Alexander sank into the warm water of the bath, letting out a deep sigh as the heat seeped into his sore muscles. Marta had insisted that he take some time to rest after his grueling week of training, and he couldn't deny that he needed it. The past seven days had been a whirlwind of physical and mental exertion, pushing him to his limits and beyond.

'It's been a hell of a week,' he thought, closing his eyes and letting his mind wander. The bathhouse was quiet, the only sounds were the gentle splash of water and the distant murmur of other patrons. 'I've come a long way, but there's still so much to do.'

He thought back to the dream of his ancestor, Atlan Rey, and the quest to unlock his bloodline. The path ahead was clear, but it was also fraught with danger and challenges. He needed to master the three pillars: body, mind, and mana. The progress he had made so far was significant, but it was just the beginning.

The warmth of the water was soothing, and for a moment, Alex allowed himself to relax completely. His muscles unwound, and his mind drifted. 'Just a little rest,' he told himself. 'I deserve it.'

Marta had been adamant that he take care of himself. She had practically dragged him to the bathhouse, insisting that he needed a break. "Hun, you can't keep pushing yourself like this," she had said, her eyes full of concern. "Take a moment to breathe, to relax. You'll be no good to yourself or anyone else if you burn out."

Her words echoed in his mind, and he couldn't help but smile. Marta was right, of course. He needed to balance his relentless drive with moments of rest and recovery.

After a while, he stepped out of the bath, feeling rejuvenated. He dried himself off and dressed, ready to face his next challenge. The rest had done him good, but he was eager to get back to training. He had decided to take on his first uncommon challenge, hoping to push his limits even further.

The mission hall was bustling with activity as Alex entered, but he moved with purpose, heading straight to the attendant. Elara greeted him with a warm smile. "Good to see you again, Alexander. How can I assist you today?"

"I'm ready for my first uncommon challenge," Alex said, his voice steady and determined.

Elara nodded, her expression serious. "Uncommon challenges are a significant step up in difficulty. You'll need to be prepared for anything. Which challenge are you interested in?"

"I'll take the Goblin Cavern," Alex replied. He had chosen this challenge carefully, knowing that it would test his combat skills and strategy in a dark, confined space.

Elara's eyes widened slightly, but she nodded. "Very well. The Goblin Cavern is a tough one, but I believe you're ready for it. Remember, you have six chances to safely complete uncommon challenges. Use them wisely."

Alex thanked her and made his way to the challenge portal. As he stepped through, he felt a familiar sensation of displacement, and then he was in the cavern.

The air was damp and cool, the darkness pressing in around him. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. 'This is it,' he thought. 'Time to see what I'm made of.'

The cavern was filled with the sounds of dripping water and the distant shuffle of feet. He drew his sword, the iron blade feeling reassuringly solid in his hand. His other hand hovered near his side, ready to channel mana if needed.

He moved cautiously through the cavern, his senses on high alert. The first goblin appeared suddenly, leaping from behind a rock with a high-pitched screech. Alex reacted instinctively, his sword slicing through the air to meet the creature.

The goblin fell with a gurgling cry, and Alex felt a pang of unease. Killing a humanoid enemy was different from the training dummies and targets he had faced before. He pushed the thought aside, knowing that hesitation could cost him his life.

'Stay focused,' he reminded himself. 'They're trying to kill you.'

He moved deeper into the cavern, encountering more goblins along the way. Each encounter tested his skills, forcing him to adapt and react quickly. His sword arts and mixed martial arts skills grew sharper with each fight, the system prompts confirming his progress.

"Congratulations! You have increased the skill: Sword Arts (Level 30)."

"Congratulations! You have increased the skill: Mixed Martial Arts (Level 28)."

Despite his growing confidence, Alex remained cautious. He knew that the goblins were cunning and would use the darkness to their advantage. His mana sensitivity and channeling skills helped him detect the creatures before they could ambush him, but the constant tension was wearing him down.

"Congratulations! You have increased the skill: Mana Sensitivity (Level 15)."

After what felt like hours of relentless fighting, Alex paused to catch his breath. His body was covered in cuts and bruises, and his muscles ached from the exertion. He leaned against a rock, closing his eyes for a moment.

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'Just a little rest,' he thought. 'I've got this.'

"Congratulations! You have increased the skill: Calm Mind (Level 15)."

As he regained his composure, he continued through the cavern. The goblins were becoming more aggressive, their attacks more coordinated. He fought back with all his might, his skills honed to a razor's edge.

His ability to concentrate amidst the chaos increased, allowing him to react faster and more precisely.

"Congratulations! You have increased the skill: Concentration (Level 14)."

