Their brief journey began in silence. Tivaara sensed that Bones was deeply absorbed in his thoughts, pondering over something, but she patiently awaited him to initiate the conversation. After twenty minutes of quiet travel, Bones finally spoke, “It's been on my mind since I left, but what happened after the festival? What happened to Solin?”

Tivaara paused briefly before responding, “My job was to interfere with the Adventurer’s Guild, make their job harder, and prevent them from interfering with the plan. I did my job and left. I watched the ‘fireworks’ from a distance and went into hiding immediately after.”

“Silva escaped after his battle with Ice Mage Rayne, suffering heavy injuries and hid as well. From what I know, he’s been looking for you ever since. Most of the Defiant Hounds met their end during the festival or shortly after. Tristan had tightened the leash around the capital, and the majority were either captured or killed. There’s not much else to say - you saw the wanted posters, right?” She asked, and Bones confirmed he did, saying he was wanted as well. Tivaara assured him that his wanted poster was insignificant as he was only wanted for questioning. She then explained what happened to Solin.

“I found Solin and the girl… Morticia? … in the hideout north of the city, waiting for the others. I explained the situation to him, and as you might expect, he didn’t take it well. I escorted the girl back to the capital then returned and beat some sense into him.”

“That sounds wrong, I think her name was…wait, you what?” Bones interjected, thinking he heard wrong.

“Silva’s brainwashing on him was deep, and he needed some convincing with these two.” She raised her arms and clenched her fists, grinning.

“Oh… you managed to convince him?” While he thought she could’ve done the convincing part with more care, it was fine as long as -

“Nah, it didn’t take! I bagged him and took him with me to the Assassin’s Order.” Tivaara nonchalantly replied.

Bones stopped in his tracks and turned to her, blurting out, “You kidnapped him?”

“Don’t worry; he’s holding up. The transition was tough initially, but after a month, he grasped the reality I presented to him and set his sights on the challenges ahead. He has lofty ambitions and a rugged journey ahead, though he does show some promise - for a human, of course.”

“So, he enlisted in the Assassin’s Order?”

Tivaara nodded, a subtle pride gleaming in her eyes. “He completed the trials right before my departure - now, he’s committed for life. His training must have kicked off by now, and if he makes it through, he’ll emerge with strength he never imagined. By then, he should sense it, a mere glimpse of the power waiting at the culmination of his path. The power necessary to fulfill his aspirations.”

“If he makes it through?” Bones probed. Tivaara offered no commentary, no elucidation. She simply stated, “We’ll make a man out of him! That’s what it takes.”

The remainder of their journey was filled with talk about Bones's aspirations, yet Tivaara remained enigmatic when it came to discussing her own life. Unfamiliar with minion skills, she offered valuable insights into advanced concepts and master-tier skills, assisting Bones in tackling his own dilemma with the Bone Lance.

“This is it,” Tivaara declared upon reaching the edge of the cliff, revealing a sprawling excavation site below, illuminated by torches in the nighttime darkness. From their vantage point, Bones observed lifeless bodies strewn across the ground and signs of intense battles. The clamor of weapons clashing against unyielding foes echoed from all directions. The adventurers were already locked in combat.

“As you can see, the subjugation is already underway. When you descend, locate the individual in charge and gather information about the situation.”

“How will I recognize the person in charge?”

“He’ll be the one not engaged in combat and without a speck of dirt on his clothes. Bones, take care. I'd hate to hear that an intriguing undead such as yourself met an untimely end.”

“Of course! I wish you happy hunting, and, I suppose we won’t be seeing each other again?”

“Who knows! Make ripples, carve your name into the annals of the continent, and I might just come looking for you!”

After Tivaara left, Bones descended the cliff and was met with cold steel pointing at him. Two adventurers cautiously approached, said the site was closed off, and asked him to state his business. Bones took out his badge and identified himself as a silver rank adventurer. The men withdrew their weapons and escorted him to a private tent, away from battle, to see the person in charge, the Adventurer’s Guild operative by the name of Percy.

Bones entered the tent and saw a queue of people standing in line before a desk cluttered with documents. Percy, a young short man,sat at the desk focusing on papers in front of him.

“Next!” He yelled, and the line moved. He was the man in charge of new participants and making sure everyone signs a disclaimer stating Yelsa co. won’t be responsible for any deaths caused during the subjugation. When it was Bones’ turn, he too was asked if he wanted to join the party, form his own, or participate solo. Regardless of his choice, he had to sign a waiver agreeing to proposed terms and conditions. After he signed the papers, Percy shouted for everyone to hear that the commander leading the subjugation would brief them on the situation within an hour, and instruct them on how to proceed. Bones turned to Percy and said he thought he was the one in charge.

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“Heavens no, I'm just doing administrative work and making sure everything is according to regulations.” Percy replied and shouted, “Next!”

An hour passed, and a fully armored figure approached the crowd in front of the tent. The figure had black hair combed backward, a rough facial expression, and dark bags under his eyes. His attitude said no funny business, and he immediately addressed the crowd with a firm, booming voice.

