Chapter 397 - Stamina Scale

Setting a little mental preview of how a Fire Controller uses Stamina, we will use Ella Angloma's effort as a prime example since she is working with nearly indestructible ore. Let's say that there is a scale from 1 to 10, this scale determines how much Stamina a fire controller is putting in a blast, be it a short blast or continuous.

A scale originating around 1, can only cause minor damage against Iron Armour for example, in most cases not managing to melt it or burn it into ash. While a scale of 10, can rip the skin off your body and burn your bones after along with most Armour clothing if there was any. Logically, the less one blows, the longer the Stamina will last.

On the nearly indestructible Dark Blue Iron ore, Ella Angloma has put in a scale of 1 out 10 out of her Stamina on the ore at the very beginning but even after an effort lasting 10 minutes, which made everyone in the room sweat it out to the extent, the ore did not turn in to liquid, therefore making it impossible to turn the ore in to Ingots.

However, when scaling her Stamina up to 1.5 out of 10, progress came along. The ore, although slowly it did start deforming for the better. Meaning, it did not get blown off in to dust but just lost most of its original rough form.

This is progress, but Bittore Nardone feels like it is not enough to determine better means of production. So after taking off her fur Coat and leggings, wiping the sweat off her forehead after, she proceeded to guide Ella. "Maybe give it a bit more power, Scale 2."

"Scale 2?" Ella asked, feeling a bit confused as her arm felt sore. She wants to be absolutely sure about her next move before putting the request in to action.

"Yes, we mostly referred to Stamina with scales before in training, although we mostly used Scale 4 in battle since it burns enough and doesn't drain us too fast." Scaling of Stamina, especially when living off the land where possible enemies or wild animals could be lurking, is important. But here, Bittore found it useful to determine a well described move. "Scale it up to Level 2, we need to find the melting point."

"Alright, anything to get this over with." Ella complained, aching her arm. She has kept this continous fire going for 20 minutes now.

And with little effort, she gave in a bit more power to the continuesly blowing Fire in front of her hand. Once increasing the scale, the fire of course got a bit bigger and hotter, felt nice on Bittore's skin from a distance of 2 meters now. The Blacksmiths have taken their fur clothing off, and would have taken off everything else if there weren't any ladies present but I suppose they have to withstand the heat now.

About five minutes later, very small portions of the ore have started to smelt and its dark liquid started dripping down, collecting on the stone foundation below it.

"We're finally in business." Bittore celebrated after seeing some liquid ore, smelting by the passing minute.

"It is smelting, but compared to most Iron ore it is still too slow." Bittore pointed out after ten more minutes, after glancing at the fact that only 2/5 of the ore smelted down in to liquid.

"Can someone at least hold my arm up? It feels like it will snap off." Ella complained right after Bittore's statement.

"Right right." Bittore shook her head, cutting her gaze from the ore and pointing at a Blacksmith. "Hold her arm, you will take short shifts with your friend there until we figure out the melting point."

The Blacksmith of which she pointed at, hurried towards Ella right away and lightly grabbed her arm. Ella gave out a big sigh after, both because her arm started feeling relief by the passing second and it was a sigh of disappointment as well because she will have to keep this going.

"Good, now crank the Scale up to 2.5." Bittore became quick to command after assuring that her arm is feeling a bit of relief.

Concentrating a little bit more so she can properly hit the middle of this scale without reaching up to Scale 3, she blasted a bit more fire which made the whole atmosphere here more and more hotter.

In just a span of five minutes, the ore melted almost completely and the liquid substance it formed, took place in between the Rectangular stone shape that represents an Ingot. Thankfully the stone can withstand the heat both from Ella and the liquid ore.

"We did it." Bittore congratulated her team, a smile across her face cherishing the discovery. "We found the best melting point for the Dark Blue Ore."

"Good, can I stop now?" Ella Angloma asked, feeling pain on her arm even though the Blacksmith near her is helping to keep it up, literally.

"Yes yes you can stop." Bittore answered and watched the flame shun down. Afterwards she assured Ella of a fact she is sure to like, "And don't worry, you won't work here in the Forge. I will assign another one of the ladies over this task, but I appreciate your contribution to this discovery."

"Peeww." She sighed in relief once more, obviously showing that she hated this job.

Afterwards Bittore explained the reason why she doesn't want her here in the Forge, without degrading the Blacksmiths. "Besides, I need you guarding Alcon Epke. He seems to get along with you really well, we need him to work reasonable hours."

...

Meanwhile back at Section 3 at the first mine. Mollara, Samantha and Zelimia are watching the Miners getting out after a long tiresome day. The task of which these ladies have, is just to Guard the miners just in case of anything. They don't know what they will find here apart from ore, and it is a good idea they did so.

Why? Well, those weird sounds came back. And closer than they wanted this sound to come, and actually bringing danger.

A demon, fast and hurling across the tunnel is approaching the three ladies while the Miners just made a run for it knowing that a screaming human looking creature is no good news. Obviously the creature did not intend to be sneaky, it wouldn't be smart enough to do so and it is fair to say that we can degrade it under an animal.

Mollara was the first to turn around between these split seconds, and after locating the Demon who is swiftly running through the Tunnel, only showing itself through the dim illumination of the few torches hung across the cave obviously too far apart.

Having a few years of experience in hunting, she has taught herself to attack by reflex as soon as a lifeform is in sight. She took a shot towards it, with a 6 foot fireball occupying most of the tunnel as it flew across, she managed to hit the Demon right across the head.

The shot blew the Demon's head off, along with most of its upper body and of course left a disgusting scene after. Approaching it, they saw a small portion on the top of the Demon's body, being torched in to a crisp and through it leaked blood at an uncomfortable amount, forming a blood pool right at the spot.

Finding the opportunity to crack a joke at such a unrequired time, Mollara asked. "So this is the wet rock you two were talking about?"

"It doesn't look like a rock to me." Samantha pointed out the obvious without an intend of being sarcastic.

"Obviously." Mollara answered, and being quick and wise she pointed at one Miner who had the guts to turn back and peek at the situation. She requested from him, "Can you get Grand Leader Bittore here?"

They can leave this place and fetch Bittore herself, but who knows how many Demons can poor through here in the meantime, they need to Guard the spot regardless how tired they are of this day.

A split second after, the three ladies saw Bittore Nardone pouring in along with 6 more Fire Controlling ladies and many muscly men with Spears. Bittore shouted, "What happened?"

Giving her a brief explanation of the seemingly minor situation, after taking a couple of minutes to think it over, Bittore decided after. "Looks like we need to explore this place."

"But are you sure you want to go?" Mollara asked, showing the most concern for her decade long friend. Being one of the oldest of this tribe, she has to assure that the decisions aren't faulty. "You still need a bit more time to heal."

"I'm sure." Bittore answered, although she doesn't actually feel so confident about it. Regardless, at such a sensitive task she has to be here and supervise. Afterwards she decided to express. "I have a feeling that the nearly indestructible rock was here for a reason."