Kaden didn't stay up at the surface for too long. The conditions were harsh enough that, if he planned to stay there for long term, he would have to prepare for it.

"I'm probably going to have to build a protective formation here at the doorway to regulate mana", Kaden thought. "Enough to protect me from nearby bursts of mana. That and random waves and other unpredictable phenomenon."

Despite that he had just found this previously unknown side to mana, Kaden wasn't planning on hurrying. He had to think it a bit. Mana was dense enough even on the lower levels and he could do some preliminary longer periods of test cultivation to ensure there were no problems. He also had to think of a way to affect that new part of the mana.

At the moment, his mana system was useless in regards of that special mana. It took the part it had made to take, but didn't seem to affect this new side at all. This was somewhat strange. The way his personal mana system worked, should have taken in basically everything.

"I hope it can be used", Kaden pondered. "That its not some illusory ephemeral side that merely is, but isn't useful in any way. Even so, I have to determine everything about it. If not now, then over longer period of time."

Kaden made his way back to the lowest levels.

It seemed Emina was still discussing matters with the inhabitants of the shelter. Yet, perhaps some questions and answer had deviated slightly from the more important parts.

"... so you are saying the world has become some crappy xianxia world?" Ron questioned Emina in disbelief.

"What is ... siiiansia?" Emina replied with some confusion.

"Never mind", Ron muttered.

Around at this time Emina noted Kaden having returned.

"So? Anything interesting?" Emina asked.

Kaden wondered, if he should hide information regarding the new part of the mana, but decided not to. Once Emina decided to go up, she would instantly feel the difference.

"I have no reason to doubt that it is indeed the cataclysm", Kaden confirmed that particular matter. "One would have to show me some pretty significant proof of opposite to change my mind. This is indeed the past. Gods aren't here yet. Their influence isn't here to stain mana either. Its pure."

Kaden grinned. It was due to great desire. He could imagine depriving gods of something and taking it for himself.

Emina frowned. Still, she didn't reply anything regarding it.

"Hmph", Kaden snorted. "So do these ancients know something useful."

"Possibly", Emina replied this time. "They have very good understanding of space and time. I have even a personal, unproven, theory as to how it is possible that we ended up here."

"Oh?" Kaden was instantly interested.

"For us to be here, it would offset enormous amount of mana as existence back in our time would reorder itself due to any changes we have caused", Emina started. "I pondered on this matter and thought of a way this amount of mana would remain at theoretically possible levels. What if... what if even in our future, we did end up in this past? That we being here will cause neccessary events for our future to exist. If this is the case, it would have been next to impossible for us to NOT end up here. That happenin would have caused near impossible amounts of mana to reorder." After a moment of silence Emina still added some more. "No, I don't how or when this loop, where we cause our own existence, begins."

Kaden didn't like this answer, but it was acceptable as far as he understood time and mana. They both had ran into situations where there was high chance for them to perish, but that would have caused them not being able to come to this time. Perhaps one could have said they had been basically invulnerable. Even if they had ran into an hostile Archmagus there would have been some chain of events for them to survive.

Yet, was it neccessary for them to return back to their own time as far as this loop mattered? If not, that shield of causality would be gone. To go back into the time distortion, if it was even possible, could be extremely fatal.

Kaden started to consider the matter of whether he would even attempt to return or not. His desires still existed back in his own time.

"How is the tear into the time distortion?" Kaden questioned Emina quietly.

"Its still opaque and everything I try to put in gets destroyed", Emina described. "As for its origin. I have been told it appeared not long ago around the time rest of the people on upper levels disapeared. Roughly when all of the current distortions affecting this place started. The storage room was mostly emptied and closed after they found the tear. They have paid attention to it, though. It seems it occassionally flickers open and then closes."

"That means there is at least a possible way to reenter it", Kaden replied and nodded. "Yet, if your theory is true, its could be dangerous. Depending whether we are meant to return or not. For now I'd rather not risk it until we know more."

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"I also don't know if time passes here the same rate as in the future", Emina added. "The great remnant will not stay open forever. Even if we are able to pass through the time distortion, we might be torn to shreds by the mana inside the closed great remnant.

That was indeed a problem Kaden had not thought about.

"Well... we better do what we intend to do here, complete preparations and attempt leave as soon as possible", Kaden determined the best course of action, in case they were going to leave.

"Good thing is that there is large amount of knowledge stored in this shelter", Emina added. "These shelters are used not only to help people to survive, but also preserve knowledge and other important things that are needed to restore civilization once this cataclysm ends. I wonder where all of it ended up in the future."

"Likely hoarded by the churches", Kaden told Emina. "Anyway, since you seem to get along with these ancients, you have higher chance of discovering something from this repository of knowledge."

