The darkness of sleep enveloped Alexander as he drifted off, exhausted from the day's trials. His mind, however, was not at rest. Instead, he found himself in a strange, vivid dream.
He stood in the middle of a vast, ethereal landscape. The sky above was a swirling tapestry of colors, and the ground beneath his feet seemed to shimmer with a soft, radiant light. In the distance, he saw towering mountains and sprawling forests, a world both fantastical and grand.
"Welcome, Alexander," a deep, commanding voice called out.
Startled, Alexander turned to see a man approaching him. The man was tall and strong, with an aura of authority and wisdom. His green eyes, much like Alexander's, seemed to pierce through him, and his presence was both comforting and intimidating.
"Who are you?" Alexander asked, perplexed by the surreal nature of his surroundings.
"I am Atlan Rey, your ancestor," the man replied, his voice filled with pride. "I have come to explain your heritage and the power that runs through your veins."
Alexander felt a mixture of trepidation and wonder. "My heritage? What do you mean?"
Atlan smiled and gestured around them. "Our family, the Rey family, has a long and storied history. We are one of the Ancient families, each with a Tier 8 being as our progenitor. Our first ancestor, Gran Rey, was a legendary figure who rose to great power during the first System Integration."
As Atlan spoke, the world around them shifted, showing images of Gran Rey in battle. The ancestor's figure towered over his enemies, his presence alone seeming to suppress and dominate the battlefield. Alexander watched in awe as Gran Rey empowered his allies with a mere gesture, their strength amplified by his will.
"Our power," Atlan continued, "is the power of domination. We can control and influence body, mind, and mana. It is a power that has shaped the course of many battles and will be crucial in the existential war against the Outer Beings."
The scene changed again, this time showing a battlefield filled with chaos and terror. Alexander saw monstrous squid-like creatures, their being like dark inky holes in reality, swarming across the land. Their very presence exuded wrongness, of corruption. The sight was horrifying, and Alexander felt a wave of fear and dread starting to fill his body. He saw soldiers and warriors being torn apart, their bodies twisted and corrupted by the Voidlings. The air was thick with the stench of death and decay, and the ground was littered with the fallen. Could he change something if he was there? He knew the answer, and felt insignificant, like a speck of dust in the scale of such a battle.
"The battlefield you see," Atlan explained, "is one of the less dangerous ones. These are only Voidlings, pawns of the Great Ones of the Void. The Great Ones lurk in the spaces between the universes, spreading their corruption and seeking to consume all of reality."
Alexander's heart pounded in his chest. The images were overwhelming, but he forced himself to remain calm, to process everything he was seeing. His grandfather's teachings about control and discipline came rushing back to him. He may still be small in the grand scale of reality, but he was only at the beginning of his journey.
Baby steps.
As he steadied his breathing and focused his mind, a system prompt appeared before him:
"Congratulations! You have gained the skill: Calm Mind (Level 5)."
Atlan's eyes twinkled with approval. "Good. You must remain calm and focused if you are to unlock your true potential. Unlocking your bloodline will be a great challenge, but it is a worthy one. You must build your faction, gather allies, and prepare for your return to Earth. The stronger you become here, the better equipped you will be to face the existential threats that await."
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Alexander felt a sense of clarity and purpose wash over him. The enormity of the task ahead was daunting, but he knew he had to rise to the occasion. He remembered the wording of Atlan and made the connection. "Unlocking my bloodline? Is that why you are here?"
Atlan nodded. "Indeed, that is the reason I am here. The System has recognized your potential and invited me to initiate you to this quest to unlock the full power of our lineage. Each step you take in mastering it will bring you closer to awakening the true power of the Rey bloodline."
Alexander felt a renewed sense of determination. "What do I need to do to unlock my bloodline?"
"You must master the three pillars of our power: domination of body, mind, and mana," Atlan explained. "This means pushing your physical limits, honing your mental resilience, and mastering the flow of mana within you. Each step you take in this journey will unlock a part of your latent power."
New Quest: Unlock the Rey Bloodline
Tasks:
* Master the domination of your Body [0/1]
* Unlock a related Body skill of at least tier 5
* Master the domination of your Mind [0/1]
* Unlock a related Mind skill of at least tier 5
* Master the domination of your Mana [0/1]
* Unlock a related Mana skill of at least tier 5
* Achieve the highest rank in the tutorial [0/1]
* Complete all tiers of challenges
Reward: Unlock the potential of the full Rey Bloodline
Atlan gestured, and the scene shifted once more. Alexander saw other members of the Rey family in various worlds, training, fighting, and leading their factions. They were formidable, their presence commanding respect and fear.
"Our family has spread across different worlds, seeking talent and strength. You are part of this legacy, and it is your duty to uphold it," Atlan said. "Build your faction, dominate the tutorial, and return to Earth ready to lead and fight."
The vision began to fade, and Alexander felt a deep sense of connection to his ancestors and his heritage. He knew the path ahead would be difficult, but he was ready to embrace it.
As he awoke, the dream lingered in his mind, the images and words of Atlan Rey etched into his memory. He felt a renewed sense of purpose and a burning desire to unlock his true potential.
Yet, beneath that purpose was an underlying current of fear and doubt. Could he really live up to this legacy? The enormity of the task felt overwhelming. His mind churned with questions. What if I fail? What if I'm not strong enough? What if I let everyone down?
He quickly checked his status screen, noting the new skill:
Name: Alexander Rey
Level: 2
Race: Human
Alignment: Human (Earth)
Titles: Mana Prodigy, Martial Prodigy
Mana: 192/192
Strength: 18
Dexterity: 20
Endurance: 17
Vitality: 17
Intelligence: 16
Wisdom: 16
Charm: 16
Free Stats: 5
Skills:
* Mixed Martial Arts (Level 27)
* Sword Arts (Level 29)
* Mana Channeling (Level 8)
* Weapon Crafting (Level 1)
* Calm Mind (Level 5)
The dream had given him a glimpse of the power he could achieve and the responsibilities that came with it. But could he really do this? Could he live up to the expectations of his ancestors? Doubts gnawed at him, making him question his worthiness. He thought back to his grandfather's teachings, the lessons of control, discipline, and self-mastery.
A sudden thought made him laugh. "Grandfather would have been a better fit for this," he mused. His grandfather had embodied those values perfectly. He was strong, wise, and unwavering.
Atlan's voice echoed in his mind. "Perhaps. But the System judged you worthy of being the legatee of this quest."
Alexander felt a mixture of emotions—fear, doubt, and an underlying excitement. The path ahead was daunting, but the potential for greatness was there. He just had to find the strength within himself to unlock it.
As he stood up, ready to face the new day, the words of his grandfather echoed in his heart like a mantra. "Losing is learning; quitting is failing"
He didn't have all the answers, and his fears were still there, but he knew he couldn't give up. He had to keep moving forward, one step at a time, just as his grandfather had taught him. And for now, that was enough.
With a mixture of trepidation and determination, Alexander stepped out into the new day, ready to confront whatever challenges lay ahead.