As they reached the village, Thorian turned to address his two comrades. "Nox, I need you to meet Harald by my house. He'll introduce you to your new partner. After that, wait for my instructions. We can't afford to be hasty with this mission."
"Roger that," Nox replied, a chuckle softening his response. "You're always so serious, Thorian. It's just a reconnaissance mission."
"This is precisely when seriousness is paramount," Thorian retorted, his tone underscored with gravity. He then shifted his gaze to Tristan, "As for you, take this opportunity to familiarize yourself with the village. Enjoy your time with Brix and feel free to pursue whatever piques your interest."
"I understand," Tristan sighed, a tinge of resignation in his voice. "This isn't a battle for me to intervene in. The powers at play are beyond my grasp."
"It's reassuring to hear you understand the situation," Thorian said, his smile brief but genuine. "With any luck, we'll be celebrating tonight, having neutralized a threat to us both."
With these final words hanging in the air, Thorian departed from his companions, setting his course for the Magus Guild. As he treaded the familiar path, a relentless whirlpool of doubts churned within him.
For some inexplicable reason, I'm haunted by the sensation that a vital piece escapes my grasp. With Nox partnering upwith Harald's child, our lines of communication should be secured. Should turmoil arise, my swift feet will ensure I'm at the Strongheart manor within moments, a mere five minutes from the western gate.
Despite this reassurance, a gnawing unease tightened its grip around his heart, whispering of overlooked errors, of a path mistakenly chosen.
A consultation with Elder Oom is necessary. Perhaps there's an ability we've neglected. Only with this assurance can I dispatch Nox free from the shackles of worry.
With a determined push, Thorian relegated these swirling thoughts to the recesses of his mind, focusing on the path that lay before him. As he neared his destination, he seized the moment to experiment with combining spells he had mastered to their fullest extent, beginning with the Fire Pillar and Water Prison spells.
Skill Fusion Complete
List of Mist Skills Torrential Mist Conjures a powerful, swirling vortex of mist that pulls enemies towards its center, dealing damage and disorienting them. This skill is highly effective for crowd control. Mist Blade Summons a dense, razor-sharp mist in the form of blades that can be directed towards enemies. These blades are capable of slicing through armor and flesh alike, ideal for cutting down foes with precision and agility. Steam Surge Releases a powerful blast of superheated steam in a straight line, dealing damage and potentially stunning enemies caught in its path.
Mist Blade appears to be a marginally less powerful variant of the Greater Gale Slash. As for Steam Surge, it presents a viable option for situations where my intention isn't to kill but to inflict severe injury, Thorian mused, weighing his options carefully.
After careful consideration, he decided on the latter. Although Torrential Mist seemed appealing, it offered little beyond the capabilities of a basic Tornado, making his choice clear.
Congratulations, you have acquired the skill: “Steam Surge”
After choosing his skill, Thorian decided to combine his Fire Pillar with his Earth Spikes skill.
Skill Fusion Complete
List of Magma Skills Magma Eruption Causes a violent eruption of magma from the ground at a targeted location, dealing heavy damage to all enemies in the area. The eruption leaves behind a pool of lava that continues to damage enemies who stand in it, making it ideal for area denial. Molten Boulder Conjures a massive boulder made of molten lava and hurls it at a single target. On impact, the boulder deals significant damage and explodes, scattering molten debris that damages nearby enemies. Magma Armor Encases the user in a protective layer of cooled magma, significantly increasing defense while dealing damage to any who come into close contact. The armor also grants immunity to fire-based attacks and can inflict burn damage to the attackers.
The first two skills offer commendable offensive capabilities, yet they would prove inadequate against an adversary of Nalia's caliber. Possessing stronger defensive skills could very well tip the scales between life and death.
Guided by this line of reasoning, Thorian made his selection, choosing a skill that balanced his need for defense with his strategic considerations.
Congratulations, you have acquired the skill: “Magma Armor”
Thus, Thorian proceeded to his subsequent experiment: merging the Water Prison and Earth Spikes spells.
