Upon receiving the notification, Thorian was overjoyed. From my interactions with that brat Aiden, I've gleaned a rough understanding of this skill's nature. Yet, witnessing it firsthand is a completely different experience, he mused.

  Motivated to explore the specifics of his newly acquired ability, Thorian navigated to his status window.

  Display Panel.

  What a preposterous skill, Thorian chuckled to himself, unable to suppress his amusement. If I strategically exploit the abyss to level up my class, there might be no need to ambush Nalia. A direct confrontation could suffice to overpower her.

  As his spirits soared, Thorian took a deep breath, seeking to temper his excitement. Celebration is premature. The enigma cloaked within the Strongheart mansion remains unresolved. Only after addressing this secret should I initiate my offensive.

  Regaining his composure, Thorian turned to face Fizzlegrin, who was beaming with pride.

  "I take it from your grin that you've acquired something impressive," the guild master said, his laughter resonating with warmth. "Though, that's to be expected from someone of your unique stature and class."

  "Thank you," Thorian replied, his smile reflecting genuine appreciation. "Might I browse the skill scrolls available to me? My collection of Arcane Coins should more than suffice for any purchases."

  "By all means," Fizzlegrin responded, his grin widening with anticipation, his hands rubbing together in evident greed. "It's always a pleasure to assist you, my lord. You stand as our guild's most esteemed patron."

  With a light chuckle at Fizzlegrin's exaggerated demeanor, Thorian accompanied him to his desk. There, the guild master presented the array of skill scrolls at Thorian's disposal. Thorian meticulously examined each scroll, assessing their potential with keen interest.

  As Thorian surveyed the vast array of skills before him, he paused momentarily to gather his thoughts, then meticulously began to parse through each description. Like I remember, Fire Arrow is certainly powerful, he pondered. Coupled with my passive abilities and the Elemental Domain, it could overpower most adversaries.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Continuing his perusal, he considered the potential combinations at his disposal. The Deluge Cascade could complement Raging Tempest beautifully. Together, they might conjure a true thunderstorm. And incorporating Lightning Strike into the mix would yield catastrophic results.

  Content with his evaluations, Thorian addressed Fizzlegrin decisively, "I will take all of them."

  "It's always a pleasure to conduct business with you, my lord. That will be 10,000 Arcane Coins for each skill," the guild master replied, his smile broadening as he processed the transaction.

  With the purchase concluded, Thorian tore through the parchments, each action triggering a cascade of notifications. After a moment, he turned back to Fizzlegrin, indicating his intention to depart. "I must attend to other matters now."

  "Of course, my lord," Fizzlegrin acknowledged with a nod.

  Pleased with his new acquisitions, Thorian stepped out of the magus guild, mulling over his next move. He intended to seek out Elder Oom, but before he could so much as take a step, his target materialized before him.

  "My lord, I am relieved to have found you," Elder Oom approached, his expression laden with concern.

  Seeing the shaman's troubled demeanor, Thorian's expression hardened, his previous worries resurfacing. "What troubles you, Elder Oom? It's uncommon to see you in such a state."

  "I apologize for my distress, my lord," Elder Oom began, his tone turning grave. "It concerns Nox's mission. I believe it would be prudent to delay it."

  "Why is that?" Thorian inquired. The Elder’s words almost confirmed his worries, and he was eager to know what the latter had deducted.

  Elder Oom exhaled deeply, burdened by his oversight. "I must apologize, my lord. The sheer magnitude of Nalia's abilities had momentarily eclipsed an essential detail from my mind," he confessed, regret coloring his tone. "One of Nalia's top lieutenants, the one with the slender build, possesses a skill that renders Nox's mission exceedingly perilous. This individual can detect any fluctuations in mana within a twenty-meter radius. Should he be present at the Strongheart manor during our planned operation, Nox's presence would undoubtedly be discovered."

  This revelation momentarily took Thorian aback, plunging him into a contemplative silence. I now understand the root of my concerns. Despite Nalia's mind-control powers, I was always puzzled by her ability to track Alacritas and his team. This sheds light on it.

  He exhaled deeply, his gaze falling to the ground as he pondered his next move. With someone like that guarding the mansion, sneaking in seems nearly impossible. Yet, this doesn't leave me without options. If we can ensure this guardian is no longer a concern, infiltrating the manor to uncover what Nalia is hiding becomes feasible.

  Engrossed in his thoughts, Thorian scarcely noticed Elder Oom's ongoing advice. "In my view, my lord, Nox should enhance his abilities through the abyss before embarking on such a perilous endeavor. Yet, even with an evolution, stealth might remain unachievable unless it enables him to completely conceal his mana signature."

  Thorian dismissed the idea with a shake of his head. "Wishful thinking," he remarked. "Firstly, we can't predict the skills Nox might acquire post-evolution. More critically, our current pact with Nalia bars us from accessing the abyss until her forces venture into our dungeons. Any breach of this agreement, regardless of our rationale, would only serve to alert her, jeopardizing our element of surprise."

  Elder Oom found himself at a loss, the complexity of their situation rendering him speechless. "What would you have us do, then, my lord?"

  Exhaling, Thorian laid out his revised strategy. "Direct confrontation may currently be off the table, but we're not devoid of options. We must secure Oswald's allegiance; his insider knowledge could reveal the manor's vulnerabilities. Once Nalia and her men commit to our dungeons, Nox can safely infiltrate the manor, circumventing any risk of detection."