"Congratulations, adventurers," the ethereal lady announced. "You have vanquished the Guardian of the Fourth Layer, the corrupted treant. You've shown strength, courage, and exceptional teamwork. The treasure of this layer is yours to claim."

  Level up!

  Level up!

  Hearing the dungeon lady's familiar voice, Thorian's smile spread across his face. The oppressive purple haze that had once clouded the air had dissipated, revealing the dungeon's exit portal, now wide open. However, before venturing towards the portal, Thorian paused, his gaze lingering on the scattering ashes of the vanquished boss. As the colorful dust settled, a treasure chest emerged from the remnants.

  Atop their direwolves, Aqua, Vigil, and Ventus, who had been observing from a perched alcove, now hastened to Thorian's side. Vigil, with a hint of dejection in his voice, sighed, "It seems that this time it was me who didn't have to do much."

  "That's a good thing, isn't it?" Ventus chimed in, his voice carrying the infectious enthusiasm of youth, his face brightened by a childish grin.

  While Thorian was absorbed in their exchange, Harald's voice intruded upon his thoughts. 'It seems that I have reached the required experience to evolve. I am seeing two possible paths in front of me.'

  Intrigued, Thorian inquired, 'What are these two possible evolutions?'

  After a brief pause, Harald replied, 'The two evolutions are: Direwolf Lord, and Alpha Storm Direwolf.'

  Thorian rubbed his chin thoughtfully, considering the options. 'The Lord class would grant you an immediate surge in power, though its potential for growth is limited. The Storm path, while initially weaker, offers access to elemental spells and could eventually evolve into something far more formidable: the Storm Direwolf Lord.'

  Concluding his deliberation, Thorian affirmed, 'The choice is yours to make.'

  Harald's response was resolute. 'The choice is already made. Opting for a fleeting increase in strength over the promise of lasting glory would be folly.'

  Thorian simply nodded, his smile undimmed. He dismounted Harald, stepping back to give him space. As he did, Harald's form began to shimmer with an ethereal light, heralding the onset of his transformation. The air around him crackled with palpable energy, the elements themselves seeming to yield to his command. His direwolf physique, once imposing in its simplicity, now expanded, becoming more regal and formidable. His fur, previously a monochrome grey, now bore streaks of silver and azure, reminiscent of a storm-laden sky. His eyes transformed from a piercing yellow to a vibrant electric blue, exuding a sense of power and wisdom. With the transformation complete, Harald unleashed a thunderous howl, a sound imbued with the very essence of the storm, resonating with his newfound strength and majesty.

  Sheltering himself from the swirling winds, Thorian chuckled, admiration evident in his voice. "Harald, you've truly surpassed me now."

  As the gale subsided, Harald turned towards Thorian, a smile playing on his lupine features. "Only for today, Thorian. I'll relish this moment before your evolution outshines me tomorrow."

  Ventus, eyes wide with surprise, piped up, "You're evolving tomorrow, King? That's amazing! I'm still a ways off from my own evolution."

  Vigil, ever respectful, bowed gracefully. "Congratulations, my lord. Witnessing your continuous growth is a privilege."

  Thorian waved off the accolades. "Let's hold off on celebrations until tomorrow. Right now, we should focus on collecting our rewards." He glanced at Aqua. "Let's retrieve what we've earned and move on."

  Aqua nodded in agreement, "As you command, my king." Approaching the treasure chest, he lifted the lid, releasing a cascade of golden light. Thorian observed, A golden chest. This promises valuable rewards.

  Once Aqua had secured the contents in a makeshift pouch, the group stepped through the portal, leaving the verdant maze of the dungeon behind.

  Emerging into the Hollowed Tree, Ventus noted their solitude. "Looks like we're the first to return."

  Caedar, ever confident, responded with a smirk. "Naturally. Who else could match our pace with our lord leading us?"

  Thorian, slightly bemused by the warrior's unabashed admiration, shook his head. "Enough with the flattery. Let's review our gains and plan our next steps."

  Aqua, responding to Thorian's directive with a smile, carefully placed the makeshift pouch on the ground. He opened it, revealing its contents: a collection of skill scrolls, various recipes, a wooden rapier, and a mysterious brown orb.

  Thorian, intrigued by the assortment of items, approached the spread. "Let's begin with the skill scrolls," he suggested, reaching for the parchment rolls.

  Thorian, carefully examining the skill scrolls, selected one and handed it to Vigil. "This is Nature's Blessing," he said, recognizing its affinity with Vigil's skills. He then turned his attention to the remaining scroll. "And this one seems suited for me, given my proficiency with wood magic."

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  Ventus, observing the distribution, nodded in agreement. "That's fair," he remarked. "I got a good skill scroll last time, so I have no complaints."

  With the scrolls distributed, Thorian shifted his focus to the recipes. He began to scrutinize their descriptions, curious about the alchemical secrets they might hold.

  Thorian perused the recipes with a discerning eye. These require an advanced level in Alchemy, he noted, absorbing the detailed instructions. As he read, a sudden sense of unease washed over him. His gaze drifted towards the hollowed tree, concern etching his features. I hope everyone is safe, he thought, a hint of worry clouding his mind.

  Pushing aside these troubling thoughts, Thorian redirected his attention to the wooden rapier. It was an exquisite piece, crafted from entwined dark roots that pulsed with a deep, red magical glow. The rapier, with its intricate design and evident power, seemed to hum with an energy all its own, waiting to be wielded.

  A percentage increase in agility? That is amazing.

  As Thorian examined the rapier, he noted its remarkable attribute: a significant boost to agility. Despite the temptation, he realized that he wasn't the most suitable wielder for such a weapon. Turning to Caedar, he extended the rapier towards him. "This should be yours," he declared.

  Caedar accepted the weapon with grace. His eyes widened in astonishment as he read its properties. A sense of deep gratitude washed over him, and he bowed respectfully towards Thorian. "My lord, I am profoundly thankful for this gift."

  With the majority of the treasures now allocated, Thorian's attention shifted to the last item: the brown orb.

  Ah, it’s a dud.

  Thorian exhaled softly, his gaze shifting between Ventus and Aqua, who had yet to receive any rewards. "You two should decide who gets this orb. If it's not useful, you're free to sell it."

  Aqua, examining the orb Thorian handed to him, looked up with a hint of puzzlement. "My lord, this orb seems ideally suited for you. You're our group's sole practitioner of earth magic."

  Ventus interjected with a tinge of impatience, "If you're not interested, just say so. I'll take it off your hands."

  Thorian clarified, "Its purity isn't sufficient for my needs, and I have no use for more Arcane Coins by selling it."

  As Thorian elaborated, Ventus swiftly snatched the orb from Aqua, a glint of opportunism in his eyes. "Perfect, it's mine now. This will fetch a good price."

  Aqua, caught off guard by Ventus's abrupt action, sighed resignedly. "It's fine. I didn't really need it."

  Watching their exchange with a roll of his eyes, Thorian's attention was soon drawn to the Hollowed Tree. Just then, the air shimmered, heralding the opening of a portal.

  "Looks like the others are finally back," Ventus observed.

  As he spoke, a figure emerged from the portal: a goblin champion. Thorian stepped forward to greet him, but the scene quickly shifted. The goblin champion's spear clattered to the ground, followed by his own weary collapse to his knees.