Chapter 199 - Grandstanding

Gabriel

Gabriel wasn't sure what he was walking out into. He didn't want to be away from his brother for long but something was obviously going down inside the camp.

It wasn't often that people raised their voices and started yelling at each other and he needed to find out the reason why. People were usually more amenable than this.

Walking out of Chris's tent, he picked up on a distinct lack of people. It surprised him as he expected to see a crowd, but all of them were gone now. A quick survey pointed out the reason.

They were all leaving and streaming into the valley.

He could see a much larger group that was assembled down where they fought the Demons and even from here, he could feel the tension. The auras flared either intentionally, or unintentionally.

A distinct fiery one was beginning to rise above the rest.

Something was wrong and even Rachel's presence couldn't put a stop to it.

He looked back at the tent conflicted. He wanted to find out what was happening quickly before going back but this was gearing up to take longer than he thought.

Both Mom and Ashley are in there. They can both power the Rune and the Ice won't melt that fast.

With that thought, his decision was made and his feet carried him toward the commotion.

It wasn't long after that he picked up on the odd mana levels. He had been so distracted he hadn't noticed. Mana levels like these usually indicated a natural treasure of some kind.

Knowing that, the scene that was playing out was beginning to fall into place. Getting closer to hear what was being said only confirmed what he already knew.

"We all fought for it so a share belongs to all of us!"

"You barely did anything, why should you get a share!"

"Pull up your notifications! How many Demons did you kill?!"

Gabriel forced his way through the gathered crowd to see what it was everyone was fighting about. What he saw after breaking through the crowd of bodies made him stop and stare.

There was a whole cave full of mana crystals and he could see more were leading deeper into the earth. Depending on how large a vein this was, this was a mountain of wealth.

Mana crystals could be used in nearly anything. Crushing them into a fine powder could be used in almost any craft: Alchemy, Blacksmithing, Enchanting, and even Carpentry.

It was an easy way to increase the mana saturation of the materials you were working with. It was like using [Mana Infusion] but with the powdered version of mana instead of using a skill.

Gabriel knew their uses in Enchanting the most, as he had experience using them before. Part of the Wards he and Chris had set up used them in some fashion.

Not only could they be used in creating enchantments, but used to power them as well. Enchantments and Runes ran on mana and having it in nice solid form was perfect for power sources.

The best example he could think of was plugging a crystal into his Healing Rune on the encasement. That would power it for hours instead of him having to feed it mana continuously.

Those were all good uses of Mana Crystals, but the use that was most beneficial to them right now was different.

They were among some of the few resources that could help grow a Dungeon. Feeding them into a Dungeon would accelerate its growth and increase how fast it made new floors.

It was the thing they needed most right now.

While they would also use them for all the other crafts, the Dungeons were their power base, and having deeper ones would let them grow even faster.

And it seemed the other City Lord knew that.

"Now, now. Why don't we all calm down a bit? Everyone here risked their lives and will naturally get a share. We won't take it all and leave you with nothing." The opposing City Lord placated.

His words were fine, it was what he implied that was the problem. Ownership of the mine hadn't been discussed and he was setting himself up for it. Giving away what wasn't yet his.

Gabriel didn't doubt that Chris would do the same, giving away a portion, but that didn't matter. If everyone here perceived the other City Lord as the one in charge, then they would be snubbed.

"And who are you to decide anything." Rachel spat.

He wasn't sure why she was so angry but her tone and flaring aura were crystal clear indicators of her mood, let alone her mocking words. Gabriel had been near the meeting to discuss tactics before the battle and he had thought their relationship with the other city was fine. If not fine, then at least decent.

But she was acting like they were the enemy.

Something was off.

Rachel wouldn't be this antagonistic if there wasn't a reason for it.

The part of the crowd that was from Frostheim was behind her as well. They started their own jeers after what was said. Even outnumbered as they were.

As their side began again, the other side did as well. The placating effect of Ashton's words was lost. From what Gabriel could glimpse, he wasn't happy about being rebuffed.

He also seemed a little shocked about it.

Ashton turned to see the crowd behind him and Gabriel knew he couldn't back down. He was their Leader and giving in would be a sign of weakness. Especially when he had the majority of the crowd behind him.

So if he backed down, not only would he be seen as differential to Frostheim, but extremely so.

"I am sure we can come to an agreement that leaves everyone happy." He said. "We fielded most of the army to fight the Demons, and who lost the most, but it couldn't have been done without your help."

A hot weight pressed down harder in the area in response to those words. His meaning was clear. He wanted ownership and indicated he would give us something for our help.

