CHAPTER 56: VOID WATCHER

[Void Watcher]

[Description: You gaze into the void, and it tells you exactly what you need to see.]

[You are able to peer into the soul of others, both awakeners, monsters and more, to see their intentions toward you, including if they harbor killing intent.]

[In addition to that, no illusion, stealth ability, or anomaly can go unnoticed. You are able to see through them all.]

---

"Interesting," Sam mumbled, his voice low, his eyes focused as a faint shift of energy passed through his vision.

He could feel it, something was different.

The aura pouring from his eyes wasn’t just the usual crimson glow anymore.

There were silver streaks threading through the light now, blending into the red like veins.

The presence of the [Void] affinity had begun to integrate itself into his being, merging with the power already inside him.

It felt... natural. Like it was always meant to be part of him.

All three affinities, Shadow, Chaos, and now Void, weren’t just powers he used.

They were part of who he was now. They didn’t simply grant him spells or skills, they wove themselves into every action he took.

He could use them separately, layer them, or combine them into something far more powerful.

That was what he had done in the fight against the [Black Sun], after all.

And now, with the addition of [Void Watcher], he’d gained something crucial: perfect perception.

A skill that let him see through stealth, illusion, corruption, even people.

Their intent, their emotions, whether or not they meant to harm him, it would all be laid bare under his gaze.

With that, his advancement task was officially complete.

A powerful skill, a new affinity, and a class skill. Everything promised had been delivered.

And so, without any more delay, Sam turned to leave. He had no more business here.

He wanted to rest.

The battle against the [Black Sun] still weighed heavily on his body.

...

Elsewhere, within the Second Layer, just as Sam delivered the final blow to the [Black Sun], the world itself responded.

In one of the many districts of the layer, specifically the [Luxury District], two young awakeners were making their final push.

"Come on!" Lily shouted, her voice sharp as she slashed through a corrupted creature. "We’re almost at the gate!"

"I know!" Alicia replied, knocking a [Demonic Rat] aside with a swing of her staff. "This layer’s mechanic is ridiculous!"

They were close, dangerously close, to the final boss of this region: the [City Mayor], a powerful monster that ruled this layer.

Thankfully, their instance of the layer wasn’t corrupted, so the two had managed to fight their way through without too much trouble.

Still, it hadn’t been easy.

"I wish that damn sun would just disappear already," Lily groaned, glancing up at the massive orb in the sky.

But the moment the words left her mouth—

Ding!

[Congratulations to "Sam Walker" for being the first human in history to complete the Second Layer and defeat the Layer Boss: Black Sun.]

"...Wait, what?" Lily blinked.

"Huh?" Alicia froze mid-step.

In that exact moment, across every instance of the Second Layer, the sky shifted.

The once-looming black sun, the very mechanic that had imposed a constant threat of corruption on all Awakeners, flickered once, then exploded into a burst of shadow.

Fwish! BOOM!

And then... it vanished completely. Gone. Just like that.

Every trace of the black sun, from the pulsing darkness in the sky to the ambient corruption creeping through the streets, faded away in seconds.

Any Awakeners who had been on the verge of losing themselves to corruption were restored.

Those who had already turned into [Corrupted Corpses] but hadn’t died were forcibly reverted back to normal.

A message appeared in front of every player in the layer:

[The "Black Sun" has been killed. The corruption has been pushed back.]

"What... the hell?" Alicia muttered, looking around.

"Wait, does that mean—" Lily started.

"—that this layer just got massively easier?" someone nearby said.

"Yeah," another voice replied. "That Sam Walker guy killed the damn sun."

Voices erupted across the layer, and soon enough the world.

"Holy shit! My squadmate got turned into one of those corrupted things, but he’s back now! Sam saved him!"

The forums exploded. So did the group chats and news feeds.

It didn’t matter what platform they used, the name Sam Walker was everywhere again.

[The Black Sun has disappeared from the Second Layer!]

...

Back in his apartment, Sam finally scrolled through his phone as he collapsed onto the couch, still not fully processing the impact of what he’d done.

"...Ah, shit."

His eyes scanned the screen, reading post after post, each one either celebrating his victory or speculating on his identity.

"Sam Walker just soloed the [Black Sun]?"

"Probably some big shot, I’m telling you, that Sam guy has to be associated with the big guilds or families."

"Didn’t he conquer the first layer too?"

"Well," Sam sighed, placing the phone beside him. "I couldn’t have left it alive. And there’s still four more of those things."

The death of the [Black Sun] wasn’t a local event.

It had shaken the entire world.

It would affect tens of thousands of Awakeners.

His phone buzzed again, this time with private messages.

---

[David Union:] Kid, I am genuinely baffled. I’d ask how you did that, but I’m sure it’s too complicated to explain.

[Sam Walker:]Uh... no, I just... killed the Black Sun. I fought it and won.

[David Union:] Damn.

---

[Lily Gremoir:] I’m not even gonna say anything.

[Alicia Union:] Ignore her. She wanted to thank you. The layer’s a lot easier now that the Black Sun’s gone.

[Lily Gremoir:] But doesn’t that mean Sam basically changed the entire layer?

[Alicia Union:] It does. And I still can’t wrap my head around it.

[Sam Walker:] I’m just built different.

---

He smirked faintly as he put the phone down again.

He hadn’t been in this world very long, but already... he was changing it.

Still, the day had taken its toll. He needed rest. But before he slept, he had one last thing to test.

His new skill: [Chaotic Clone]

Unlike his high-impact abilities like [Abyssal Obliteration] or [Sovereign Inferno], this wasn’t a skill that caused collateral damage. It was controlled. Simple.

He could use it indoors without worrying.

Sam focused on his aura and activated the skill.

Chaotic Clone!

Immediately, chaotic energy burst out from his core.

The orange glow swirled and bent in the air like smoke under pressure.

The energy condensed in front of him, taking shape, and seconds later, a perfect clone stood in the center of the room.

It looked just like him, only it was made of raw chaos energy.

Its eyes were blank white. But in its hand, it held a near-identical version of the [Primordial Sword].

’So it has my stats. My skills. Even the sword...’ Sam thought.

It was strange seeing himself like that, like looking into a mirror made of living aura.

’Would I win against it though?’

As if answering his question, a system prompt appeared.

[A clone can copy your skills, but not your mastery, technique, or the ability to strategize.]

"Oh," Sam said aloud.

That answered it. He could beat it.

But still, the clone wasn’t a rival. It was a companion. A weapon.

A being he could call on in battle when the pressure was too much for one man alone.

After a few minutes of inspecting the clone, Sam gave a small nod.

"All right," he muttered, snapping his fingers.

The clone vanished instantly, dissolving into chaotic particles that flowed back into his body.

With that done, Sam tossed together a small, late-night meal and ate quietly.

He showered, got ready for bed, and lay down, staring at the ceiling.

Today had been monumental. But it had also been just one step on a much longer path.

And as his eyes started to close, a final system message flickered in his mind.

[For some reason, you have the feeling tomorrow is going to be a big day.]

Sam exhaled through his nose, already half-asleep.

"...Damn. I wonder why," he muttered.

And with that, he drifted off.