The wolf was basically dragged out of the arena. There were always more fights and the losers, regardless what condition they were, needed to be kicked out.

Once outside, Kaden watched from distance as the wolf was taken out. Soon after those who preyed on the losers appeared and looted everything the winner didn't take. Some even started to offer servitude contracts, basically slave contracts, in exchance for healing and such. Some just humiliated the losers more.

Cari cared about strength. When you were down and weak, there would be those to take advantage of it. Sometimes brutally.

If the loser survived such ordeal, they would have learned a lesson and grow stronger due to it.

Kaden didn't plan to let the wolf live that long as he watched from the distance. The wolf had not originally really interrupted anything. He had no idea how to continue so he had time for other lesser matters.

-------

While Kaden was watching the wolf, the two phoenixes left the arena too. They had seen what they had wanted to see.

"That child was stronger than he appeared", the phoenix said to the other. "If I'm not mistaken, that fire at the end was slightly affected by death affinity mana. While not too rare and stronger ones can even learn it, to have it at this stage is very rare. I believe the child was near death at some point, but was able to survive somehow."

"Yes, so far the child has proven himself", the other phoenix replied. "That dirty wolf got what it deserved. We are higher race. As for the child, I believe we should report this. Even if he has proven strong enough to be left alive for now at least, I'm still interested whose mistake he is."

"Indeed", the first one replied.

-------

Over the day, Kaden stalked the wolf from a distance. It wasn't hard. It was half blind and had greater concerns. It was being hounded by many seeking to take advantage of it. After a while, Kaden wasn't even sure what all those Cari were hoping to get from it.

Despite that killing in the city was forbidden, it seemed there were those who were willing to skirt around that rule. Kaden was pretty sure it was some loophole where a killer could not be determined. The wolf was very injured so, if someone just happened to 'attack' slightly and cause the wounds get worse or create a few new ones and then watch from distance and wait for the target, in this case the wolf, die from the wounds.

Once the wolf would be dead, those would be many to partake in its flesh and consume the core without sufferin repercussions.

Later during the next night, the wolf did exactly what Kaden had waited for it to do. If it stayed in the city it would die. It had been able to restore enough strength to escape. It seemed to be able to use some kind of earth spell to make it hard to distinguish from nearby stones. Even Kaden had some difficulties seeing it directly, but he was able to rely on his life sense.

Kaden watched it silently slink out of the city. He followed it. Once out of the city with far less Cari going about, it became harder to follow unnoticed. Eventually the wolf started to run away and Kaden expected he had been noticed.

He quickly flew up and swooped down on the near defenseless wolf.

"Forgive me!" The wolf begged. "I didn't understand!"

Kaden merely frowned at the pathetic act and squeezed with his sharp talons silencing the wolf with pain.

"I told I would kill you", Kaden coldly told the wolf. "Painfully, I recall saying."

The wolf tried to attack with a pathetic earth spike, but Kaden interrupted the spell cast by basically severing off one its front legs with a Wind Blade. The bleeding wouldn't matter. It would live long enough.

"We are close enough to Caricoun that your howls of pain will be heard", Kaden added. "I will extend your death as long as possible."

The wolf was struggling with whatever strength it had left, but Kaden wouldn't have any of that. He kept the wolf pressed down as he started to incinerate non vital areas.

The wolf screamed in pain.

Then, with the flesh well seared, he started to eat. The wolf was a bit stringy, but mana content was well enough for a Lower Cari.

Kaden made sure to burn the wolf very carefully in manner that wouldn't kill it. That meant its limbs, perhaps some amount of flesh just below its hide and yet not deep enough to damage organs to immediately fatal levels.

The howls on pain did eventually gather some audience, but none of them interrupted Kaden. As far as Cari rules went, Kaden was not doing anyhing wrong. Even if Lower Cari and above had their own culture and were above normal beasts, they were still beasts. They hunted each other. Killing someone for food was normal.

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Eventually the wolf stopped howling. It died.

"Hmph", Kaden snorted. "I expected it to last a bit longer. Well... whatever."

Kaden tore into the wolf's chest where he found its core. He quickly pulled it out and ate it.

The wolf had been Lower Cari so the core was indeed very rich in mana. More so than the body parts he had eaten from, say, Marwen. Kaden finally was able to feel some change in his mana. It was enough to have some noticeable amount of mana.

"I need more", Kaden though to himself as he continued eating. "A lot more."

Kaden wondered again how the Cari society had not devolved into some chaotic anarchy. Each of them wanted to eat and grow. Probably most significant gains they ever get was when they killed others.

"Indeed, the number of True Cari equivalent to True Magi is low", Kaden realized. "Similarly, the number of True Magi is low. There are no shortcuts."

After Kaden had his fill, he left whatever remained of the carcass. He wanted to leave something for everyone to see. He wasn't sure how long the corpse would last since he had already noted a few carrion bird type Cari waiting nearby. It was likely they would eat everything. At least he had taken the most useful parts.

There was also one more observer that made itself know before Kaden could fly away.

