The next morning Kaden heard a sound outside. Kranor didn't bother moving, but Kaden decided to go see what was happening.

"I can also show them that I am alive", Kaden though to himself. "Perhaps they'll let me out sooner."

It was someone bringing food to Kranor. It was some meat that Kaden couldn't identify. Kaden wasn't really sure why. Someone like Kranor who was True Cari wouldn't need food.

"Oh, you are alive?" The phoenix said. "Will you take these to the old man?"

"Sure", Kaden agreed. He wasn't sure of the purpose, but he wouldn't question it.

The meat was tossed inside with with a key, but the access closed immediately afterwards.

"How long this test will continue?" Kaden questioned. "Will it make any difference, if I survived a minute being inside here or a day or more."

"I don't make the decisions", the phoenix answered. "I hear they are still deciding something, but its not my problem."

Then the phoenix flew away before Kaden could ask for more questions. Yet, he was now closer to the meat and was able to note certain details.

"Hmmmm", Kaden looked and sniffed at the meat. "This is human meat. At least at least Condensation stage. Yet, the mana is unusually ... soft."

Kaden pondered for a moment until he came up with a possible explanation. The owner of this mana had probably never really used that mana or fought.

"Cattle", Kaden realized.

It was something Kaden had expected to happen, if Cari started to rule. If he was able to weaken the churches, such a thing could happen in Sacronan and Saint Empire. He didn't really care. It wasn't his problem. He didn't give a crap about such a thing.

The sort of cattle humans that this meat had come from was probably very expensive to raise, but the meat was still equivalent or at least close to it. Phoenixes would totally have the resources to raise their own food. Likely the humans were kept somewhere, given food, allowed to cultivate but not fight. No knowledge. Nothing. Once ready, they would be butchered. The resulting meat would be delicacy.

"Seems fine to me", Kaden thought to himself as he started dragging the meat in. Humans captured beasts and Cari too. Had them fight in arenas for amusement. Butcher them for food. It was normal.

Purpose of this specific food was likely to bring some enjoyment to Kranor's life. The phoenix clan didn't need one of their True Cari to decend completely in madness. That would be useless waste.

Kaden wasn't sure how long Kranor would remain the way he was. He felt the fastest way to restore him was to let him go out and kill people. So what if he was uncontrollable? He was still True Cari and should be able to fend for himself. As it was, he was suffering more apathy than anything else. Sure he was quick to enrage. Kaden wasn't sure, if his behavior was because of what happened between him and Anuu. Perhaps he would behave the way he first did with everyone else?

All of this was rather odd in Kaden's mind. Cari relied on strength. If one lost their senses to rage, they would likely let that someone just release that rage and not confine them in their home.

It seemed there were differences in how different Cari worked.

"They brought you some food", Kaden told Kranor.

Kranor opened his eyes looked at the meat and then looked away.

"You can have it", Kranor told Kaden. "I want to kill living breathing humans, not these that don't even know how to fight back."

Kaden decided to take on that offer and started eating after charring the meat. This was valuable food! All of it would increase his growth speed.

Kranor also seemed to be in somewhat better mood again.

"I wonder what he says about this", Kaden pondered as he had his fill. He decided to ask whether Kranor would like to help him spread the godless mana system. Humans would be hit harder, if it became widespread. "Cari might just decide its worth it."

He took out a crystal containing his most perfect understanding of the godless mana system. This was with his own discoveries that he had been able to find. It was already much stronger than the first one. It was probably good for lower level cultivation, even if one discarded the ordinary mana system entirely.

"Kranor, I have something I would have your opinion about", Kaden started. "It is something that should offend both humans and Cari, but as far as I understand Cari and their relationship with beast gods, it should be far less. If spread, it should weaken humans churches significantly and as such, humans in general. Cari might be able to conquer human territories."

Kranor stirred a bit and actually seemed curious. Kaden handed him the information crystal.

"What is this?" Kranor said. Then there was even some shock as he likely attempted it. "How was this discovered? This is blasphemous."

"So I have been told", Kaden answered casually. "I have already arranged it to be spread among humans. I gave it to some cultists that worship the God of Lies. They will use it to weaken churches and their gods. It will eventually spread among beasts after they kill humans and find their things. I have already determined that even High Beasts can use it. As for how it was discovered ... that is somewhat outlandish and I'd rather not reveal details, if I don't have to, but I can say that the great remnant in Murika was involved."

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Kranor frowned at the last part, but then seemed to calm down.

"I think I know what you want to ask", Kranor said. "But I want you to say it."

"Can you help me spread this among Cari?" Kaden asked casually. It seemed Kranor was not entirely against the idea. "Churches might be able to annihilate the cultists, but they cannot stop Cari who will grow stronger than now. They will either die under flood of powerful Cari and lower beasts or accept it and have the churches weaken and likely through it, their gods too." Kaden waited for a moment. "This is a great boon to Cari! Chance to lay waste upon humans."

"At the cost of accepting this blasphemy", Kranor said and looked at the crystal again.

