Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Rain used his magic to move the sea dragon's body out of the ocean, and the magic people promptly lent their assistance in guiding the massive carcass towards the coastline. As they cooperated, Rain pondered whether it was time to integrate them into the Raging Phoenix, but Artisia's unsettling behavior and silence still left him cautious.

He couldn't shake off the unease she stirred within him, leading him to dub them, in his thoughts, as Artisia's groupies since they tried to mimic her while staying silent and trying to remain composed.

"What should we do about the body?" One of the golem masters asked.

The tone of the guy seemed a bit too relaxed, and his words too, but Rain couldn't say much since he didn't tell them to refer to him as commander as well. Telling them that would be the same as telling them that they are part of the Raging Phoenix… even though they work like everyone else and are paid the same as the others for their work…

"I will wait and see what Seadrei will decide… we came to help, but we didn't talk about the bodies of the monsters," Rain said and then went to check his parameters. "I don't think that he had any uses for this, though."

Name: Rainendall

Level: 197 (12.000/19.700)

Current Path: Ice Mage's Path (Lv 20 (300/1000)

Health: 20.330/22.330

Find more to read at empire

Mana: 17.720/59.820

Stamina: 21.890/23.490

Strength: 2056

Dexterity: 1896n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Intelligence: 3584

Vitality: 2212

Wisdom: 5352

Endurance: 2350

Luck: 416

Free Points: 140

Main Skills:

[Grand Arcane Infusion Lv 57)

[Meditation Mastery Lv 59]

[Wisdom Blessing Lv 39]

[Mana Burst Lv 22]

[Scholar's Insight Lv 23]

Support Skills:

[Iron Resilience Lv 47]

[Unyielding Endurance Lv 57]

[Grounded Initiate Lv 22]

[Horsemanship Lv 20]

[Stealth Lv 43]

"Not bad, I guess… but only eight levels for killing a five hundred-year-old dragon is a bit…" Rain frowned. "Well, I guess I can't complain since my intelligence increased by two hundred points."

In any case, Rain didn't have time to celebrate. The other sea dragon retreated, but it eventually would return, and with help as well… against the two remaining Sea dragons, Rain will have a hard time.

While Rain was thinking of what he should do, he saw some of the sea folk watching him from the ocean and soon disappearing… they were probably the soldiers that had been fighting those creatures until now.

"Take that, suckers… I already showed how incompetent you are in less than one day," Rain thought while smirking, and then he realized something. "Wait a minute, am I not helping them do their job and making myself a bigger target for the Monsters?"

Rain didn't have that much time to waste, but he couldn't go around and do the job for others… even more so the dangerous jobs. In any case, Rain needed time to recover his mana, so he told the others that they were going to camp there. Returning to the ocean under those conditions without being fully prepared was no good.

In the end, it took half a day for Rain to recover all of his mana. His mana levels were that high, so it couldn't be helped. During that time, the group didn't feel anything odd in the atmosphere, so it seemed that the sea dragons decided to keep their distance. At least for a while…

"Here is our new battle plan. As usual, we will focus on defense," Rain suddenly got up and then declared. "However, you guys will help me a little more in case the two other sea dragons were to come at me at once. You already experienced seeing them attacking you all, and you don't have a choice besides helping me."

It was the middle of the night, and returning to the ocean when the visibility was that bad seemed like a really bad move… but after hearing Rain's battle plan, the group started to see that it could work… Rain was also planning to use the darkness in their favor.

In the end, the group returned to their original location and began to wait for the sea dragons to show up… Rain told them to relax until he told them to focus, but they were unable to do so.

"They don't have experience using their heads against enemies. Trying to outsmart dragons seems like something that they think that it is impossible for them," Rain thought and then shrugged.

Mastering the art of war is the same as delving deep into the psychology of one's enemies. It involves understanding their motives, predicting their actions, and understanding how they perceive the unfolding conflict.

By adopting their perspective, strategists gain the upper hand, manipulating the enemy's choices and perceptions to their advantage. It is a subtle and nuanced approach to warfare, transcending mere physical combat and entering the realm of psychological and strategic warfare, where battles are won or lost before the first weapon is even drawn.

This art is often hidden from the public eye, known to only a select few who have honed their skills to perfection.

For example, Rain knew that the best time to attack an enemy at night would be one hour before sunrise… the dragons knew that too and they appeared right at that moment to attack. Naturally, Rain jumped into the ocean in a hurry making them think that he was caught off guard.

The cover of the night presents several strategic advantages for attacking, but the best moments depend on the specific objectives and circumstances. Attacking during dusk can be advantageous as it offers a transition period from daylight to darkness. It allows the attackers to use the fading light for initial maneuvers while making it harder for the defenders to spot and respond effectively.

When the moon is not visible or during a new moon, the darkness is at its peak, making it a prime time for covert operations. The absence of moonlight provides ample cover for night vision and stealthy movement as well. The possibilities were endless…