A week had passed since Lleyn had embraced Robert as an associate, and named his parents as his beneficiaries should something happen to him. That way, the moment he disappeared into the tutorial, they would have access to all his assets. For now, he had immersed himself in rigorous training, honing his combat skills and exploring the depths of his newfound abilities.

Today was no different. Lleyn sat in the quiet seclusion of his training chamber, a place he had come to cherish. The air was heavy with anticipation as he embarked on another session of meditation. His pursuit of body purification had been a relentless journey, fraught with pain and perseverance. Sweat dripped from his brow as he delved deep within himself, pushing the boundaries of his physical and mental endurance.

Lleyn's breaths were slow and measured, his body trembling as filth and impurities were forcibly expelled through his pores. It was a grueling process, one that felt like a baptism of fire, cleansing him from within. His muscles strained and contorted as if they were being forged anew, each fiber reshaped into a vessel of strength.

As he reached the peak of his meditation, a surge of energy coursed through him. It was a sensation of transcendence, of becoming more than he had ever been. It was a moment of revelation. He received a prompt system message revealing that his body’s purification process had finally reached 50%, and his attributes had again increased. The Ley Line Channeling screen had also increased to level 2, surely an effect of the Clarity passive.

His status screen flickered to life, revealing the fruits of his labor:

Name: Lleyn

Age: 25

Level: 1

Title: Early Awakening Lv1

[Attributes:]

Strength: 30 +3

Stamina: 30

Health: 30

Agility: 30 +5

Magic Power: 30

Dexterity: 20

Perception: 18

Luck: 3

[Innate Skills:]

Odin's Judgement (Level 1)

Lightning Infusion (Level 2) - Channels the potent power of Odin's lightning, allowing its user to infuse objects or even themselves with electrifying energy.

Clarity (Passive) - Increases the acquisition rate of skill experience by 20%.

Sword Mastery (Level 1) - Enhances swordsmanship skills, improving precision, fluidity, and reaction time in combat. Allows for advanced techniques and mental clarity. Damage with sword weapons increased by 20%

Ley Line Channeling (Passive) (Level 2) - Constantly channels the power coursing through Ley Lines into the body to increase the power of innate skills by 15% (skills from equipment are not included).

[Equipment Skills:]

Shadow Veil: Activate to become invisible for up to 5 minutes. Cooldown: 20 minutes. Invisibility ends abruptly if the user attacks an enemy.

Windblast: Allows the user to unleash a focused burst of air with a quick slash of the dagger.

[Quests:]

1. The Strongest (1)

Objective: Come out as the highest ranking challenger in the first phase of the tutorial.

Rewards: 400 Gold, 20 stat points, and the Skill "Eyes of the Strongest. Lv1"

[Inventory:]

Gold: 600

*Early Awakening Lv1: The user will receive 5 more stat points from every level up.

Lleyn couldn't help but be impressed with the progress he had made. As he gazed at his status screen, he murmured to himself, "I've come a long way. I'm almost at the threshold to go beyond the limits of an F-ranked Awakened, at least as I knew it in the past."

His eyes focused on his statistics, each one significantly higher than the average level 1 Awakened. "With these stats alone," he thought, "I'm on par with a level 10 Awakened. And that's without even factoring in my skills."

Lleyn's body felt invigorated, a reservoir of newfound strength and agility. His training had paid off, and he was more prepared than ever to face the challenges that awaited him.

Just as he marveled at his updated status screen, a resonating chime filled the chamber. It was the unmistakable sound of a new quest unfolding before him.

Quest Name: "Harmonious Resonance"

Quest Rank: B

Quest Description:

Develop a harmonious magic circuit within your body to enhance your magical abilities further.

Objective: Form a complete and harmonious magic circuit within your body.

Quest Rewards:

[Silver Reward Box]

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[Magic Circuit Level 2 (Passive Skill)]: Enhance your magical abilities and control.

Lleyn raised an eyebrow as he considered the quest's name and objectives. He couldn't help but notice that the quests he had undertaken so far lacked any ranking, unlike the quests he had encountered during his time in Eldoria.

"Strange," he muttered to himself. "The quests here don't seem to have ranks."

As if hearing his thoughts, the system's voice resonated in his mind.

[Quests related to your return to the past, Lleyn, are impossible to rank. The circumstances and challenges are unique to your journey in this realm.]

The system's voice had taken on a semblance of humanity, and Lleyn had grown accustomed to its capricious nature—sometimes responsive, other times silent. Shoving this thought to the back of his mind, Lleyn nodded, accepting the explanation. It made sense, given the peculiar nature of his situation.

"Harmonious Resonance" was a quest he recognized from his time in Eldoria, and its previous rank hadn't changed. It was still classified as a Rank B quest, signifying its complexity and potential rewards.

With newfound determination and confidence in his enhanced abilities, Lleyn embraced the challenge. He was ready to undertake "Harmonious Resonance," to delve into the depths of magic circuits, and to unlock the secrets of this world, one quest at a time.

Lleyn didn't waste any time after dinner. The B rank of the quest indicated its difficulty, but he knew he was as prepared as he could be. Waiting until the household was steeped in quiet slumber, he initiated the quest.

As anticipated, the process began relatively straightforward. Lleyn found himself in his mental space, where he channeled his magic power to etch the required circuits into his body. While there was no visible change on his exterior, he could feel the searing pain coursing through him. It was a pain that was nonetheless nothing compared to his past trials, even the fight against the Einherjar had been more painful.

Thus, despite the agony, he pressed on. He knew that this was a crucial step, a test of his resolve. The pain intensified as the circuits neared completion, but his willpower unwavering.