He didn't say it with any malice but his wording made it seem that way.

To counteract Rachel, Ashton let out his own aura. It settled over his side of the crowd and alleviated the weight pressing down on them. It felt like a steadying light, propping up those around him.

It didn't have the sheer presence that Rachel brought to bear, but it easily worked to keep her from dominating the crowd. Both were using them crudely, almost instinctually rather than intentionally.

Rachel was mad and letting it show and he was trying to deflect it. If this were a different time, Gabriel would have scoffed at how they were going about it.

This isn't going the way I thought it would.

He thought that with both 'leaders' of the two cities here, they would be able to calm the crowd and at least agree to speak of this later, behind closed doors, but that wasn't the case. Everyone was still running hot from the fight and heads hadn't had enough time to cool.

Rachel especially seemed unnaturally fiery and that wasn't a joke about her affinity.

The crowd rallied behind their respective leaders. They couldn't bring any presence to bear individually, but as a group, they could. If the scene were visible, it would be like two opposing mana types vying for control.

Just when Rachel was about to respond, he felt it.

His heart leaped and he whipped his head around.

The pressure from Rachel was nothing compared to what was moving in now and not even Ashton could keep it from settling on everyone.

It felt like a hand from the sky was pressing down on everyone and some struggled against it. Sweat built up as they realized who was coming.

The familiar chill Gabriel had come to love settled in next. One that made a shiver run through the crowd but he felt like a warm blanket had settled over him.

For more reasons than one, Gabriel was ecstatic.

His brother was back and he was pissed.

Anger was rolling off him and waves and it integrated into his aura, causing everyone affected to know he was angry. Similar to Rachel and Ashton, the application was crude but it was much more powerful than the other two.

Feeling it the worst, the crowd closest to where Gabriel had come from began to split. They, wisely, chose to leave the path Chris was on.

As they split, Christopher was revealed.

His lower body was encased in ice while his top half was bare. They had removed his armor and shirt while healing him and he hadn't put anything back on.

Through the ice on his lower half, his armor could be seen. More specifically, the state of his armor could be seen. The massive hole through the thigh was most notable but the other rents weren't far off.

If the broken and torn metal wasn't enough to show how tough a battle he fought, the injuries covering his bare upper half were. One more than any other.

Chris hadn't cared to create a prosthetic of ice and left the wound how Gabriel had seen it last.

Even under the scrutiny of the weight and anger, people gasped at the sheer state of him.

Unphased with their stares, Chris marched in like nothing was different. He moved through the gap left for him and didn't stop until he was face-to-face with Ashton in the middle of the crowd.

With his right arm gone, he carried his hammer in his left. Not the one he usually wielded, but another made completely of Ice. Most wouldn't be able to tell its condition, but Gabriel could.

It was quickly made and only had a brief coating of his brother's Law.

While it looked fine, it wasn't anywhere close to the same quality as his old one. Not that anyone knew that.

"I'm disappointed." The words carried to everyone's ears. "I thought for a man requesting our aid, you would have more honor than this."

A slap to the face if Gabriel had ever heard one.

"We will discuss what lies down there," Hammer pointed at the glittering mana crystals, "another time. Now is not the time for it."

"If anyone has a problem with that," the weight-bearing down got worse, "Fight me over it."

Hammer settled into the ground with his one hand resting on it like he would fight everyone here if that was who wished it.

Not a sound could be heard.

Where the crowd was once shouting over each other and ever-rising, a pin drop could be heard now.

Seeing as no one wished to say anything, Chris turned toward where those from his City stood, "Go back to camp."

As one, they obeyed.

~~

Chris

Motherfucker this hurts!

Why couldn't people, for once in their life, not be raging assholes. I was more broken than whole and a massive brawl was on the verge of breaking out!

As soon as I got back inside my tent, I collapsed.

[Righteous Fury] fled me and all the heat was ripped out of me.

It was a miracle I was able to get up in the first place, the boosting skill making it possible. Both my legs were broken and the only thing that supported me was the ice surrounding them. My connection to it was tentative at best.

My head was still reeling at everything that happened and moving it was harder than ever. Let alone having to walk with it. Without my legs there for the support they provided, it would have been impossible.

I dropped back into bed exhausted.

I was fully prepared to take anyone on if they wished but I was so glad they decided not to. I was far from being fine and a fight would have only made it worse.

The grandstanding alone caused enough pain, let alone a fight.

Still, to believe that man had the gall to lay claim to the mine. After what he did, not a chance.

That crystal mine was won in battle and were my spoil of war.

He didn't do shit.