Sam had already suspected it, but seeing it firsthand made it undeniable.
Even together, Lily and Alicia took noticeable effort to bring down just one level 4 monster.
They weren't weak, far from it. They were among the best, S-Rank and SS-Rank classes, the daughters of important people in the world, destined heroines. But despite that, it still took time, focus, precision, and teamwork.
Meanwhile, Sam could cleave through monsters like they were paper.
He wasn't boasting. It was just a fact.
Slash!
Another [Green Snake] was split in two with a single horizontal cut, its body thudding to the ground before it could even hiss.
Sam followed up with two perfectly-aimed shots from his shadow bullets, the dark projectiles flying through the air and slamming straight into the sides of a level 4 [Savage Bear], the very same one Lily and Alicia were still fighting.
The bullets struck hard and fast, enough to knock the beast off balance.
The girls finished it off from there.
Unlike Sam, their leveling system was more traditional. They gained experience by killing monsters or helping with their defeat. Every assist counted.
As for Sam, when he absorbed a monster's core with his [Primordial Sword], he didn't just get partial experience, he got everything.
Every bit of strength, energy, and growth stored in that core became his.
Of course, there was a trade-off.
His experience requirements were massive. Absurdly so.
"The stronger your class, the more experience you need to level," Alicia noted aloud as the three of them moved through the dense underbrush of the forest. Her voice was calm, but there was a tone of curiosity in it. "Lily and I are still level 3 for that reason. But if Sam still hasn't leveled up yet…"
"That means his class must be something ridiculous," Lily finished for her, her violet eyes practically shining with curiosity.
Sam didn't answer. He just kept walking, eyes sharp, aura alert.
The deeper they went into the forest, the heavier the air seemed to get. It wasn't a real weight, but rather a tension pressing on Sam's chest, an instinctive pull that told him they were getting close. The boss was near. And if he was right, this would be the biggest challenge yet.
He wasn't sure what would happen if he failed. In the game, dying just meant a reset. But now… there was no respawn screen waiting for him.
There were no second chances here.
Still, Sam continued absorbing everything in sight. Every monster that showed up, he cut down and fed into his sword.
Somewhere along the way, they encountered a second boss: the [Bear King], another level 4 threat.
This one was more dangerous than anything they'd faced so far. Lily's arrows blinded it at just the right moment, Alicia drew its attention with a fake-out charge, and Sam cut it clean down the middle while its guard was lowered.
He could've done it alone, but it would've taken longer. Maybe even been risky.
It made him realize something he hadn't wanted to admit.
Teamwork mattered. A lot more than he had thought.
Still, the thought itched in the back of his head.
'My [Intermediate Sword Technique] is clearly ahead. I evolved it earlier, and it's stronger than anything they've shown so far. I wonder how far I can push it if I max it out completely.'
Some Awakeners spent weeks in one layer, exploring its corners or farming monsters to power up.
But this first layer, this tutorial zone, wasn't as big. There weren't that many hiding places. And Sam didn't have the luxury of time.
Waiting another full day just to evolve one skill? He didn't think that was necessary.
Lily and Alicia finally hit level 4 after slaying the [Bear King], but Sam remained at level 3. His exp bar was likely crawling, even with the boss core he had just absorbed.
Before they could even speak another word, something shifted.
Fwish!
A new system prompt appeared before Sam's eyes.
[You sense an overwhelming presence nearby.]
His grip tightened on his sword. They were close. Very close.
The trees thinned out, and then the forest ended altogether. The group stepped out onto a wide clearing, the light above much stronger now that they were free of the canopy.
"We're out," Lily whispered, drawing her bow, her fingers tensing around the string. "This is it."
Alicia said nothing, but stepped beside Sam, sword in hand, her stance sharp and ready.
Sam's crimson eyes were locked ahead. He didn't flinch. Didn't hesitate.
And then… they saw it.
A massive wall stood before them, so tall it seemed to reach the clouds above. A structure carved into the earth itself, ancient and unmoving.
"This is the barrier between layers," Alicia said, voice quiet but firm. "The second layer is behind that wall. But if we want through, we'll have to earn it."
They all knew what came next.
In the center of the wall was a large gate, etched in runes that glowed faintly, and before it stood a motionless figure, seated as if waiting.
And the moment the three Awakeners stepped forward… it rose.
Massive. Intimidating. And definitely not normal.
Lily stepped back. "W-What…?"
Alicia's eyes narrowed, and she clenched her sword tighter. "This… this isn't supposed to happen…"
Sam, however, just stared with focus.
In the game, the boss of the first layer was usually level 3. Sometimes level 4 on rare spawns. It was a tough fight for most players, requiring coordination and tactics.
But now… The enemy before them wasn't level 3. It wasn't even level 4.
---
[Guardian Swordmaster (Boss)]
[Level: 5]
[Description: The guardian of the gate leading to the second layer. Defeat is required to progress.]
---
The Guardian Swordmaster stood over three meters tall. Armor covered its entire frame, gleaming black metal accented with deep red etchings. Its helmet had a cage-like visor, and through it burned two glowing crimson eyes, locked directly onto Sam.
Step! BOOM!
The very ground cracked beneath its feet as it walked forward.
It gripped a massive longsword, nearly twice the size of Sam himself, and carried it like it weighed nothing.
But what caught Sam's attention most was the orb embedded in the middle of its chestplate—a faintly glowing yellow sphere.
He checked his system again.
---
[Hell-Mode Analysis: Its movements are precise, and its strikes leave no margin for error. Still… just overwhelm it like the others.]
---
Sam narrowed his eyes.
'So that orb's not a weakness, huh?' he thought as he raised his hand and summoned his shadow bullets. He fired all of them toward the orb anyway, just to be sure.
Each one hit dead center. And each one… bounced off harmlessly. Nothing. Not even a scratch.
'Thought so.'
If the system wasn't highlighting a weakness, it meant this fight wasn't about finding tricks or loopholes.
This was going to be a duel of pure strength. Sword versus sword.
Sam stepped forward and gripped his blade tighter, the familiar weight of the [Primordial Sword] grounding him.
"We might be screwed," he said calmly, glancing at Lily and Alicia. "But we don't really have a choice, do we?"
Lily forced a smile and readied her bow again. "Guess not."
Alicia said nothing but took her place beside Sam, her stance low and firm.
Sam took one last breath. His eyes darkened, and the shadows around his feet began to rise.
A swirling, heavy aura emerged from his body, thick and suffocating, clashing violently against the crimson presence that the Guardian Swordmaster emitted.
Two auras. Colliding in the clearing. This was it.
The boss that had always held him back in the game.
But now, there were no second tries. No saves. No loading screens.
If he was going to win… He had to do it now. And he had to do it in one shot.