"The moment you encounter the spirits, my lord, run as swiftly as you can."

Thorian's eyebrows furrowed at Melina's warning. So it was the spirit elves. I understand now why William struggled so greatly.

"Thank you for the warning, Melina," Thorian said, offering a slight bow. "I will heed your advice closely."

Melina returned Thorian's nod, her expression grave, before he departed from the Village Hall. Venturing towards the village's outer region, he found the landscape rather empty. Sparse buildings dotted the area, interspersed with rolling hills, small cliffs, and dirty ponds. This part seemed more an extension of nature than a segment of the village.

After a short walk, Thorian spotted their designated rendezvous point, marked by Zogarth's towering frame – an unmistakable presence.

As Thorian approached his council, Zogarth turned and greeted him. "My lord, you've arrived."

Just as Zogarth began to rise, Thorian gestured for him to remain relaxed. He then settled onto a protruding rock amongst his council members.

"Today's meeting will be brief," Thorian began. "The routine matters of the dungeons and the abyss are already known to you all; there's no need for repetition."

He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "Our primary focus is the Eärendil dungeon and selecting the men who will join me in this challenge." His gaze swept across the council. "This dungeon poses great peril, and only those with strength at least equal to Aqua's may consider entering."

Hearing those words, Ventus laughed. "Then my place in the party is assured."

Lapis and Vivax, on the other hand, wore expressions of disappointment, mirrored in a more subdued manner by the three elders.

Thorian turned to face the lightning kobold. "Ventus, what are the overall stats of your direwolf? I'm particularly interested in her agility."

Ventus paused to consult his partner's status window before answering. "Her stats generally hover around 90, with mana being very low, but her agility is at 103."

Thorian sighed and shook his head. "That's not fast enough. She can't join us." He then addressed the entire council. "In fact, I would advise against bringing any direwolf, except for my partner Harald. That is if you value their lives."

A wave of shock washed over the room, followed by a dawning realization. This was not like their previous dungeon explorations, with their relative safety. This was an entirely different challenge.

"King, just how perilous is this dungeon?" Forlune inquired, his eyebrow arching. "It's rare to see you this serious, except in dealings with Nalia."

"It's exceedingly dangerous," Thorian replied. "But remember, our aim is not to conquer it, but to purify Amelia's shrine and secure her tear. That is our sole objective."

"That sounds reasonably straightforward," Forlune remarked. "But where does the danger lie? Are the creatures in this dungeon this obscenely powerful?"

"They're not mere creatures; they're elves," Thorian corrected, shaking his head. "If a spirit materializes beside you, run away as quickly as you can. Otherwise, you might find a two-meter-long arrow impaling you in an instant."

"So, we are dealing with archers," Elder Oom surmised. "But what is the extent of their power?"

"Their strength is difficult to convey without firsthand experience," Thorian replied. "But consider their attacks to be more lethal than even my most potent spells. That is the level of adversaries we face."

With Thorian's explanation, a heavy silence fell over the meeting. The clarity of the situation left little room for doubt; everyone understood their own strengths and limitations well.

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Exhaling deeply, Thorian brought the meeting to a close. "This meeting is adjourned. Aside from those here who meet the requirements, Saxum, Jarfin, and Harald will join me in challenging Eärendil. For now, I leave you to your respective duties."

With these words, the council members dispersed, each embarking on their tasks. Wasting no time, Thorian departed the village for the dungeons. Following his routine of the past few days, he briskly navigated through the layers of the Verdant Labyrinth and the Thunderous Citadel. He seized every opportunity to practice the two skills he had yet to master: Earth Spikes and Water Prison.

Upon completing his expedition and returning to the village, Thorian decided to review his progress with these two skills.

Water Prison Description This advanced skill conjures a sphere of water around a targeted enemy, trapping them inside. The water prison restricts movement and breathing, causing continuous water damage over time. The skill requires concentration to maintain. Proficiency 89.2%

Earth Spikes Description This potent ability allows the mage to summon sharp, jagged spikes of rock from the ground at a targeted area. The spikes impale enemies, causing significant earth damage and potentially immobilizing them momentarily. The spikes retract into the ground shortly after emerging. Proficiency 89.2%

I'm nearing full mastery, Thorian reflected. Tomorrow will be the day.

Satisfied with his improvement, Thorian closed his status window as he neared the gates of Wolvendale. Glancing skyward, he noticed the twin suns hadn't yet reached their zenith.

I'm becoming swifter and more efficient each day, he thought, a smile playing on his lips. He proceeded to the Village Hall to collect his daily quests, then to the magus guild to register his class quests.

Next, Thorian headed to the meeting room in the Village Hall. There, he honed his elemental control and bodily mana enhancements, making the most of his time while waiting for his main party to assemble.

Engrossed in manipulating four miniature fireballs dancing on his fingertips, Thorian was interrupted by Vigil's entrance. "My lord, I was certain I'd find you here."

Thorian extinguished his spell and rose from his chair, looking expectantly at Vigil. "Tell me, how was your progress?"

"I have advanced my class, my lord," Vigil replied, a proud smile on his face. "I am now a Bishop of the Goddess Rae."

A smile tugged at Thorian's lips, which he concealed with his hand as he looked down. Closing his eyes, he thought, The time has come, Nox. Everything is aligned, and I will not let you down.

Returning Vigil's gaze, Thorian's face lit up with pride. "Congratulations, you've done remarkably well."

"Thank you, my lord," Vigil responded with a respectful nod. "Regarding Nox, my ultimate spell might indeed prove beneficial."

Intrigued, Thorian inquired, "And what might that be?"

"It's called Rae’s Last Hope," Vigil explained. "It’s my most formidable skill, usable only once per month. It harnesses the goddess's power to bring anyone back from the brink of death. No matter the severity of the injury, this skill can restore the body to its prime condition."

"That is excellent news," Thorian said, scratching his forehead in a mix of relief and joy. "Today, we finally heal Nox. He has waited long enough."

"We will," affirmed Vigil. "Aqua, Forlune, and Zogarth have also reached new heights in their abilities. Now that they have advanced their classes, their power is truly formidable."

"Then it appears we're all prepared," Thorian said, smiling broadly. "Let's not delay any further."

With that, Thorian and Vigil left the Village Hall. Outside, they were greeted by the main party, poised and ready for instructions.

"Have you all completed the second quest in the chain from Melina?" Thorian asked, ensuring everything was in order.

"Yes, my lord," Zogarth confirmed. "We have."

The collective nods from the party reassured Thorian. He then issued the command they had all been anticipating. "Then let's move."

The group set off, venturing through the forest toward the now-purified gate of Eärendil’s sanctuary. Mounted atop Harald, it took them no more than fifteen minutes to reach their destination.

Thorian, turning to his team with a grave expression, reminded them of their mission. "I know everyone is eager about this new dungeon, but remember our primary objective." His voice lowered with seriousness. "Our aim is not to conquer the dungeon or defeat our foes, but to simply survive."