People of Dashire were allowed to train in peace. This was a good thing and Kaden was extremely happy about it. He concentrated mostly on cycling his new far superior mana system to gather mana. The third layer was already becoming solid, but once he stopped gathering mana it would turn transparent once again. It was nearly ready. Each cycle it was more and more solid.

Time was running out. Kaden wanted that third layer before the battle. Soldiers from the saint empire had been sighted within days travel away. They would attack the next day.

Kaden was aware that the third layer meant nothing. Third layer was still something people usually got slowly while living normally. Still, each layer would increase his overall ability by a level and increased his chances.

The conscripted people were treated as expendables. It had not been said directly, but he knew they would be put at the front to bear the brunt. It was the only sensible logic considering everything so far. If they had been treated any better, he might have doubted this conclusion, but no. There had been no sign that anyone really cared what happened to them.

A priest had come earlier. He ceremoniously blessed everyone saying that death was not the end. To sacrifice their lives in service of the gods, they would enter the paradise after death! They had been chosen!

“Lunatics”. This was Kaden’s opinion of that matter. There was no way this was god’s will! How could it be! These people, the generals of the army, high ranked priests and all their loyal minions, were clearly abusing their position!

As with everything so far, he still could do nothing about it. Kaden noted this thought was repeating very often. It made him feel helpless. Why was everything so unfair!

Kaden looked at his father. Aden had been extremely depressed ever since Ann had been taken. Aden had been doing everything that was demanded of him, but that was all. He was filled with worry and couldn’t concentrate on anything.

“Nothing else matters. Just concentrate on surviving. Care about nothing else”. Aden told Kaden these words. Despite his depression, there was still deep burning rage in Aden’s eyes.

Kaden figured this was actually a good sign. As long as his father was feeling anger, he would not just give up and die. In fact, lots of people had simply given up. There was very little hope in them. There was no way Kaden was going to give up like them. He was certain all of the people who had given up would die.

Kaden wanted to live!

He would only be content about death, if he fought and strugled against it the best of his ability.

At night, while Kaden was gathering mana for the third layer, there was a short interruption. Someone had tried to escape. It didn’t end well for that person. He turned into a human torch once a fireball struck him.

Everyone were informed that this was the only result of any such attempts. Priest added that abandoning their mission was a terrible sin and such sinners would be condemned to burn in hell for all eternity.

“Fool”, Kaden muttered. Which idiot tried to run? Wasn’t it clear that it was impossible? The fortress had heavy guard. Enemy was approaching so they would be extra alert. Most of these soldiers were much stronger and some even far beyond.

Kaden put that particular matter out of his mind. He didn’t care how many people tried to run and got themselves killed. Barring sudden ambush from the Saint Empire and ensuing chaos, it was fools errand. Kaden wasn’t military tactician, but that seemed unlikely. The only way out was to survive until no one cared about you anymore and you were tossed out like trash.

He continued cycling his mana system for most of the night. By the time it was still going to be dark for a few hours, Kaden’s hard work paid off.

The third layer started forming!

Kaden rejoiced as he doubled his efforts. Now was the time to solidify that third layer. If this one failed, he might not have too many attempts left until the battle. These layers were not that complicated. You only needed to have enough mana available.

Soon the third layer formed and became solid. It no longer faded. Kaden felt the rush as his body suddenly had much more and higher quality mana available. Once again his strength increased, senses became sharper and thinking seemed quicker! Truly, mana was wondrous thing.

Eventually the rush abated. Kaden inspected his body. Like previous times, it seemed to be… better. One could easily notice improvements, but its somewhat difficult to give detailed description. Bone seemed denser, muscle seemed stronger, blood flowed better and other such things. Kaden wondered, if he could measure this somehow at later time. He would still be forming several more layers in time. That is, if he lived long enough.

That was the big “if”.

Kaden decided it would be best to have whatever rest he could with the time he had left. No amount of training or mana cultivation would increase his abilities noticeably. Rest was the best option.

