Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Undeterred, Rain persisted in his experimentation. He soon realized that while he could grant them levitation akin to flight, but that was the same as controlling them like other projectiles. Endowing them with lifelike, fluid movements akin to golems remained a formidable challenge.

Rain diligently followed the techniques employed by the golem masters. He initiated the creation of his earth dolls by shaping their heads, bringing them forth from the earthen material. Then, with meticulous care, he meticulously formed the remaining portions of their bodies, crafting remarkably lifelike human features with remarkable precision.

As he continued to hone his craft, Rain couldn't help but ponder the elusive concept of golem cores. This crucial element of golem animation, responsible for granting them autonomous function, remained shrouded in mystery. Despite his faithful replication of the golem-building process, Rain wondered about questions of core creation, an aspect that continued to escape his comprehension.

"It is better if you don't try to copy them when they aren't here… even if they belong to another tribe, they are still allies," Terra said.

"They aren't watching us, even if they were, there are too many people around," Rain replied.

Rain found himself deep in thought, his mind consumed by the process of core creation mastered by the golem master. He couldn't help but wonder about the secret behind crafting these cores, which breathed life into their otherwise inert creations. It seemed reasonable to assume that once a core was integrated, golems could function independently, adhering to the desires of their maker.

Rain contemplated the logistics of managing the golems remotely, realizing that it would require a substantial reserve of mana. Even the golem masters, who were well-versed in their craft, typically found themselves limited to summoning a maximum of three golems at a time in most cases. This limitation hinted at the considerable mana consumption associated with their creation.

For Rain to remotely control these golems, he assumed they would need a considerable infusion of mana to remain responsive and obedient. It was a practical consideration, as controlling multiple golems simultaneously would demand a significant expenditure of magical energy.

"Using that much mana during missions might be too risky," Rain thought. "But I am too curious for my own good."

After thinking for a while, Rain had another idea… while everyone was eating, he closed his eyes and began to focus while imagining that whole process dozens, hundreds of times. After seeing all that in his head and thinking of how it could work, he decided to put it into practice.

Rain pointed the palm of his hand toward the ground, and then he tried to emit his mana while also trying to control the ground without touching it. It took a while and some focus, but eventually, a bit of the ground began to float and then move to a single spot.

It assumed the form of a small sphere that was floating while following Rain's will… it was far from perfect, but the first step was completed and the system recognized it.

An unknown skill leveled up.

The Martial Artist path received 1,000 experience points.

"I guess it is like that… they gather their mana in the air and make it attract the earth," Rain thought. "With enough mana and control, I will be able to make a real golem and control it, but I guess I can make other things that cost less mana."

Although Rain tried to control it, he still used a lot of mana, so he decided to stop with the experiments and then go eat.

The next day, the group departed as soon as the sun rose and it seemed like things would be fine since both camps that they visited were fairly relaxed… It seems that the dragons haven't attacked in a while.

"The next camp is one day away, and the other is two days away from that one… it seems that we will spend around ten days traveling around the border," Jori said. "Shouldn't we make our own map of this area?"

"The drivers are probably memorizing everything, so don't bother, some of them must be working for Branden," Rain replied.

The border separating the magic people's territory from the domain of the dragons presented a captivating scene. It featured a picturesque landscape adorned with lush green hues that stretched across rolling hills and fertile valleys. This vibrant, natural scenery stood in stark contrast to the distant, formidable mountain range that served as a commanding backdrop.

This region was teeming with life, and the air resounded with the melodious calls of birds. Wildlife of various kinds thrived, forming a diverse ecosystem that painted a vivid portrait of nature's vitality.

However, as the group ventured deeper into this alluring wilderness, they gradually became aware of an unusual quietude. The customary sights and sounds of wildlife began to diminish, and a hushed atmosphere settled over the land. It became evident that the animals had grown scarce.

The reason for this scarcity soon became apparent: the presence of the dragons. The local wildlife had likely sensed the looming danger posed by these colossal creatures. It had retreated deeper into the territory or sought refuge in more secluded areas.

"This is a bad sign…" Rain thought.

Rain looked around and wondered if the others had realized that change as well. Asche apparently had it… she was the one who always observed things the most from the group, after all.

In any case, sharing that with the others might make the drivers worry about it, so perhaps they shouldn't say anything. Besides, it could be a coincidence…

"Well, knowing my luck…" Rain thought. "In any case, I shouldn't say anything."

Rain decided to stay on guard without alerting the others. Still, nothing happened during the day or when they camped at night. At that point in time, the whole group noticed the lack of sounds of birds and other animals, so they raised their guards as well until the next day arrived.

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