Policy of the Akleg, Member Planet of the 8th Wave

We hereby ban the use of the Portal Center and transport to the planets commonly known as Dungeon worlds. All travel off Akleg is forbidden and all foreigners who come to our planet will be killed upon sight. We will not condone the atrocities committed by the great evil “Genesis”, nor the system by which it attempts to control our lives.

Thinking about all that lies ahead, I decide to start the best way I know how. Studying. Pulling out A Combat Understanding of Mana, the book that has inadvertently saved my life on countless occasions, I look at the cover. The title is written in a beautiful yet simplistic script, stitched into a black leather cover. Opening it up to the last page I was on, I begin to read.

Never let yourself fall into the trap of limiting the potential of Mana. Countless users reach a wall after creating Elemental Mana and then, in order to save some pride, convince themselves that Mana can go no further, can become nothing else but the simplest elements. This limits them in the future, as limitless potential can only be limitless to the imaginative user.

The next stepping stone in building your foundation is the creation of a Higher Energy, a step above the elemental Mana. Only attempt this once your Willpower has reached an appropriate level, 40 being the minimum required. Anything less than this will result in a weaker image that may collapse on itself and damage your mind. Do not attempt to create Universal Constants yet, as they require the completion of the foundation and a true understanding of the Universe.

Here are a few examples of Higher Energies: Darkness. Life. Sound. Embodiment. Metal. Build the image and let Mana become the source of your power.

Interesting… now I’m extremely pleased with my Class decision. Arcane Gunslinger may have been an immediate power boost but I never would have been able to experiment with the Higher Energies, let alone whatever the Universal Constants are. Unfortunately I don’t have a high enough Willpower to get started on this though, even with 6 attribute points leftover from reaching level 25. I can solve that with just one more level however, as Latent Talent gives me an extra 7 distributable points.

Falling into Effortless Presence, the blankness of thought and increase in mental acuity wash over me quickly. My thoughts sped up and my emotions fading away, I begin to lay out my goals for the next week.

Goal 1: Create more Skills with Elemental Mana. Even if I don’t use them often, the Skills will give me versatility in combat and any level will give me more Way points.

Goal 2: Get my Willpower above 40. If possible, also do with Intelligence and Wisdom.

Goal 3: Discover one of the Higher Energies, preferably one that can benefit me in combat on Helldarvin.

Smiling to myself, I feel a now familiar excitement rise within me. When I was back on Earth I had always studied so that I’d do well on tests, the end goal being a successful job and a good income. Now that I look back, it seems a pitiful existence. Why did I commit so much time and energy to a goal that would find me achieving someone else’s dream? The feeling of committing myself to my own growth, my own pursuit of power, is far more fulfilling.

Walking through the forest, I whistle a tune as if I had no care in the world. My feet crush the pines beneath my feet and I find myself once again staring up at the trees around me, their violent purple color still catching me off guard every now and then. It’s been four days since Faul left and I want to try out some of my new ideas.

I hear a slight noise behind me and a smile breaks out on my face. Finally something has decided that I’m prey. Feigning fear, I begin to sprint for my clearing, the soft sounds of the stalking beast behind me. It only takes us a few moments to reach our destination and, finally in an open field, I turn around and see the creature that followed me to its death. My eyebrows raise, mild surprise at the sight.

A Helldarvin Alpha Hunter [Lvl 36] stands across the clearing from me, his blood red eyes filled with a level of intelligence that his brothers seem to lack. I’m surprised that I’ve never seen one of these beasts before but, if I’m being honest with myself, I’m more excited at the prospect of going up against my first opponent above level 35. By my rough estimate I’ve still got about 300 to 350 days left to complete my goals and now is a good time to start.

The Alpha begins to cautiously walk parallel to me, mimicking the movements of the first Hunter that I ever met. Now I know that it is a ploy to slowly get closer to me, however, so before it can take any more steps I cast Chilling Wind, using my Field of Mana to have the origin point be a few feet ahead and level with the ground. I’d been experimenting over the past few days and the sheer flexibility of my Field allowed me to be far more creative with my combat abilities.

His eyes focused on me, the beast doesn’t notice the wind that seems to suddenly originate from the ground, the gusts buffeting him and frost forming all around his body. Instead of rushing in like his simple-minded brethren, the Alpha lets the winds continue to break into his body until they die down. He then lets out a massive roar, the sound waves themselves disintegrating most of the frost on its body.

