Hope

Toby wiped the sweat from his brow, pausing for a moment to admire the steady rhythm of his pickaxe as it struck the rock wall deep within the silver mine.

He was only 22, but his experience as a miner made him seem older. Life in the Silver Mine Camp had been brutal before Shane took over.

They had worked as enslaved people with no hope, no food, and no rest. They were barely getting the leftovers of their previous owners.

During that time, the workdays had stretched for 16 grueling hours, with barely enough time to sleep, let alone eat. But now, things were different.

He straightened up, feeling a strange sensation of satisfaction.

His hands gripped the pickaxe with ease and his body moved efficiently thanks to his Pickaxe Mastery Skill.