The dark forest erupted into chaos as the swarm of ghouls descended upon Bones and his party. The air was filled with chilling hisses and the haunting sounds of their relentless advance. The experienced party, however, moved with precision, a well-coordinated dance of combat prowess that overwhelmed the ghouls with a vast difference in power.

Bones, drawing upon his expertise in bone manipulation, also summoned his golems to join the fray. The clattering bones clashed with the ghouls, creating a cacophony of eerie sounds as the undead forces clashed in the shadows. The glistening of enchanted bone weapons carved through the darkness, adding an ethereal touch to the brutal symphony of battle.

As Bones marveled at the effectiveness of his bone-related spells, his attention was drawn to the party leader, Bradford. The Knight in training exhibited a remarkable control over mana, compressing it around his body to create a defensive layer. The mana manifested as a shimmering barrier, deflecting the ghouls' strikes with ease and his weapon gleamed with mana enchantment, each slash cutting through the darkness with increased proficiency.

Cal, the earth mage, showcased his mastery over the elements. With deft hand movements, he manipulated the earth beneath the ghouls, creating barriers that impeded their advance. Offensive spells sent shards of rock hurtling towards the undead horde, providing a formidable line of defense against the relentless assault.

Edward, the battlemage, unleashed destructive spells that exploded amidst the ghouls, sending them flying in disarray. His magic complemented the physical prowess of Katrina, the Shadow Dancer. She darted through the shadows with supernatural speed, her blades slicing through the ghouls with unparalleled finesse. The duo moved in a deadly dance, dispatching the undead foes with a combination of strength and agility.

Amidst the chaos, the party's collaboration and individual strengths synergized seamlessly. The ghouls, once a threatening horde, were met with an overwhelming force that dismantled their advance. The dark forest echoed with the clash of weapons, the arcane hum of spells, and the triumphant roars of the party as they successfully fended off the relentless onslaught of the undead.

"The first wave is cleared!" exclaimed Bradford, sheathing his weapon and finally taking a well-deserved breather. Bones wore a puzzled expression and inquired about the possibility of more ghouls arriving, eliciting subtle chuckles from his party members.

"There should be three waves in total before the mist dissipates, revealing the path to the castle beyond the forest. The previous stage had only a single wave, just so you know," Bradford exhaled, leaning against the nearest tree. Gradually lowering himself into a sitting position, he continued, "The ghouls in the first wave were the weakest, merely aiming to tear our flesh off. The second wave will pose a greater challenge, and the third wave will feature ghouls comparable to the real thing."

Taking a swig from a bottle of water pulled from his inventory, Bradford remarked that Bones shouldn't encounter many problems with the ghouls, or so he thought. He explained that while vampire bats drained life upon biting, ghouls aimed to devour flesh, drain mana, and suck out life force. Fortunately, they only needed to start worrying about the more formidable ghouls in the third wave.

"Bones, you never mentioned you could summon minions," Bradford finished, praising the broad range of Bones' abilities. Observing Bones fighting in close range, Bradford asked why he wasn't using a wand or staff. Bones, nonchalantly shrugging, replied that he never felt comfortable using anything else. He then manifested a bone lance in front of him, extended his hand, and grabbed the lance, waving it around. Cal nearly choked on his water in surprise, asking, bewildered, "That's what you were using to fight? I thought you summoned a lance from your inventory! So, you fought the whole time while channeling the skill?" Cal asked, struggling to believe what he was witnessing. Bones, still wielding the bone lance, nodded in response to Cal's amazement. "I've been doing it for a while now, so I've got the hang of it. It feels more natural for me," He explained, twirling the bone lance skillfully before dismissing it with a subtle wave of his hand.

Bradford, still seated against the tree, observed the exchange with a hint of curiosity. "Well, that's quite a unique approach. Different strokes for different undead, I suppose," he remarked, a smirk playing on his lips.

Cal, recovering from his surprise, added, "I guess everyone has their own style. You, my friend, have a flair for the dramatic." He chuckled, appreciating the theatricality of Bones' combat style.

As the party took a momentary break, Bradford glanced at Bones and asked, "You seem to have a good control over your mana. Ever thought about trying a bit of mana compression like I do?" Bradford demonstrated by enveloping his hand in a subtle layer of compressed mana, showcasing the defensive technique.

Bones raised a skeletal brow, intrigued by the concept. "I haven't given it much thought, but I'm always up for learning something new," he replied, eager to explore different aspects of his abilities.

Cal, always the inquisitive mage, added, "Mana compression can be a game-changer, especially in tight spots. You should give it a shot, Bones. Who knows, it might come in handy."

"Where did you learn to compress mana like that anyway?" Bones inquired, directing his question to the party leader. Bradford acknowledged that it wasn't a skill just anyone could master.

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"As I mentioned, I'm a Knight in training, and the most crucial skill to become a second-tier Knight is the ability to use aura."

"Ah, so it's an aura?" Bones interjected. Bradford nodded, explaining that enveloping mana around your body enhances your strength, allowing you to shrug off superficial attacks. Enchanting your weapon with mana increases its efficacy, enabling you to pierce otherwise impenetrable surfaces.

The first and most basic step is to imbue your weapon with mana," Bradford explained. Bones demonstrated that he had already mastered this fundamental step.

