A Class Guide from Puyallup of the 10th Wave, generously donated to them by the College of Zandeim

It is important to look at the strength of the Classes offered to you upon reaching Lvl 25. Some believe that the class with the best growth potential, with the most Attributes offered per level, is the Class that should be picked. As we are of a higher wave and have expertise in these matters, we do not recommend this option. Growth is useful but uniformity is far more powerful. By having your entire fighting force as the same Class, you will be able to synchronize your Skills and understand each other’s fighting styles. Any new discoveries are instantly shared and dissected, leading to a deep understanding of the class.

Albasalas screams as she feels her mental control over the Trainee come to an abrupt end, her consciousness snapping back into her body the instant that the fungus dies. Although the pain is severe, she is no foreigner to the sensation. If there’s one thing that has always accompanied her from the moment she was brought to this place as a seedling, it has been the feeling of pain. Its dull throb a reminder of the horrors she suffered before she became the Zone Leader. And so, it’s not in pain that Albasalas screams out but in frustration.

This little manling, this strange creature that had discovered a weakness she hadn’t even known existed, had survived yet again. For the first time in nearly a decade, Albasalas could feel true fear. Not the fear of a difficult invader nor the fear of an attempted takeover from a higher Zone; After all, those were common occurrences in her life. This was something far more primal, the fear of being killed. The fear that today may be the last time that she opens her mind to all of her creations and revels in the majesty that is her Zone.

She links her mind to all her minions, looking for something something powerful enough to come and defend her body, but finds nothing that would serve her purpose. The Butchers were too large to fit inside her sanctuary and the rest of her Trainees were off at the border, defending her Zone from creatures of the higher Zones, each one hoping to slip out from control of their leaders and claim their own piece of territory. Dungeon Worlds are ruthless but she understands this well, having been a Zone Leader in one for over a decade. Her creatures may not be the most powerful but her mental prowess could subjugate all those who dared to threaten her.

Her final sin, she thinks to herself, may be underestimating this small manling. She’d assumed her defender Trainees would be able to handle him but his trap had changed the balance of this battle. Despite nearly being killed by that arrow, he had managed to put aside his fear and use his temporary weakness to lure her closer, taking advantage of her confidence in order to destroy his opponent. Even in her fear and anger she feels a degree of admiration. Perhaps she could convince him to leave without taking her life. He had said that he’d needed to kill Zone Leaders… Maybe she could use information and power to bargain for her life… It is a risky gamble but it is either this or a fight to the death.

Plotting away, Albasalas waits for his arrival.

I march back towards the cave, sparing a quick glance at the notifications that let me know I gained a level. I quickly allocate the points, adding 2 into Intelligence, Physique, and Willpower, and one into Recovery. Normally I’d wait until I’m in a safe zone before messing around with my Status but after that last fight I know that I needed any boost I could get my hands on to give myself an edge against Albasalas.

After a few minutes I find myself at the mouth of the cave. Fungus grows out around its edges, giving it the appearance of a gaping maw. Spores fall from the ceiling in a consistent downpour. The mouth fills me with a sense of trepidation and nervousness that I’m able to push aside with Effortless Presence. I don’t know what Albasalas will be like but I need to keep myself alert, preparing for any traps or surprises that she may throw my way. Taking a breath, I lift my shirt up to cover my mouth, not wanting to inhale any of the spores, and begin walking into the cave.

Darkness soon envelops me and I lift my right hand up in front of me, letting out a gentle stream of Fire Mana to light the way. My increased regeneration makes this level of Mana expenditure irrelevant, almost instantly recovering any losses.

Now able to see the path in front of me, I notice a small stream that trickles in from the cave and down towards my destination. It runs through small grooves in the cave floor, looking as if the water has worn down a path over a long period of time. Air drifts in from the outside, seemingly sucked towards the center, and brings the scents from outside. I can smell ash and oil in the air, the effects of my explosion evident even this far away from the blast zone. The power of that combination is frightening.

It isn’t long before I see a faint light in the distance. I stop releasing Fire Mana and inspect it for a few seconds. It doesn’t appear to move but that doesn’t mean that it is friendly. It could be the center of the cave or it could be a trap, I have no way of knowing for sure. Slowly creeping towards it, keeping my hands raised in front of me, ready to cast Freezing Beam at a moment’s notice. Upon closer inspection I notice that the light is actually coming from above, a small hole in the ceiling that allows light in. Right below the hole is the trunk that I saw in the dream space and on it sits Albasalas Ophiocordyceps [Lvl 52], clearly the same creature from the vision. Her white limbs, which upon closer inspection seem to be a strange combination of wood and fungus, gesture out towards me and her eyes, the red roses that appeared so perfect in my dream, were rotten and looking directly at me.

Shit.

Before I can launch a preemptive attack, the branches and leaves that comprise her face open up to form a small mouth. “Before you attack little manling, I have an offer to make.”

I’m a little shocked. Not only is she able to speak, something I’d thought her incapable of given the nature of her body and the experience of the dream, but she is also willing to make a deal in order to keep her life. Well there is no harm in hearing her out, as long as it doesn’t take too long. She may be trying to stall me in order to have more of her creatures arrive but I’m willing to listen for a few moments before I make my decision. I nod my head and wait for her to speak.

“Good, I’m glad you are able to see reason”. She looks around her at the little cave that appears to be her home, a small grotto in the tunnel system that is covered in her fungus. While her fungus looked like a blight upon the forest when I first saw it, in here I have to admit it looks breathtaking. Pulses of light shoot through the fungus in an imperceptible pattern, a light show that amazes me in its complexity and beauty.

“You said that you had to kill Zone Leaders and, while I don’t know your reason, I respect your strength. I ask that we drop the feud between us and part peacefully. In return I will give you information on the next two Zone Leaders. Their strengths, their weaknesses, their minions, their locations, everything you would need to know in order to quickly clear them out.”

I stare at her while she speaks, considering her offer. While information on the next Leaders would be invaluable, especially the weaknesses and strengths, it isn’t quite enough to spare her life. I suspect she has something more to offer. No one shows their entire hand right off the bat. Time to negotiate then.

I shake my head. “That isn’t enough, I’ll discover that information on my own anyway.” I raise my hand and conjure a Chilling Wind, forcing it to spiral in my hand. The winds gust around me, tossing my hair around and causing my clothes to flutter.

Her hands raise up in a defensive position. “Calm yourself manling! I can also offer you a Skill and an Item. However Genesis limits me to only being able to give you one of each.”

I pause and let the Chilling Wind dissipate into the air, mulling over her words. I’m interested in any Skill that she would be able to offer but I’m also interested in her use of the word Item. I’d asked Faul about the existence of Items, curious about it after not seeing any information about my quarterstaff or clothing, but he had ignored me. A familiar feeling of annoyance rises when I remember how useless Faul had been in regards to clarifying or teaching any information that didn’t relate to combat. Brushing that thought away, I look at Albasalas with curiosity.

“What is the Skill and what is the Item?”

Realizing that I’m slightly interested, her mouth turns up into a smile, a strange and unsettling expression for a creature made of fungus and wood. “The Skill is called Screaming Mind. The Item was a ring I took off one of my Trainees. I believe it is called The Sigil of House Dor. I am unable to tell you the specific uses of either the Item or the Skill, again due to limitations. What say you? Do you accept my deal?”