Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

In that short window of time, Rain teleported behind the enemy and then stabbed their heart with his own arm… in the next moment, all of the essence of the enemy was sucked into a single red core that Rain created with it.

The skill Teleportation leveled up.

The skill Spatial Manipulation Mastery leveled up.

The skill Limit Breaker leveled up.

…

Rain sighed in relief… he won before anything too drastic could happen. Still, it wasn't over yet. He teleported where the others were and soon confirmed that they were about to finish their retreat.

"We are going to continue our attack," Rain said. "Rest as much as possible."

Naturally, that wasn't the case… It was only a countermeasure in case the enemy was watching them. As soon as they finished the retreat, Rain got Iori core and then teleported back to Earth, using the remaining mana on both gems.

Rain waited for a while to confirm that things were fine, and soon he confirmed that his gut feeling wasn't trying to warn him of anything, so that was enough for him at that point in time; he treated that almost like a foresight or a radar for trouble.

"The mission was almost a complete success, but that guy killed a hundreds of warriors," Seara said and then passed the javelin to Rain. "That creature was unable to fight for long, but…"

"It seems that you recovered the crossbow and turned the enemy into a core as well," Sakaki said. "Congratulations for doing that so fast. If we keep up with things like this, we should be able to continually get in the way of the enemies."

"You are being weirdly positive," Rain said while massaging his shoulders. "What is wrong?"

"... It seems that he is also sealed after being corrupted by the enemy's magic," Sakaki said. "I can't feel his presence either, just like the woman in the golden vase."

Rain brought the crossbow from his pocket dimension. The crossbow, reminiscent of the divine archery associated with Apollo, showed an unmistakable resemblance to the mythical weapons wielded by gods of ancient lore. Its construction was a testament to masterful craftsmanship, evident in the precision of its design and the flawless execution of every detail.

Each curve and line seemed to flow with a divine elegance, enhancing both its aesthetic appeal and its functionality.

The surface of the crossbow shimmered with a radiant red sheen, hinting at the otherworldly power imbued within its frame. Delicate engravings adorned its surface, depicting scenes of myth and legend that spoke to its storied heritage.

These intricate details, reminiscent of ancient Greek artistry, added a sense of majesty to the weapon, elevating it from a mere tool to a symbol of transcendent power.

"So, his codename is supposed to be Apollo? What is his real name and the woman from the golden vase as well," Rain said.

"Victor and Marie…" Sakaki said.

"Victor wasn't supposed to have been corrupted for long, but maybe he has been experimented with before," Rain said while checking the crossbow. "Recovering them should take some mana. Esmeralda is already working with Marie, so someone should use the crossbow."

When it comes to long-range weapons, there was Asche, but she already had a bow… not a relic like that, though, and it felt like a crossbow wouldn't suit her, like a bow. Still, there was no other person…

"Maybe I should give it to Van… if he and Sealyn stay on the backline, it will be easier for Sealyn not to do anything stupid," Rain thought.

Rain took the opportunity to talk with each member of his team while they focused on recuperating from the intense battle. As he made his walk, ensuring everyone was tended to and resting adequately, he finally approached Van with the crossbow in hand. Van's expression turned somber as he accepted the relic, prompting him to furrow his brow in concern.

He couldn't shake the feeling that entrusting such a powerful artifact to his children would have been a more logical decision. Still, Van knew that Rain wouldn't do such a thing without thinking a lot about it.

"... Thanks, although it feels weird to receive a gift from you," Van said.

"It is a loan, and remember, if something happens to either of them, you are dead," Rain said.

"Yes, sir," Van said.

"... I am going to be busy for a while. If anyone looks for me, solve the problem," Rain said.

"I will do my very best," Van said and then nodded.

After that, Rain looked for a quiet place to do his thing. Everyone was busy with their own tasks, and they also needed a break, so that was a good chance. After looking for a mountain to sit down, Rain looked around, waiting for the overseer, but even after recovering two relics, he still wasn't showing any signs that he was planning to prioritize Rain and his friends.

"Self-serving asshole…" Rain said and then sighed. "Anyway, it is about time for you to have a path just like Elisabetha's Sakaki. We can't rely on you forever to analyze the enemies and some objects."

"My path isn't like hers. It is already part of the system," Sakaki said. "It is the ultimate lightning path magic. Didn't I say that before?"

"No, you didn't," Rain said while massaging his eyebrows.

"Well, it was supposed to be obvious, so…" Sakaki said.

Rain's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden headache, a reminder of the strain he often endured when dealing with numerous responsibilities. While Sakaki's words about his lightning path magic being part of the system were indeed obvious, such details tended to slip Rain's mind amidst the flurry of tasks demanding his attention.

Nonetheless, Rain swiftly shifted his focus back to the present moment, recognizing the urgency of the situation at hand. With determination, he and Sakaki delved into the process of analyzing the core extracted from the defeated creature, their collaboration aimed at unraveling its secrets and uncovering any valuable insights it might hold.