The opponent he was going to fight against was some spider type Cari. It was unreasonably fast with its attacks, even if its movements otherwise were relatively slow. Even worse, it spewed out webs that were fire resistant. Those limited Kaden's movements and had caused his loss previous time he encountered it. He had already suffered a loss many times at the level so he knew many of the available enemies. Perhaps that was bruteforcing the matter, but he could now prepare better for most of them.

Kaden had discovered a method during his previous attempt with it. He would pulse out strong Life Well around himself. The webs were fire resistant, but they seemed to be made of organic matter and that caused their weakness to being simply consumed.

The spider simulation probably originated from some stronger mid Lower Cari or possibly even advanced Lower Cari, but whatever was left of it in the simulation was indeed matching the level of the Caldera Pit, likely average mid Lower Cari.

With the webs kept in check, Kaden could concentrate on the spider.

"I should be able to deal with it now", Kaden thought to himself as he approached the spider. "I'd rather not lose again. While its not deadly, it does punish for failure."

The simulations were good at simulating not only the opponent, but the pain and different forms of attack up to a point.

With the webs around Kaden dealt with, the spider started to produce some around itself. It floated like stringy mist around it as a shield. The spider leaped at Kaden and attempted to pierce him with its sharp legs. They were like spears.

Kaden dodged it and struck with a Fire Beam. With the webs on the way, it was slowed down enough for the spider to move out of the way and try to bite. It also had poisonous bite with paralyzing effect. Truly nasty opponent.

Kaden had the beam explode, disrupting the spider and its webs some more just as it tried to attack. Now with opening, Kaden suddenly released his full power that he had been holding back while he dealt with the spiders tricks.

Kaden released a Flame Burst as he rushed at the spider with a high jump assisted by wings.

A pulse of Life Well disintegrated nearby webs as Kaden landed on top of the spider. He started tearing into it with his talons.

The spider trashed about and was able to toss Kaden off with some wounds. Its carapace was also tough, but not enough to stop direct attacks.

Kaden dodged quickly to side as he knew the spider would attempt to impale him with its legs. One passed by Kaden causing a dull pain on his side. Yes, the spearlike legs had poison in them too.

Yet, Kaden was now close enough to the spider and its fast legs out of the way. Now was the time. Kaden struck at the spiders head with his talons while shooting a few Fire Balls along the way as a distraction.

The spider screeched loudly as Kaden tore out most of its eyes. Most of the Fire Balls also a landed. Kaden continued delivering strike after strike with intent to tear its head apart before the poison paralyzed him.

During his previous attempts, the webs had slowed his attacks and he could not finish the fight before the poison did its work.

Now with better opening, Kaden was able to tear off its head.

It was over. Kaden watched as the mana construct in the shape of an enormous spider disintegrate along with all the web it had produced.

"I'm not even sure what species that was, but it was tough", Kaden pondered to himself as he stepped out of the simulation area. "I have to know my limits. Thats just mid Lower Cari and I had problems with it. It was also probably bad match up. Would make sense that the training area has problematic opponents in it. Good lessons and all that."

Then again there were more than one potential opponent stored inside each simulation formation. Perhaps the test would be better, if one had to defeat several of them rather than one. To Kaden it was mostly just about learning to beat these specific enemies.

Whatever the case was, his victory was now recorded. His trial was over. Phoenixes would consider him an adult. If Kaden planned to live with the phoenixes, he would have some duties to fulfill. Kranor had already long since described those to him. That is to go fight for the clan.

Kaden returned from the Caldera Pit to Kranor's house. Kranor had arranged him a room where to live.

Kranor had taken back his duties as an elder too. There was no telling how much his influence had been damaged by his rage, but at least he had a way to project that rage. He could restore his influence in the clan later. He had at least arranged the spread of godless mana system pretty well. At first the major allied clans had received them. Kaden wasn't sure if they actually used them, but no one had stopped it either. Then as time passed, they had been spread further and Kaden had seen at least that one spread very well too.

He still hoped to see it be spread among the High Beasts. That would be the thing that would tip over the balance. Far more Lower Cari would appear than previously. With the current numbers conflic between humans and Cari was at balance. What would happen when there was significantly more Lower Cari in the future?

In general, Kaden's plans were moving forward very well despite that he had spent some years basically only training. While he had taken some breaks, it was mostly to study things, if not actual combat in the Caldera Pit.

"You passed the trial of adulthood", Kranor suddenly appeared next to Kaden.

