Oliver Gremoire stood calmly at the edge of the ruins, his long white coat flowing slightly in the breeze.
His presence alone was enough to command attention, and his sharp golden eyes scanned the surroundings with a sense of casual authority.
He wasn't just anyone, he was the current principal of [Eclypsia Academy], the most prestigious institution for Awakeners in the North Region.
More importantly, he was also Lily Gremoire's father.
A powerful mage in his own right, Oliver's reputation was well-earned.
Though Lily followed a slightly different path as an archer-mage, the strength of their lineage was undeniable.
Standing next to him, with an equally commanding presence, was David Union.
He was the leader of the [Union Guild], one of the highest-ranking guilds attempting to conquer the mysterious layers of the Forsaken Realm.
His silver armor gleamed under the soft light filtering through the cracks in the ruined ceiling above, and his hand rested calmly on the hilt of the sword strapped across his back.
Naturally, Alicia Union was his daughter. Like her father, she wielded a sword.
As Sam laid eyes on both men, his instincts kicked in before he could even think.
His gaze narrowed, and almost unconsciously, he tried to pull up their status windows.
---
[Oliver Gremoire]
[Rank: ???]
[Level: ???]
[Class: ???]
---
[David Union]
[Rank: ???]
[Level: ???]
[Class: ???]
---
He couldn't see anything, but right beneath both windows came a warning:
[Hell-Mode Analysis: They can detect you peering into their status window.]
"Oh," Sam muttered under his breath.
In the blink of an eye, a heavy pressure slammed into him like a wave crashing against rock.
A force unlike anything he had felt before, not even from the Guardian Swordmaster boss he had just defeated.
Oliver tilted his head, smirking slightly, "It's considered rude to try and peek into someone else's status, y'know," he said.
His tone was light, but the weight behind it was unmistakable. "I don't mind personally, but others might not be so patient."
"I felt it too," David added, nodding slightly. "Though… I doubt he would've seen much."
Sam held his ground, even as a chill ran down his spine.
These two weren't just powerful, they were in a completely different league.
If he had to guess, they were probably ranked somewhere between [Master] and [Ascendant].
No one had reached the elusive [Forsaken] rank yet, but these two were likely among the closest.
Before he could say anything, Lily took a step forward, eyes gleaming with pride.
"Dad," she said excitedly, "the boss here was a Level 5 Guardian Swordmaster!"
Both Oliver and David's expressions tightened at once. A Level 5 Guardian Swordmaster wasn't a pushover, not even close. For a group of new Awakeners, that boss should've been nearly impossible.
"You beat it together?" Oliver asked, raising an eyebrow. "That's quite impressive, especially for the first layer."
"Uh…" Alicia rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly. "We were there, but... it wasn't all three of us."
Oliver blinked. "What do you mean?"
"It was Sam," Alicia explained. "We got hit by an Eye Curse and couldn't move. He protected us and defeated the boss completely on his own."
There was a brief pause.
Both Oliver and David turned their gazes to Sam again, this time more seriously.
He didn't look particularly imposing, he was handsome but his clothes were plain, his expression calm, and he didn't exude the kind of overwhelming aura they might expect from someone capable of such a feat.
In fact, from what they knew, Sam was the odd one out. Rumor had it he hadn't even received a class, which was typically a red flag for guild recruiters.
But now… things weren't so simple.
David folded his arms and studied the boy carefully. Alicia wasn't the type to exaggerate. If she said Sam had pulled it off, then it had to be true. And if it was… then Sam might not be just another beginner.
"I'd like to extend an offer," David finally said. "Join the [Union Guild]. I believe we can help you become even stronger."
That offer hit hard.
Even Alicia and Lily looked shocked. Joining a top-tier guild like the [Union Guild] was something countless Awakeners dreamed of.
It meant guaranteed training, resources, and a chance to rise quickly in strength and status. Most people would have accepted without hesitation.
All eyes turned to Sam.
But without missing a beat, he simply shook his head.
"No," he replied calmly. "I'd rather not."
David raised an eyebrow but didn't look offended. If anything, his smile grew a bit wider.
"May I ask why?" he said, voice still polite.
Sam returned the smile. "I've got my own things to take care of," he said. "That's pretty much it."
For a moment, the silence stretched. Then David chuckled softly. "Fair enough," he replied.
Oliver took a step forward and raised his hand. "Regardless," he continued, "you three need to complete your official registration with the [Awakener Association]. It's mandatory. After that, you'll be free to make your own decisions."
With a simple gesture, he summoned three glowing crystals and tossed them toward the trio.
---
[Teleportation Crystal]
[Description: Shattering this crystal will teleport you directly to Gravemont City in the North Region of the Inner Ring.]
---
"We weren't expecting anyone to finish the layer so quickly," Oliver added with a light laugh. "But go ahead—use them. We'll stay behind and wait for the others to finish."
Sam nodded and caught his crystal, not hesitating even for a second.
"See you later," he said, waving at Lily and Alicia.
"Bye, Sam!" Lily called cheerfully.
Alicia offered a soft smile. "Take care."
Sam crushed the crystal in his hand.
Ding!
His body dissolved into glowing particles, vanishing from the ruins. Moments later, Lily and Alicia followed suit.
Oliver exhaled slowly and glanced at David. "What was the record for the fastest completion of the first layer again?"
David crossed his arms. "Just over four hours. This one didn't even take three."
Oliver nodded slowly. "As I thought… a new record."
He looked toward the place Sam had stood just moments earlier, a thoughtful expression in his eyes.
"We'll see where the future leads," he said softly.
...
Meanwhile, Sam's body reassembled in the middle of a large, crowded plaza bathed in golden light.
Towering buildings surrounded him, the unmistakable hum of civilization buzzing through the air. He looked around, letting out a small sigh of relief.
"I'm back," he muttered. "Good. Now I just need to find the [Awakener Association]."
He didn't waste any time.
Gravemont City was massive, but the [Awakener District] was easy enough to find.
With its countless shops, equipment vendors, potion stalls, and blacksmiths, it was buzzing with activity. But one building stood out clearly above all the rest—colossal, sleek, and glowing with neon-blue lights.
At the top of the structure, bold glowing letters spelled out:
[Awakener Association]
Just below that, a strange motto flashed in a shifting script:
[May the will of the gods allow us to conquer this forsaken realm.]
Sam stared up at the sign for a long moment, letting its weight settle in.
Then, without hesitation, he stepped forward.
He had conquered the [Tutorial Layer]. He had earned his class, gained strength, and proven he could hold his own, even against odds that should've killed him.
Now, his real journey was about to begin.