Primordial Awakening: I Can Evolve My Skills Infinitely - Chapter 279

Chapter 279: The Heaven Gate, Denied Entry
Sam stood silently before the two gates, one leading above and the other plunging into the depths below.

He studied both of them, eyes narrowing, thoughts running deep.

‘I think I know what the usual mission would have been now.’

The gate that led upward radiated a pure, angelic glow. Its frame shone like polished gold, and beside it, a sign read clearly, [Ascend to Heaven].

Meanwhile, the gate leading downward exuded a completely different aura. The darkness around it pulsed faintly with heat, like breathing fire from below.

The sign next to it read [Descend to Hell].

Two paths. Two choices.

Normally, any other awakener would have had to pick one.

Either ascend to Heaven or descend to Hell. Complete one path and survive its challenges, that was all the mission demanded.

But even at a glance, Sam could tell this one was different.

It wasn’t just another test.

This was the only mission that seemed to offer a genuine choice.

For most people, Heaven would look like the smarter, safer option. A place of light, maybe even rest.

But Sam knew better than to trust appearances.

‘The [Seventh Mission] is the hardest one,’ he thought, glancing between the gates, ‘so both paths probably have the same level of difficulty anyway.’

He walked forward, stopping right between the two choices.

He closed his eyes for a moment, thinking carefully.

‘But my mission is to kill both of the remaining monarchs… so it must mean I have to go through both.’

It made sense. Two monarchs. Two paths.

For Sam, it wasn’t really a choice at all, he would have to go through both paths in the end, face both challenges, and kill both monarchs.

He took a step forward and tried something else first, an idea that came to him out of pure practicality.

He attempted to bypass the mission entirely.

The gates didn’t cover everything; there was a massive “gap” beside them where he might slip through.

Sam smirked slightly.

But the moment he tried stepping beyond the gates’ reach, a massive invisible barrier shimmered into view, blocking him like a wall of solid glass.

It didn’t budge, not even under the pressure of his strength.

“I see…” he muttered.

There was no way around it.

The mission forced a choice, one path or the other.

He stepped back, returning to his original position in front of the two gates, his eyes scanning both quietly.

For several minutes, he just stood there, weighing the options in his mind.

[Why hesitate, it’s the same thing either way =)]

“Yeah, maybe,” Sam replied softly, glancing up at the panel. “But I still need to know which one to take first, right?”

Even as he said that, deep down, he had a strange feeling that it wouldn’t make any difference at all.

Not because both paths were equal, but because no matter what he chose, the end result would be the same.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“Better get this over with quickly, I guess.”

With that, he walked toward the [Heaven] gate.

The golden light from it reflected faintly in his eyes as he stopped before it.

He looked at the sign one more time, then placed his hand on the gate and pushed.

Fwish! Ding!

[Are you sure you wish to “Ascend to Heaven”?]

[This choice cannot be changed.]

Sam tilted his head slightly. ‘Who cares.’

That warning simply meant what he already knew, once he entered, there would be no going back. Either death or completion.

Nothing new.

It was the same as every other mission he had faced so far.

So he didn’t hesitate.

He pushed the gate open fully, and the golden doors swung wide with a soft hum.

Before him stretched a massive flight of stairs, each step shining faintly like glass infused with sunlight.

The staircase rose endlessly upward, vanishing into a sea of clouds.

‘Heaven, huh…’

The name alone carried a strange weight.

It made him wonder, were these places just symbolic, or were they actual representations of Heaven and Hell?

If so, what kind of “Heaven” would exist inside this realm?

It didn’t matter, though.

This was the [Seventh Mission], and he had no illusions.

Even a place called Heaven would be filled with enemies waiting to kill him.

And Hell… well, he could already imagine what kind of horrors waited there.

He started his climb.

Step after step, his shoes echoed faintly against the glowing stairs.

Ten minutes passed in silence.

He wasn’t able to use his wings which is why he didn’t just fly.

