The town was in constant need of firewood it seemed. Then again, with the Dungeon manifesting there was already plenty to do as it was. Bemused, Bengal examined the long line of workers before him sharpening their axes. There was a decent store of firewood still from last year, but they'd have a major shortage by the end of the month if there wasn't a steady supply coming in. Burning wet would was the worst, but the dryer it got the better off they'd be. If it was possible, putting it near their fires they had going would go quite a long way toward drying it.

Sighing once Bengal turned. Lifting a hand in greeting toward the few that were still keeping track of him. It seemed as though even now he was still decently known overall. Rotating his shoulders, Bengal focused his gaze toward the large forest to the edge of town. It had been pushed back a bit with fresh stumps due to the consistent chopping from the town and other mercenaries. They were paying per load with a maximum of around a few hundred yul, which for such simple work was decent.

But, Bengal wasn't here so much for the pay as the good publicity. He'd become known as the man to go to when one had problems, and that was now bearing fruit. Non-Ryuutei were coming to trade with and work with his clan. A few had even moved into the land. If he could continue attracting the attention of others, he'd soon be able to take the next step and declare the independence of his clan and those that wished to serve underneath him. Having a land all his own for his people once more.

Bengal closed his eyes, releasing a slow breath. Soon. He was almost there and his first major goal would finally have been reached. But for now, he had an entire workload to complete involving this wood. Chuckling dryly, Bengal turned and moved toward the central base. The more he got done the better off he'd be. Every bit of help, every job done, every bit of fame acquired was that more he could get finished. Smirking Bengal stepped passed the main stumps to focus on what came next.

The wood chopping would be fairly easy if nothing else.

Opening up his hands and releasing a slow breath. There was the forest, the next question was simply checking the sensation of ki. Reaching out, he focused on the energy around him. A few squirrels and birds. A deer hidden beneath one bit of foliage. Bengal lifted a hand up, causing flames to erupt in his palm before blasting it harmlessly into the forest.

It was winter. A bit of fire wouldn't start a thing. Instead the explosion and heat radiated out, sending the animals scattering away. The actual goal, clearing out any life from the edge of the forest and deeper so that his own clearing of the forest wouldn't cause any additional problems. Grunting, he lifted a hand up and sent out his mana in a wild swirl. Electricity turned to flames, then centralized and seemed to... flow? Shifting into swirling water. Last year when he'd worked with Riley he'd seen the other man use this method, and it certainly wasn't going to hurt anything to do it again now. The liquid whipped around his hands and then formed into floating orbs around him, dozens of them that he then aimed at the treeline. Each one focused on a single trunk.

The explosions rained across the treeline, blasting them at the trunks and sending dozens of trees toppling to the ground while Bengal walked forward and began to grasp the large trees, dragging them over toward a singular pile and using his hands to chop the limbs off casually, then divide the trunks into large chunks along with any usable branches. Placing them in a pile next to him for him to begin splitting at the next stage. This was already a substantial amount of wood, but he'd see where he would be at from here.

Too bad he didn't have any spells that manifested weaponry, he usually just beat the shit out of things. Maybe it was worth investing in a simple spell to create a sword? Rubbing his chin in thought, Bengal shrugged while mana flowed along his hand before slamming it downward. Shaping the energy into a sharpened point that speared directly through the wood, splitting the log effortlessly as he began to tedious, if quick for him, the process of splitting the dozens of trees into proper firewood.

---
About an hour later, Bengal had filled several sleds with the chopped firewood. Dragging it along behind him back toward town, heels digging into the snow while several people stared in shock. The pay wouldn't be much better for this. So he was effectively spending the extra effort purely to help the town. His primary goal, though the extra pocket change was never a bad thing. It would go into the funds for the land he intended to purchase to expand what his clan had already been given at Clover's edge.

Declaring their independence was the next step. He wanted to be allied with Clover. Not be a city-state under their thumb. For that, he needed power, and powerful allies. Eve. June. Other Ryuutei. Other commanders. Emily. Sha. Possibly even Verena if he could manage to get the woman to see past the illusion that the past mattered more than the future. No matter what, he had his goals and every small nudge forward counted.

Giving a firm shove, Bengal parked the large sleds of firewood in the center of town. Dusting himself off before shifting his attention toward those gathered, waving once with a smile he accepted the pay without concern. Heading off toward the horizon. There was plenty to do.

[Exit]
[Wordcount increased by 20%, lowered by 25% so lowered by 5% at the end. Required 950 WC instead of 1,000]
[+1 Spell Points]
[+1 Stat Point, Cap changed this to +500 Bonus Yul]

WC: 1,023
TWC: 1,023