"Good! The next step is to spread that mana along your weapon until you can completely surround it. Don't be too hard on yourself if you fail; it took me years to master. The final step is to do the same but surround your body with mana. That step is what distinguishes those with the potential to become a real Knight from those who don't."

"I see you encompassing both your weapon and your body with mana. Then..." Bones trailed off, and Bradford grinned, indicating that indeed, he possessed what it took to be a Knight.

The conversation continued as the party members shared their insights and experiences, each bringing a unique perspective to the table. In the dark forest, surrounded by the remnants of the first ghoul wave, Bones found himself not only learning about dungeon exploration but also building camaraderie with his newfound companions.

Five hours later, the mist surrounding them intensified, signaling the beginning of the second wave. Everyone sprang to their feet, ready for the impending onslaught of monsters. The party leader yelled not to trail off and emphasized sticking together. In the dark and damp forest, obscured from sight, Bones sensed the imminent attack closing in from all sides.

"Incoming!" he yelled, and a dome of earth sprang from the ground, enclosing them all. Whumping sounds echoed as ghouls hit the dome, forcefully halted in their assault.

"What now?" Bones asked. They were safe inside for now, but the dome wouldn't hold forever.

"Wait for it, just a bit… longer," Cal said, his brows furrowed with concentration.

"Get ready to dish out as much damage as possible!" Edward warned, taking an offensive stance. Bones glanced at Cal, then prepared himself to strike the moment the dome disappeared. Contrary to whatever he imagined might happen, he didn't think the dome would blossom like a flower and then slam to the ground, crushing the ghouls beneath.

"Not yet!" Cal shouted, and Bones halted in his trek, just moments before he was about to unleash his own spell.

The earth around them started turning clockwise, like a whirlpool, dragging the ghouls and pulling them under the ground. The radius of the whirlpool increased until there remained nothing but a sinkhole swallowing the incoming ghouls. In one fell swoop, a wave of earth filled in the hole and buried most of the ghouls.

"Now," Cal said, wiping the sweat off his face. The rest of the ghouls were handled swiftly and with proficiency, much like the first wave. When it was over, Bones expressed his doubts, thinking it was going to be harder than the first wave. Cal gave him a look and explained that the first wave was a warm-up, and the plan was to deal with the second wave quickly and efficiently to conserve energy and avoid injuries before the final, third wave.

During the resting period between the second and third wave, Bradford went over the plan he devised beforehand, ensuring everyone understood their roles, while Cal meditated and consumed mana potions to replenish his nearly depleted mana pool. The ghouls in the third wave would be different, fewer in numbers and more intelligent, unlike the mindless horde that had relentlessly pursued them earlier. This time, the ghouls would be cautious, stalking their prey—“which is us,” Bradford said as he continued to explain.

“Our plan is to turtle-up, hold them off, and not give them an opportunity to attack. When they grow restless and frustrated, they won't be able to resist the temptation anymore and will attack. That's when we counter-attack! Everyone, it will depend on our individual strength, and I believe in us and everything we've gone through so far. So, keep your heads straight! And have fun!” The party leader and everyone chuckled, Bones included, though he felt somewhat excluded from the pep talk; after all, he was the odd man out.

"Anything I can do to help?" Bones asked, drawing everyone’s attention.

"Of course, Jones. You weren’t initially included in the plan, but seeing your battle prowess, we would very much like your help! The same applies to you as it does with the others. I’ll repeat once again, this is a test of individual capabilities. While we will all try to help one another, don’t depend on receiving help!"

When Bradford finished talking, everyone's expressions changed. They became focused, driven, and prepared for the upcoming challenge.

After five hours had passed, the final wave began. In eerie silence, the party waited for an attack, but nothing happened. The only sounds they heard were the sound of their heavy breathing. The tension rose, palpable in the air.

“Where are they?” Edward asked. “They’re stalking us,” Katrina replied, and Bradford hushed them both, “Listen!” A barely audible sound of disturbed forest floor, occasional rustling of leaves, and low gurgling sounds permeated the area. The mist was as thick as ever, and visibility beyond what's in front of you was non-existent.

“Cal, can you do something about this mist?” Katrina asked. Cal paused for a moment, thinking, then said he’ll try. He raised the staff in his hands and slammed the blunt end into the ground, creating a blast of wind that briefly pushed the mist away. The moment it did, everyone was startled to see ghouls within melee range.

The party members weren’t the only ones taken aback when the mist cleared. Ghouls failed to respond as well, and in an instant, the silence was broken by the sounds of battle. The enemy pounced, and Cal was the first to react, casting another blast that knocked back the ghouls, giving his party members a moment of respite to properly counter-attack. Nothing went according to the plan, but what Bradford said was true – the battle tested each of them, even more so when the mist recurred and separated the party members.

Bones sensed the others near him but couldn’t pinpoint their exact location. Shouting didn’t help either. Voices carried over, sounding like an echo from afar. He was on his own, but then again, he was always alone. Well, he had his two sidekicks by his side and a wide area spell like Bone Storm. Dust lifted as Bones manifested dozens of bone spikes around himself. He felt the ghouls savagely barging into them, trying to get to him. Those that did, tasted the cold black blade of Murdok’s obsidian greatsword and the spearhead of Skully’s new spear.