Thorian's demeanor shifted instantly as he locked eyes with his ghoul adversary, his expression hardening into intense focus. He then invoked two skills he hadn't exercised ever since he had received them.
Predator Gaze. Elemental Sight.
His pupils underwent a metamorphosis, dilating to reveal streaks of blood vessels traversing his sclera. Mana surged into his eyes, casting them in a shimmering silver hue. Through this enhanced vision, Thorian beheld the ghoul with an unprecedented clarity, as if it stood mere inches away. He discerned the vague, pulsating currents of mana coursing within its form—a swirling, amorphous cascade of light blue energy. Suddenly, a sharp azure glow manifested and expanded from the ghoul's chest.
It's coming.
Anticipating the impending strike, Thorian swiftly deployed two defensive skills in unison: Molten Shield and Druidic Dome. The half-dome of resilient wood materialized around him just as the ghoul's katana cleaved through, shattering it into splinters. The momentum of the attack persisted seamlessly, colliding against Thorian's molten shield.
The impact staggered him, forcing Thorian to yield ground as he glanced down to witness his fractured shield. Resigned to the relentless assault, he conjured his next gambit. As the ghoul materialized once more before him, Thorian extended his palm.
Wind Blast!
Swiftly, the ambient powers of the wind coalesced upon his outstretched hand, swirling into a concentrated vortex of gale-force might. With precision, he directed the unleashed fury towards the exposed torso of the ghoul. The resulting shockwave propelled Thorian skyward, spinning uncontrollably before wrestling command over his own trajectory.
As Thorian steadied himself midair, his Emberstrike cane held aloft, he wasted no time in invoking his next incantation.
Wind Tornado.
A tempest brewed at the very spot where the ghoul had landed, the air swirling into a frenzied maelstrom. Each revolution gathered momentum, making it arduous for the ghoul—its chest ravaged by the point-blank impact of Thorian's earlier skill—to rise. Wounds crisscrossed its torso, the lacerations deep and jagged from the razor-edged gusts. Struggling to its feet, the ghoul faced the unleashed might of the Wind Tornado, swiftly consumed by the violent vortex.
Fire Pillar.
Without hesitation, Thorian unleashed his subsequent spell, shrouding the Wind Tornado in the searing inferno of his Fire Pillar. The conflagration roared, its intensity engulfing the tornado and soaring to the apex of the stadium. The flames wrought devastation, transforming the arena's surface into scorched glass and crystalline remnants, painting a quarter of the battleground in fiery chaos.
Surveying the cataclysmic spectacle, a faint smile touched Thorian's lips, relief cascading with an exhaled breath. Yet, amidst his brief respite, an instinctual foreboding surged through him—a primal fear that heralded imminent danger.
A deafening roar reverberated, and amidst the fiery hues of red and orange, a bolt of azure lightning erupted. In an infinitesimal fraction of time, the ghoul materialized directly before Thorian, its sword poised in a swift horizontal arc, aimed to sever Thorian's head from his body.
There was no time for any defensive measure; escape was already impossible. The speed by which the ghoul moved left Thorian almost no choice—No choice but one.
"Flare Burst!"
In an instant, Thorian's form was engulfed in a searing conflagration. Flames erupted from every inch of his being, surging with a velocity that matched the ghoul's lightning swiftness. The resulting explosion blanketed the surrounding area in a scorching eruption.
Boom!
The intense heat, a product of the Emberstrike Cane's specialized skill, left Thorian battered and singed. Yet, despite his searing injuries, his focus remained resolute. Swiftly locating the ghoul amidst the aftermath of the blast, its form tumbling from the explosion's force, Thorian channeled his next skill.
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Water Prison.
A voluminous sphere of water materialized instantaneously, ensnaring the ghoul within its aqueous confines, restricting its movements and stifling its breath.
Employing dual casting, Thorian summoned yet another spell: "Earth Spikes." The ground surrounding the ghoul quaked and shifted, birthing colossal spikes as unyielding as forged metal. These protrusions impaled Thorian's adversary, effectively immobilizing it.
