Kaden was happy to get away from the trouble magnet robot.

There had been some gains and 'gains' from the short encounter. Kaden now had something to do in human territories. He now had good lead to find a cultist hideout, which usually were hidden for obvious reasons. Considering how the robot had bumbled inside, the place could be moved, but the cultists would like stay around somewhere nearby anyway.

The so called 'gains' were new clothes. The piece of fabric he had been using was almost embarassing. If he was acting like Cari, they rarely wore anything so he wouldn't either. He expected some higher ones could wear something as a sign of status or mark of some accomplishment ... or simply carry bones and other bodyparts of their defeated opponents, if those could be called clothing. As for Kaden, he needed to interact with humans and while he wasn't sure whether phoenixes could stand up, he could. That was far more humanlike action.

He decided to not place much weight on it. It was somewhat useful, but not critical. If he chose to wear something, it wouldn't make him human. He merely placed the clothing into his bags for the times when he would interact with humans directly. He didn't expect there to be lot of that due to his current form.

As for the cultists. Kaden had no love for them. They were god worshipping fools and they even worshipped a god like God of Lies. One that can't even give them anything directly. They are risking their lives for... what? Hoping to bring about release of their god? They were the worst lunatics. Then perhaps one could learn some darker spells and understanding of taboo? That was far more likely reason to join the cultists.

Still, Kaden didn't think of it as the brightest of ideas. Yet, these people were what Kaden hoped to find, the ones who desired taboo knowledge. If the godless mana system was something, it was for sure taboo.

The cultist organization would have incentive to not hoard it either. Kaden didn't care about cultists. He had killed them before and arranged their deaths. He had also used them for his own gains. Simply put he didn't care about their religious opinions at all. They just were useful.

It was already existing organization that would work against churches and the other gods. What else would Kaden need?

Kaden had to make only a short detour away from the area he fought 7RU-MC at. As he had expected some soldiers were closing in to check what was happening. They were just some random soldiers and Kaden's senses far exceeded theirs so they never got even the chance to see him.

This reminded Kaden once more that he had to remain unseen.

It was easy enough to get out of Brit and return to Sacronan. As for some emotional matters that came to Kaden's mind. While Celadon was at the direction of Dashire, he didn't plan to go see his home anymore. He had left that life behind a long time ago. There was no need to wallow in it.

As for Celadon itself. Kaden was rather curious how the torching of the city had gone. How much of it was rebuilt? He even entertained the idea of trying to burn it down again. He wasn't sure how much his Devouring Flame had grown in power, but perhaps it could work. Then he quickly realized all of that would be counter productive.

Torching a city would be noticed. Also, if cultists hanged around Celadon, why torch the place if he was going to need the cultists?

"As amusing as it would be, I'll pass", Kaden muttered as he flew back to Sacronan's side from Brit.

Celadon was still relatively close to the front lines. Kaden didn't fly the entire way. Instead he walked last few days, carefully avoiding any military presence.

The area was eventually somewhat familiar. He had passed through when he was last there. It seemed the area had once again gained another High Beast, but it was barely that. Kaden decided not to rile up anything and it seemed this High Beast didn't come offering him anything either, but carefully made sure to stay out of Kaden's way.

As for Celadon itself. It seemed there were some ruined areas next to it. The burnt parts of the city had been partially abandoned and only some of it had been rebuilt. From what Kaden could see, the ruins were basically a slum. Those with less money, as usual, hanged outside of the city and built their homes within the remains of the old city.

It was lucky that those ruins still existed and had not been cleared away. Kaden didn't believe even with his so called 'disguise' he could pass as a human, if seen. The robot had pointed the location where it found cultist to be in the ruined section.

For a moment Kaden wondered, if it would be the cellar levels of the manor, but this was not the case. It seemed that entire section had been leveled in its entirety and nothing had been built on it. Perhaps the people of Celadon didn't want to have any part of it as a reminder considering what had gone on in there. Kaden wondered if the area, even with the manor gone, was still haunted, but he didn't care enough to go check.

The place the robot had given him was empty. This was no surprise. It had even been scrubbed clear of anything. A bit too well. It was easy to tell someone had been there and then removed any signs of it.

"The city has a bit too much life in it", Kaden though to himself as he tried to see, if he could sense something. "Forests have life, but its not stuffed in so small and dense area as a city is. Its enough to make it hard to pinpoint specifics."

There was no telling whether cultists would be even around that night. Kaden returned to the nearby forest. He was going to stay there for a while.

Kaden made himself a hiding place and surrounded it with formations to hide his presence even if someone did happen to look. Additionally, Kaden hid yet another godless mana system information crystal in a corner. He would leave it there. It was close enough to Celadon that someone would eventually discover it.