"Its you isn't it!" An excited voice said. "I could tell your mana anywhere, dearie! I watched your fight with that wolf. My hubby is the strongest!"

Something big crashed through all the foliage.

"Shit", Kaden cursed.

It was the boar, Ciner. Kaden had almost forgotten about it.

"I have prepared a home for just the two of us, my dear hubby!" Ciner told Kaden as it kept rushing forward.

"Why are all annoying people stronger than me?" Kaden cursed a bit more in his mind. "First the robot and now this crazed pig. She is at least mid Lower Cari."

The mist that Ciner released around itself surrounded the area. Kaden was pretty sure it would take some effort to pass through it. It was filled with mana.

"I have been very patient!" Ciner told Kaden as she came to happily brush herself against him. "Now that you are finally here, we can start our wonderful life together!"

"What will it take to make you come to your senses!" Kaden shouted angrily. He was unable to escape at the moment. "You decided all that yourself."

"Oh don't be like that, dear", Ciner told Kaden. "Once you see the home I have prepared, you will surely change your mind."

Kaden shot a Fire Beam into the mist. A bit of it was blasted away, but it didn't penetrate through. With an added explosion, the mist finally parted and Kaden attempted to fly away before Ciner would fill the hole.

"Why are you being so negative", Ciner moaned on the ground and sent out tendrils of mist to block the way. "Fine, fine! I'll help you see my way, ok. Come with me. Lets hug and hold each other. Thats what couple like us should do, right."

Kaden hadn't actually had lengthy time with Ciner after she became Lower Cari so he wasn't sure of the ways it had changed. Perhaps it had grown more intelligent. It had been more intelligent than most High Beasts at that stage too. She had also always been rather crazy, but Kaden felt it was even more so now. Did intelligence increase insanity?

The mist tendrils didn't just block the path, but they wrapped around him and dragged Kaden down. It took some effort to break free of the tendrils. They might be mist and not too tough, but they would reform and move in unexpected manner. Even the parts you are able to displace would linger there and come back soon.

"This is bad", Kaden though to himself. "This damn boar is a lunatic. I don't want to fight against it. Its abilities are even water based. At best I'd probably be able to run away."

"Stop struggling dear!" Ciner said angrily and sent forth more tendrils of mist. "I want to show you the altar I built to show how dedicated my love is! I even was able to craft dolls in our appearance and placed them on an altar. I'll have to alter yours, though. I prayed gods to arrange us together. Don't you see, this is destiny!"

It was probably not a good fate to end up with Ciner. Kaden treated that in his mind as basically something very fatal.

Kaden found himself spending more time dealing with the tendrils than trying to fight Ciner. He was planning on shooting Ciner with a with a Fire Beam or even use Devouring Flame, if he got the chance, but as it happens, none of that was neccessary.

"Ceace your attacks", someone shouted from outside the mist. Then a burst of flame exploded and cleared away basically that side of the mist entirely and dispersed it far enough that it wasn't even immediately returning. "I'm not sure why you are bothering this child. I was under impression that you were working for the Drill Moles in their conflic with Dark Shrews? Do you have time for your usual frivolous behavior?"

Kaden watched as two phoenixes came in. He wasn't sure if it was a good thing, but if they got him away from Ciner, it would be good. It also seemed they knew of her. As for Ciner herself, she looked very unhappy with the turn of events.

"My dear hubby has come", Ciner explained to them. "As if I would work for the diggers any longer. Besides, I think I fulfilled the contract when I flooded the tunnels leading to the mines. The shrews can go back to the darkness."

The phoenix groaned. "I'm sure the moles are happy with their tunnels destroyed. Serves them right hiring you. And your so called 'hubby'? This child is the one I heard you keep going on about?" He gave a good look at Kaden at that point.

"He is so wonderful and helpful!" Ciner replied. "And that lovely mana. We are going to get married. I was merely convincing my dear a bit."

"Bullshit", Kaden said immediately. "I don't even know why you are so obsessed, you lunatic. You just one day decided that I was your husband. I have seen what happened to the last one. The day I marry you is the day pigs fly."

Ciner stared at Kaden quietly.

"Child, you are coming with us", the second phoenix said. "The clan wants to ask some questions. Such as your origin."

Kaden frowned. He wasn't sure what this entailed. Yet, he would have to obey the demand. The two phoenixes were clearly stronger than him. They still seemed Lower Cari, but they were likely at peak or close to.

Yet, if he could get any help from the phoenix clan, it would be perfect. That is if he could convince them not to kill him immediately. They were very powerful and as long as he could give them a reason they would likely be able to aid.

There were even some reasons why Kaden wanted to be in good terms with the clan. It wasn't just due to what he was, but he owed Anuu a lot. Kaden himself had people to kill, but he had promised to get revenge for Anuu too. The phoenixes would likely help with that. No matter what, Kaden would show respect to Anuu even if it turned out her clan were hostile.

"Sure", Kaden replied. "Just take me away from this lunatic."

"Come then", the first phoenix said.

Kaden was now able to easily go with them without Ciner trying anything.

"Huh, that makes sense", Ciner muttered to herself as she watched Kaden fly away.