Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

The earth bullets flew so fast that they pierced the heads of the guards and killed them instantly. They fell on the snow without making a single noise.

The skill Reinforced Wisdom received 500 experience points.

The skill Reinforced Wisdom received 500 experience points.

The skill Reinforced Wisdom received 500 experience points.

…

Rain approached to check the bodies of those guys and confirmed that they didn't have anything with them aside from a crystal blue spear… it had some aura on it, so Rain assumed that it was a relic. In any case, he buried the bodies under the now-checked weapons with more attention later.

Slowly but surely, Rain approached the warehouse where the pirate guards moved to have their meal. After using his earth magic, Rain felt their presence inside and confirmed that they were eating. Disposing of them would be easy, and usually, he would hesitate to do that during a meal, but Rain was tired of being thoughtful. There was no point in worrying about assholes.

Rain touched the ground and then confirmed the location of the targets before making holes appear before them that covered them alive. Rain closed the holes and crushed the targets inside without hesitation.

The skill Reinforced Wisdom received 500 experience points.

The skill Reinforced Wisdom received 500 experience points.

The skill Reinforced Wisdom received 500 experience points.

…

"Why only this skill is getting experience?" Rain wondered. "I wonder if it is because I already mastered skills like Aquatic Novice and Breeze Apprentice…"

Since Rain learned by himself and trained the elements quite often, it made sense that those skills would be at a high level… maybe the same thing has happened with the earth mage's path.

Regardless, Rain silently approached the nearby buildings and confirmed that they were empty. Still, he saw that the largest one in the middle of the port town was where most of the guards went, and it was there that they took Branden and the others. The first two groups that Rain killed were supposed to guard the port at night, and they split up to have dinner.

Despite having warmed up earlier, Rain once again felt the biting cold creeping through his body. The winter chill seemed relentless, making him yearn for the comforting warmth he had briefly enjoyed. The temptation to use Limit Breaker to generate heat was strong, but he knew it would also make him more impulsive and rash.

So, he made the tough choice to endure the freezing temperatures for the time being.

Rain's gaze was drawn to the largest warehouse in the port town. It loomed like a dark fortress against the night sky, casting a formidable shadow over the empty surroundings. The absence of any activity in the area felt eerie, as though the entire place had been abandoned for the night.

However, Rain remained acutely aware that the interior of the warehouse likely housed around forty enemies. This presented a significant challenge, as they could potentially use Branden, Lorene, and Orcis as human shields, turning any confrontation into a perilous affair.

As Rain readied himself to approach the warehouse, he knew that he needed a well-thought-out plan to neutralize the guards without putting his friends at further risk. Surprise and precision would be his allies in this high-stakes situation.

"Their auras are a bit different from each other… so they must have different abilities. I can't afford to deal with them separately, so I have to go all out," Rain thought.

Rain wanted to return home as soon as possible, so he wanted to save mana. Still, perhaps he could find potions there… if he doesn't find that, he will have to use the ship until Seadrei can escort his friends to land.

After taking a deep breath, Rain began to focus on the task ahead. He slowly approached the warehouse and then touched the ground. There was no room for mistakes or hesitation…

Rain quickly used his earth magic to check the whole structure, and he was surprised to see that there was a compartment underground as well… it was probably Branden, and the others were being locked.

"What… those presences…" Rain furrowed his eyebrows.

There were many unknown presences there, aside from human presences and Joanis' kids… there was also one that Rain could feel, but he also couldn't feel anything from it.

Without hesitation, Rain used his earth magic to create holes under those whom he deemed enemies and then closed them and smashed those guys. It didn't take long for Rain to confirm his success.

The skill Reinforced Wisdom received 500 experience points.

The skill Reinforced Wisdom received 500 experience points.

The skill Reinforced Wisdom received 500 experience points.

…

Still, amidst all that, Rain suddenly heard a tremor and then an explosion inside the warehouse. When he went to check it, he saw something massive running toward him…

Rain raised his arms to block the enemy, but the charge not only pushed him away but also made him spin in the air while his arms were hurting… Rain stopped the attack with his forearm guards, so he couldn't understand what the hell was that.

In mid-air, even though while he was spinning, Rain's senses acutely tuned to his surroundings. His eyes widened in surprise as he pinpointed the source of the attack. It was the same enigmatic figure who had previously evaded his magical detection – a massive man standing a daunting three meters tall with bulging muscles that appeared almost unnatural.

As Rain descended, he took in the sight before him. This towering figure bore a striking resemblance to Joanis, complete with jet-black hair and soft facial features. However, this Joanis look-alike was exceptionally pale, almost devoid of any color.

Before Rain could even make contact with the ground, the colossal figure charged at him with astonishing speed. There was no time for him to react. In a split second, their bodies collided as the behemoth slammed into Rain once again, unleashing a powerful impact that rippled through the air.