Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

"Hahaha, you want to solve this in a fight?" The beast king laughed, showing a genius smile. "When you humans grew so stupid? You people can't live even for one hundred years, and you think that you can face us?"

"If you tried to live more outside of your bubble instead of hugging trees all day long, perhaps you would have known a bit more about us," Rain said. "What are you going to do? I am in a hurry here."

"Hahaha! I gladly welcome the challenge," The beast king said. "You are in lucky since I called all the tribe leaders to talk about the invasion of your country. You will have the chance to experiment with your body and their very thoughts about the crimes your people committed against our honor. Let's see how long you can endure that."

Rain was instructed to make his way to the arena, where a surprising sight awaited him. As he headed toward this destination, he couldn't help but notice a growing crowd of beast people converging on the same location. They came from all directions, displaying a mix of curiosity and determination on their faces.

What struck Rain was the apparent nonchalance of these individuals. Despite the unusual gathering, they didn't seem perturbed or surprised. Instead, they appeared accustomed to such events as if they were part of their regular routine.

News of the assembly spread rapidly, turning the once-quiet arena into a buzzing hub of activity. People from various backgrounds and walks of life filled the seats, exchanging excited whispers and conversations. The atmosphere, once tranquil, now crackled with palpable energy, hinting at the significance of the upcoming event.

"What is going on here…" Jori said while the group was waiting in the middle of the arena.

"I knew that things would end in a fight, but I didn't think that it would end like this at all… we should have asked Anna more information about this society," Reca said while looking around with her arms crossed.

"It will be faster this way… probably," Rain said. "We need to solve this situation as soon as possible, so we have to fight and win. If they are worried about their honor as much as they claim to be, they will leave us alone once they lose."

"Can we win?" Jori asked. "I checked the aura of the beast king, and it was glowing in a dark red that made me shiver."

"Since when can you use magic eyes?" Rain asked while frowning.

"I practiced with the others while you were away. It is useful to see the aura of others when they are even behind walls or using magic to conceal themselves," Jori said. "We can finally understand how come you were able to find the magic people at night before the war."

"Aren't you going to ask why I didn't teach you that sooner?" Rain asked.

"Isn't it because we weren't skilled enough? Even now, I have a hard time focusing my mind on this technique," Jori explained.

"Me too," Reca said while nodding.

They had too much faith in Rain… they never imagined that he did that because he wanted to keep such a useful technique only to himself. Speaking of which, Rain began to think if he could apply the same principle to other techniques… It would be very useful, and lately, he had been using too much elemental magic.

It was useful, but after being almost impaled by Numerous ice swords, Rain knew that he had to improve much more.

Rain also felt that the beast king was strong… he also could see a red aura, but it was mixed with orange instead. It meant that the beast king was strong, but he was bearable.

In any case, the group waited for whatever was going to happen, and Rain kept his eyes closed, thinking about how he could get stronger. Limit Breaker still didn't reach its max potential, but he needed something else. Even though his body had gotten stronger, Rain probably couldn't take another skill that consumed Stamina… he needed to use mana this time.

"Yep, the answer is Dragon's Rage… I still know nothing about that technique, though," Rain thought.

As Rain contemplated what he could do to get stronger. From the opposite direction of the arena, the imposing figure of the beast king made a grand entrance. A palpable sense of awe descended upon the onlookers, and they began to cheer violently.

The King's arrival was nothing short of spectacular. His mere presence demanded the respect and attention of all those present. With deliberate steps, he advanced towards the arena's center, where Rain stood among the spectators.

The Beast King wore an awe-inspiring golden armor that covered most of his robust physique. This armor was adorned with intricate tribal patterns, serving as a testament to the cultural heritage of his people. The designs etched onto the armor told tales of bravery, unity, and ancient traditions.

The armor looked a bit old as well, so it was probably something that only the King of the beasts could wear.

Interestingly, the King's hands, feet, joints, and both the front and back of his head remained exposed, revealing the inherent might and toughness of his species. These uncovered areas highlighted the natural beauty of his people, complete with feathered headpieces and intricately braided hair.

"My brethren, members of our proud tribes and esteemed guests," the Beast King's voice echoed through the arena, "Today, we come together not merely as individuals but as a united front, a sign of our people's strength and the bonds that unite us. Before us stand three warriors from the world of humans, not as foes, but as challengers who seek to test their valor and honor in our sacred arena."

Rain couldn't help but furrow his eyebrows. It seemed that the beast king liked the sound of his own voice, and the audience also liked that gaudy situation… maybe since they were half beasts, they were like cats who liked shining things.

"It is our long-standing tradition, passed down through generations, to heed the commands of those who prove their courage by beating both myself and our tribe leaders. We, the noble beasts of this realm, have always upheld the values of strength, unity, and reverence for our heritage. Our visitors have taken great risks to implore us to show restraint in the human conflict.

They bear a message of peace, beseeching us to avoid the path of war that could bring devastation to both our worlds. It is a message laden with wisdom and prudence. However, fellow tribespeople, we can't let go of the opportunity to reclaim our honor. Our people have been humiliated, and our blood has been used to create aberrations. We can't tolerate that.

Let us show these challengers and to the world how much our heritage is valuable to us! Let the duels begin."

The audience of beast people filled the arena with a resounding roar that resonated throughout the entire space. It was a powerful display of their excitement and anticipation. From tribal leaders to common spectators, every member of the crowd joined in, their voices united in a collective fervor, making the entire arena tremble and vibrate in response.

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