Primordial Awakening: I Can Evolve My Skills Infinitely-Chapter 64: The Roaring Bell, Level 40 Mutated Boss

Much like the first two layers, the [Roaring Cliffs] were massive in scale, stretching out as far as the eye could see.

However, unlike the first and second layers, this one didn’t have several zones.

Instead, it was structured like a single, endless canyon maze.

Narrow stone paths weaved through towering cliffs on both sides, with sharp turns, dead ends, and natural traps hidden everywhere.

The entire layer felt like a massive labyrinth carved into the earth, one that forced awakeners to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with the cliffs, surrounded from all sides by the towering stone walls.

And although he hadn’t seen any monsters yet, Sam could already tell, something here felt off.

The air was tense. Thick.

Sam didn’t need to see the monsters to understand the threat.

The entire layer was hostile by design, and according to the reports, the creatures that lurked here were far more aggressive than those in any previous layers, made worse by the layer’s unique mechanic.

As he and the others behind him moved deeper through the winding path between the cliffs, the large group of over a thousand began to split.

It wasn’t surprising. A natural result of the maze-like terrain.

Eventually, smaller teams branched off, taking different paths and hoping to explore more efficiently, or perhaps hoping to avoid trouble by moving on their own.

In the end, Sam found himself alone at the front, leading with only four major guild teams walking a few meters behind him.

The first was the [Union Guild], with Alex Valenward and Alicia Union moving near the front of their group.

The second was the [Viper Guild], led by none other than Chloe Vinelord, calm and composed.

The third was the [Arcane Society], with Lily Gremoir walking near the center of their tightly-formed group of mages.

And the fourth, trailing behind with a strong presence, was the [Inferno Guild], fire-users all of them, led by Oscar Windshield.

Sam, of course, remained at the very front.

It wasn’t intentional. But no one dared to go ahead of him.

Maybe it was instinct. Maybe it was the way he walked so fearlessly, not even flinching as the cliffs narrowed or the wind howled above.

Whatever the reason, the other teams simply kept their distance.

"Be careful, team," Alex’s voice echoed behind Sam. "We’re approaching the danger zone."

Sam braced himself as well.

The towering cliffs above them curved inward, enclosing the narrow canyon path like a tunnel.

The sky was barely visible now, and what could be seen was blanketed by darkness.

The moon hung high above like a pale eye.

Then, without warning, it happened.

A deafening roar shattered the silence.

"GROAAARRRRHHHHHHH~!!"

The sound swept across the entire layer like a wave of force, sending a tangible shockwave that trembled through the canyon and made every single awakener freeze.

---

[Third Layer Mechanic: The Roaring Bell]

[Hell-Mode Analysis: Every so often, the "Roaring Titan" roars at full strength, empowering all of the monsters in this layer and making them much more aggressive.]

---

Sam read the panel calmly, even as the roar faded into a lingering rumble.

"Hm," he muttered, scratching his chin. "I don’t think it’s as bad as the [Black Sun] though."

[Wait until you see them.]

"...Great," Sam replied with a flat look.

The shockwave settled, and silence returned, but not for long.

Suddenly, Sam sensed it. From above.

Fwish!

A presence dropped from the cliff edge directly above them.

Sam instinctively looked up, just in time to see a massive figure descending straight toward him.

"Ah, shit," he muttered.

BOOM!

The ground cracked under the weight of the creature’s landing, and Sam was flung backward from the force alone.

His [Eternal Barrier] triggered instantly, absorbing the impact.

The other awakeners gasped.

"What the fuck was that thing?!"

"That was huge!"

"Get ready, idiots!" Oscar roared at his guild, flames sparking around him as his team activated their fire skills in unison.

Alex took a step forward, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"That thing’s aura... isn’t normal," he muttered. "I’ve gone through this layer a dozen times. I’ve never seen anything like that."

Normally, layers didn’t throw their most powerful monsters out of nowhere.

Even in dangerous layers, there was structure.

For example, in the first layer, monsters usually appeared between Level 1 and 5, with level 3 being the average.

In the second layer, most enemies ranged from Level 10 to 17, and even that was rare unless corrupted.

The third layer was supposed to be manageable too.

Because it allowed both [Adept] and [Expert] awakeners, the monsters could theoretically range between level 20 and 40

But the hardest boss ever recorded there was only round Level 30.

But as the mist settled, and the full form of the monster was revealed...

What stood before them was not normal.

"KRAAKRKKR~"

This time it was the monster that let weird noises.

The sheer pressure of its presence was crushing. Even from meters away.

Sam, standing right in front of it, didn’t flinch.

He simply drew his sword.

---

[Howling Spider (Mutated Boss)]

[Level: 40]

[Description: A giant spider that uses its limbs to attack relentlessly.]

[Hell-Mode Analysis: It is enraged because of the "Roaring Bell".]

---

"Level 40?" Sam’s eyes widened slightly. "Holy shit."

Even he was shocked.

But behind him, the reaction was far more intense.

"WHAT THE HELL?! MUTATED?!"

"THAT’S THE MAX LEVEL ALLOWED FOR THIS LAYER!"

"This isn’t right!" Alex said, stepping back. "A level 40 boss? This has never been recorded! Not in this layer!"

It was true.

A boss like this wasn’t supposed to appear, and even if it did, it wasn’t supposed to be here, not this early.

Not like this.

The spider was pitch-black, its massive body pulsing with glowing purple veins. Its eyes were like burning amethysts, locked onto Sam.

It took a step forward. And nearly everyone else stepped back.

Sam didn’t move.

’So... I was wrong,’ he thought grimly. ’This rift isn’t corrupted... but something’s wrong with it. Something different.’

He had confirmed the portal wasn’t corrupted when he entered.

Which meant something new was at play. A new variation. A new threat.

Regardless, Sam didn’t care.

He’d fought the [Lower Fear Demon], a level 30 monster, and destroyed it effortlessly.

Would this be ten times harder? Maybe.

But that didn’t mean he’d back down.

’I get it now,’ he thought. ’That feeling of death I sensed when I arrived, it was because of this.’

"This isn’t possible," one of the [Inferno Guild] members muttered behind him. "We’re not equipped to deal with something like this."

"We should retreat," another said. "We just got unlucky. We should regroup."

But Oscar Windshield said nothing.

His eyes were locked on Sam.

He had noticed it, Sam was the only one who hadn’t moved.

Still standing in front of the beast. Still calm.

Oscar clenched his fists.

Meanwhile, Alex stepped forward.

"To all those who want to leave," he announced loudly, "do so now! You haven’t entered combat yet, so you can still exit the layer safely!"

That was the rule, so long as someone hadn’t fought or used skills in the last thirty minutes, they could teleport out freely.

And since Sam had been standing so far ahead, he had been the only one hit by the spider’s shockwave.

The others? They were still eligible to leave.

But not him. Everyone realized this.

The kid standing in front of the boss... couldn’t leave.

But Sam didn’t look bothered. Instead, he simply lifted his sword.

Without a word, he charged power into his blade, channeling multiple affinities at once.

The [Howling Spider] stepped closer, raising three of its long, jagged legs to pierce him.

Sam’s eyes flashed crimson, and he struck.

SHOOM!

A [Crescent Slash] ripped through the air, glowing with the energy of his affinities.

The crescent-shaped wave soared forward and sliced through three of the spider’s legs, severing them cleanly.

The monster shrieked in pain.

And Sam? He just smiled.

"Here we go," he muttered, aura rising. "I guess I can take you too."

Visit freewe𝑏n(o)v𝒆l.𝑐𝘰𝑚 for the best novel reading experience