Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

The recruits' faces lit up with uncontainable excitement and anticipation at the prospect of learning a secret technique from none other than Rain, their famous hero. The first group readily got up despite the exhaustion, but the second trembled all over while trying to do the same.

In any case, the situation was as if a cherished dream had suddenly come true before their very eyes. Their expressions reflected pure elation, and their hearts swelled with enthusiasm. The opportunity to glean such knowledge from someone they admired and respected as a legendary figure was beyond their wildest expectations.

Their eagerness to learn this was palpable, but the conditions to do so were harsh…

The group began to march toward the mountains, feeling nervous since Rain told them not to grab their weapons… The trip would last three hours, and plenty of beast people would be able to cross the fissure, so that would mean that a battle would be waiting for them.

Still, eventually, they received their gear… a massive stone shield crafted by Rain's magic. It was hard, and it was heavy, and they wouldn't even be able to run with that, much less attack with it.

"Listen!" Rain shouted. "Your job is to keep that shield raised at all times while forming a single line. The enemies will attack from all directions, and your only job is to block their attacks. If they try to jump over you, I will deal with them."

That kind of battle tactic was too simple… there was no plan B, and if they fail, it was game over. Despite that, the recruits could see that Rain and his friends didn't look even a bit nervous… they all had equipment made of ice dragon scales. After all… each relic was pricey enough to buy large houses in the capital.

In any case, when the three hours passed, they arrived at the base of the mountain and saw the beast people setting their camp on that side while keeping a perimeter. Naturally, they noticed their approach.

"Dana, Kei, Gila, you are up," Rain said. "Stay here and don't approach further.

"Eh… but we won't be able to see anything," Kei protested.

"Your task is to focus on the spell instead of looking at the enemies," Rain said. "Form your ranks, men! Dad and Jori should watch the sides of their formation. Terra, you stay close to me to treat if anyone gets hurt."

Everyone nodded, and they left Rain's sisters behind. It didn't take long for a dark cloud to appear on that mountain… Still, it seemed that the beast people were ready for another ice spell… They were wearing thick leather armor that had no breaches for the water to pass. Continue reading at empire

"I guess that is also another reason why they took their time coming," Rain said as he watched his soldiers forming their line. "Advance!"

Rain felt a bit weird while commanding like that… as usual, it was much better just to punch the enemies senseless. Regardless, Rain put his mind in the game when the recruits began to climb the mountain.

Rain's knowledge about the war was against that. When in the mountains, use the valleys, stick to safe, open ground, camp your troops in high vantage places, and never fight by moving uphill. That was one of the most basic things since the enemies would have the upper hand in that situation… Still, they kept going.

The beast people just waited until the recruits began to get tired and slow down. When that happened, they dashed downhill with the momentum on their side. Eventually, they began to collide with the recruits, but when the shields touched the ground, the enemies felt like they were bodyslaming themselves against boulders.

The recruits were pushed a few centimeters with each hit, but they endured all that. The beast people punched the shields and scratched them with tails and claws, but they only hurt themselves while doing so… without any other choice, they began to jump over the recruits and attack them from behind… or so was the plan. Rain made them fall while piercing their hearts with ice needles.

The beast people felt the stinging pain that seemed small at first while in the air, and when they fell, they began to lose control over their bodies as the pain increased… Before long, they fell to the ground without knowing what had happened.

The skill Frostbite leveled up.

The Student's path received 300 experience points.

"Ah, I forgot to change it… oh well, I guess this will be helpful," Rain shrugged.

The student's path was already at level forty-five, so he might as well use that chance to unlock the new one. Dozens of beast people died like that, and the ones behind didn't know what was going on since Rain was being quite a stealth… all they knew was the fact that their allies grew silent.

"Keep advancing!" Rain shouted. "We don't have all day! I still have to teach my kids how to memorize the multiplication table of eight!"

"What the hell are you saying in the middle of a battle?" Terra said while frowning.

"I have to keep my priorities straight. The future of my kids is more important than the moronic antics of the beast people," Rain said.

Despite Rain's words and Terra's utter disbelief, the recruits obeyed his words and began to push back the enemies… While they hesitated, it began to rain in the area… it wasn't snowing, so the beast people were caught off guard once more.

The confusion gave place to tension when they began to hear the sound of lightning in the clouds. The beast people were left speechless when several lightning bolts fell one after the other on their camp… the ground trembled, and their ears felt like they were about to explode… and then they heard the grunts of pain of their allies… They weren't ready to face Rain and his friends.

Not with those numbers…