"I did", Kaden replied shortly. "I didn't know you paid attention?"

"I'm rather impressed. I expected you would have to advance to mid Lower Cari first", Kranor continued. "Very few can complete the trial until then. It merely took only a few years."

"Still it was years of training", Kaden pointed out.

"For us, who, if we don't die on combat, live for thousands of years at the very least, what is a few years. Even a few decades, would be nothing", Kranor brushed the matter aside. "As it happens, the timing is very good too. It seems humans have finally discovered we have the godless mana system."

"Have they atttacked?" Kaden questioned. It would be an enormous war, in which he could easily find chances to further his own power.

"No, not yet at least", Kranor replied. "Borders have started to fortify, but it seems number of soldiers isn't that large. Human's seem to have chosen to instead kill each other en masse. Was this part of your plan?"

"I only knew it would cause chaos and weaken the churches", Kaden replied. "How that happened wasn't something I could predict, but this isn't really surprising. Both Sacronan and Saint Empire have fought over the religious matters and whatever disagreements for as long as they have existed. Surely Cari know this?"

"Indeed", Kranor replied. "And when the time comes to fight a common enemy together, neither will agree to work with the other. There will be a war between humans and Cari. Its been too long since last large one occured."

"And with it you too will have chance for vengeance", Kaden added.

Kranor didn't reply. There was no need to.

As for Kaden's own targets, the next ones were still quite a bit further away. Juren had ceased to exist a few years ago, but Marwen had screamed for a while longer and was silent and nearly gone by now.

With things going how they were, Kranor needed to only be patient.

"We have our own conflicts", he instead said. "The long term disagreements we have with thunderbirds, for example, is still ongoing matter. While we prefer different environments, we have many similarities and desires. I recommend you take part in one of our groups. You will likely meet them as opponents and likely others too. There are many unique resources available in Madakar, an island next to Frika. While it is still some distance away from the southern No Man's Land, there seems to be unusual amount of remnants appearing. We have harvested materials from them for a long time. Most of the time our conflicts are contained in such areas of importance rather than attempts to lay waste to our clan homes. It is time to send another group there soon with our allies and some mercenaries, just like our opponents do the same."

"I have received much", Kaden agreed and nodded. "I will repay it. It will also provide me chances to grow. There is no reason to decline."

"In that case I will have you arranged into that group", Kranor said. "The team will be put together in next few days. Rest and prepare while it. It will last for a while until participants are rotated out and fresh ones replace them."

Kaden went to his room. He started putting his feathers in proper order as he pondered the current situation. It would take some time for the empires and churches to weaken. Kaden wasn't certain how long, but it would happen. He didn't underestimate them. There was a reason they had remained in power for most of known history since cataclysm. They wouldn't fall over night.

"There is plenty of time", Kaden thought to himself. "There will be more than enough chances for me to gain some benefits from these conflicts between Cari while I wait. In fact, I hope it will still take time. I must be strong enough to matter and not be swept aside like dust by someone beyond me once the situation finally lights up."

Taking part in phoenix clan's conflics would, at the very least, give him chances to fight and kill many from the stronger Cari clans and their allies. Sure, it would be dangerous to face the more powerful Cari that even phoenixes considered enemies. Yet, there would be greater reward for each victory.

"I hope to kill and consume enough to get me to mid Lower Cari", Kaden thought. "Indeed, I need to prepare. At this point I should make sure I know more of enemies of the phoenix clan and their allies. General knowledge."

Kaden knew a lot of Cari from what he had seen during his time in saint military, but just like phoenixes, many of their enemies were similarly rare. Until his time at the phoenix clan, he had not known more than a name of many. Like the thunderbirds? They liked storms. Enough of them could generate local storms or tip over natural weather to cause one, if natural one didn't exist. Where phoenixes were fire and life attuned, thunderbirds were lightning and magnetism. Perhaps a more direct link between the mana types when comparing to phoenixes, but they still lacked power. If they could always have a true storm or something else where they could get proper charge, they might have been a bit higher on the Cari 'ranking'.

"Perhaps I should prepare some formations that can counter these effects", Kaden thought.

Being able to create formations was something Kaden was planning to take advantage of. At his level he was a rarity among Cari. Kaden wanted to produce large amount of contribution and being able to do something more unique would help at that.

He still needed to get to that black fragment. If allies of the phoenix clan were at Madakar, then there was a chance to work together. Then gain access to the treasures.