While he could not understand the structure of the teleportation formation, Kaden could still tell roughly how far it was built. The True Magi building it were already laying down energy feeding points. That is where crystals or people powering up the formation were going to be at. This was something that was usually done at the end. You didn't want accidental discharge trigger your unfinished creation and explode ... or worse.
"I wonder how things are at Murika", Kaden though to himself. "I'd like to know what kind of effects the great remnant is going to cause around it or things I should know about it."
There was also the matter of Sacronan's troops and that there could easily be a skirmish.
Kaden was also interested in what everyone wanted. He had not received any orders what to achieve in the remnant. Was he expected to simply go in and be cannonfodder? What did the church want? There was also that prophecy Emina had mentioned. Kaden was somewhat interested in hearing it.
If he could ruin whatever they were trying to achieve, Kaden was going to do it. That is if he could do so without being noticed.
"Heh, all of this is going to happen inside the great remnant", Kaden continued his thoughts. "Who can reliably monitor people inside?"
Of course this relied heavily on luck. If no such chance would appear, Kaden wouldn't care. He was more interested in personal benefits rather than depriving churches of theirs at the cost of his own.
Over the next night more troops showed up. Saints were clearly intending to bring in basically a small army.
Among those people Kaden spotted someone he knew.
"I guess Emina was able to get hired as a mercenary. I don't see any elves, though", Kaden muttered to himself.
Not long after, Emina noticed Kaden too and came closer, but still chose not to talk.
Kaden sneered a bit. Emina didn't want to have anything to do with him, but it was still beneficial to make it so that they were together.
After all, he was the only other person, as far as he knew, who had gained those access codes. Church might have got them too from other remnants, but it was entirely possible that the place that was supposed communications point between all of them would have something the others didn't.
There was no need to worry about such things. Only acknowledge the possibility.
Church wasn't going to give him that stuff anyway.
It would be beneficial for Kaden to have Emina around too. If not for anything else than as meat shield. In fact, Kaden kind of hoped to be near Emina, if she happened to die. She was carrying potentially rather interesting things. Who knows what elves had collected and given her for this trip.
Some hours later a signal was sounded. Trian came to inform everyone what it was.
"The esteemed True Magi have finished the formation", Trian annouced. "Gather together and follow me. We have specific spot on the formation. Expect battle once we are on Murika. Have your weapons and spells ready upon teleportation."
Without a word, Kaden followed the orders. Similar movements started to happen all over the area. The number of people was large and Kaden expected the teleportation formation be able to function at least a few times. Possibly more.
This was confirmed by the time first portion of the troops were arranged within the formation. Kaden was part the first group, but this was not everyone. There would indeed be more uses than one.
He wasn't that concerned that he would be on the frontline that would suffer most losses. He considered himself to be part of the more powerful people around. There would only be the highest officers who were at Condensation stage and whenever or if the few True Magi would decide to come around.
Kaden expected he would be able to survive whatever Sacronan had in store and butcher some weaklings while rest of the forces were teleported over.
In fact, Kaden was far more interested in observing the functions of the formation and see how teleportation worked. It was unlikely he would see another in a very long time.
Kaden was somewhat surprised as he noticed about half of the True Magi take their place in the teleportation formation too. People such as them rarely gave a crap about 'ordinary' people. If they just sent people over and nothing else, Kaden wouldn't have been surprised at all. Perhaps they too were under orders from people above them. Who is above these True Magi? Some Archmagus?
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"True Magi are probably going to do the most important tasks within the remnant", Kaden determined. "The rest of us are just cannon fodder. Send in enough people to explore everything. Probably nothing else is expected."
It was best to stay out their way. A True Magus wouldn't think even for a moment to instantly vaporize him, if he wandered in their way.
Kaden's thoughts were soon interrupted as he sensed some mana envelop him as the teleportation formation activated. Spatial mana was beyond his ability to truly sense, but with the amount and the way it must have been acting, it was difficult to not notice something. It kept growing and growing in power until suddenly it stilled.
Then world twisted around him.
There wasn't much Kaden could make sense in that short moment. He wasn't moving, but looking outside was as if the world did. Even if it lasted only for a moment.
