CHAPTER 169: SECOND MISSION, FORSAKEN COINS REWARD

[Mission #2: Clear the "Tower of Fate".]

Fwish! Bam!

Sam was flung out of the portal he had entered on the seventh layer, his body stumbling forward before catching his balance.

The notification about the second mission still echoed in his head.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, his eyes scanned the area, every muscle ready to react.

But... nothing.

No sudden ambush. No hidden enemy waiting to strike.

Only the murmur of countless voices carried by the wind.

’Hm. Looks like I was right in waiting.’

There were hundreds of awakeners scattered around, hailing from different races and groups, all with one thing in common.

None of them were looking at the portal behind him.

They weren’t waiting for someone like him to emerge.

They were here to figure out the first mission, struggling among themselves and discussing strategies.

"Wait, we should put someone manageable at the front. The [Shadow] boss copies the skills of the person closest to it."

"We should focus on the statues. If we destroy them, the rest becomes easier."

"What about the [Forgotten Undead Lord]? Heard he’s the toughest one in there."

"Of course he is, dumbass. He’s literally the boss!"

Sam listened quietly, piecing together the chatter.

None of these people had cleared the seventh layer, and yet they spoke as though they had seen everything firsthand.

That was when it struck him.

’If you wait for others to clear it, then collect the information afterward... your chances of survival rise dramatically.’

It was so obvious, yet so easy to miss.

Why rush blindly when you could let others test the waters?

The reports, the observations, the breakdown of each monster and trick, it all became free information for those patient enough.

If someone lacked the strength, they could grind against weaker monsters or even ask a stronger awakener to carry them.

This way, they would avoid the mistakes of the pioneers who went first.

From the [Forsaken] kingdom to the [First Barrier] was now labeled a safe zone, but that didn’t mean it was completely empty of monsters.

What the ten beings had promised was simple: a safe zone free from corruption.

That didn’t mean they erased every creature roaming within.

It only meant the darkness eating away at everything had been purged.

Sam rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

’So the ones who rush ahead are the ones taking all the risk. Everyone else benefits afterward. Well, it doesn’t matter much.’

Whether others lived or died didn’t change his resolve.

Even if he stood alone by the seventh mission, he would keep moving forward.

’I wonder if Seraphine made it through.’

A grin tugged at his lips.

’She’s the heroine. She probably has plot armor anyway.’

The ground beneath his feet felt different.

The grass was green again, soft and full of life, while the sky above stretched wide in shades of blue.

Compared to the twisted wasteland from before, it looked like a completely new world.

Whatever corruption had plagued the [First Zone] was now gone.

Sam turned toward the massive barrier that loomed ahead.

It looked like a wall of dark fire, endless flames licking upward, denying entry to anyone unworthy.

But when he stretched his hand forward, his arm phased through the flames without pain or resistance.

’So I can move forward now.’

A faint voice followed, the same presence that had spoken to him before.

[What awaits us there will be tough... but we will overwhelm them all.]

’Sure.’

Sam didn’t linger at the barrier.

Before advancing, he had other priorities.

He wanted to evolve his skills, sharpen everything he had before risking the unknown of the second mission.

So, without hesitation, he turned back and began walking toward the [Forsaken] kingdom.

...

The journey back took longer than he expected, but eventually, the jagged towers of the [Forsaken] kingdom rose in the distance.

Since more than an hour had passed, and he had cleared the first mission, he was allowed entry.

At the gates, groups of awakeners were locked in combat against stray monsters, their blades and spells flashing as they tried to earn experience.

Others gathered near the entrance, loudly forming teams, desperate to find companions before venturing out again.

Sam watched for a moment, then shook his head.

’They’re all scrambling to move forward. But most of them won’t make it.’

It was harsh but true.

The majority here would either die or give up.

If Zareth was telling the truth about the seven missions, then it was obvious.

Every step forward would cut the numbers down.

When Sam stepped past the gates, a chime rang in his ears.

Ding!

[You have received 150,000 forsaken coins for completing the first mission!]

"Oh."

The sound of coins filling his inventory made him pause for a moment.

Forsaken coins were still the currency here, the lifeblood of the kingdom.

Without them, you couldn’t buy food, supplies, or even a roof over your head.

The most luxurious mansions cost two million forsaken coins, and the only way to reach that standard of living was to keep risking your life.

Sam chuckled to himself.

’I wonder what was the point of becoming a millionaire on Earth.’

Here, wealth was reset.

The [Upper Realm] forbade the transfer of Earth’s riches into this world.

Strength was the only currency that mattered.

And strength came from completing missions. That was the trick.

It wasn’t grinding endlessly for coins. It was risking yourself against the missions the realm handed down.

Each one granted more coins the deeper you went.

The first mission alone rewarded 150,000 coins, conveniently, the exact price of a modest house.

"These assholes are smart," Sam muttered as he walked. "If you want comfort, you have to bleed for it."

You couldn’t sit idly and live off scraps forever.

Eventually, you’d run out, and the only option left would be to face another mission.

It was designed perfectly, almost cruelly, to keep everyone climbing higher.

The further you went, the more luxurious your life could become.

Someone who cleared six missions and then stopped would live like a king forever.

Sam smirked faintly at the thought.

’Well-thought-out indeed.’

But for him, there was no stopping point.

Coins or no coins, his eyes were fixed on the end.

When he finally reached his hotel, he slipped inside and sat down heavily on the bed, exhaling a long breath.

’Looks like no one noticed me.’

His lips curved upward in satisfaction.

He didn’t know if others had already started on the second mission, but it didn’t matter.

Whether it took weeks or months, as long as he cleared each one, he would move forward.

First or last, it made no difference.

’Time to wait, I guess.’

He planned to spend ten days in the kingdom.

Ten days evolving every skill he had, training until they reached the next tier.

Only then would he step into the second mission, which, he suspected, would be far more punishing than the first.

[One down, six to go =)]

[It kind of reminds you of something, doesn’t it?]

"The layers?" Sam tilted his head. "Yeah, maybe."

For now, though, he pulled open his skill panel.

Primordial Evolution!

Ding!

[Better Primordial Sword Technique (Forsaken+) has evolved into Last Primordial Sword Technique (Forsaken++)]

Sam raised his brows.

"Oh wow, they had no inspiration with the rank names, heh."

Still, the satisfaction was real.

Every rank meant he was one step closer to reaching the maximum.

In exactly ten days, all his tier two skills would be ready for training.

Until then, there was only one thing to do.

’Wait. Maybe explore the kingdom. See if there’s anything useful.’

He leaned back, exhaling softly.

The silence of his room pressed around him, and yet his grin lingered.

The path ahead was long. But it was his to walk.