Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

"Once I get within a certain range, my magic will stop working, so you need to decide now how we are going to proceed," Rain said.

"Even if they don't know about the tunnels, it is unlikely that they would leave her in the bottom floors," Branden said after he thought for a while. "She must be in one of the highest buildings; it would be hard for her to escape, and it also would be hard for us to infiltrate."

"So, we will have to enter through the front, huh?" Rain thought.

Rain thought of a crucial issue as he surveyed the situation: the enigmatic nature of the anti-magic substance. Suppose only he possessed some insight into its workings. In that case, he might devise a strategy to neutralize it and breach the anti-magic barrier. Unfortunately, their understanding of this mysterious substance remained frustratingly limited.

Rain could only make an educated guess. If this anti-magic substance was effective even in the air, it probably formed the core of a potent relic designed to negate mana within a defined radius. This relic would likely be positioned at the center of the castle, heavily fortified and protected.

"Are you ready?" Rain asked. "I will create a diversion after throwing you to one of those rooms. Once the guards begin to move to face me, you can go and look for her. They shouldn't know that you escaped the Island yet, so they won't know that you are the one who freed Esmeralda.

I will try to find and destroy whatever is keeping the barrier active as well to make you able to use magic as soon as possible. In the meantime, I will let you use this.".

"... Thanks, let's do this," Branden said when he received the coral spear and then took a deep breath.

Rain nodded, and then they began to fall. Around the time the platform reached a point where it started to fall apart, Rain tossed Branden to one of the castle rooms, and he covered his face when he collided and broke one of the windows from the castle. Still, the sound of the impact was muffled since Rain landed and immediately kicked the gate of the castle.

The massive gates suddenly creaked and began to fall inward with a resounding crash. The royal guards stationed at the entrance swiftly turned their attention in Rain's direction. Although his appearance remained concealed beneath a dark cloak and hood that veiled his entire face, it was clear that his presence had not gone unnoticed.

Without hesitation, the guards started to mobilize as Rain continued his determined advance toward the castle.

The guards wasted no time in organizing their response, recognizing that they had an intruder to apprehend. They moved quickly and efficiently, their well-trained formation springing into action as they confronted the mysterious figure advancing toward the castle with their spears and shields in their hands.

Rain pressed onward while ignoring them until they got close enough. His every step carried an air of unwavering resolve, a contrast to the darkness that enveloped the castle grounds. With each step, he drew nearer to his objective.

Meanwhile, Branden found himself inside the castle, his presence concealed within one of its dimly lit rooms. He watched Rain moving toward the entrance of the castle and then blocking one of the spears with his concealed bracers. He couldn't help but be amazed at Rain's nonchalant attitude, but he didn't have time to waste since he could hear the sound of confusion within the castle.

While Rain diverted the guards' attention and sought to disable the anti-magic barrier, Branden's mission was to locate and rescue Esmeralda.

After blocking numerous spears, Rain suddenly saw the enemies taking a few steps backward and then grabbing crossbows behind their backs. Rain wanted to buy some more time for Branden, but it would be able to block dozens of those at the same time, even if he was fast enough to do so.

Rain activated his Limit Breaker, his muscles pulsating with newfound strength and his senses becoming razor-sharp. Each heartbeat surged with power, transforming him into an unstoppable force. Rain also felt his anger boiling more than usual, it seemed that he had been accumulating a lot of stress lately, but he didn't let that anger take over him.

He couldn' let that happen since he was bound to make mistakes while enraged... it was time to finish that mission for once and for all.

In this heightened state, Rain charged straight at one of the heavily armored royal guards stationed at the castle's entrance. The guard, taken by surprise, struggled to maintain his footing as Rain's relentless assault bore down on him. Rain's impact forced the air from the guard's lungs, leaving him on the verge of collapsing.

But Rain didn't stop there. He seized the guard's arm with remarkable speed and initiated a powerful spin. Bolts from other guards' weapons were discharged at Rain, but he used the guard as an unwitting shield to deflect some of the incoming shots.

Rain flung the shocked guard toward the oncoming enemies with a burst of power. The guard became an improvised projectile, smashing into them like a battering ram. The collision sent several guards sprawling, their armor clanging as they tumbled to the ground in a chaotic pile.

"They don't make royal guards like they used to…" Rain thought. "Or maybe they never did it."

Rain could hear footsteps coming from behind, and soon, he raised his guard. He could tell that the ones outside were ordinary people, as ordinary royal guards could be in terms of power. Still, he couldn't see the auras of the enemies anymore, so he couldn't tell the special ones masked inside the castle… some of their abilities probably won't require mana…

Either way, Rain kicked the door of the castle and sent it flying toward the new group of enemies, but one of them easily blocked the giant door with his spear…