Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

While Rain was moving toward the North of that world, he looked below and was lucky to find few clouds blocking his path and thanks to that, he was able to see that world with a clear view… he could only see the ocean, though. Eventually, he found the area where he escaped from the sea dragons. Even from that distance, he could tell that area with high mana density.

"Maybe I should try to improve Meditation again… why am I saying that when Terra was the one who did that?" Rain frowned. "Anyway, I want to test if we can get more mana around that dungeon and fight off its annoying effects."

Rain also considered creating an anti-magic barrier around the dungeons, but he couldn't do that without the crystals… even now, their composition was completely unknown to him. His best option was to invade the capital of the magic people and steal their crystal, but they should be waiting for him thanks to the previous attack.

Regardless, flying at high altitudes had been easier for Rain than he had expected. There wasn't much friction since the air wasn't as thick, and thanks to it, he was able to save mana while keeping his speed.

Around six hours after splitting with Seadir, Rain finally began to see a massive land in the distance. That was supposed to be the demi humans land. At first, Rain expected to see an island that was like one hundred kilometers long, but it seemed that it was a lot bigger than that.
Enjoy new tales from empire

After going down a bit and using his Telescope, Rain was able to see the island. As Rain approached the demi-human island, a surprising sight unfolded before him. The island exuded an otherworldly beauty, almost appearing as a natural paradise in their world. Lush, vibrant greenery covered the landscape, and the entire island seemed to glow with life.

The crystal-clear waters surrounding the island glowed with various shades of blue and green, creating a stunning contrast with the verdant terrain.

However, despite the island's apparent splendor, Rain couldn't find any signs of demi-human activity. The untouched, pristine nature of the island left him puzzled, as it stood in stark contrast to the bustling and industrious scenes he was accustomed to in his own territory. This island, seemingly untouched by civilization, held an air of mystery and intrigue that deepened as Rain's curiosity grew.

"Maybe they are tree-hugging hippies like the beast people," Rain thought.

It was weird since Rain couldn't see anyone or anything in there. The forest was that dense, but Rain should have been able to see things from there. In any case, Rain decided to increase the size of the telescope a bit more, and thanks to it, he was able to see things with more details below… nothing changed.

"... This is suspicious," Rain rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Rain used Magic Eyes and soon confirmed that a barrier was covering their whole area… it was so massive that even reached fifty kilometers of height. That couldn't be compared to the other ones that Rain saw… at the same time, the color of the mana was weird. The anti-magic barriers were blue, and the physical ones were red, but that one was a dark purple.

It was even weirder since Rain couldn't feel danger while looking at it.

"... Could it be that Joanis got his knowledge from them?" Rain thought. "Still, considering how he treated his sons… he couldn't see demi-humans as more than just tools."

Although it seemed dangerous, Rain's curiosity was too strong… he couldn't leave without seeing what it was beyond the barrier. That being said, there were a few things that Rain could do to decrease the chances of trouble brewing.

As Rain descended toward his destination, a sense of tension crept over him. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was taking a considerable risk with this plan. The potential consequences weighed heavily on his mind. His death would mean leaving behind two devoted wives and three young children who depended on him.

Despite these concerns, Rain continued with his descent. He scanned the area, making sure there were no dragons in the vicinity, and finally touched down on the water's surface. With unwavering resolve, he approached the mysterious barrier that separated him from the unknown territory of the demi-humans.

"I shouldn't look that suspicious like this… even though my actions reveal that I am aware of the barrier," Rain thought and then touched the barrier. "Here comes nothing... don't eat my hand, please. It won't be tasty."

After touching the barrier, Rain's hands crossed it… it felt like he was crossing a thin layer of water, and when he pulled it back, Rain confirmed that nothing had changed. He couldn't drop his guard now, but he still crossed the barrier the next moment.

As Rain crossed the barrier, the purpose of the spell became immediately clear to him. The barrier was a disguise, concealing the true nature of the land beyond its confines. Initially, he had seen a very natural-looking and deserted island and a massive untouched forest that appeared to be lost in time.

But as the barrier fell away, revealing the reality of the place, he was met with a strikingly different sight.

The once pristine island now displayed signs of civilization. Countless houses stood near the beach, crafted from stone and wood with expert precision. While the structures appeared simple, Rain's keen eye detected the influence of magic in their construction. What caught his attention even more than the architecture, however, was the people who had gathered.

They looked at Rain with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion in their eyes, their presence a stark contrast to the natural paradise he had initially witnessed.

"Hello there… I have come in peace," Rain said while forcing a smile. "I have come to trade with you all useless things like mirrors and glass for your valuable natural resources. I hope that you like them."