Soon Verdict reached the hunter camp. There were several healers around. A priestess of Emmiah soon took Olren to be treated while another quickly healed Sari’s more minor wounds.

While this was happening, Kaden sat down to contemplate. He would have to be cautious, if someone was observing him.

“Those damn assassins truly made things difficult”, Kaden cursed. “Everything was going just fine without someone sending them after me. Now people are asking questions. I have to eliminate any potential sources somehow eventually. That will likely have to wait until I get to return to Corand.”

Kaden realized this was going to take time! He could only hope things wouldn’t escalate until then.

Olren eventually returned with his wounds healed. He gave Kaden nasty look, but did nothing.

“It will be difficult to kill him in near future”, Kaden thought and clicked his hand talons against a rock he was sitting on. “It can’t be helped. There was no way to finish it in front of Walden. Good thing I was careful. He has nothing against me that he can prove.”

It took about half an hour until Kaden noticed a few gliders appear in the distance. It seemd their ride was about to arrive. The gliders were faster than, say Formation stage expert. In fact, early Condensation stage expert might have trouble catching one. Problem was that they were difficult to maneuver and you usally drive them directly forward. If you need to turn, you need to start slowly turning them around over a period of time or slow down significantly and then do harder turns. Still, the speed was exceptional and they were often used by the military. Greatest problem was still the energy expenditure.

They would easily take Verdict right to the front lines at a significantly reduced travel time.

Walden notified everyone to get prepared for leaving which didn’t take long. Once the gliders arived, Olren gave yet another harsh look at Kaden and made sure to get onto one that Kaden didn’t.

“Such childish games”, Kaden thought to himself, but did allow Olren to have his way.

The gliders rose up in air and quickly accelerated to a high speed. They weren’t exactly flying vehicles and needed to remain near the ground, but they could go above treeline, for example. With their bad maneuverability, it was required or otherwise any larger rock or tree might be a problem. As their name suggested, they glided over the ground or water, if necessary, which in this case was.

Over the trip Walden described the area in more detail. They would have to cross over a large body of water, sea. The volcano, Vesu was located on a peninsula past this portion of sea. Only reason it was possible to go that far was because, the entire area was very close to Frika and was at edges of Sacronan. There was only some permanently stationed forces to keep eye on the sea at those parts. Only beasts, that had affinity with water or were able to fly, could pass from Frika to Sacronan. Sea beasts were entirely another thing, but they too prefered to stay closer to Frika and often were not able to come to land.

Walden said that they would have to be careful on the sea, but once over that area, there should be less danger until Sacronan can react and send an actual force. By that time they should be already returning the same way they came. Otherwise, they would have to fight their way through land and enter deeper into Sacronan. This was obviously an extremely dangerous prospect. That is unless you had the ability to swim over sea with aquatic beasts without any help.

Considering they were not that far from the front lines and with the speed gliders provided, the actual distance might be possible to cross in some hours. Yet, it was better to take a slightly longer way around extending it with some extra hours.

Kaden had never seen a sea before. He knew it was an extremely dangerous area, if they actually went into water, but gliding over it was much safer. Any beast underwater might not have time to react before they had already moved past unless they were extremely unlucky to run into something powerful. Those were in deeper parts much further away, like the dreaded abyss whales. This was still technically human controlled territory too so stronger beasts were rare.

With the speed the gliders were moving, the sea was passed in relatively a short time. Only slow down was when they finally reached the shores. Verdict basically ambushed a observation tower at the shore. They could not let information about themselves be spread before it was too late. The soldiers of Sacronan who were manning it, were just common soldiers and not even very strong. An elite team annihilated them in moments, preventing them from sending out even a signal.

While everyone else were confirming there were no survivors left, Kaden placed some explosive trap formations all over the place. They were just barely stable formations filled with fire mana and were relatively quick to make. Yet, as soon as they were disturbed in any way, even touch, they would explode. Kaden wouldn’t lose a chance to kill some people when he had the chance. Walden only nodded and they left soon after.

They couldn’t move as fast as before in Sacronan’s territory, but still the speed was relatively quick. In just about an hour they still reached their destination.

There was a hidden camp to which Walden led the gliders following some coordinates he had received. It was just a gathering point and was surrounded by concealment formations making it invisible from outside view.

Mount Vesu was already in sight at the distance. Kaden could see some lava being spewed out and a cloud of ash. Yet there was also some other activity. Sacronan was obviously also prepared, but they did not seem to get in yet either. Perhaps there was some blockage due to the continuing erruption.

