Creating a guild wasn't something you could just do on a whim.
Sure, everyone technically had the right to start their own guild. But rights didn't mean much when the system itself pushed every new awakener into joining one instead.
There was a reason why guilds were everywhere. They provided security, support, money, connections, equipment, training grounds, everything a young awakener could need.
Most people were either too weak, too lazy, or too scared to even think about creating their own.
And to be fair, it made sense. If you were talented or powerful, guilds would chase you. You'd get showered in benefits without needing to worry about logistics or paperwork. Just train, grow stronger, and enjoy the perks.
But Sam wasn't like most people.
He didn't want to rely on others. He didn't want to serve under anyone else. And more importantly, he didn't want to be just a member.
The difference between being in a guild and running one was night and day.
Sam hadn't spoiled himself with too much information but there were some key details he had purposely committed to memory.
One of them was that the protagonist, at some point, formed a guild. A powerful one. One that allowed him to take part in world-changing events, high-level raids, and association-backed competitions.
Guilds recognized by the [Awakener Association] had access to all kinds of special perks, not just financially but in influence and opportunities.
That was what Sam wanted. Not just the benefits, but the potential to shape the world around him.
Of course, the road wasn't easy. A lot of people created guilds. Most of them failed. It wasn't just about forming a group and putting a name on a paper. It took strength, consistency, and more than anything, leadership.
Still, Sam wasn't deterred.
Even if he had to be alone in the guild, he'd make it work.
He just had to wait for the right moment.
'I'll wait until all my skills are evolved,' Sam thought, 'That's the safest way forward.'
For now, he needed time. Time to grow. Time to gather information. Time to evolve.
Because even if the world turned against him… even if every single guild, awakener, and monster tried to tear him down… he'd still rise.
He wasn't just some background extra anymore. He was a Primordial.
Hours passed, and Sam eventually found himself a room at a cheap but clean hotel near the Awakener Association.
He didn't need anything luxurious. Just a bed.
He kept his head low, but he listened. As more and more people came out of the [First Layer], conversations in the streets grew louder.
"Damn, the newbies are taking their sweet time."
"You're a newbie too, man. You're literally Apprentice-Rank."
"S-shut up, I'm trying my best!"
It was almost funny. People judged each other based on ranks and levels, but most of them didn't understand how meaningless those numbers could be when compared to real skill.
Sam didn't even bother chiming in. He just smiled faintly and returned to his room.
He knew what he had to do.
"I'll look into everything once I'm ready," he muttered, his crimson eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. "Until then… I evolve."
And that's exactly what he did.
...
Two weeks passed.
He barely left the hotel except to grab food or the occasional item. He'd bought a cheap smartphone just to browse forums and dig up as much information as he could.
Every day, he would simply use [Primordial Evolution] as soon as its cooldown was reset, that is pretty much all he had to do.
And now, finally, he was ready.
"All my skills are Forsaken-Rank," he said with a calm grin, his eyes fixed on the glowing panels in front of him.
He hadn't tested them out yet, but he could feel the power burning inside his body. The energy was overwhelming.
First was his sword technique.
---
[Intermediate Sword Technique (Uncommon) → Advanced Sword Technique (Rare) → Elite Sword Technique (Epic) → Master Sword Technique (Legendary) → Primordial Sword Technique (Forsaken)]
---
Then his long-range skill.
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[Shadow Barrage (Uncommon) → Phantom Burst (Rare) → Void Salvo (Epic) → Eclipse Barrage (Legendary) → Abyssal Obliteration (Forsaken)]
---
And finally… his defense.
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[Slime Barrier (Common) → Elastic Guard (Uncommon) → Reactive Shield (Rare) → Living Bastion (Epic) → Shield of Transcendence (Legendary) → Eternal Barrier (Forsaken)]
---
[Primordial Evolution] didn't care about ranks or requirements. It simply pushed skills beyond their limits, as long as Sam ordered it to.
And now, he had three [Forsaken] rank skills. Something almost unheard of. Most awakeners would never even see one in their entire life.
But Sam had them. Only two weeks after awakening.
His smile widened as he opened his status window.
---
[Name: Sam Walker]
[Class: Primordial]
[Rank: Novice]
[Level: 3 → 4]
[Strength: 7 → 8]
[Agility: 6 → 7]
[Constitution: 7 → 8]
[Soul: 12 → 14]
[Affinities: Shadow]
[Class Skills: Spatial Inventory, Primordial Evolution, Hell-Mode Analysis]
[Skills: Primordial Sword Technique (Forsaken), Abyssal Obliteration (Forsaken), Eternal Barrier (Forsaken)]
---
Of course, his stats were still that of a low-level novice. That part hadn't changed much. But power wasn't only about numbers. His technique, his timing, and his arsenal had all improved beyond anything a normal level four could achieve.
And he could feel it, whenever he held the [Primordial Sword], the aura it gave off was so intense he couldn't even keep it in his hand for more than a few seconds without fearing the people outside could feel its aura.
He didn't doubt it, if he used these new powers, he could probably fight monsters up to level ten without even breaking a sweat.
And now that his evolution work was done… It was time.
"Alright," Sam exhaled deeply, a low grin forming, "Now I can keep going."
He stood in the center of the hotel room, the faint hum of power radiating from his skin.
He had already accepted it: there was no protagonist anymore. Even he, an extra, was simply someone else in this world now.
He would grow stronger. Stronger than anyone else. And if the world was going to crumble without the original protagonist… then Sam would become something far greater.
He would become the one who stood at the top.
But for now, he had one final requirement to meet.
"Creating a guild requires you to be [Apprentice]-Rank."
He already knew this from his research.
The Awakener Association didn't allow novices to register a guild, it was a hard rule.
Too many failed attempts from weaklings who bit off more than they could chew.
The system made sure that only those with at least some strength could start something of their own.
Sam didn't argue with that logic. It made sense. And it didn't matter. He was ready.
"Looks like there's no other choice," he said, his hand already reaching for the hilt of his sword. "Time to clear a dungeon."
Not just to get stronger, but to finally test his abilities too.