He needed a hiding place for the day. During the night he wandered around in the ruins with disguise on. In the darkness and with the dark clothes, he was able to search the ruins.

Kaden didn't have to do it for long, just a few days later, he noted there were life signs underground where there had not been any before. He watched as more such signs entered the place from not far away.

He discovered ruins of slightly larger building. It might have been originally an inn with a larger cellar level or something similar.

After waiting for a while and having everyone go in with no newcomers, he noted there weren't any strong people. He wasn't sure about the local priests, but Celadon was basically a fringe city. If the cultist hideout at Corand didn't have Condensation stage priests in it, a fringe city shouldn't have them either.

This meant it was probably safe to just barge in. Even if the cultists decided to seld destruct in some kind of religious rage, it wouldn't be too much damage. Kaden even expected to be able to annihilate any weaklings completely before they could explode anyway.

Antagonizing the cultists far enough, that they would attack, would be counterproductive. He wanted them to work for him.

Stolen novel; please report.

Kaden decided to go in.

He was slightly larger than average human, but he could still fit in easy enough.

"Who are... what are..", said black robed watcher at the door as Kaden came. He then pulled out weapon, but Kaden simply tossed him aside. He was careful enough and didn't kill the man. Perhaps only some broken bones.

From inside Kaden could hear chanting. Dark and blasphemous praise of God of Lies.

"At least it seems these guys aren't summoning demons", Kaden muttered to himself. "I was lucky that I could deal with the previous one."

As soon as Kaden opened the door a cultist nearby stopped chanting and raised his hand to point in accusing manner.

"Intruder! Unbeliever!" The cultist screamed and pulled a blade out of his robe and rushed forward with seemingly no fear.

Similarly to the door watcher, Kaden tossed the crazed fanatic away. He noted that the man was advanced Channel Opening. There was no way the cultist could have even damaged his feathers.

"I have come offer a boon", Kaden quickly announced. "One that could become your greatest tool against the pathetic gods that oppose yours."

The cultists didn't seem to even hear Kaden's words as more of them charged forth in frenzy.

"Hold!" Someone shouted. The cultists immediately stopped. It was one of the few masked priests at the far end where there was an altar with the usual chained image of God of Lies. "What is it that you offer... beast?"

There was something familiar with the priest, but Kaden ignored that for the moment. He pulled out an information crystal with the godless mana system. This one was specially made for this occasion. It had a bit more detail including Kaden's own beliefs of the hidden mana and that he believed gods to leech it off when mana was purified with their aid.

"Retrieve the crystal, acolyte!" Another priest shouted at a nearby cultist. "We will see whether this benefits the Chained One!"

Kaden watched as the cultist took the crystal.

"I have already spread these same instructions to other parties", Kaden started to explain. He wanted to make the cultists to understand the situation and thus have higher chance to do what he wanted. Honeyed words were sometimes useful. "The church will kill anyone with it. Yet, it is useful enough that its use will spread. At the end only those loyal to churches and their gods will not use it, but that means they will grow weak. They cannot accept this. Gods will have to hand out more power and become weaker. Less people align with the churches. They too will have to give out more and become weaker. Perhaps at some point, your work will allow God of Lies, the Chained One, to free himself."

The priest examined the crystal. Due to the mask, Kaden could not see his reaction as he discovered its contents.

"Accolyte! Use this!" He quickly demanded. Obviously he wasn't going to use it himself first.

Without question the accolyte took the crystal. He then nodded.

Indeed, humans were more intelligent than High Beasts. It took several minutes for the accolyte to understand the instructions, though a bit longer than what it had taken Emina. Despite the simplicity and the general idea of the godless mana system, there was indeed some intelligence and talent requirements as with normal mana systems.

While the accolyte had been trying to use the godless mana system, the other priest, the one who had acted first, kept staring at Kaden. This could have easily been because of his appearance, but Kaden had, now with more time to think, noted that the familiarty had been from the voice. He felt he had met this priest before. Not that he would go and unmask the man forcibly.

"Mana! It works as described, annointed one!" The accolyte finally replied to the priest and handed over the crystal.

"How was this method discovered?" The priest demanded to know.

"You do not need to know that", Kaden replied. "Yet, you should understand how important this is. A mana system that does not require gods involvement. This is a basic and weak one, but one that can be researched. Your ... organization has great deal to gain from such endeavors, yes? Spread this to other groups that worship God of Lies. Make it impossible for the churches to destroy all of them. Have it researched, make people get stronger without gods. Stronger than churches and their dogs." Kaden was quiet for a moment and then continued. "I care not whether you survive or not. You people are merely useful in spreading and researching this. Even if you all die, other groups can progress. You aren't completely neccessary. Even beasts can use it. Church cannot stop it. Now is the time to make your move. Weaken your opponents. With your work even your god may be perhaps freed one day."