It was only a few hours, but Kaden had got used to such amounts of sleep. Besides, when a person grew stronger, they would require less sleep. He knew that at Channel Opening stage you did not even sleep daily. You could go on for days hard work, but eventually exhaustion would catch up. Even then they restored themselves much quicker and could go for another period.

Soldiers had started moving around as soon as sun started rising. This woke up Kaden. He watched as the soldiers were preparing their armor and weapons for the coming battle. Kaden only had a sword.

“I wonder, if they bother giving us some kind of armor”, Kaden thought to himself as he inspected his weapon once again.

Whatever Kaden thought about the soldiers, he knew they were trained to fight and it would be good idea to try doing what they were doing.

Kaden still tried to listen for everything he could. This morning it was different, though. Soldiers were not so talkative. Reason should be obvious. The fight was going to be that day, probably before midday it seemed. This was what Kaden found out by listening. The Saint Empire had moved close during night.

Saint Empire was already preparing their attack. It would not be much longer when they were in their attack formations and ready to strike.

This had been already noted by the soldiers of Sacronan Empire. Soon orders reached the conscripted people too. They were told to form into groups and move out of the fortress. They would stand at the front.

Someone dared to ask, if they were going to be given some protection, armor or shields. The said person was laughed at and told to shut up and get moving.

“So I was right”, Kaden thought as he moved to join the group he had been directed to. “We are just meatshields.”

He had managed to stay close enough to Aden so they would stay together. As for his father, he was still quiet and depressed. Kaden knew there was rage burning in him like a hot forge. Kaden wasn’t sure what Aden was going to do, but so far he didn’t seem suicidal.

“Don’t worry, son”, Aden said suddenly and put his hand on Kaden shoulder. He had probably noticed Kaden’s worries. “I must live to reunite with your mother.”

Kaden didn’t reply, but something about those few words seemed slightly off. Despite being an attempt to alleviate worries, its effect was opposite. Still, he didn’t know what to say or do. He prayed once again to gods for safety.

Everyone were made to move out. All they had was swords in their hands. They were in the front and the people giving orders were behind them. Kaden noticed the people giving the orders were not exactly happy about their position. They would be sent along with the conscripted villagers to die? Could it be they were being punished for something? Or did they simply draw the shortest straw?

Kaden was looking at the plains outside of the fortress. Some distance away he could see people. They were standing still at the moment. These were the soldiers from the Saint Empire. There was a lot of them. Too many.

“Damn it”, Kaden cursed silently. “No wonder they dragged everyone they could here. This is bad.”

Anyone could see it and they did see it. Kaden even noticed some guy he didn’t know wet his pants. Yellow liquid was dripping down his pants in continuous stream. Kaden turned his head away from the disgusting scene and rejoiced that he had greater control over his mental faculties.

No one really cared about the fact that the conscripted villagers were only in rough formations. They were merely herded in front of everyone else as the more experienced soldiers followed behind. Eventually they came to a stop with loudly shouted commands. There they stood. Out in the open without any defenses other than sword in their hands. Terror radiating among them.

The forces of Saint Empire moved forward. These soldiers seemed to be better equiped. At least they looked so. Kaden sighed. They had greater numbers against them and also better geared one. Could it be they also had better training? Most likely so.

What was going on? Was Sacronan Empire on brink of defeat? Was the army here something that was scooped from bottom of the barrel? So far it had seemed to be filled with all sorts of lunatics and degenerates. The few more decent people seemed to only be able to to go along with it.

For a moment Kaden rejoiced in his mind that Juren and all the said lunatics would have high chance of dying too. They would go along with him. Then he realized they probably had arranged matters so that they could retreat freely. None of the people he had had ‘pleasure’ meeting seemed suicidal. They would most likely live.

With that in mind, Kaden was thinking of ways to survive too. Fighting wasn’t going to work at all. In fact, calling it even a fight would be stretching it a bit too far. They would all be butchered. He had some ideas, but really, none gave him very good chances.

As Kaden was pondering on the matter of survival, the Saint Empire finalized moving their troops in position. They stopped some distance away from the front line of Sacronan Empire. They were in precise formations and showed no weakness.

On the background of both armies, priests of Daminur started their rites. There would be a feast for their god.

The battle start was imminent.