Skill Fusion Complete
List of Wood Skills Sapling Barrage Launches a volley of fast-growing saplings towards enemies, which upon landing, rapidly grow into trees that can trap or impale targets. This skill is effective for crowd control and offense. Living Canopy Creates a large, protective canopy of dense foliage overhead, reducing damage from aerial attacks and providing healing benefits to allies underneath its shade. Bramble Patch Creates an expansive patch of brambles and thorns that covers a large area, dealing damage over time to enemies within it and slowing their movement. The brambles are durable and can block pathways, making it an effective tool for area denial and control in strategic locations
The first and second skills are intriguing, no doubt, but the capability to slow down adversaries, even if just for a brief moment, could prove invaluable. This is particularly true in the context of a large-scale battle, where every second gained can significantly impact the outcome.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Congratulations, you have acquired the skill: “Bramble Patch”
The next spells Thorian decided to combine were Water Prison and Tornado.
Skill Fusion Complete
List of Ice Skills Ice Spear With a precise gesture, the caster summons a sharp, elongated spear of ice, hurtling it toward a single enemy with unerring accuracy. On impact, the Ice Spear deals significant piercing damage and has a high chance of freezing the target solid for a brief period. Blizzard The caster calls upon the formidable power of the arctic winds to unleash a ferocious blizzard that covers a wide area. This relentless storm rages for several seconds, continuously dealing cold damage to all enemies caught within its icy grasp. The biting cold severely reduces the movement speed and attack speed of affected enemies, making escape difficult. Ice Barrier The caster conjures a formidable wall of dense, magically reinforced ice at a chosen location, serving as an immediate and robust defense against incoming attacks. This barrier spans a wide arc, effectively shielding the caster and their allies from ranged assaults, area-of-effect spells, and charging enemies.
As Thorian surveyed the spells before him, a smile crept across his face. I've witnessed the strength of Ice Barrier firsthand. It managed to fend off the spirit elf's assault, albeit temporarily. It's undoubtedly the spell I should opt for.
Congratulations, you have acquired the skill: “Ice Barrier”
Finally, it was time for the last skill combination: Tornado and Earth Spikes.
Skill Fusion Complete
List of Sand Skills Sandstorm Fury Unleashes a whirling sandstorm that expands from the caster, dealing damage over time to multiple enemies caught within its radius. The sandstorm reduces the visibility and accuracy of attacks against the caster, offering both offensive and defensive benefits. Ideal for controlling the battlefield and damaging groups of enemies over time. Quicksand Trap Summons a patch of quicksand at a targeted location, ensnaring a single enemy or a small group, depending on the size of the target area. Victims caught in the quicksand are significantly slowed and take periodic damage as they sink. Best used to immobilize high-value targets or to control movement in strategic areas. Sand Spear Barrage Creates multiple sharp spears of hardened sand that are launched at nearby enemies, offering sustained area damage with a chance to impale enemies, causing them to bleed for additional damage over time. Effective for dealing with multiple threats simultaneously and for zoning opponents out of an area.
Quicksand Trap is the way to go, Thorian concluded, scanning the skills. If I can ensnare Nalia in this trap, even for a brief moment, it would provide us an opening to barrage her with attacks.
Congratulations, you have acquired the skill: “Quicksand Trap”
Having delved deep into the fusion of skills, Thorian found himself mentally exhausted yet profoundly gratified. Despite these skills remaining at the level of the first advancement, they significantly enhanced the versatility of his attack arsenal. Utilized adeptly, they could tip the scales of victory in his favor.
Now, it's time for the real deal, Thorian thought, a smile playing on his lips as he beheld the Magus Guild before him. The skills of the second advancement are bound to be extraordinary.
Upon entering the bustling guild, he was warmly greeted by Fizzlegrin. "My lord, I presume you're here to further your class advancement."
"You presume correctly," Thorian nodded in affirmation.
"Then, please follow me," Fizzlegrin said, leading Thorian to the familiar room where his ranking examination had taken place. "I've moved the advancement ceremony here, as the other room has become a training area for mana control for all members."
Thorian appreciated Fizzlegrin's rationale with a smile as he approached the center of the room. There, the same purple crystal that facilitated his previous advancement awaited him. Placing his hand upon it, the crystal erupted into a brilliant glow, plunging the room into darkness before it was lit anew with speckles of light, mimicking a star-studded night sky.
Checking for requirements
Requirements Fulfilled
Congratulations, you have advanced to the second realm of the Elemental Magus]
But the notifications didn't end there.
Ultimate Skill has been unlocked
Congratulations, you have acquired the skill: "Elemental Domain I"