Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Everyone approached and studied Rain. The only areas that they could see were his feet, left hand, and head. There were some burn marks in there, and the skin was completely red… also half of his hair had been blown away, so they could imagine what he was hiding beneath the armor.

"Are you all right?" Leiah asked while checking Rain's hands. "What happened?"

"The enemy surprised me once more… I didn't think that even Joanis would treat his kids like disposable pawns, but I guess he doesn't see them like that," Rain said. "I won't hold back anymore against his plans, and I am also planning to show him that his smartass will be his downfall."

Rain's sisters soon joined Terra to help her on healing Rain, but all of them had been up for two days straight. While Rain didn't know any sleeping spells, he knew a thing or two about making people relax.

As Rain harnessed his magical skills, a gentle warmth enveloped the area, creating a soothing breeze infused with his calming magic. This enchanting atmosphere gradually eased the tension that had gripped everyone's senses thanks to the nice temperature.

One by one, the weary group members surrendered to the tranquility. They reclined, finding a moment of solace amidst the chaos, and drifted into a peaceful slumber. Even Terra, who initially resisted, succumbed to the soothing effect of Rain's magic.

The lone exception was Roan, who remained vigilant. He clenched his fists, the pain evident from his clenched hands, with blood slowly oozing from his injured palms. Despite the physical agony, his unwavering determination kept him as a silent sentinel amidst his sleeping comrades.

"Hey, Dad," Rain said while showing a cold smile.

"Yes?" Roan said after he trembled a little.

"You are starting to annoy me," Rain said without hesitation.

"Can't I at least blame myself this much?" Roan asked.

"Everything in moderation. You are going well overboard with the guilt thing," Rain said. "This isn't the first time that I suffered a lot of damage. I was way worse when I faced the fire dragon that exploded himself to kill me. I got unconscious for a while as well, so this much is nothing."

"This much… perhaps, no… that will never happen," Roan said while biting his lips. "You won't ever understand this because you aren't stupid like me to put your kid in danger like this."

"Technically, I put myself in this whole situation by going agaisnt the king," Rain said. "It all started when I decided to protect the honor of our family by not ignoring the King and Joanis' scheme. You also showed me how far you were willing to protect your honor and our family when you returned with only one leg from the war."

"You still remember that, huh?" Roan asked and then sighed. "I wish that everyone could forget that sorry sight that I was."

"Why am I getting all sentimental?" Rain asked and then sighed. "A person who is willing to go to such extent to protect their family and friends isn't stupid. They are pretty cool. Still, you have a long way ahead of you before you become as cool as me."

"It isn't the other way around?" Roan asked, then laughed a bit. "But I guess you have a point. I still have a long way ahead of me… I don't want to talk badly about myself anymore since that troubles you, but..."

"This might sound arrogant, but I am still planning to draw all the danger toward me," Rain declared. "For as long as I think that I am stronger and that I am not sure if everyone's safety isn't certain, I will draw the danger to myself."

"That sounds like you all right… I suppose if you are that determined, I can't stop you," Roan said while looking in the distance with a serious expression. "If you survived a dragon's breath, a suicidal attack of a dragon, and that, then your confidence is probably well founded. Just don't let it become arrogance."

"It never will," Rain declared. "I don't have the luxury to be careless when the enemies are willing to go this far."

Rain's anger ran deep, not merely from the peril he had faced but actually far from it. He wasn't angry thanks to the fact that he almost died, but due to the chilling prospect that his enemies might have deployed that devastating explosion against his friends or family.

This thought infuriated him, intensifying his anger until it felt like his entire being was shrouded in darkness, reminiscent of the sensation he experienced during extended periods of using Limit Breaker. The mere notion of his loved ones suffering harm ignited a rage within him that surpassed all other emotions. He was determined to protect them at any cost.

When morning came, Terra scolded Rain harshly for making everyone fall asleep like that. Still, Rain ignored that and focused on looking at the enemies. Thanks to that, he saw some dust curtains emerging from the distance… it seemed that they received supplies from the nearest town.

"It seems that we will make a killing when we sell it back to the people there," Rain said.

"Of all things you could be worried about right now, you mention money?" Terra asked while facepalming.

"Money is the same as violence; if it isn't solving your problems, you aren't using enough," Rain explained. "Maybe I shouldn't say that while my little sisters are around… anyway, we will need resources to fight and keep on fighting, so it is only natural to think about money."

"I take it that you are planning to finish things soon after seeing what would have happened if you hadn't left the area. Some people probably aren't that eager to keep fighting," Branden said. "Still, we need a clear plan to end this battle as soon as possible."

"I have the right plan for that," Rain said. "Hahaha, this will be a blast in more ways than one."