A partial excerpt from a ruined paper found on Noncho, empty planet of the 6th Wave

- the problem with him is that he pursues his research beyond the boundaries set up by the Commission. If he is truly able to discover and control th - I fear for all of our lives. Would his discovery be spotted by the eyes of Uriel? - Despite all our warnings, we cannot make him stray from his path.

The next month passed by in the blink of an eye, the repetitive nature of my actions causing the days to blur together.

Like clockwork, I woke up every morning and ran over to the other zone. It took me a few days, but I realized that the time spent running could also be spent training my Skills, a realization that had me hitting myself in frustration. Burn marks, ruffled trees, and melted ice would greet me every morning on my way.

I would then continue to explore and map out the terrain until sunset. . Any tree with fungus was instantly destroyed, the only action I’d discovered so far that consistently got the Butchers to show up and fight. They continued to follow the similar attack pattern, destroying the ground beneath me each time they appeared, which made their primal instincts easy to outmaneuver.

Albasalas is a crafty opponent outside of battle, using the Butchers to weaken the ground before I arrive, causing frequent collapses. She also uses them to mislead me, strategically clustering packs around random forests to trick me into thinking I found her location. The first time she used this tactic had me searching in a nondescript forest for a week before I realized I’d been duped.

There’s only so much stalling someone can use, however, and eventually I manage to find her. She hides in a cave at the northern boundary of the zone, defended by two Corrupted Qual’Fan Trainees [Lvl 40]. They are the first humanoid enemies I’ve spotted and I know that they will be a challenge. Albasalas isn’t the only crafty one though.

I spend a few days laying out traps just outside of the range of her Trainees. Luckily for me it seems as if she keeps the Butchers away from her location, perhaps in fear of their tunneling damaging her cave. I also work on another Mana based Skill, the completion of which gives me a secret weapon that my opponent hasn’t seen before.

All in all, it is a trying but productive month. I manage to gain 7 levels, kill 35 of the 1000 creatures required of me, and gain 19 levels in Freezing Beam, 15 levels in Mana Infusion, 9 levels in Sprint, 8 levels in Trap Making and Effortless Presence, 5 levels in Mana Bullet and Indomitable Spirit, 4 levels in Elemental Mana, 3 levels in Mana Manipulation, Weapon Imbuement, and Foraging, 2 levels in Climbing, and 1 level in Fireball and Ball of Oil. I also manage to get closer to completing my mental image, feeling the pieces slowly but surely come together into a cohesive whole.

I sleepily stare at my Status page as I wake up early in the morning, right as the sun graces the horizon and erupts into a tapestry of red and orange rays. The 49 available Attribute Points sitting there tantalizingly as I consider where to invest them. Unlike most of the other opponents I’ve faced, I have no idea how Albasalas fights. My Mana Skills have been incredibly useful against the beasts of Helldarvin, even her controlled creatures, but I don’t know if facing one type of enemy has stunted or skewed my build to where I am at a significant disadvantage.

I think about it for a few moments and come to a decision. Better to shore up my other Attributes to respectable levels before continuing my current trend. Having made up my mind, I put 5 points into Strength, 6 into Dexterity, 5 into Endurance and Recovery, 3 into Physique, 5 into Perception, and 10 into both Intelligence and Wisdom. The corresponding rush of energy as my body changes causes me to fall over, my body spasming slightly as the system rapidly improves it. The new sensations rush into my body as it condenses and improves itself. I feel my lungs open up, truly opened in their entirety, for the first time in my life. They’d been getting better, the asthma no longer troubling me as much thanks to the initial investment in Physique, but now they allow me to take a massive gasp, air flooding inwards and reaching previously closed off areas

Tears come to my eyes as I realize what is happening. The asthma that had plagued me my entire life, restricting the amount of activities I could do and stigmatizing me into the stereotypical nerd, was now cured. Genesis had completely removed it and I could now feel the air circulate properly through my lungs for the first time in my life. The tears mix with laughter as I feel happiness flood through me. I’d been elated at the fact it wasn’t bothering me anymore but had never even considered that I’d be able to remove it entirely. The specter that has hung above me for my entire life has finally been removed. It is a miracle.

It takes me a few moments to regain control of myself, so elated at the eradication of my long time bane, but I take a few deep breaths, calm myself, and open up my Way screen, looking at the 175 points that I’ve managed to accumulate in the past month and the potential paths of investment.

Ways: Way of Latent Talent (0/???), Way of the Gunslinger (0/250), Way of the Arcane Weapon (0/150), Way of the Elements (0/150), Way of the Randomly Chosen (0/100), Way of the Traveler (0/50), Way of the Staff (0/25), Way of the Calm Mind (0/25), Way of Intelligence (0/25)

I look at all the options and weigh them in my mind. With 175 points I have enough to invest in either the beginning of one larger path, a medium and a small path, or a few smaller paths. The risk however lies in the unknown rewards. Mana Initiate, despite only costing 50 points, gave me an incredibly useful skill that had massive potential, along with a sizeable boost to my Mana Well. Then again, Hopeless gave me Indomitable Spirit, which saved me from almost certain doom.

I think about it for a few moments before making up my mind. My final choice is made solely based on the weakness of my current enemy. Albasalas will be the toughest thing I’ve faced to date and the best way to ensure my survival is to make those weaknesses more pronounced. Dumping 150 points into the Way of the Elements, I cross my fingers and let the notifications wash over, noting that I get one at 50 points and another at 100.

While many extol the virtues and power of the Higher Energies, you focus on the Elements as you grow to realise their potential. Harness the power to wreak havoc and destruction upon those who stand against you. Mana + 100

You tap into the fundamental forces of nature, becoming more in tune with the Mana around you. The elements can destroy but they can also create. The choice is up to the person who wields the power. Field of Mana increased by 2 feet.

You have taken your first step toward understanding the elements. Fire burns your skin, Ice freezes you cold, Air tries to push off balance, Earth drags you down, and yet you stand resolute. Having proven yourself to the elements, you are now worthy to wield their true might. The elements are now yours. Damage and Effects of Elemental Skills increased. +2 Wisdom, +2 Intelligence, +2 Willpower. Diverging Way Unlocked.

I let out a sigh of relief, the final notification of damage and effects attesting that my decision was the right one.While more Mana and an increased Field size aren’t necessarily the best reward, the increased damage was exactly what I was looking for.

With 25 points left, I put them all into Calm Mind, only one notification appearing.

Warriors drunk in bloodlust may win battles through sheer might but a strategist with a calm mind wins the war. Logic, objective reasoning, and superior intellect, these are the weapons of the Calm Mind. Make your decisions carefully and you will achieve your goals. Base Mental Acuity during Effortless Presence increased to 10%.

I read the notification clearly and then fall into Effortless Presence, my worries and stress of the upcoming battle washing away. My eyes turn up and watch the clouds, clearly slower than they were before.

Armed with my new tools, I begin jogging towards Albasalas’s Zone, staring at my Status page and feeling a level of pride that I’ve never felt before. All my accomplishments back on Earth pale in comparison to the growth that I’ve accomplished while here on Helldarvin. Genesis, for all its faults, truly forces individuals, species, and even civilizations to adapt or die.

Name: Cael King Health (Regeneration): 250/250 (90/h)

Race: Human (Earth) Mana (Regeneration): 1080/1080 (384/h)

Class: Latent Talent Stamina (Regeneration): 180/200 (80/m)

Level: 38 Available WP: 0

Strength: 10 Intelligence: 62 Perception: 25

Dexterity: 10 Wisdom: 52 Recovery: 10

Endurance: 15 Willpower: 42 Charisma: 3

Physique: 20