Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix C.278: There is still hope for you

The wind dragon found itself grappling with the relentless water blast, its grounded state robbing it of its aerial advantage. Meanwhile, the magic people continued their relentless assault from the opposite flank, intensifying the creature's predicament.

As signs of weakness began to manifest in the wind dragon, its dragon's breath wavering, Asche seized the opportune moment. She unleashed an arrow with remarkable precision, driving it deep into one of the dragon's eyes. A rain of crimson blood from the grievous wound painted a gruesome sign of agony.

In the next instant, Liss conjured a formidable fire tornado that engulfed the creature's face. Desperate to ward off the searing onslaught, the wind dragon employed its sole remaining wing to disperse the scorching inferno. This momentary distraction created the opening that Jori and Reca had been eagerly awaiting.

With a display of impeccable coordination, they launched a simultaneous assault. Reca executed a rapid sequence of thrusts, her blade penetrating the jugular of the dragon. At the same time, Jori's sword drove deep into the nape of the creature. Their combined efforts inflicted mortal wounds upon the wind dragon, culminating in a torrent of blood and fire that sealed its tragic fate.

The skill Punch Mastery received 10.000 experience points.

The skill Basic Strikes and Kicks received 10.000 experience points.

The skill Iron Fists received 10.000 experience points.

…

The wind dragon stopped moving, and Rain got his experience. He sighed in relief, but soon he realized what was going on. When he looked in Terra's direction, he saw her healing a black-haired woman who had severe burn marks on her as well… her eyes were glowing while she was controlling the dragon. It was the woman who brainwashed Roan…

When Rain's gaze fixed upon the woman responsible for brainwashing his father, an overwhelming surge of anger swept through him. The sudden revelation struck him like a heavy blow: their relentless battle had all been a means to protect her. This realization ignited a fierce blaze of fury within him.

At that moment, it felt as if Rain's head might burst from the sheer intensity of his anger. A profound sense of betrayal and manipulation he had experienced fueled a raging fire deep within him, even though it all had been a very nasty coincidence. Every fiber of his being bristled with righteous indignation as he grappled with the bitter truth behind their arduous struggle.

"Rain! Are you all right?" Jori asked when he approached alongside Reca.

-check-original

"We saw the explosion a while ago… we feared the worst, but… as expected of you!" Reca said, "By the way, that woman is…"

"Yeah… I will cool down my head somewhere else," Rain said after sighing.

Rain, battered and half-naked, moved away from the battlefield to address his severe wounds. He had fashioned a makeshift armor from earth magic to shield his body, though it was far from comfortable.

Despite expending the majority of his mana, Rain's injuries still lingered, a testament to the brutal battle he had endured. His thoughts turned to the woman who had manipulated his father and controlled the dragon. Yet, to his surprise, nothing transpired.

It became apparent that the woman grievously wounded herself had finally passed out thanks to her injuries, removing the immediate threat she had posed.

During that time, Rain decided to check the skills he had, and they weren't half bad.

Level 5: Power Strike Upgrade your striking power, delivering devastating blows with increased damage of ten points per level.

Level 10: Swift Kicks Enhance your kicking speed and power, inflicting higher damage with your leg-based strikes by ten points per level.

Level 15: Vital Focus Channel your inner energy to bolster your health, increasing your maximum HP by twenty points per level.

Level 20: Acupoint Mastery Deepens your understanding of vital acupoints, granting you a chance to land critical strikes with your attacks.

Level 25: Counterflow Technique Counter your opponents' attacks with impeccable timing and powerful strikes, briefly incapacitating them. Decreases their stamina by the same amount as the level of this skill

"I really love passive skills… this counter flow technique will really be useful against some opponents," Rain thought. "Still, I am focusing a bit too much on big hits lately."

Rain realized that the technique would be useful when sparring with Jori and Reca. Forcing them to lose their stamina will force them to use their heads more and accelerate their progress.

Regardless, Rain eventually returned to the others and found that the black-haired woman was transported to the camp where she was being treated. At the same time, the dragon that she had under control was nearby, watching for enemies.

"What a fearsome ability…" Jori said. "Anyway, it seems that we pulled off this time; we had your help, but I suppose a win is a win. I know, I know, don't get carried away and all that."

"You are getting smart. It seems there is still hope for you," Rain said.

"Should we ask why she was running away alone?" Reca asked. "She was supposed to be the lead of the next camp, right? That was why Josar didn't want us heading there… as for the one on the other…"

"It should be my father's brother who betrayed the family," Rain replied. "Anyway, it doesn't matter. Even if her camp was destroyed, it isn't our business."

The direness of the situation for the magic people became all too evident when one of their military posts was completely razed to the ground. Only two individuals managed to emerge from the devastation as survivors.

This catastrophic loss left the magic people in an extremely precarious and challenging position, as their numbers had been severely depleted, and the odds were now stacked against them.

Rain could already anticipate the magic people turning to them for help once more. Yet, the idea of such a plea felt somewhat embarrassing. After all, with the combined efforts of Rain and his companions, they had not only defeated three dragons but also managed to secure one as an ally.