Aware that the spikes would fade in mere moments, Thorian comprehended that this was no time for respite. Channeling his qi and activating his yin movement technique, he gracefully stepped forward, his movements seemingly languid yet purposeful. In an instant, Thorian vanished, reappearing directly before the ghoul.
With a swift transition, Thorian shifted his Qi from a neutral yin state to the ominous dark flames.
Dark Flame Palm.
Instantly, his hands, adorned with crimson fur, became shrouded in vibrant purple flames. Yet, before he delivered the strike, Thorian layered another skill atop—one he had long neglected.
Combustion Touch.
From the center of his palm, vivid orange flames emerged, merging and colliding with the existing purple inferno. As Thorian's strike landed upon the defenseless and immobilized ghoul's head, a vortex of clashing purple and orange flames engulfed it, roaring and battling for supremacy.
As the fiery tempest gradually subsided, Thorian remained unwavering, his gaze fixed upon the ghoul's form. Only when he witnessed the aftermath of his assault— the headless body of the ghoul faltering to the ground—did Thorian release a heavy sigh, his shoulders drooping with exhaustion.
"Marvelous!" Tza'har materialized next to Thorian, applauding gleefully. "Truly an enthralling demonstration of skill. You have left me thoroughly impressed."
Disregarding the undead mage's praise, Thorian lowered himself to the ground, panting heavily. "Save your false compliments. To someone like you, this might as well be child's play in a sandbox."
"No, no, I'm genuinely impressed," Tza'har countered, tilting his head in confusion before shaking it. "Honestly, I hadn't envisioned that someone yet to reach the second advancement could defeat that ghoul. I was fully prepared to intervene when it employed flash step."
Thorian arched an eyebrow at Tza'har's words. "Why extend such kindness? I am an intruder, someone you seek to eliminate."
Tza'har chuckled softly. "Reasons are often elusive, my friend. Yet, there's a certain allure to one who treads the arduous path of the elemental magus. It's a journey filled with trials and endurance."
He then directed his gaze towards the staircases ahead. "Shall we go up and claim your rewards? I'm certain you'd find them appealing."
The promise of newfound power drew a nod from Thorian as he rose, taking in a deep breath. As they strode toward the staircase, Thorian glanced back to where the ghoul's body had been, only to find it vanished, dematerialized by the mysterious forces governing the dungeons.
"You were... truly formidable," Thorian whispered inwardly.
This recent confrontation shattered a lingering delusion that had insidiously crept into Thorian's thoughts—a belief that perhaps he had already achieved enough strength. The urgency he'd experienced after overcoming the green lady's cohorts had reignited. He acknowledged he was far from being strong enough, and the path before him stretched dauntingly long.
"What’s the matter?" Tza'har inquired, noticing Thorian's contemplative demeanor. "Some introspection?"
Turning back, Thorian shook his head before offering a smile. "Something of the sort."
The two resumed their journey back to the dimly-lit library. After a brief search through his cluttered desk, Tza’har retrieved what he sought. "Ah, here they are."
He turned to present Thorian with his rewards—four parchments. Thorian arched an eyebrow in curiosity. "Skill scrolls?"
"Yes, precisely," confirmed Tza’har. "They're not skill crystals because I specifically want you to master them." He pressed the skill scrolls against Thorian's chest. "Not your subordinates or subjects, but you alone. Do you understand?"
Thorian's eyes widened in surprise. "You're aware of my subjects?"
The implications of the undead mage's knowledge overwhelmed Thorian, stirring a whirlwind of thoughts and conjectures. How extensive is his reach? Does he possess omniscience within this dungeon? That's a capability surpassing even the guardian.
In response, Tza’har simply smiled, offering the rewards to Thorian. As Thorian accepted them, Tza’har peered deeply into his eyes. "I eagerly anticipate our next encounter. Although the 'me' you meet then will hold no memory of this meeting, I'm certain he'll relish your company. After all, he is me."
Despite Tza’har's skeletal visage, Thorian discerned a spectrum of emotions within him—the joy of conversing after endless solitary days, the poignancy of parting, and the bittersweet hope for a future meeting by a being unable to truly consider himself.
"Goodbye, then." With those parting words, Tza’har snapped his fingers, and Thorian found himself instantly teleported out of the grand library.