While this discussion between Kaden and Emina progressed, more of the people from the shelter appeared. Kaden always made sure to talk the language used in the future so that these people wouldn't understand anything. He wondered how quickly they would decipher the language. Therefore he didn't count it as good enough method to hide anything... just delay it.

Anyway, this time there were far more people. It seemed previously there had been some leaders present to determine their course of action after Kaden and Emina had popped out of the time distortion.

Specially there was this woman clearly making notes as she observed Kaden. There was mix of curiosity, concern and joy clearly visible on her face. Having noticed that Kaden noticed, she approached.

"Hello, my name is Emma", she said carefully. "I heard you were able to learn our language quickly and understand me, yes?"

Kaden frowned, but decided to answer. "Yes."

"Wonderful", she replied. "Is this... is this normal in your time? Does this energy, mana, cause severe mutations on people?"

"Hmph", Kaden ignored the woman and he was slightly annoyed when Emina replied in his place, but he still didn't stop it.

"Kaden isn't... normal", Emina explained. "Someone must have experimented him. Mutations to this extent are extremely rare, but some do happen in accidents and such."

"Nice to meet you", Emma extended her hand towards Emina. This time Emina knew the meaning of the gesture. "I'm a biologist and also happen to be Alexanders wife. I have had some great concerns of the effects this mana has on things."

Kaden frowned once again. Considering the amount of people around, they were like there to ask questions and to gawk. Kaden wasn't intending to entertain the fools.

"Does anyone of you have anything useful to say?" He annouced. "I will not suffer to answer your pointless questions, but should you have anything relevant to add, I would hear it. In case you have difficulties comprehending what I mean, it is the time distortion and anything relevant regarding it. In exchange, I may answer to some of your questions."

Kaden wasn't there to make any friends. Considering that, he looked around as he had an idea for the future.

"In fact, how many survivors you have here?" Kaden questioned. It probably didn't matter since they likely would be unable to stop him anyway. Yet, knowing actual numbers could be useful.

"At start there were several hundred", Alexander who had been sitting quietly this time. "Then the people on upper level disapeared and now there is about fifty of us left."

That wasn't too many people to keep eye on. Back before Kaden and Emina entered the time distortion they had planned to raid the armory. That they were now in the past didn't actually change the plan too much. The people of the shelter would object, but Kaden didn't really care. With such few people around he would even be able to get in there and take what he wanted.

Things in the past had not marinaded in dense mana for thousands of years, but perhaps they could be enhanced to proper levels of power with some formations or possibly even attempt some enchantment. As far as Kaden cared, Emina had blabbered enough and there would need to be payment for all that information.

"Is there something that can be done to... recover them?" Alexander continued since Kaden was quietly thinking.

"This place was likely hit by some powerful blast of mana or something", Kaden started. "There are many reasons why people could disapear under such effects. More so the weaker the said people are. In my time there are places one doesn't go lightly. You can only hope that the victims died quickly." Kaden decided to explain further so that these people understand. "Perhaps space folded a bit and people disapeared into some rift. Perhaps they were disintegrated into their constituent concepts. Considering that thing out there, I believe they died quite painfully. Something must have formed the skeleton. Who knows... maybe their souls still exist somewhere and are in torment and feed more power to it. I think I already mentioned before that in the future it is extremely powerful."

Kaden gave Alexander a cruel smile after explaining that. He wanted these people to stay away from him, if it wasn't absolutely neccessary. Despite that, he knew they were very curious sort of people. They were constantly asking questions. Still, considering their situation, this wasn't really a surprise.

Perhaps due to the way he acted, no one really followed him. Kaden considered that the abrasive behavior was a succesful tactic. Emina could do all the interacting for all he cared.

Kaden wasn't exactly sneaking around, but he was going around with as little attention as possible. He noticed there were some surveilance devices around that seemed to be everywhere. He didn't destroy them, but figured that these ancients would be able to follow his movements, if they really wanted.

For now it didn't matter. He only wanted to confirm the state of the armory and what could be found there. It was neccessary to produce his plans.

There was a guard at the door that should lead to the armory. The man was surprised to see Kaden approach and started to fumble his weapon up, a normal gun. Kaden knew it was useless against him.

"Open the door", Kaden demanded. "If you do not, I will open it myself. You have no way to stop me. If you prefer, you may alert your superiors, but by that time I will have one way or another opened the door myself."

The door itself was rather heavy looking metal door, but it wasn't mana enhanced. No formations. Nothing that could stop Kaden. Even if it was thick enough to slow him, he could always simply melt a hole to it, if he wasn't able to use brute force to tear it open for some reason.

Kaden noted that the guard was relatively quick witted and despite his first reaction he rather calmly called to his superiors. Despite that, it was taking time. Yet, just before Kaden was about to start opening the door by force, it seemed the guard got a reply and opened the door.

Luckily the armory was still fully stocked!