Not because he wanted to test himself, but because he literally couldn’t.

Primordial Wings!

Beep!

[Only an angel may ascend to the heavens with their wings.]

[“Primordial Wings” have been fully nullified.]

Sam blinked once, unimpressed.

“Well, that explains it.”

He couldn’t fly here.

The zone itself was enforcing the rules, he had to climb the stairs manually.

He sighed again but didn’t stop.

Minute after minute passed.

Even though he never tired, the endless repetition of climbing was enough to irritate him.

The staircase just went on forever.

Ten minutes became fifteen. Fifteen became thirty.

The clouds above slowly grew closer, swirling softly in the golden light.

‘I’m close,’ he thought.

It felt like even the act of climbing might be part of the challenge, a test of endurance and patience.

He wasn’t sure which.

[Keep going.]

The message appeared before him, and he did exactly that.

He kept moving, step after step, until finally, he reached the top.

Before him stretched a massive open zone suspended within the clouds themselves.

He couldn’t see much of it because everything was covered in a thick, pale fog.

At the very front stood another gate, this one smaller, made of pure gold, covered in runes that shimmered faintly.

Without waiting, Sam placed his hands on the gate and pushed.

But the moment he did—

DING! BEEP!

The air trembled.

It was as if an alarm had gone off across the entire sky.

The clouds around him shifted violently, and the soft white mist suddenly turned a deep crimson.

Sam froze, eyes narrowing.

Then a panel appeared in front of him.

[The “Primordials” are not allowed in “Heaven”.]

“Huh—”

BOOM!

A deafening explosion of energy burst outward from the gate.

A massive shockwave struck him full force, sending him flying backward before he could react.

“Oh.”

The blast ripped through the air, and before he knew it, he was plummeting down through the sky.

The golden stairs blurred past him as gravity took hold.

Without his wings, there was nothing to stop his fall.

Still, Sam didn’t panic.

He remained calm, one hand gripping his [Primordial Sword] tightly as the wind howled around him.

He was falling at an incredible speed, fast enough that the ground looked like a gray blur far below.

It would kill almost anyone else instantly.

But he wasn’t just anyone.

Even if he hit the ground, he would revive.

Death was an inconvenience now, not an ending.

He believed firmly that his determination alone wouldn’t let something so simple stop him.

BAM!

A first impact came with a thunderous crash as he slammed into the [Sixth Barrier].

The energy wall rippled under the force of the hit, but it didn’t let him pass through.

He bounced off it slightly, falling again toward the ground below.

“Hm…”

While falling, Sam was deep in thought.

Heaven rejected him completely. That meant there was only one remaining path.

Did the mission intend for him to go to Hell instead? It was strange, but also somewhat fitting.

He had never really seen himself as someone who belonged in Heaven anyway.

Right before crashing fully into the ground, he extended several [Primordial Tendrils].

They burst from his sword and anchored into the earth, slowing his descent instantly.

He landed softly, not a single bone broken, as if the massive fall had been nothing.

‘I was rejected from [Heaven],’ Sam thought, exhaling. ‘So I guess [Hell] it is.’

He stood there for a moment, dusting himself off, his expression calm and detached.

His path was clear now.

He turned toward the second gate, the one that descended into darkness, and began to walk toward it.

Each step echoed faintly against the stone, the silence around him stretching endlessly.

The golden gate before him sealed shut, glowing faintly in the distance.

But he didn’t look back. There was no point.

He had been denied entry once, and that was enough.

He fixed his gaze on the crimson light ahead.

The demonic gate pulsed faintly, as if alive, its surface moving like molten metal.

As Sam drew closer, the air grew warmer, thick with an oppressive, heavy energy that pressed against his skin.

He stopped right before it, staring at the sign that glowed beside it.

[Descend to Hell.]

He took a slow breath, the faintest smirk appearing on his face.

Without hesitation, he stepped forward toward the second gate to see what would happen next.

The light from above faded behind him, and the world around him dimmed.