Eyewitness account of an Ungutarri foot soldier during the Siege of the College of Zandei

The heathens spent the day hiding in their college. I was part of the morning’s assault to try and break down the entry gate and they didn’t even come to fight against us, disrespecting our Primus even further. Our blows bounced off their accursed runes and we were unable to dent the door at all. We must do all we can to rid the Universe of these foul creatures who disrespect the power of Genesis.

Walking into the forest, Faul stretches his muscles and decides to let loose for the first time in months. He unsheathes the sword on his back and, with his trademark grin appears on his face, he explodes forward. Moving at a speed too quick for most to see, requiring 50 perception or higher to be able to track his movements, he runs towards one of the more difficult zones at a breakneck pace. Dirt is launched by his each step, forming small craters that follow his path, and his passing shakes the leaves and branches of each tree.

The boy’s face remains rooted in his mind as he loses himself in the monotony of running towards conflict. He hadn’t planned on mentioning their eventual battle, as it was considered to be an ineffective training technique, but his excitement at the appearance of the R-5 class had overwhelmed his almost nonexistent inhibitions. Against his better judgement, he allows himself to feel disappointed that the boy took it so poorly. Cael had been an excellent student so far, barely asking any questions or complaining when mutilated, which was a far cry better than some of the whimpering fools the Primus had sent his way.

He obliterates any creature that has the misfortune of getting in his way, too focused on the boy’s potential to make their deaths last longer than necessary. The R-5 class had been a complete shock, a rarity of a magnitude that the boy could not comprehend. Even Faul’s class, Bloodenraged Berserker, was only R-4, a fact that made him too influential to kill. The only individual he knew who had a higher rarity was the Primus, boasting of his R-7 class to any and all he came into contact with.

Even stranger than the R-5 ranking, however, was the strange Latent Talent class that the boy so stubbornly accepted. In his 110 years of life, Faul had never once heard of an R-? ranked Class or a Temporary Class. The boy obviously had massive potential but his choice was a huge gamble. What if the so called “latent” potential within the boy was nothing more than a low R-2 or even an R-1? To turn down a guaranteed road to power for a hazy and slow road with no destination in mind … it was idiocy and Faul could barely accept it. If he had stayed longer he was sure that he would have given into his base instincts and would have killed the boy.

Perhaps he coddled the boy too much. His continued presence may serve as a deterrent to training… he comes to a decision as he approaches the higher level zone, killing all in his way.

I watch as Faul stomps away from me and into the forest, small explosions of sound echoing outwards after a few moments.

I know that it is most likely a cultural difference, his violent nature suggesting his people have a love of combat and conflict, but the concept of our eventual battle throws me off. This whole time I’ve been training he has been preparing me like a lamb for slaughter, fattening me up with power so that he can reap the rewards. Anger and sadness fight within my mind, unsure of how I truly feel. I’d thought he was my Mentor, committed to my development. I’d always known that he would benefit from my rise somehow but… well I hadn’t, even in my wildest dreams, thought that my death would play a part in his price.

The revelation hardens my resolve though. I’d been getting stronger so that I could get back to my family, sure, but now I needed to ensure that Faul never became the Primus of Earth. His rage and love of combat would be the catalyst of my family’s destruction. Obtaining power has to be my only focus.

That power would also help me survive in the next “zone”. I’d been wondering why I’d been able to survive in this area, even with Faul’s help. Why was there only one predatory creature? Why did all Hunters seem to be below level 35, the threshold to start satisfying one of the requirements? Evidently the answer to both of these questions was that I’m in the novice zone. Strangely enough I feel excited by the prospect of more combat opportunities, more chances to grow. Before Helldarvin I would have been terrified, but now? Now I just look forward to becoming more powerful.

With that in mind, I pull up my Way Screen and see what is available to me. I’ve finished the Way of the Hopeless, have 59 points to invest, and need something to help me survive in the trials I will be facing.

Ways: The Way of Latent Talent (0/???), The Way of the Gunslinger (0/250), The Way of the Randomly Chosen (0/100), The Way of the Traveler (0/50), The Way of the Mana Initiate (0/50), The Way of the Calm Mind (0/50), The Way of the Staff (0/25), The Way of Intelligence (0/25)

Interesting. The Way of the Traveler seems to have cleared from the earlier question marks, settling into a cost of 50 WP. It still isn’t something I’m interested in but the fact that the fog can clear up on its own is fascinating.

Just like the time before, Randomly Chosen and Traveler are immediately off the table. I may come back to them one day but I need something that can make an instant change. With the desire for instant change in mind, I veto the idea of Latent Talent. The question marks scare me, as I could end up spending hundreds, or even thousands, of points before I see a benefit.

That leaves Gunslinger, Mana Initiate, Calm Mind, Intelligence, and Staff, all of which fit incredibly well. If I had enough points for Gunslinger I’d invest in that without a second’s thought but I don’t really want to start another long Way at the moment. Calm Mind is probably related to my Effortless Presence Skill, the backbone to my entire combat strategy, but its passive nature makes me put it out of mind. Intelligence could result in an increase to my Mana Well but I don't think it would provide any combat benefits. Staff is also interesting but it is more of a last resort at the moment, a way of stalling for time and opportunities to use my Mana Skills. After a few more seconds of deliberation, I close my eyes and invest 50 points into Mana Initiate, hoping my decision pays off.

Few have the patience, creativity, and drive to explore the mysteries of Mana, most focusing instead on paltry physical pursuits. Take your first steps into the intricacies of Mana. Unleash your mind. +3 Intelligence, +3 Wisdom

You have taken the first step, unlocking your mind to a higher understanding of Mana. Use your power to take what is yours, solve ancient mysteries, and make your influence absolute. +3 Intelligence, +3 Wisdom. Skill Gained: Field of Mana Lvl 1

You have discovered the Skill Field of Mana Lvl 1! Your body, infused with overflowing Mana, has begun to spread itself in a circular field around you. Mana Skills may be originated at any point in this field. Current Size: 5 feet. + 100 Mana. Increased skill level increases field size and mana bonus. Increased skill level increases comprehension.

Understanding and comprehension overwhelms my mind for a few seconds as ideas and concepts come rushing in. This is then followed by a massive draining force, Mana sucked out of my body to fill the field around me. Held in place, unable to move a finger as my Well is drained clean, I feel the Mana rush through my body, escaping through my skin and infusing the air around me.

Seconds, each feeling as long as years, tick onwards until it finally stops, my body collapsing to the ground with a few heaving breaths. I ignore the feelings in my body as I begin to comprehend the information provided by Field of Mana.

I realize that I'd previously been conjuring Skills by bringing the Mana from my Well up towards my focal point, in this case my hand, and then creating a localized field that served as the origin point. Now, however, I can feel the entire field around me, a 5 foot sphere expanding in all directions. I can feel the ground beneath me with a new sense, something outside of my usual perception but still somehow reliant on it. I’m not sure how, but I am able to suddenly “see” all around, to spot the deposit of clay just 3 feet underneath me, able to touch the bark of my tree, to smell the fresh breeze above my head. Within my field, I am omniscient.

I sit like this for a few moments as the sensations begin to slowly lessen, my mind unable to comprehend all these new inputs. It finally settles and, although it isn’t as large as the overwhelming information, I am still able to comprehend things in the small range, albeit to a much lesser degree.

I put these thoughts out of my head though. While expanding my field and re-obtaining that level of understanding is certainly a long-term goal, more than anything else I want to experiment with elemental Mana and my new field.

I have seven days to master both of them and make myself powerful enough to survive the first real zone. Time to get to work.