Frostbound

Chris

My Points were gone and it was time to return. My mind exited the absurdly white space and my senses returned to the sizable tent we had all been standing in.

Around everyone were piles upon piles of boxes, books, materials of all kinds, and more boxes.

We were lucky the System provided suitable containers for most things as it had before. The treasure I used to upgrade my Affinity came inside a box to contain and preserve it until I was ready to use it and that seemed to apply to our more expensive purchases.

The build-up of... aura? It was hard to tell but it felt like some of the items had their own aura, even if that sounded odd. It wasn't just mana that wrapped densely around them, but a spiritual weight as well.

While the intricate wooden boxes may preserve and contain, they didn't silence completely. Anyone with a high sensitivity or moved close by would know something was here.

That was fine. We hadn't counted on them being silenced. It would just make things a touch more interesting. The Healers had done their job well and while I wasn't tip-top, I was more than healthy enough to put down any wayward thief or warrior turned bandit.

My body may protest, but I could do it.

I was even ready to fight Factions if it came to that. Marcus and I traveling together would hopefully curb any... interest in our stuff, but I kind of wanted it to happen anyway.

If they fell to their greed and attacked us, we'd save someone else from falling prey.

My thoughts weren't because I suddenly grew an altruistic bone. If we were attacked, we wouldn't only be ridding the World of scum, but we would also coincidentally be gaining what those who fell to temptation had.

A Win-Win in my book.

Abigail was already sorting through the many piles and I was surprised to learn I wasn't the last one out. I had spent a good amount of time debating between the bones I would get and I also had a lot more points to spend.

The timer was getting low but I wasn't worried anyone wouldn't make it. They already knew what they were going to buy, they were just being picky.

I looked around and contained a hint of a smirk. The pile around me was significantly larger than anyone else and Austin was sulking about it.

"Har har, rub it in. One of these days I'll beat you." He snarked from within a considerable pile of his own treasures.

"I didn't say anything." I looked away innocently but unconvincingly. Instead of poking him more, I turned to the pack rat making sure everything was alright. "How long until we can leave?"

The Healers still weren't through everyone and it had only been two days, but with so much wealth, I didn't want to stay any longer than we had to.

We had the Builders and Carpenters working throughout the night to make as many carts as they could but we still needed a few days yet.

"Three, four days? I'm not sure." she said, "Depends on a lot of things."

I nodded and looked at the pile of goodies behind me. "Alright. Three or Four days." I could certainly keep myself busy until then. "Hal, work out shifts among who's left. Austin can pitch in if you're light on manpower."

"Actually," Hal said, "Now that Sarah is back, her Wolves are great for detection. A few men along with the super sniffers will be more than enough."

Sarah was allowed South on the condition that she not participate in the heavy fighting. She kept the horses and bison compliant while also herding them across the river when the time came. _{n𝚘𝚟pub.𝚌o𝚖}

Surprisingly, she, along with the Builders, received Personal Points for their share. Even Smiths, Alchemists, and other Crafters who only supplied gear and equipment contributed in the eyes of the System.

It was rather generous when it wasn't trying to kill us.

"Whatever you think is enough, double it and I'll be happy," I said. There were things of too much value to me here, "We prepare to march in three days."

Those inside the tent nodded and I turned back at my Rewards. It was a shame I couldn't use many of them right this second, but I would certainly be exploring them soon.

There were a few I wished to tear into immediately, but I needed to take care of a few things first. Mainly for my peace of mind, but also just in case.

We had reinforced the Camp we had set up and put up defenses lining the outside but I walked them all the same. I watched for anything out of place or felt for someone approaching.

There were people better suited for it, with higher Perception and dedicated anti-stealth skills, but I was nervous. It calmed me down to see everything in order.

After a quick sweep, and having Hal and Austin do the same, I was comfortable breaking open a few things. The first was the Bed. It was the largest of the treasures I bought and stuck out like a sour thumb.

It was over 8 feet in length and half that wide. It was also four feet tall as well, turning the Bed into a large slab. I could feel the energies inside of it and the Runes carved into its surface. It wasn't only surface level either, as the engraving ran inside and through certain parts.

How they did that without breaking the Ice was a mystery, but I gazed at the masterwork all the same. The work done to the Ice didn't do a lick to take away from the material. It was only the second time I gazed upon such material.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

My hammer was made of the only other time. The Bed itself called to me and I knew what I would be doing.

I took the Bed, which was much heavier than I thought it would be, and replaced the one I already had in my tent. I was unsure if it required skin-to-skin contact, but after a few tests, I learned it didn't much matter.

Whether I was clothed, lying on fur bedding, or bareback straight to the Ice, it all felt the same. Fur and cloth did nothing to stop the treasure from working.

Satisfied, I laid down and kept my senses alert for thieves. I had never once been so concerned but the urge wouldn't fully go away.

While [Cold Meditation] would have made me recover faster, I instead started playing with [Aura Detection] while lying down. The Bed did its work and I felt my Vitality thundering through my body, but I kept my attention on my new skill.

