Chapter 173: Chapter 173: System's Chaos

Lucien observed from his hiding spot as people congregated in the open space behind the library.

Lucien Lythorien's Statistics

Skills:

Life Rock

Familiars:

Rock Elephant (+25 MD)

Level 5

Mana: 50/50

Superior Mana Sword / Attack 5

Superior Mana Dagger x10 / Attack 5

Superior Elemental Resistance Cloak / Magic Defense 5

System's Armor / (Defense 5) (Magic Defense 5) (Magic Damage 5) (Resistance(500/500))

His small elephant familiar hovered beside him, its trunk swaying anxiously. At his side, Selene remained silent, her expression tense, her own elephant mirroring her concern.

The crowd grew by the minute, a sea of anxious and confused faces stretching as far as the eye could see.

From strategic points around the multitude, Zara, Kriz, Brok, and Micah watched the scene with mounting worry. The murmur of voices rose like a constant buzz, punctuated by occasional shouts and exclamations.

The "evidence" Cassandra presented was clearly fabricated, her arguments full of logical fallacies that under normal circumstances would be easily refutable. But in the heat of the moment, caught in the collective emotion, many seemed willing to believe anything.

Lucien noticed with disgust that there were agitators strategically planted among the public, fanning the flames of discord with shouts of support for Cassandra and accusations against Elio.

The situation unfolding before his eyes was something completely new in the hundred-year history of their world. Never before had they faced anything like this, such blatant manipulation of public opinion, such a direct attempt to undermine established authority.

Lucien realized, with horror and fascination, that he had grossly underestimated Cassandra. He never expected her to be capable of orchestrating something like this, nor that people's reaction could be so violent and irrational.

'This is a disaster,' he thought. 'Never in our city's history have we faced anything like this. How could Cassandra provoke this so easily?'

Indeed, the crowd grew increasingly agitated, the tension palpable in the air. Shouts of indignation and fear mingled with demands for explanations and accusations against Elio.

Lucien watched with growing alarm as small groups began to form, their voices rising above the general clamor. His elephant trumpeted softly, as if warning of impending danger.

Suddenly, as if a spark had fallen on a powder keg, chaos erupted. A push turned into a blow, and in a matter of seconds, the plaza became a battlefield.

Selene urged, her voice tight with tension, "Lucien, give the signal to the others. This is getting out of hand." Her elephant nodded vigorously, agreeing with its master.

Lucien took a second to react, still stunned by the scene unfolding before his eyes.

Cassandra's strategy, in its simplicity, was proving devastatingly effective. She had appealed to people's most basic fears, to their desire to have someone to blame for the problems they faced.

As he watched the crowd, Lucien couldn't help but marvel at the fragility of the peace they had taken for granted. It had only taken a few well-placed words, a handful of planted agitators, and the seed of doubt to turn neighbor against neighbor.

"We've been complacent," Lucien muttered, his elephant nudging him as if urging action. "We thought giving people power would make them more reasonable, more united. But it seems it's also made them more susceptible."

Selene nodded grimly. "Power without wisdom is a dangerous thing. We should have seen this coming."

"May Elio forgive us," he whispered, his elephant trumpeting softly as if in prayer.