Then he suddenly found himself other place than he had been previously. It was also night. Next came the reason why it was like that the teleportation had been timed at the moment of day. Simply put, it was harder to target people that way.
---
"Sir! Sir! Spatial alarms just triggered!" A soldier from Sacronan, currently on Murika, reported to his commanding officer.
"Hmmm, it seems our spies were indeed right and it was good idea to set up those alarms", the officer replied then he stood up and looked out. Then he raised his hands and coldly said the next command to his communicator. "Proceed with the plan. Artillery teams, you have your target.... Fire."
---
Kaden could see glowing balls in the sky. Many others were still disoriented from the teleportation and unable to act, but Kaden found his strong body was able to shrug it off quickly. He was not intending to stay there as cannon fodder. Even he would die from a direct hit from an artillery.
With quick look, Kaden found some stones nearby. Otherwise the area was generally very open. He assumed the openness was required for the teleportation.
"Its likely Sacronan will attack after the bombardment", Kaden muttered to himself as he kneeled down behind the rocks. They wouldn't protect him from direct hit, but any nearby explosions most likely. He began putting down a quick defensive formation. It wasn't strong, but even a bit would help.
Blasts began tearing open the area killing quite a few soldiers who were just about to start moving.
"Weaklings die first", Kaden thought as he completed the formation and put as much of his personal mana in it as he could and not too soon. Nearby blasts shuddered the thin layer of shielding he had. "I'll have to hold out until someone gives orders or Sacronan attacks directly."
While at this Kaden could notice other much greater blasts in the sky. The True Magi had probably encountered Sacronan's and were having their own fights. Kaden wasn't even completely sure, if they would annihilate artilleries or protect the teleporting army, if they had not been forced to fighting their peers from Sacronan.
As far as Kaden cared, if he was in their place, he wouldn't. Despite the blasts around him, he still expected to survive. That is all that mattered.
At any rate, none of this would stop either of the churches. Kaden was also pretty sure the troops he was with were not going to be the only ones. This all was just each side testing strength and seeing who has left most people by the time they go into the remnant.
Both sides surely had made sure they would get in with enough people left. Surely not allow only one side go in.
Some more defensive formations popped up nearby. Saints were getting ready to put an end to Sacronan's bombardment and attack.
Around at the same time air felt like it started boiling. Not hot, but energy was gathering. Kaden watched as the another set of troops were going to be teleported in.
Kaden expected that the retaliation would happen when enough people were around. First group was there just to set up defenses so that the rest would suffer less losses.
"They could have just said so", Kaden thought to himself. "Not that anything changes. Everyone's first thought is to defend right now."
The space twisted around Kaden. It seemed to happen just above everyone and from there more people materialized below in some free area. It made sense to have some kind of mechanism in place that you could teleport things on top of each other safely. Such interesting formation. Kaden truly wished he could have had time to properly examine it.
The second group took cover around the prepared defenses as soon as they recovered from the teleportation.
"Everyone! Forward!" Commands were shouted. It seemed saints were not going to wait any longer. "Rush towards the Sacronan's location! Push them away. They can't have been here for long. There will be only rudimentary defense!"
The first group that had been scattered somewhat gathered around the second that was still in generally ordered state. No one was willing to stay in the bombardment any longer than they needed to so they rushed forward, now with enough strength to punch through defenses. Sacronan would have to store away their artilleries and retreat.
Kaden had expected Sacronan to attack, but none ever came. Instead saints made their move.
As Kaden charged towards Sacronan's defenses he saw the third group materialize behind. He felt even once all troops were teleported over, it couldn't be all.
"Both sides probably have prepared for a long time", Kaden thought. "I'm certain there are more people elsewhere and all will converge towards the remnant."
Kaden had never taken part in something quite as big. Among everyone else, he was not going to be even a noticeable actor. This was also good. It would be possible to do things unnoticed, if he was able to survive.
As for the Sacronan's troops that he was about to start butchering, they would likely not even serve as entertainment to Kaden. There would still be quite a bit of fresh meat. Kaden was feeling the desire to eat some. He would also get the chance to test Devour again in more intense situation.
He pushed these thoughts aside as he charged in just behind the front line and started killing.