As soon as Kaden was past the entrance, heat blasted him right away. It was extremely hot inside. Yet, he felt it was nothing and that it was actually rather pleasant. This didn’t surprise him. He had a fire affinity. He even felt that making home next to a volcano was a fine idea. Kaden assumed that was yet another instinct he had.

Those at Formation stage seemed relatively fine, but, for example, his team mates from Verdict, didn’t seem quite as much so. It was nothing dangerous for them, but unpleasant.

What might have been dangerous had been the possiblity that the air wasn’t even breathable inside. It could have been entirely toxic gasses. Yet, this was not the case. It had apparently been scouted by Sacronan soldiers and this had been discovered by the saints too so no one prepared any protective formations for it.

“Lets move”, Leoren said after giving a look around. “Stay together! It seems Sacronan has moved in already. I can also sense there is something strong in here. Proceed with caution.”

Everone followed after Leoren.

Kaden was closer to front with Verdict. By their side was Judgement with Nelsen leading. With Nelsen was Erral whose soldiers were moving just behind the elite teams, ready to support them.

“Its pretty hot in here”, Nelsen said. “If it increases, weaker ones should slow down and stay behind. Use your mana to protect yourself and concentrate on ranged attacks.”

As the group moved forward, Kaden noticed the place opened up to many new paths. With the leadership of Leoren they continued deeper, seemingly following the path that Sacronan’s people took. There was layer of ash on the ground like snow. Footprints were easy to notice. Otherwise it would have been difficult due to the many ways they could have possibly taken.

Sacronan did not have that big head start. After just a short time later, everyone emerged into an enormous chamber. They immediately noticed Sacronan’s soldiers collecting some red crystals and rocks, likely metal ores, at the edge of a large lava pool at the middle of the chamber.

“That’s odd?” Kaden though to himself. “Why would so much resources be gathered around the lava like that? Could it be remnant just being crazy and the pool spews out resources?”

Kaden did not have time to think of that much longer when some soldiers picking up the things noticed the saint group that had come. They immediately shouted alarm and prepared to fight.

“Oh, its you Leoren”, said Yakon. “I should have known you would be skulking around somewhere. I think I’ll make you stay here.”

“You fools didn’t think we wouldn’t notice a volcano erruption?” Leoren replied. “Perhaps your wrong gods have made you stupid.”

Yakon seemed to basically pulse with mana in an instant and some balls of energy gathered around him. Then they flew towards the saints like being shot from cannons. Leoren quickly created a shield and the balls reflected off from it with a reverberating sound. Then the balls hit walls at random directions. Blasts were so powerful that Kaden’s ears started ringing. Had they been aimed at him without any protection, there was no way he would have survived.

“I’ll handle Yakon”, Leoren said to everyone. “Kill the heretics and take those resources!”

After saying that he charged towards Yakon and the two started a brutal combat between each other.

Soon after the saint group clashed with the one from Sacronan. This was a very good opportunity for Kaden. The forces available on both sides were roughtly equal. This allowed Kaden to pick and kill Sacronan’s soldiers who were at Channel Opening. Those at Formation stage fought with each other.

“Hahaha, I can butcher them as I please”, Kaden laughed to himself as he eviscerated an unfortunate soldier. He received a lot of enjoyment from it.

Then he noticed a few bags on the ground that the soldiers had been filling. He took quick glance at it and found there was a few red crystals in it and some reddish rock shimmered slightly upon closer inspection. Kaden took one of the red crystals and noticed it was a special kind of mana crystal. It was almost purely formed from fire mana!

Usually mana crystals formed in places where mana could gather into clumps over long period of time or someone strong condenses them. Always in varying quality. Usually that was just local mana. To have crysals of purely one type was rare. Usually they were not even called mana crystals anymore, but instead Element Stones. Specific Elemental Stone name depended on the type types, for example, water type would be Water Stone. Special conditions of their forming was required! The remnant with thick mana that was fire type, would offer best place for Fire Stone to form!

Also, as Kaden was holding a Fire Stone in his hand. It felt strange, but good. Like it as something desirable! It made sense, they were of his type.

As for the rock, he assumed it was some ore, but could not directly inspect it in its current form. He figured it was useful too.

“I think I should collect as much of these as possible!” Kaden thought to himself and placed the bag inside his spatial bag.

As he looked around, he immediately felt urgency to collect more. There were fights going around all around and also uncollected piles of materials. Kaden rushed to collect more. If there were enemies, he would tear them apart, if not, he would quickly collect what he could. The number of Fire Stones grew, but there was more of the ore in most cases rather than the Fire Stones.

Kaden was making good work and it was noticed.

“You have some strange subordinates, Nelsen”, Erral said as he sent forth yet another attack. He and Nelsen were holding back a few Sacronan’s Formation stage experts. “But he does good work.”

“Kaden is rather brutal, but he is straighforward”, Nelsen agreed. “Point him to a direction and he will crush his way through everything and he won’t even flinch.”

“Sacronan has noticed him, they are sending in people to stop him”, Erral noted. He then shouted commands to some of his soldiers to go work with Kaden.

Soon once Kaden noticed he had received help, he frowned.

“That Erral...”, Kaden though to himself. “His people are taking my stuff, but there is no way to stop it without seeming odd.”