“Attention adventures. I’m Jacob Kowl, a third-tier knight and the person in charge of leading the expedition. I’ll cut to the chase because we haven’t got a lot of time. The mines have been overrun with Rock Elementals, and it’s our job to get rid of them. As you can see around you, the Lesser Elementals have reached the surface and the area in front of the entrance to the mine has become a battlefield. Adventurers below the second tier should stick to the area outside of the mine, while second-tier silver rankers should enter the mine in parties. We need every gold ranker deeper in the mine to help with Greater Elementals. Ultimately, I don’t have any intention of forcing anyone to party up. It’s up to all of you to decide whether to join the party or not - you have signed the waiver. Keep one thing in mind, the defeated bodies of the elementals are the property of Yelsa co. and are not to be looted! That’s the only rule I have, and I advise everyone not to push their luck! That’ll be all. You’re dismissed.”

As the commander's words faded, the crowd stirred with restlessness. Adventurers dispersed, forming parties or engaging in animated discussions about the impending subjugation. Bones, however, had already made up his mind to tackle the challenge alone. He stood on the fringes, attentively listening to the buzz of conversations around him.

A singular rule resonated through the gathering: the bodies of the defeated elementals would break down, revealing precious ores within the rubble. The promise of valuable resources heightened the stakes of the subjugation but the commander's words echoed in everyone’s minds. The Elementals are the property of Yelsa co. and are not to be looted. The dormant Rock Elementals, appearing as peculiar piles of rocks, held secrets beneath their stony exteriors. Only when provoked would they burst forth, assuming a humanoid shape and relentlessly pursuing those who dared to challenge them.

These Elementals were renowned for their sluggish nature, their attacks characterized by stiffness yet wielded with formidable power and wide reach. Their defenses were high, adding an extra layer of challenge for the adventurers. The Lesser Rock Elementals, which Bones intended to engage, belonged to the lower level range of forty to sixty. Though not considered the most formidable adversaries, their combined numbers presented a daunting prospect.

As the subjugation unfolded, the Greater Rock Elementals loomed as a more formidable threat. Boasting one of the highest defenses among monsters in the same tier, they posed a significant challenge for even the most seasoned adventurers. The atmosphere in the mine became charged with anticipation, each adventurer sizing up the task ahead, strategizing, and preparing for the imminent battles with the rocky behemoths.

As Bones descended into the lower depths of the mine, the air thickened with a tangible sense of tension. The cavern echoed with the clash of steel against stone, the battle cries of the adventurers, and the rumbling of Lesser Rock Elementals. Torches flickered, casting dancing shadows on the uneven walls as Bones entered the fray.

The first encounter with a Lesser Rock Elemental was brutal. Bones, with unbridled ferocity, unleashed his Bone Lance, empowered with tendrils of mana enveloping the pristine white weapon. The lance struck the Elemental's rocky form, but to his dismay, it barely scratched the surface. The realization dawned, and his fears materialized - the power behind his spell was lacking, and his lances couldn't penetrate the Elemental deep enough.

Undeterred, Bones continued to fight, each swing of his Bone Lance accompanied by a relentless determination. The Lesser Rock Elementals, though numerous, were resilient. His golems joined the battle, striking with great force, but the struggle persisted.

By the end of the first day, Bones had defeated dozens of Lesser Rock Elementals. Yet, he wasn't satisfied. The next day dawned, and Bones plunged back into the fray. With every fight, he sought to improve the efficacy of his Bone Lance. He experimented, he strategized, and he adapted.

Hours turned into ceaseless battles, Bones pushing himself to the limit. Frustration lingered, but so did the spark of determination. In the heat of the fight, amidst the stony adversaries, he tried to infuse new concepts into the Bone Lance, attempting to overcome the resistant bodies of the Elementals.

As the day wore on, a breakthrough emerged. In a moment of intense concentration, Bones envisioned the concept of penetration for his Bone Lance. Mana surged around the lance, creating a swirling vortex of power. The bony weapon transformed, now empowered with a spiraling force that increased its penetrative power.

With newfound strength, Bones carved through the Lesser Rock Elementals with a renewed ferocity. Each strike was more potent, the spinning mana-enhanced Bone Lance tearing through the rocky exterior of the Elementals. The atmosphere in the mine shifted, the once formidable adversaries now falling before the empowered undead.

Bones, now more satisfied with the results, continued to refine his skill, honing the concept of penetration within the Bone Lance. As he fought through the tunnels, his weapon became a whirlwind of blue energy, a proof to his perseverance and growing mastery of the arcane.

The mines echoed with the sound of victory as Bones, surrounded by the defeated Elementals, stood as a testament to the resilience of the undead and his ever-evolving Bone Lance.

In the ensuing days, the area outside the mine was entirely cleared of the Lesser Rock Elementals, and their surface appearances ceased. Bones hesitated to delve deeper in search of greater challenges and the formidable Greater Rock Elementals. He found contentment in overcoming the obstacle that hindered the advancement of his Bone Lance to a higher tier - the coveted master tier.

His relentless efforts bore fruit, breaking the stagnation that plagued his skill's growth. The Bone Lance, which had been stuck at level eighteen for weeks, finally showed signs of progress. The infusion of new concepts into his lances breathed new life into the skill. It not only gained a level but did so before Bones himself gained a level in his class. The journey to master tier was now within reach, a testimony to his dedication and the evolving nature of his formidable abilities.