And then, as abruptly as it had begun, it was over. The circuits were engraved, the quest fulfilled. The searing pain subsided, leaving Lleyn with a sense of accomplishment and the rewards he had earned.

With trembling hands, he left the Silver Reward Box into his inventory for now. He had decided to only open it after the tutorial started in case he ever found himself in a crisis. Alongside it, the [Magic Circuit Lv1] passive skill manifested in his status screen. A surge of magic power coursed through his body, filling the newly created circuits.

[Magic Circuit Level 1 (Passive Skill)]:

Description: Unlocks the first level of the Magic Circuit skill, increasing mana pool, spell precision, magic damage, and magic resistance.

Effects:

Increased Mana Flow: +10% mana pool.

Enhanced Spell Precision: -15% spell failure.

Magic Affinity: +10% magical damage.

Magic Resistance: -10% magical damage received.

Initially, pleasure washed over him, the sensation of newfound strength exhilarating. But that pleasure quickly transformed into agony. The influx of magic power became overwhelming, threatening to rupture his limbs and shatter his very being. It was a pain he had not anticipated, a test of his endurance that pushed him to the brink.

Lleyn gritted his teeth, refusing to succumb to the pain. He knew that this was the price he had to pay for unlocking new levels of power. With sheer determination, he fought to control the surging magic power, struggling to find balance within the circuits that now coursed through his body.

The battle between agony and resolve raged on

Lleyn had entered a realm of torment, a nightmarish landscape of agony that pushed the boundaries of his endurance. The pain, unlike anything he had ever known, coursed through him with relentless ferocity. It was as if malevolent forces were tearing at the very fabric of his being, rending his essence apart from within.

His senses were overwhelmed, his vision blurred by the searing pain that wracked his body. Consciousness teetered on the precipice of oblivion, threatening to abandon him with each excruciating moment that passed. Lleyn had experienced physical trials, battled formidable foes, and faced the horrors of Eldoria, but nothing had prepared him for this ordeal.

Time seemed to stretch and warp, distorting his perception as he fought to maintain his sanity. What had started as a calculated endeavor to engrave a magic circuit throughout his body had transformed into an excruciating test of his resilience. It was a crucible of suffering, and Lleyn was thrust into its seething depths.

His muscles tensed and spasmed, his body contorted in response to the torment that wracked him. Beads of sweat mixed with the filth and impurities forced out of his body, creating a slick sheen on his skin. The room around him seemed to blur and warp, the walls and furniture taking on an otherworldly quality as his pain-addled mind struggled to make sense of his surroundings.

In his struggle, Lleyn grappled with the thin thread of consciousness that remained to him. He had always prided himself on his resilience, on his ability to endure hardships with unwavering determination. Yet, this was unlike anything he had ever faced. It was as if the very essence of his being was being torn asunder, his physical and metaphysical self caught in a relentless battle.

Minutes bled into hours, each second stretching into an eternity of torment. Lleyn's mind was a maelstrom of pain and confusion, his thoughts fragmented and disjointed. He questioned his decision to undertake this quest, to seek a power beyond the confines of his current abilities. Was it worth this excruciating ordeal? Was there truly a reward that justified such suffering?

As the relentless agony continued to assail him, Lleyn's grip on reality began to slip. He teetered on the precipice of unconsciousness, the allure of oblivion beckoning to him like a siren's call. It would have been so easy to surrender, to allow the pain to consume him entirely.

But then, in the depths of his despair, an unexpected memory surged through his consciousness. It was a flicker, a glimpse of something indistinct yet strangely comforting—a silhouette of a woman. He couldn't discern her features, her identity shrouded in mystery, but her presence was undeniable.

"Will you give up now?" she asked, her words resonating within him.

In that fleeting moment, a wave of warmth cascaded through Lleyn's body, radiating from the enigmatic silhouette. It was as if a benevolent force had descended upon him, a guardian angel in his darkest hour. The chaotic magic circuits within him responded to this unseen influence, as if guided by an invisible hand.

The tumultuous energy that had threatened to consume him began to calm, its ferocity gradually diminishing. The destructive cracks of light that had marred his body, harbingers of his impending collapse, receded as if they had never existed. It was a phenomenon that defied explanation, a miracle born of desperation and intervention.

Lleyn found himself gasping for breath, his body trembling as the pain subsided. He remained seated, drenched in sweat, tears streaming down his cheeks as he grappled with the bewildering turn of events. What had just occurred? How had he been granted this reprieve from the abyss that had threatened to consume him?

Questions swirled in his mind, but answers eluded him. The silhouette of the woman had vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving behind an inexplicable sense of gratitude and wonder. Lleyn couldn't deny the overwhelming relief that flooded his senses. He had emerged from the crucible of suffering, transformed but intact.

With trembling hands, he reached out to trace his skin along the invisible magic circuit that now lay within him, a testament to his unwavering determination and the enigmatic intervention that had saved him. It pulsed with newfound power, a reservoir of potential waiting to be harnessed.

As Lleyn sat there in the dimly lit room, he knew that this experience would forever be etched into his memory. He had faced the abyss and emerged on the other side, changed and stronger for it. The path to power was fraught with challenges, but he was willing to endure whatever trials lay ahead.

With renewed resolve, Lleyn contemplated the mysteries of his journey, his thoughts a maelstrom of curiosity and determination. The quest had been arduous, the pain unimaginable, but he had emerged from the crucible with a newfound understanding of his own potential.

As he closed his eyes, he couldn't help but wonder about the enigmatic silhouette that had come to his aid. Who was she, and what role did she play in the grand tapestry of his destiny? The answers remained elusive, but one thing was certain—his journey was far from over, and the path to power was fraught with mysteries yet to be unraveled.