"It will happen regardless", Kaden continued. "Cari and lower beast that I have given this to already took it with desire. Once it spreads from human territories, there will be more than enough Cari to take it too. Phoenixes can take this chance! Grow stronger! Be the pioneer of this new way!" Kaden pondered what to say next. "Yet, I know very little of beast gods. What I know is that it seems to be all about strength. Sure, this might be blasphemous, but it will be to grow stronger. They might not care. You can still worship them if you so desire and they may still give you boons for showing strength. For example, I know nothing of phoenix god. I haven't even heard the name or anything. I do not know how this would truly be taken."

Kranor stared at the crystal quietly.

"I will bring this up personally", Kranor said. "The origin mother, phoenix god, she shouldn't mind. You are right. Its strength. Humans are more directly tied with their gods and constant worship is expected. We show our power and gods might reward it. At the end, it is us who will remain stronger should gods be required less."

Kaden felt joy.

"But you will need to know about our gods, specifically phoenix god", Kranor continued. "I will not tell you to worship her, but I want you to know about it. You clearly have grudge against gods too." Kranor sighed deeply. "You have grudge against almost everyone, I think."

"Too few people deserve to live", Kaden pointed out. "It is ... natural. Most people don't care. Among the strong, even smaller portion deserve to live."

"Unfortunately that is true", Kranor replied.

Kranor then started to tell about the phoenix god. Kaden wasn't interested in worshipping any god nor even consider it, but he wanted to understand motivations of the Cari so he listened.

Beast gods were different. As the story goes, human gods came first. There are more of them and they had the chance spread their influence far before beasts gods appeared. At that time Cari as people didn't exist yet. For example the phoenix god didn't really even have a proper name. Phoenixes were merely powerful birds back then. A proper language was not even completely put together. No society. Instead the name was something a large group of phoenixes sang in chorus. The continuous screeching would reach certain resonance and that continuous sound was the name of their god. None could even pronounce her name alone. Then there was the only higher beast god, the dragon god. Dragons worshipped him by ritual combat that involved incinerating and melting large areas of land. One should avoid those glassed plains. It was seen as offense to tread upon the molten ground. If you wanted to worship the dragon god, you either took part in the combat against dragons or went to the edges of the melted area afterwards.

Human gods were just 'here is the altar. Pray!'.

Kaden personally questioned where Cari even required gods. To ask such question would have elicited deep frowns from almos anyone, but Kranor was able to explain it. Indeed, lower beasts were able to grow without their help. Once one became Cari, some higher understanding started to be requirement. Lower Cari could still grow since it was mostly just gathering the required mana to evolve into True Cari. It was just mana.

Beyond that it was less about mana, despite still large amount required, but one had to concentrate on concepts, specifically concept of self. Their bodies were required to be purified. Core was fine, but body was still grown along with whatever mana they had gathered. The further one tried to advance, the more pure one needed to be. If one didn't do it, any advancement would ground to a halt. Basically reaching True Cari stage, one needed help.

Kaden wasn't actually surprised. He had personally noticed how human and beast ways to cultivate mana converged. It might not be directly harmful to absorb all that free mana and consume other living things with their own mana. That mixture of mana of different states could be absorbed, but something was left behind that would make cultivating harder and harder until it became impossible.

Humans already dealt with this problem directly from the start.

Kranor seemed somewhat agitated after he stopped talking.

"I will demand that you get the usual education and training", Kranor told Kaden. "I consider you mine and Anuu's child! You must get proper education! You also have great potential. To do otherwise is shameful!"

Kaden frowned. "What does this involve?"

"Since you are considered as one of us, you can do the same as everyone", Kranor started. "I will have you spend time in the volcano training area. It is filled with life and fire mana. Then once you pass required tests, you will work for the clan and further our interests. Whether you care about that or not, it will get you chances to have proper combat. Kill strong prey from other clans. We have some grudges against Thunderbirds, for example, who you will likely fight against. You will work with our allies such as the most long lasting alliance with the Firefoxes. We are in good terms with them. Inviduals from our clan can work with them in exchange for things such as treasures of their choosing from the treasuries in Caricoun and they work for us in similar manner. There are also many separate inviduals that work as either servants or mercenaries for very similar reasons."

Kaden barely heard that last part. What was this coincindence? Was it even a coincidence?

Firefoxes. They had one or more pieces of the black fragments in Caricoun and now just suddenly he happened to be offered just the way to get it. Kaden had already before noted that there were oddities with the black fragments. He felt like they seeked to join in with others. What kind of mana even was involved? Despite his best efforts, Kaden still couldn't even tell what they were made from or be able to sense anything out of them unless they activated on their own.

Was something controlling them? That felt unlikely. Then what was the mechanism?

"This only confirms it", Kaden thought. "These fragments are probably by far the most valuable object I have. Yet, I'm unable to even do anything with them at will. Whatever it is that causes this magic, they seem to be picky. With how I have gained so many and likely find more, it seems I could be considered a worthy owner. Hopefully I will be able to determine what it is and ensure it stays that way. It would likely become impossible to hold onto them otherwise. It might even be deadly."

Kaden then nodded to Kranor. Working for the phoenixes was fine for the time being. He needed to fight and hunt. Lower Cari cores were great nourishment for his own. There were very few negatives about it such as getting tied to them for a while, but it didn't seem very tight tie. For this he would get resources and he needed a lot.