I thought I’d be disappointed by the fact that my Skill was just so easily negated but, instead, I feel some excitement. This isn’t going to be easy and I shouldn’t treat it like a regular Hunter. I slip into Effortless Presence and watch as everything around me seems to slow down slightly. Not by much, perhaps only by 5%, but enough that I’m able to notice it. Improved regeneration aside, mental acuity in combat is now my favorite part of the Skill.

The Hunter, now free of the frost that was lowering his Dexterity, begins to paw towards me again, his cautious eyes darting around the ground to look for more tricks.

Okay you beast, let’s see how you like this next idea. Mixing together Fire and Earth Mana, I conjure up a ball of viscous black liquid, making the point of origin above me, and will it towards the Alpha where it strikes him right on the head. The liquid bursts apart and coats his fur, slightly restricting his movement. The beast shakes his head to try and remove the liquid but it remains attached to his fur, slightly confusing him as it doesn’t seem to damage him in any way.

As he attempts to shake off the viscous liquid stuck to him, I don’t waste a moment and mix Fire and Air Mana, creating a rotating ball of flame in my hand. I know it’s a crutch to rely on conjuring things in my hand but the creation process is easier as I can watch it and adjust the inputs accordingly. My other hand conjures a Mana Bullet.

Pointing my hand outwards, I let loose a yell and will the projectiles forward, the Air Mana propelling the fire to a speed that is only slightly slower than the explosive Bullet. The Alpha turns at the sound of my voice and I see his eyes widen at the sight of my attacks flying towards him. The bullet hits him before he has the opportunity to react, punching through his pelt and into his chest. The ball of flame arrives a second later, reaching him just as he begins to dodge and bursting upon contact. The fire then ignites the viscous liquid, a highly combustible form of oil that I’d managed to stumble onto while experimenting.

The explosion lets loose a giant roar and suddenly flames fill my entire vision, waves of force pushing me back a few feet as I fight to maintain balance. Holy crap. I’d expected a large explosion but that was terrifying. Flames coat a few nearby trees and, through the heat waves emanating out of the crater in the ground, I see the Alpha limp out and towards me. Its body is badly burned, all traces of its purple coat now replaced by blackened and burned skin, but his eyes are filled with an unstoppable will.

Walking towards me, the sight of it slowed down by my mental acuity, I’m more impressed than anything else. That doesn’t stop me from beginning another attack, however. Picking up and spinning my quarterstaff through the 3rd Jurus to the 5th and back to the 3rd, I wait for the weakened Alpha to attack. My perception of time slowed down and the beast walking slowly, I’m able to appreciate Faul’s teachings, even knowing his intentions. Consisting of 7 sets of movements, with hundreds of permutations, the Jurus are perfect for the build I am creating.

My thoughts are interrupted as the beast gets within 5 feet, limping along at a slow pace. Spinning my body around, I use the momentum to whip the quarterstaff forward, the tip glowing bright blue. Contact with the beasts head, as it is too weakened to try and dodge, initiates a transfer of force as the Mana flows through my staff and into the creature. I hear a sharp crack and the beast flops to the ground, its neck snapped from the blow. The entire fight used about 75% of my Mana Well but it ended without me taking any damage.

Before I can yell in excitement at my conquest, a series of notifications appear in my sight.

You have defeated the Helldarvin Alpha Hunter [Lvl 36], the Zone Leader of the Novice Zone! Access Granted to Novice Portal Center. CAUTION: Leaving Helldarvin is not recommended given Genesis requirements.

Task Updated: Zone Leaders Defeated: 1/3

You have reached Lvl 26, 27, 28!

You have discovered the Skill Ball of Oil Lvl 1! You draw oil from the earth and coat the recipient in a sticky and highly flammable solution. Slightly decreases Dexterity upon contact. Cost: 50 Mana. Increased skill level increases size and Dexterity decrease.

You have discovered the Skill Fireball Lvl 1! A staple of any Mana user, Fireball will immolate your opponents and burn all those who stand in your way. Cost: 60 Mana. Increased Skill level increases damage and explosive force.

You have discovered the Skill Weapon Imbuement (R-2) Lvl 1! Mana users who engage in physical combat are few and far between, relying on distance to destroy their enemies. You obliterate the expectations and use Mana in all that you do, imbuing your weapon with Mana to make it far more deadly. Cost: Variable. Increased skill level allows for more Mana in weapon.

I’d also gained 6 levels in Mana Manipulation and Elemental Mana, 5 in Effortless Presence, and 4 in Staff Mastery. A smile breaks out on my face. All of my planned Skills had worked far better than I had expected.