“Hmmm, we are probably going to have to rush through once the erruption abates a bit”, Kaden assumed as he thought about the situation. With proper defenses, a few chunks of molten rock wouldn’t be a problem. He hoped that Walden was right and this remnant was not one where you would die immediately. He would turn back immediately, if something was beyond crazy.

Finally the gliders stopped. Kaden looked around and noticed Nelsen approaching, who was wearing a full ornamental exoarmor meant for officers. On his back he had his usual enormous two handed sword. Nelsen was fully combat ready. Along with him there came some other people who Kaden recognized being the other elite team, Judgement. They were far more experienced and more powerful, all of them being in Formation stage.

“Was there any trouble on the way?” Nelsen asked Walden.

“None”, Walden replied.

“Good! Very good”, Nelsen said and nodded. “Come, we have an attack plan ready and we expect it to be possible to enter the remnant soon. Even better, so far we believe we have also remained unnoticed. This is a perfect moment so lets not mess it up. Have your team rest and prepare. Once signal comes, we will charge and break into the remnant, killing as many Sacronan’s heretics as possible. Commander Leoren is with us.”

Kaden counted that the battalion consisted of roughly three hundred people. Most of them were at earlier Channel Opening stage. About roughly one tenth were those at Formation stage and he also noticed the fully armored leader, Leoren, who was at Condensation stage, but he could not tell how far. It was relatively strong attack team and Kaden wondered, if the remnant was truly worth it. From what he could say, it was still slightly smaller number than Sacronan had, but perhaps those soldiers were comparatively lower cultivation and skill.

Since they were going into a volcano, Kaden was not surprised to see several priests of Corshik among the saint soldiers due to their reddish robes that seemed to have burn marks all over. These people were basically pyromaniacs who liked fire and explosions perhaps slightly too much.

As Kaden was making mental notes of the battalion composition. Another higher officer, a major, came.

“Haha, Nelsen, I only just came here myself and found out you were here too!” Said the major.

“Oh, Erral! I did hear you would be coming, but I was out observing the volcano until rest of my people arrived”, Nelsen said happily. “I haven’t seen you in a while!”

It seemed that Nelsen knew this major, Erral, very well. As he observed the interaction with them, it became clear they were close friends. Erral was a commander of higher grade army same way that Nelsen was commanding officer for elite teams, Judgement and Verdict.

Apparently Erral’s army had been at frontlines for a relatively long time and had taken quite a bit of hit.

“Those cursed heretics are so persistent”, Erral talked with Nelsen. “I have not had any peace since I was led to the front lines along with a lord Lorien, a True Magus. Sure the first fight was against some trash that Sacronan gathered together as a trick. They were juts some villagers and ...”

Kaden immediately ceased what he was doing and concentrated fully listening into Nelsen’s and Erral’s discussion nearby. Could it be?

“… that fight was not even satisfying!”, Erral continued. “Some untrained villagers buthered that perhaps could have been turned to right path. Lord Lorien was not even able to defeat Sacronan’s True Magus by the name Ragur who has always been a thorn in our side for centuries. Such a waste. And then later even more mess up! Some powerful beast appeared. All information was secret and even I only knew later to come comb an area where the beast had chosen to explode. Instead of Sacronan, I had to fend off some beasts. The front line is always such a mess even with some beasts wandering in!”

Anuu!

Kaden did not hear anything more. He only heard a ringing sound in his mind. Ding! Ding! Ding!

This Erral! ERRAL! He was the one who led the soldiers that killed his father! He was there with a True Magus, named Lorien! What was that name? Ragur?

“I curse you to death! All of you! Lorien! Ragur! Erral!” Kaden screamed in his mind, showing nothing outside.

“You might have just followed orders, but its your fault!” Kaden continued swearing in his mind. “I will see you and your subordinates dead! I will end your life, Erral!”

Yet, it seemed he was probably too late for his subordinates. Erral had been on the fronst line a few years and over time suffered losses. He was apparently returning to Corand probably right after this missions along whatever subordinates he still had left.

“I’ll see, if they survive!” Kaden thought to himself. “Then when all is done, I will end your life, Erral! I will make you too suffer!”

Luckily he had learned quite a few names too. Lorien. Ragur. These people had to die too, but they were still beyond him. They would still eventually die. They had no right to live!

Still… the matter was difficult. This major Erral was still more powerful than Kaden, yet not that far. He would soon be within the range of his ability. Kaden planned on finding more about details on Erral. He would have to plan this carefully. Nelsen, for example, would surely notice when his friend dies.

As much as Kaden wanted to just strangle Erral, he knew that was impossible. He would have to bide his time like usually! Soon how strength would be enough. Even now he could fight, but probably not win. Once win was possible. He would make his move!