The Skill itself was marvelous. I had already practiced detecting things with my aura but the skill was so much more. It took things to an even higher level and its Rare tag was not unfounded. It was lack gaining a tactile response when only having vague feelings before.

If I focused hard enough on an object, I could Identify it through aura alone! I knew that was how the skill worked, but it was exciting to see it in action.

All the practice with Gabriel helped me get used to the skill quickly. My aura spread out liberally throughout the camp and I was ready for anything. It was much larger than before and the levels bringing me to the cap only added to that.

Oh shit! The Rewards distracted me from my last skill!

With so much happening, I had totally forgotten I had hit the last threshold for my Class. The last of my six skills. It felt... less exciting than before. I'd just come out like a bandit and somehow picking my last skill didn't seem as important.

I'll need time to reconsider all my options. Especially with [Frost Amor] upgrading and making [Jotun Armor] not as interesting.

My level 90 skill was a three-way decision between [Frozen Leach], [Icy Connection], and [Jotun Armor]. One would think since I already picked [Frozen Leach] and [Armor] wasn't as vital now, only one option would be left but that wasn't true.

My last selection broadened my options and there were a few more to choose from now. It was... disappointing that I wouldn't be filling out my hammer, but I'd figure that out eventually.

I'd find out all the skills involved and not just be stuck with [Shattering Hammer] and [Frozen Rift]. How I did that, I wasn't sure, but such powerful skills were something I had a lot of interest figuring out.

So far, Hammer of the Jotun had given me my beloved hammer. [Frostbound Hammer], at level 50. Then it gave me a violent attack skill, [Shattering Hammer] at 60.

After that, a robust defense skill, [Jotun's Resistance] at 70. Another attack skill at 80 but with some utility as well in [Frozen Rift]. The Ice it created could be used for more than just attacking, even if it was what I used it for most.

Then, [Frozen Leach] at 90, which to be honest, I hadn't explored the depths of yet. I'd used it on the War Leader but I wasn't sure how much it did during the fight. I hadn't been paying much attention to which was working faster, my fists or the skill.

Now, at the cap, the last skill awaited and I had to change up how I thought about it.

[Icy Connection] didn't sound as good now as it did back then. It sounded like a skill any Ice Class would gain, not that such a thing was bad, but this was Hammer of the Jotnar, I wanted my last skill to matter.

Plus, I knew which kind of Class awaited me next. I'd put it off for long enough and my D-rank Class wouldn't be as offense-heavy as the one I had now. Leadership wasn't something I could keep running away from.

Not if I wanted to keep being one. Going off on my lonesome was an option, but not one I considered for long. I liked my home. The place I had built, I wasn't about to leave it now.

That being the case, and with the knowledge of what Skills awaited such a Class, maybe it was better to finish out E-rank strong?

Jonathan has [Stone Empowerment] and there's bound to be an Ice version of the skill. With some upgrades and guided development, it could turn into something like [Icy Connection].

Every Step further with my Law also brought me closer to my Ice, it wasn't like that skill was the only way to do it.

A Leadership Class should have some hefty Defense Skills, should I go all in with another Attack Skill?

Lying on the Bed worked wonders throughout my body, and without even noticing it, also on my mind. The relaxation it provided and the soothing effect made it feel like a spa.

If it wasn't for the occasional flare-up of my Vitality fighting away at the blight and fixing my wounds, it would have felt like exactly that.

My stats are monstrous, my Hammer strong, and my Defense unbelievable. [Jotun's Resistance] plus [Glacial Heavy Plate] saw me through mountains of Orcs, defense should be fine.

But with [Mighty Blow] becoming Epic along with [Shattering Hammer] and [Frozen Rift], do I really need another way to crush my foes?

There was... a lot to think about. Shoring up weaknesses and gaining a lot of treasures so fast made my final skill much harder to choose than before.

All my Skills are limited in the same way. [Meteor Strike], [Shattering Hammer], and [Frozen Rift] all rely on me hitting them with my hammer. As such, hordes work against me. My Wintery Domain helps, it kills off anything too weak, but as seen by the Demons and Orcs, that isn't always enough.

My Endurance, Fortitude, and Spirit kept me swinging, but that wasn't fast enough. If I could slaughter quicker, more people would have survived. That wasn't guilt talking, but just a statement of fact.

That being the case, my gaze turned toward two specific Skills. Both Legendary and both equally adept at capping a brilliant Class.

Jotun Battle Roar(Legendary): The Jotnar thrive in lands of Ice and Snow and have learned to both turn the battlefield Wintery, but also use that against their foe. Using that connection and stimulating the area around the user with their Voice, any Ice, Snow, or Frost turns into a barrage of attacks blanketing the area. The stronger the Ice and the Colder the air, the stronger the attack. Mana and Stamina costs depend on the size of the area affected and the force of the attack.

Hammer Reverberation(Legendary): Hammers carry monumental force in the hands of the right wielder but sometimes that force is wasted. Instead of using such force to kill one thing so utterly, spread it out over many. This Skill can be used on its own, or in conjunction with other Skills. Spreads the effect of paired skills, if any, over a larger area while also weakening it. Mana or Stamina cost depends on Skills used.