By the time Kaden reached Caricoun, there had been nothing unusual, but in the city there seemed to be some tension. Cari belonging to different factions seemed to eye each other constantly. It was still mostly some of the larger factions, such as the phoenix clans faction.

"Could this be all due to the godless mana system?" Kaden wondered. "Are these the factions that agree more with its use and those who agree less? I'm certain all of them are using it, but there are religious differences. Some clans simply revered their gods more than others. But no purges. No church to stomp out everyone." Kaden pondered on the matter for a moment. "I do hope Cari do not weaken themselves too much with this quarreling. They will still need to attack humans in the future and in doing so annihilate the churches for me."

If that didn't happen properly, Kaden's plans were going to be delayed. There was no need to worry yet, but if it went too far, the churches and the empires might find a way around the problems he created for them.

There was some gathering of Cari around the lower level of the pyramid where the firefoxes had their 'offices'. Kaden saw on the higher level there were some more at the portion held by phoenixes.

By now Kaden already understood why things were handled there. Not only was Caricoun neutral, but no one would cause trouble at the pyramid which all Cari viewed with great importance. Changes would only occur by ... official means. Until then, treasures and interactions with other Cari, even with your hated enemies, were quite safe.

There was a phoenix not part of Kaden's group with the firefoxes. Phoenix official and also those from firefoxes. Other than that, there were some Cari that had probably been the mercenaries.

It would soon be the time to share treasures for the contributions. They were probably waiting for the phoenix group to return.

"We are likely going to get the first chance to choose and then later come the mercenaries", Kaden thought.

Indeed, this was a correct assumption, but there were more rules to it. After everyones contributions were recorded by both parties, phoenixes and firefoxes, the chance to enter into the treasury came in order of ones strength, obviously. Thats what always came first to Cari. There was only the exception that the stronger clans had the first chance. That is to say, phoenixes came in first in strength order, then everyone else in strength order. Probably similar moves were made up on the higher level at the phoenix treasury.

Kaden didn't care. He still firmly believed what he wanted, the black fragments, were going to remain there for him to pick up. He was also sensing the buzzing as before. The fragments had not been moved over the few years. Many groups should have come and gone during that time.

"I'm getting too excited", Kaden thought to himself. "I better not have any fanciful dreams about these fragments. This one might not even be the last. Even if it is, I might not be even nearly powerful enough to make use of it. Considering their power, who knows, maybe I need to be Archmagus to use them..."

It was going to be his turn soon. He was weakest of the phoenixes so he would go last, but there were not that many around.

Finally it was Kaden's turn.

"Hmmm, good use of formations, quick reactions, good initiative", the phoenix looking at Kaden's records. "Your leader reported very good performance. You got good amount of contribution points, it totals about 5000."

Kaden had no idea just how much this five thousand was, but it didn't really matter as long as he could take the black fragment.

The phoenix gave a look at the firefox next to him and after a nod, Kaden was told to enter.

It seemed they had collected everything in a special section. There was less protection than Kaden expected for such relatively large amount of treasures and resources. Yet, it was inside Caricoun. Any would be thief would be severely discouraged attempting anything.

As for the contribution point total and its size. Kaden quickly noted what everything was listed as and was able to compare what he had to the costs. His contribution amount was not small, but it wasn't too large either. He would be able to pick items for his level or perhaps cheaper just above. Raw resources could be also taken with larger portions, but generally the same rule still worked regarding their level.

Kaden had very little interest for any random items and was more interested about resources. With resources he was far more free to use them as he pleased. He had also not made anything but formations for quite a while, but he expected to be able to use these resources to craft acceptable quality things, if he really needed them. There was currently no pressing need for such things, though.

Many Cari lacked the ability to produce quality goods. Larger clans taught crafters for themselves, but the amount of available items usually was low. Therefore the items were a bit higher in price than the resources too.

There were some firefoxes around to see that no one took more than they were allowed to. Kaden's greatest interest was now the black fragment he could sense somewhere and he was following that feeling. He did not want anyone the specifically note that he picked an object like that. So with the firefoxes around, he planned to obfuscate this matter.

Finally he found the black fragment. Just one. It was a larger piece.

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"It looks like as if it is some kind of a main piece", Kaden pondered.

It had some markings on it that didn't seem to mean anything. Still not formations either. Yet, its shape was slightly different from the others even after they were put together. It seemed to Kaden as if this larger part was something that completed the puzzle and not the other way. He wasn't sure why he felt this way, though.

After giving it a good look, he stepped away after checking its price. It was lower mid tier price. No name or purpose had been assigned either and only marked as unknown. It was likely the firefoxes didn't know what it was either and probably was lower price since they had not found a use either. The unknown material might be the only reason it was even available and not tossed away as something useless.

Kaden picked up some cores. He wanted to break through to mid Lower Cari as soon as possible. His predictions about how long it would take had already proven wrong and he wasn't going to take chances. He spent most of his contribution points on mid Lower Cari cores. Even if he advanced after the first one, they were still going to be useful.

