish! BOOM!

Asmodeus hurled the trident with terrifying force, the sheer throw shattering the ground beneath his feet.

The weapon flew straight toward Sam like a meteor of death.

But just before it reached him—

Fwish! SLASH!

A second figure emerged from the air like a phantom, swinging its sword with brutal momentum and knocking the trident away with a massive crack.

BOOM!

The shockwave that followed threw both combatants backward.

And in the middle of the field stood the new arrival—

The [Forsaken Clone].

Its body was formed from Sam’s affinities, a living construct of his power and will.

Aura shimmered around its limbs, and its crimson eyes burned with loyalty and awareness.

’That thing...’ Asmodeus narrowed his eyes. ’Damn it!’

The clone stood still, analyzing Asmodeus, but its gaze flickered briefly to Sam, awaiting orders.

Sam pointed forward.

"There’s no chance we win this," he muttered, eyes narrowing, "But we can’t give up."

He clenched his fist, aura rising.

"Let’s give it everything."

Immediately, the clone leapt forward, its blade, a condensed, swirling fragment of Sam’s aura, aimed directly for Asmodeus.

The [Forsaken Lord] growled and summoned the trident back into his grip mid-air, blocking the clone’s first strike with ease.

Slash! Clash! Crack!

The battlefield lit up with their battle.

Sparks and flames erupted as steel met steel, as claw met blade.

The clone fought viciously, but Asmodeus was fast, far too fast.

Every fraction of a second, the clone took another hit, sometimes from the trident, sometimes from a sweeping claw strike that seemed to come out of nowhere.

Still, the clone didn’t retreat.

"You think you’re some kind of hero?" Asmodeus said suddenly, his voice calm despite the speed of the fight, knocking away another slash, "You think this is your story?"

Sam didn’t answer.

He was standing still, focusing, summoning dark portals above his head, fifteen of them, merging them slowly with all of his control and aura.

"But you’re not ready," Asmodeus continued, now effortlessly dancing between blows, striking and twisting around the clone’s desperate slashes, "Not for what’s coming. You’ve only scratched the surface."

"Whatever."

BULLET OF OBLIVION!

At that moment, the energy condensed from his aura and all four of his active affinities formed into a single mass of destruction, fired directly toward Asmodeus.

The energy was so dense it warped the air, and even Asmodeus paused to brace himself.

He shoved the clone back and stared down the projectile.

"Is this all you’ve got?" he laughed, loud and raw, "Even the last Primordial can’t put up a decent fight?"

The bullet struck.

And yet, Asmodeus tilted his head and took the attack straight to the forehead.

The explosion was blinding. But when the light faded... the trident-wielding demon was still standing.

Blood poured from a wound in his skull, but he remained.

Sam’s eyes widened slightly. That had been one of his strongest attacks. And it did almost nothing.

"Your kind, you ’Primordials’, you were known for one thing," Asmodeus said quietly, walking forward, "Not your terrifying strength. Nor your immeasurable power. But something more inconvenient."

The clone lunged again, but Asmodeus grabbed it by the neck mid-air and threw it effortlessly to the side.

"It was your refusal to stay dead, that determination."

Sam flinched.

Asmodeus walked to the edge of the platform, holding the clone by the throat above the endless sea of black flame below.

"They always came back. Over and over. Even when they were broken."

"...By my kind... you mean the other Primordials?" Sam asked slowly.

"Of course. But that didn’t stop us from killing every single one." Asmodeus grinned, eyes flaring, "And you won’t be any different, for even if you somehow manage to kill us all, and clear the initial six layers, then..."

He began releasing his grip, fingers loosening one by one.

"...Nevermind, it doesn’t matter if I tell you that, for I will kill you, there is no chance you get past me."

One last claw remained... then nothing. He dropped the clone.

A few seconds later—

Ding!

[Your "Forsaken Clone" was killed.]

Sam sighed.

’Well... shit.’

He looked up to see Asmodeus turning toward him again, calm, cold, blood dripping from the injury on his head.

"This is the end of your journey."

Suddenly, something changed.

Asmodeus’ eyes shifted, and in their depths swirled black spirals, patterns that pulled at the edges of reality itself.

Sam’s gaze was drawn into them, and in that moment, a tremendous force pressed down on his shoulders.

ROOOOAAARRRRRR!

The scream that erupted from Asmodeus’ mouth was ancient, wild, shaking the entire Fourth Layer.

His body pulsed again, visibly transforming, taking on a more monstrous aura, more unhinged and terrifying.

Even Sam stumbled slightly. A notification blinked.

[You have been inflicted with "Doom"...]

He clenched his teeth.

"So he can do that too, huh," Sam muttered, steadying himself.

[...But nothing happened. Keep pushing forward.]

’I don’t feel a thing. No fear. No dread.’

[Hell-Mode Analysis: is this all he can do? His resolve is... weak.]

Sam didn’t think it was weak at all, but now wasn’t the time to debate his own subconscious.

Asmodeus stepped closer, but he suddenly stumbled.

"Argh..." he held his forehead, the injury might actually have hurt him more than expected, "This terrain isn’t in my favor," the [Forsaken Lord] admitted, "But that won’t change the result."

He walked calmly toward the edge of the battlefield and pointed his trident downward, toward the flames below.

"You have three days," he said, his voice colder now, "If you don’t come down there by then—"

He turned around fully, his back to Sam.

"—Then I’ll come to your world myself."

A wide, sinister grin spread across his face.

[Void Watcher: He isn’t lying. His murderous intent exceeds all the other Forsaken Lords.]

Sam knew that. He could feel it. This one was different.

And that meant he could leave now if he wanted to, he could escape the layer.

But what would happen if Asmodeus was truly allowed to roam free? If this was only the Fourth Layer... what horrors waited beyond?

Asmodeus dropped into the flames, vanishing like a shadow into smoke.

And then—

[3 Days Left.]

A timer appeared before Sam. He sighed.

’I guess things just keep getting worse. And that bastard said this is only the beginning...’