Kaden decided to let the matter be. He had quite a good haul already. Besides a group of enemies came after him, so any helpers would be a good distraction. This would give him a chance to kill all the enemies easily. Erral’s men could be killed later.

Kaden was getting covered in blood and gore as some more time passed. Against such opponents he could go on for quite a long time. He had not even had to truly unleash much of his energy. Devour kept him going regardless.

Around at that time the ground started shaking and the lava pool started to bubble. Everyone immediately noticed this and the fighting slowed down.

Something was up at the lava pool! Kaden quickly escaped towards edges of the chamber.

The suddenly the pool of lava basically exploded and a wave of lava was ejected out. Those still near, were incinerated immediately as they were swept in with the lava wave. Many had been collecting the materials right there. Both saints and Sacronan suffered losses!

“Pathetic fleshlings!” A voice roared. “You dare invade my abode and lay your hands on that which belongs to me! HOW DARE YOU!”

As the smoke and lava settled down everyone could see something inside the lava pool. A fire elemental! Enormous one to be specific!

It was like the lava had become alive and moved in a form roughly resembling a pilar of flame with face on it. Its apendages were tentacles of lava and fire. It also seemed to have covered itself in some kind of armor made from the red metal found around the pool and some volcanic rock.

Elementals were creatures of mana. Basically some element, usually the basic ones, water, earth, fire and wind, turns into a living being once right conditions are met. Yet they were not limited and any kind of mana could technically become elemental.

“DIE!” The fire elemental roared and basically seemed to explode. Another wave was released, this time burning cloud of ash and rock.

“Everyone! TAKE COVER!” Leoren shouted. He had finally stopped fighting Yakon. He put up a shield again to cover as many saints as he could.

Kaden rushed towards a rock pillar and released his core. It was not the time to hold back as a blastwave of burning ash was coming towards him. Everyone was likely concerned about themselves rather than odd mana readings from his direction.

Then the blastwave hit his area. Heat was nearly unbearable, but it mostly passed by and was not a direct hit. His mana armor also held back any stray rock fragments inside. His clothes became singed and he received even some burns, but nothing too significant. He would only have to kill a few people and Devour them.

Many others were not quite as lucky and were incinerated. None could say exactly who or how many had perished in that moment.

This was not the worst part nor the end, though! The blastwave dragged along so much ash, lava and rock that it blocked the entrance path. There was no going back the same way until someone had the time to dig it open.

“Come forth slaves!” The fire elemental roared and released energy that seeped inside the ash that now covered everything. It started to smolder.

The smoldering ash began to move where someone had died. Soon after the ash formed into human shapes! They had smoldering eyes and mouths, but otherwise just masses of ash. It seems whoever was killed by the previous attack was now somehow bound to it.

“Reeeee!” Screeched the ash zombies and they rushed out mindlessly to attack anything.

Kaden killed one which then broke apart like a sand castle. Yet soon after it started to reform again.

Still it was not the end! The fire elemental clearly intended to end everyone!

“Come forth servants!” The fire elemental shouted.

The lava started to bubble and smaller elementals began appearing and immediately started attacking.

“Shit!” Leoren shouted as he did his best to protect everyone. “This fire elemental is likely equivalent of limit Condensation stage! It must have been here for a very long time to be able to cultivate in a remnant.”

The ash zombies and small fire elementals were relentless and continued their attacks. They swarmed everyone still alive.

“Leoren!” Yakon shouted. “I would like to separate your head from your body, but none of us is going to be able to do anything with that fire elemental attacking us. I suggest we cease hostilities and finish it off and then continue. Do you agree?”

Leoren gritted his teeth, but he knew what he had to do.

“I agree”, he then replied. “I can destroy a heretic like you later. Everyone! Do not attack Sacronan until the fire elemental is defeated or they attack you first!”

Even with the temporary cease fire, things were still in bad shape! All humans were scattered across the area. Elementals and ash zombies were littered everywhere in between and survivors were separated from the others. Basically only larger groups alive were the ones that had been directly protected by the Condensation stage leaders, Leoren and Yakon.

Kaden was one of the separated people and was under attack. Immediately he noticed the ash zombies nor the fire elementals really worked with his Devour. The ash zombies might have as well been air. There was no reaction at all. The fire elementals did give him some amount of fire type mana, but they were so loosely gathered balls of fire mana that it too wasn’t really worthwhile.

There were a few smaller groups nearby in similar situation, a group that some noble had brought into the mission and Olren among them and then a few straglers. Kaden noticed not far away a larger tunnel entrance that had not been blocked by the fire elemental’s attack.

It was the only way! He would be able to fight for a time, but even with his endurance he would eventually get tired. There was no getting back all the way to the larger survivor groups as they were completely surrounded by small fire elementals and the zombies. The Condensation stage leaders were also fighting with the large fire elemental so they did not have time to help a few random people.

Kaden needed time to think. He would have to get out of the remnant soon anyway. This mission was not supposed to last long. Outside, and thus escape route, would be blocked by Sacronan soon.

He destroyed the attackers nearby and rushed towards the open tunnel entrance. Others nearby did the same. Perhaps they were hoping to regroup and do the same as Kaden!