Taraka Fragments are unrefined shards of Kali's body.^[1] They are directly connected to the Taraka nodes and can be used to access them.^[2]

Usually they're looted from bodies of dead Tarakas. During the seven year time skip and continuing into N23,^[3] Chandra sends fighters and magicians out on bounties and missions alike to slay Tarakas and bring back their fragments. He's been collecting them for research and experimentation.^[2]

Characteristics

Red and jagged, Fragments look like shards of a broken jewel.

When absorbed, they can induce tarakafication. They can also be consumed to grant access to the node system: the mental world of the Taraka clan.

Plot

Extra: Special Episodes

Chandra sends a missive to a handful of specially chosen fighters and magicians: go to the Land of Unending Winter, go to the South Pole, or personally tell Chandra off.^[4] The objective in both of these locations is to slay a Taraka and bring back its fragment.

When the team assigned to the Land of Unending Winter comes back early and with only a single, diminutive shard, Chandra is alarmed. His research indicated many more fragments than this, and it's very likely that a strong Taraka could be at the South Pole.

On the scene, there is indeed a strong Kinnara Rakshasa. As the team fights it, Clari Utas remarks that all the suras they had been catching in order to gather the shards were pretty dull, seemingly like dead bodies.^[5]

Season 3 Prologue

Season 3 opens with Ran Sairofe attempting to retrieve one of these fragments.^[3]

Chapter 41: Your Seven Years

Siera Sies agrees to Chandra's fragment experiment, involving induced tarakafication. The plan is to subdue the clan from the inside. If it goes haywire, they'll kill him, and the Golden Knight will bring him back to life. Things quickly go very wrong.^[2]

Chapter 47: Words That Never Reached You

Reviewing the results, Chandra believes they must be on the right track or Kali wouldn't be trying so hard to deter them.^[6]

Chapter 48: Separation

Chandra tarakafies himself and allows Kadru to eat him to engage in a mental battle. After dragging Kadru to the Top, where the sura is summarily overwhelmed, Chandra has a brief moment of peace to scan the node system. He notices Menaka. However, before he can dredge much more information, Yuta warns him across the nodes that Chandra's body is rampaging without him, so he exits.^[7]

Chapter 54: Abyss

Chandra describes the Eye of Perishment as a refined Fragment.^[1]

Chapter 57: N20

In N20, a tarakafied Urvasi regains his mind, and pleas that someone enter the central node and rescue Shakuntala. He gives up his fragment for the cause, explaining that it will act as a shortcut to the central node. All one must do is go to the lake at the heart of the Abyss and consume a fragment. However, Urvasi will deteriorate into a common Taraka. He accepts this, whether that means just becoming weakened or dying to himself.^[8]

Chapter 59: Someone's Universe

Berunda and Leez both collect several fragments from slain Tarakas. Berunda swiftly departs. Leez uses her share to dive into a pool of water and enter the main node for the second time.^[9]

References