The priest didn't say anything, but merely held the crystal in his hands. Kaden didn't have to tell the man anything. The cultist priest was very clear on what he held in his hand.

While the seemingly higher ranked priest was pondering, the more familiar one chose to act. He took off his mask and stared straight at Kaden. There were some gasps when he removed his mask. This seemed to be perhaps against some rules. Not that Kaden thought much about such reactions. He knew the priest.

It was Peil.

Kaden felt certain warmth as he realized the man had listened his words during their last meeting. Not that Peil needed much pushing. His belief at that time was shattered and broken thing. It was no surprise he had become a priest God of Lies... a priest of lies. After all, gods were deceivers, exploiters, liars.

"It's you", Peil said. "I don't need you to agree or deny. Your reaction is enough. I still remember your old appearance. There are too many similarities."

"Interesting thing to find you here", Kaden replied. There was no need to use names. It was likely dangerous. "You have grown more powerful." Peil was at early Formation stage.

"And you grow more monstrous", Peil continued. "I shouldn't be saying anything, but is it worth it?"

"Absolutely", Kaden relied. Despite the problems his appearance was bringing, the strength was worth it.

"You know this beast?" The other priest asked Peil, who in turn nodded.

"I'm not sure what he is now, beast or man, but he used to be human", Peil replied. "Mutated, yes, but still a man. If that crystal indeed contains mana system that doesn't require gods, you can absolutely trust it. He hates gods and churches. That likely includes the Chained One, but we oppose the churches so he will not simply butcher us here which he likely could do effortlessly."

"I see", the priest replied. "Enemy of enemy."

"That is correct", Kaden said. He didn't want the cultists to have any misunderstandings of the situation. "Do as you wish with the crystal. I'm done here."

"Wait!" Peil shouted immediately. "I had plans for Juren and Marwen, but I'm still too weak to do anything to them." Peil took a crystal from somewhere and infused information on it.

Kaden was already listening at the moment Peil mentioned Juren and Marwen. It seemed Peil wanted them dead too and he wasn't opposed to gaining power through taboo methods.

"This is all I know of them", Peil said and gave Kaden the crystal. "I can't kill them yet, but you can. If you are able to, make them suffer."

Kaden looked at the information Peil had given him. It seemed the now not so kind man had poured quite a bit of resources to following both Juren and Marwen and their movements. There was far less information on Marwen since he was church's enforcer, but Juren had clear locations and dates.

Kaden felt dark joy. He was going to go kill Juren! The pathetic man was close to frontlines. He was a military officer after all. He had not yet advanced to Condensation stage. Perhaps due to the fact that he was getting more and more unhinged and his military career had slowed down. He had then leaned towards church more and increased his worship of Daminur.

Marwen was early Condensation stage, though.

"If I ever see the need to come annihilate worshippers of God of Lies, I will let you live", Kaden told to Peil. "You have done what I have had difficulties doing. Juren's soul will scream until he ceases to be. There will be no afterlife for him."

"And Marwen?" Peil asked.

"It might take time even with this to find him", Kaden said. "I cannot stay in human territories, but I will find him, eventually."

"What if he could be drawn out?" Peil continued. He was almost shaking. Kaden knew very well what Peil desired.

"What do you suggest?" Kaden questioned Peil.

"I ... I have some amount of influence here", Peil said and pointed around the cultists. "It is entirely normal for us to sometimes distract churches. Marwen is an enforcer of this area. We might be able to bring him out, but it will likely bring out more than him at the same time. For us, it is always beneficial to be able to remove church personel, so on our part it not a problem. As for you..."

Kaden frowned, but then decided extra danger didn't matter. "Do it! Even if I cannot kill him, I won't pass a chance."

Peil was shaking. He had troubles containing his emotions. "Do you... plan to kill Juren right away? If so, Juren is basically a war priest of Daminur. He is nearly complete and needs only an ... offering to be blessed as one. His death ... blashpheming his ... him, his altar, followers. It should be noted by church. I can get Marwen come there."

"Yes", Kaden told him. "Do what you need to."

Then he left the cultist hiding place.

Peil was likely a bit mad. In fact, Kaden could sense Vengeance vibrate a bit. Peil's vengeance was very closely linked to his.

"It seems I can feed Vengeance very soon", Kaden though to himself as he left directly towards the frontlines.