But then, disaster struck. In the heat of battle, Alex let his guard down for a split second, believing he had cleared the area. A goblin he thought was dead suddenly sprang to life, its knife plunging into his back.

Pain exploded through his body, and he staggered forward, barely keeping his footing. He twisted around, slashing at the goblin with his sword, and the creature fell dead for real this time. Alex dropped to one knee, clutching his wound.

'Damn it,' he thought, gritting his teeth against the pain. 'I got careless.'

The injury was serious, blood flowing freely from the wound. He could feel his strength waning, but he forced himself to stand. 'I can't give up now,' he told himself. 'I've come too far.'

He moved forward, every step a battle against the pain. The remaining goblins sensed his weakness and attacked with renewed ferocity. Alex fought back with everything he had, his vision blurring from the effort.

"Congratulations! You have increased the skill: Enduring Strength (Level 13)."

"Congratulations! You have increased the skill: Pain Tolerance (Level 15)."

Despite his injuries, he managed to kill the last of the goblins. The cavern was finally silent, the only sound his labored breathing. He leaned against a wall, struggling to stay conscious.

His intimidating presence, enhanced by being covered in goblin blood, had deterred some of the more cautious goblins from attacking him directly.

"Congratulations! You have increased the skill: Intimidating Presence (Level 12)."

Using his tactics skill, Alex had managed to bait and ambush the goblins, exploiting their weaknesses and using the environment to his advantage.

"Congratulations! You have increased the skill: Tactics (Level 12)."

The system prompt appeared, a lifeline in the darkness.

"Congratulations! You have completed the uncommon challenge: Goblin Cavern."

"Reward: 50 Tutorial Points, Exp, 1 Skill Upgrade Gem (Uncommon)."

"Reminder: You have used one of your six free chances to safely complete an uncommon challenge."

“Congratulations! You have leveled up! x5”

A surge of relief washed over him as the cavern faded away, and he found himself back in the mission hall.

"Achievement unlocked: Be among the firsts in your Tutorial to complete an Uncommon Tier Challenge. All stats +3. You have been granted the title: Pioneer (Uncommon)."

“Pioneer (Uncommon): Increased chance of discovering clues within Uncommon Challenges (Very Small chances in Rare Challenges). Increased chance of enhancing rewards.”

The reward prompt brought a smile to his face as the system's healing process immediately took effect, sealing his wound and restoring his strength, though his clothes remained bloody.

Elara was waiting, her expression one of concern. "You look like you've been through hell," she said softly.

"It was tough," Alex admitted, his strained voice leaking from his small smile. "I got careless and paid for it."

She nodded, her eyes understanding. "You're pushing yourself hard, Alex. Just remember to stay cautious. The challenges will only get harder from here."

He nodded, taking her words to heart. The experience had been a wake-up call, a reminder that even the smallest mistake could be deadly. But it had also shown him his strength, his resilience.

As he walked back to his room, he reflected on the journey ahead. There would be more challenges, more battles to fight. But he was ready for them, more determined than ever to unlock his true potential.

He took a deep breath, feeling the phantom pain in his back recede with each step. 'This is just the beginning,' he thought. 'I've got a long way to go, but I'll get there.'

That night, as he lay in bed after a long scrub, he practiced his mana channeling, letting the energy flow through him. The lingering sensitivity in his back was a constant reminder of his vulnerability, but it also fueled his determination.

"Congratulations! You have increased the skill: Mana Channeling (Level 19)."

As sleep finally claimed him, Alex's thoughts drifted to his battle today and to those that still lay ahead. He nearly lost his life today, he knew that he was lucky. But no longer would he remain weak, even if it put his life in danger.

Facing his mortality was a sobering, if not an enlightening experience. The life he lived till now, and the one he will live from now on, the people he will meet, the people he had met and the memories he held dear. He felt that all of those were worth putting his life on the line for, because for once, he felt like he really had a purpose.

I think I get it now, Grandpa…

Name: Alexander Rey

Level: 13

Race: Human

Alignment: Human (Earth)

Titles: Mana Prodigy, Martial Prodigy, Pioneer (Uncommon)

Mana: 228/228

Strength: 21

Dexterity: 23

Endurance: 20

Vitality: 20

Intelligence: 19

Wisdom: 19

Charm: 19

Free Stats: 75

Skills:

* Mixed Martial Arts (Level 29)

* Sword Arts (Level 31)

* Mana Channeling (Level 19)

* Weapon Crafting (Level 1)

* Calm Mind (Level 15)

* Flexibility (Level 10)

* Enduring Strength (Level 13)

* Concentration (Level 14)

* Tactics (Level 12)

* Mana Sensitivity (Level 15)

* Intimidating Presence (Level 12)

* Pain Tolerance (Level 15)