CHAPTER 59: FORSAKEN CLONE

After speaking with Evans, one of the leaders of the [Awakener Association], Sam returned to his hotel room.

He didn’t have any teammates or allies to talk to, so he mostly stayed alone.

---

[Alicia Union:] We need to complete more rifts. We’re only a few levels away from our advancement tasks!

[Lily Gremoir:] Yeah, let’s try to do a few tomorrow, or maybe head back to the second layer to grind—it’s way safer now.

[Alicia Union:] Let’s go! We can’t let Sam get all the glory, he’s already Adept rank!

[Lily Gremoir:] Agreed. Plus, both the "Adept" and "Expert" branches of the [Arcane Society] are joining the third expedition. I need to be there too!

[Alicia Union:] Yeah, my dad’s also forming a strong awakener team for it, and he wants me in.

---

Sam didn’t reply to any of the messages, but just seeing them so energetic and motivated gave him some comfort.

The world was constantly changing as he got stronger, and without a defined protagonist in it all, who could say what might come next?

Would conquering the [Forsaken Realm] really be the end? Or... was the [Universal Stage] just the beginning?

Sam had more questions than answers, and not even [Hell-Mode Analysis] or his subconscious could help him now.

And speaking of his subconscious, that ominous panel about "death" that had flashed earlier while heading back to the hotel... that was a first.

Did it mean the [Third Expedition] would go horribly wrong? Or worse—did it mean he would die?

Sam shook his head as he dropped onto the bed.

’Doesn’t matter. I need to keep going. That’s what it always tells me, after all,’ he muttered.

[Keep going.]

’Yeah, I know,’ Sam grinned as he saw the panel flicker into view.

Still, he didn’t stay lying down for long. After all—

[Primordial Evolution — Next Use: 00:00:02]

[Primordial Evolution — Next Use: 00:00:01]

Ding!

[You can now use "Primordial Evolution" again.]

He had a full week before the massive expedition into the third layer with all the top guilds and elite awakeners.

But that didn’t mean he could afford to "relax."

If anything, now was the time to keep pushing forward.

After that fight with Zorath—the [Black Sun]—Sam knew he still had room to grow.

He had seen how much stronger his skills could get just by mastering them, like the [Crescent Slash] from his [Primordial Sword Technique] or the upgraded bullet merge from [Abyssal Obliteration].

But for now...

Ding!

[Chaotic Clone (Legendary) has evolved into Forsaken Clone (Forsaken)]

"Oh, so it does get a name change this time," Sam muttered, raising an eyebrow. "And the new name’s... unique, I guess."

He instantly pulled up the skill window to see what had changed.

---

[Forsaken Clone]

[Rank: Forsaken]

[Description: Uses your "Chaos" affinity to summon a clone made of aura that can assist you in battle. It has all of the owner’s stats and can use skills. The clone follows the ’Forsaken’ path. 1-hour cooldown.]

[Hell-Mode Analysis: I wonder if you’ll end up like it.]

---

Sam squinted at the description, trying to understand the difference. Everything looked the same—except for one detail.

The clone used to follow the "Neutral" path. Now... it followed the "Forsaken" one.

And what exactly did that mean?

’I wonder if you’ll end up like it,’ the analysis whispered again. That line stuck with him.

To make sure he wasn’t missing something, Sam pulled up the [Chaotic Fate] class skill description again:

---

[Savior Path: You are a beacon of hope for humanity. You fight to protect and save everyone, no matter the cost.]

[Neutral Path: You follow your own rules, sparing the worthy and striking down the corrupt. Balanced, calculated, and optimal.]

[Forsaken Path: The worse path of them all. You care only about power and killing, abandoning all morality. This path grants terrifying strength.]

---

Sam was still listed as walking the "Neutral" path, while the clone now walked the "Forsaken" one.

Why did that change? What exactly did the Forsaken path do for the clone?

The fact that this was the only thing the evolution altered had to mean it came with power. After all, evolutions always made skills stronger.

’I guess I’ll have to test it out myself,’ Sam thought with a grin.

But he wasn’t ready to enter the [Third Layer] just yet.

Instead... a rift would do.

Rifts were still the best place for him to refine his skills, especially this new [Forsaken Clone].

...

The next day came quickly.

Sam headed back to the [Awakener Association], ready to push forward.

"I want the hardest [Adept]-rank rift you’ve got," he told the receptionist plainly.

The woman behind the counter simply smiled.

"Very well, Mr. Sam Walker."

She already knew who he was, but she didn’t show any visible reaction. Probably something the higher-ups—like Evans—had ordered. No fuss, no attention.

Moments later, she handed him a black-rimmed rift card with glowing text etched across it.

"This rift’s been available for weeks now," she explained. "But no one has dared complete it. Its difficulty is high, and everyone who entered... didn’t come back."

Sam stayed quiet.

"We’re worried it might break through and cause real-world damage," she added seriously. "Clearing it is a high priority."

Sam nodded and tapped the card.

[Name: The Fear Dungeon][Rank: Adept][Recommended Level: 10][Location: Second Outer Ring]

He studied the details.

That final line meant it wouldn’t be easy to reach. He’d need to take a bullet train to the [First Outer Ring], then travel by foot to the [Second Outer Ring].

That’s where the serious rifts—[Adept], [Expert], and [Master]-level—were typically located. It was also where one could access the [Third] and [Fourth] layers.

Feeling satisfied, Sam thanked the receptionist.

But just as he was about to leave, she spoke again.

"No problem, Mr. Sam Walker," she said warmly. "I also want to let you know—our leaders are very eager to see what you’ll accomplish next."

[Void Watcher: She is a nice person... but those at the top, not so much.]

Sam peered into her soul using the [Void Watcher] skill.

Her intentions were pure. Genuine.

So he simply gave a nod and moved on.

Still, the fact that all the big names in the [Awakener Association] were now watching him closely didn’t sit well with him.

Regardless, it didn’t change anything.

He had gotten what he came for, a dangerous rift to train in. A chance to test the [Forsaken Clone] and polish his technique even further.

And so, without another word, Sam left the [Awakener Association]—stepping out into the city, ready for whatever came next.