After that, he spent small portion on some special metals. Not for armor, but ones that were more durable for long term formations. Kaden planned to test some heavy-duty solutions of his formation experiments.

What was left was just enough for the black fragment.

He returned to it and looked at it in greater detail - partially for show and partially for interest.

"What is this thing?" Kaden asked the guards. "Why is everything about it listed as unknown?"

"Hmmm? Oh that", the firefox said. "Its been here for years. Some take it, but eventually its found useless and returns to the treasury. Bringing objects can give a good profit, but if bought before, you are going to get your points back at a loss. It used to be more expensive in the past."

"I'm rather interested in the material", Kaden said. It wasn't exactly a lie. "I'll take it."

"Sure", the firefox said in dismissive tone.

It seemed there would not be any odd looks, if he picked the black fragment this way. It wasn't the first time someone picked up the fragment. The interesting part here was again that it had always returned. Coincidence? Possibly, but there were too many coincidences regarding the black fragments.

Kaden quickly put away his stuff. Now he needed a time and place to advance and, most of all, put together the full set of black fragments.

"I need to get away after a while and find some secluded place", Kaden thought to himself. "I need privacy."

"Hi!" A voice said as soon as Kaden stepped out. Ciner. "What did you pick?"

"...", Kaden stared at Ciner for a moment and then walked away without replying to her and continued his thoughts. "Yes, privacy."

As for the chance to advance. That turned up quickly. It seemed the phoenix group was returning to the clan. No one would find it strange and it was a safe place. As for the fragments, Kaden wasn't sure if he should do anything inside the clan. There were extremely powerful Higher Cari hidden somewhere. Something could happen once he put together all the parts.

It would be too late to regret if something did happen in middle of the phoenix clan and he attracted attention. His status, while pretty solid, due to Kranor and his demands, was not flawless. Kaden knew he had caused enough chaos, but the choice to take it and act on it had been the phoenix clan's. Yet, if came again and attracted attention it would be a problem.

"At most, I should only study them", Kaden decided. "But I should also find time and place to put them all together as soon as possible."

The phoenixes obviously didn't wait for the mercenaries. Ciner pushed her way to enter collect her things first and no one bothered her. Still, this was not fast enough and Kaden had the chance to escape from the boar's sight. He knew she would likely come wander near the phoenix clan, but she would not be entering.

Kaden decided if the black fragments were a weapon, he would test their power on Ciner and destroy her.

On the way back, Kaden wondered whether something would happen. There had been a big move on Madakar due to the religious reasons. This should have involved many clans. He was prepared for a fight at all times. He wasn't certain whether the other phoenixes were prepared in such way, but he for sure made sure to be.

It was pointless, though. Nothing happened on the way. There were the usual expected looks when the group passed by, but nothing out of ordinary.

That is until they reached the clan home.

There was a dragon. Not that he realized it immediately.

As Kaden's group returned, he noticed an unusual Cari at outside of the defensive area. There was also a group of higher ups from the phoenix clan. It looked like, whatever was happening, was about to be over.

"Perhaps there had been some meeting?" Kaden though to himself. "Phoenix clan is, after all, one of the highest Cari clans. There will be clash with humans eventually and preparations will be made long before it happens. It might even be about the godless mana system beca..."

At that time a crushing presence came over Kaden. Not just him, the entire group. The flight was disrupted and even the leader, Caark, started to fall. Yet, it only lasted for a moment as the presence moved away just as quickly as it came.

"Thats a dragon", Kaden realized. "Never seen one before. Very few have. Its probably a Higher Cari. I'm also certain it sensed us come already a long time ago, but didn't pay attention to us until we came to sight. That presence was just from it giving us a look."

Kaden's group quickly agreed to land and wait for the dragon to leave. It was home of the phoenixes, but there was a reason this dragon was there and there was no reason to cause even slightest chance for disruption so they would wait.

Kaden agreed with this action. He wasn't certain why such a meeting was taking place at such a location, but he didn't care.

As previously noted, the meeting was at an end. It didn't take long for the dragon to leave. Kaden didn't even see it really fly. It did rise in air with its wings, but space twisted momentarily and the enormous creature just simply disapeared.

Kaden had seen teleportation before, but this seemed slightly different. Even a True Magus or True Cari could perform such an act, if they bothered to understand a space mana just a bit. That was more like moving yourself through space. What the dragon seemed to do was to take the space and move that portion of space and thus move yourself without actually moving anywhere.

Such actions were beyond Kaden's comprehension, but it would surely take far more power to do. Whether it was somehow better way to act or just show of power, he could not tell. Only thing was obvious that the dragon was powerful.

With exception of the patriarch of the phoenix clan, who only contacted him by voice, Kaden had never seen an Archmagus or Higher Cari before. True Magi and True Cari were already powerful, but they were nothing against the dragon.

"However long it takes, I must reach such levels of power", Kaden though to himself as he once again flew towards the phoenix clan. "If I cannot do so, I will never kill people who need to die such as that Sanctus."

Being at the top of Sacronan's church, Sanctus, an Archmagus, might even be more powerful than the dragon.

It was good to get some view on what was true power occassionally.