CHAPTER 48: READY TO ENTER THE SECOND SUB-LAYER

After the [Guild Meeting], Sam knew he had around a month before that [Battle Realm] event happened.

Until then, he needed to reach the Expert Rank.

He was currently level 5 of the Apprentice rank, which meant he still had a long way to go.

First, he needed to reach level 10, complete the advancement task to become Adept, and then do the same process again to reach Expert.

It was a lot to do in only a month, but Sam didn’t doubt himself.

’The second sub-layer should help me get my level up quickly,’ he thought. ’Then I’ll just grind through the third layer and sub-layer over and over again.’

It wasn’t a bad plan. Not only would it allow him to level up fast, but advancing further into the [Forsaken Realm] would raise his guild’s reputation, helping it rise in the [Guild Rankings] as well.

Plus, reaching a new rank meant unlocking two more affinities and gaining new skills to evolve.

For now, though, it was time.

’Here I come, Black Sun,’ Sam’s crimson eyes flared. ’It’s you and me, and this time, I’ll be alone.’

Lily and Alicia hadn’t even completed the second layer yet. And honestly... they were still too weak.

They both had powerful classes, sure, S-Rank and even SS-Rank were rare, but it wasn’t enough.

He didn’t blame them. It just wasn’t time for them to shine in the story.

And for him, being alone was better, especially since he was still the only member of his own guild anyway.

But before leaving for the second sub-layer, Sam decided to ask someone a question.

---

[Sam Walker:] Hey, I just have a small question, if you don’t mind answering.

---

He knew that David Union was a busy man, so he expected it might take a while before he got a response.

But surprisingly, a response came almost instantly.

---

[David Union:] Ask away, "Primordial Guild" leader.

[Sam Walker:] Why is it that you haven’t cleared the fourth layer? What is there that’s so difficult?

---

The fourth layer was a mystery.

Most awakeners, no matter how powerful their guilds or how far they had progressed, had no information about it.

Everything related to it was kept secret.

The [Awakener Association] and the guilds that had entered it did their best to hide what was inside.

Even normal people didn’t know much about the world of awakeners.

Sure, they were aware of the [Forsaken Realm] and its layers, but anything beyond that was kept under wraps.

There was no reply from David for a couple of minutes.

Then, finally, a single sentence.

---

[David Union:] The boss of the fourth layer... is filled with such malice that anyone who gets close can’t even move. Even I tremble when I see it. That’s all I can say. I have things to do now. Good luck.

[Sam Walker:] Thanks.

---

It wasn’t much, but it was valuable.

Information like this was something other guilds would pay a good amount for.

Sam committed it to memory immediately.

He was curious what kind of boss could cause fear like that, but if it really was just pure malice and fear, then Sam believed he could endure it.

His [Primordial] class prevented him from feeling fear.

After that, he ate a quick meal he had prepared, then took a deep breath and stepped out of his apartment.

The city of [Ashbourne], where he was currently staying, was still buzzing with activity.

Even with all the recent news, life in the city moved forward.

Signs and billboards all over the city warned about the appearance of [Corrupted Layers], urging awakeners to be cautious.

"Feels like the world’s going to shit more and more."

"Agreed, but I’ve only got one more level before my advancement task, so I’m not stopping now."

"You’re lucky. It took me months to go from Apprentice to Adept... and now I’ve got to do it all over again."

Voices surrounded him as he moved through the crowd, heading toward the station.

It didn’t take long before he boarded the bullet train that would bring him back to the first [Outer Ring].

To go to the third layer, he’d need to reach the second [Outer Ring]. And there were no public trains that went there.

That meant any awakener wanting to reach the third or fourth layer had to go on foot, through the first [Outer Ring] and the monsters roaming inside it.

The monsters there weren’t too dangerous, usually sitting at the Apprentice or early Adept level, but that would only get worse as the layers progressed.

Sam knew that better than anyone.

Still, once the train reached the station, he stepped off and opened a portal to the second layer.

It was still [Corrupted]. But he didn’t hesitate.

...

Fwish! Thud!

[You have entered the "Second Layer" (Corrupted)]

[You have arrived in the "Outskirts"]

"Alright," Sam muttered. "Time to find the sub-layer."

He opened his [Spatial Inventory], then pulled out the map he’d earned from killing the [Black Sun Vessel].

---

[Second Layer Sub-Layer Map]

[Description: Shows the location of the second layer’s sub-layer, allowing you to enter it.]

---

"Alright," Sam repeated.

This was the invitation. The [Black Sun] itself had extended it.

Anyone else would see it as a trap, and Sam knew it probably was, but there was no other path for him.

He still had five more [Forsaken Lords] to defeat.

Each one stronger than the last. Each one aware of his existence.

[Forsaken Lords: 1/6]

There wasn’t time to waste, and he needed to get stronger.

He held the map in both hands, let his aura seep into it, and then tore it apart.

Immediately, the fragments lit up and merged into a glowing panel.

A full map of the [Second Layer] appeared in front of him.

Near the far edge of the [Main Area], a red flickering dot appeared, far away from where the second zone’s main boss was located.

Sam also saw a small blue dot. That was his location, which showed he was fairly far from it.

’Alright,’ Sam thought. ’I’ve got everything I need... I just have to keep going.’

Even now, he had an extremely bad feeling about this.

The sense of death was almost tangible, like it was hanging in the air.

But even so, he couldn’t back down. He knew he couldn’t.

Plus, he could sense the gaze of the [Black Sun] above him, and it seemingly knew that he was finally here to fight it.