Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

This unexpected revelation prompted Sealyn to reevaluate her approach to combat in environments where extreme light and radiant energy were dominant factors. It emphasized the necessity of considering environmental conditions and their impact on her abilities, highlighting the importance of adaptability and strategic thinking in the face of diverse challenges.

As the group kept moving, they fought more like a team, each one of them attacking the monsters in the directions they were supposed to guard. Seara kept looking at Sealyn to see if she would show some impatience once more, but she looked deep in thought instead while looking at Rain.

"What is wrong?" Seara asked while whispering. "Don't look too much at him, or he will talk again about the nonsense of having devilish looks."

"... It is nothing," Sealyn replied while looking away after a while.

Seara was a woman, so she knew when a woman said it was nothing when someone asked her what was wrong, it was the same as admitting that the world was ending or something. In any case, it didn't take long for Seara to understand what was happening, Sealyn was studying Rain. While he only led a few armies for a couple of years, he had a few things that he could teach her.

In observing Rain's combat behavior and his demeanor post-battle, Sealyn noticed several distinctive mannerisms that set him apart as a leader and a fighter. During combat, Rain displayed a strategic approach by utilizing his magical abilities while simultaneously maintaining a vigilant watch over the surroundings.

Although he didn't physically move his head, his field of vision was expansive, allowing him to keep an eye on not just the front but also the sides. This strategic positioning enabled him to be aware of potential threats from various angles and effectively support his allies, particularly Danny, should assistance be required since he was also a frontliner…

After the battle concluded, Rain demonstrated a sense of responsibility for the well-being of the group. Instead of immediately relaxing or celebrating victory, he scanned the area and checked on the emotional state of his companions. This thorough observation helped him gauge the overall mood of the team and detect any concerns or signs of worries among them.

Rain's interactions with Danny after the latter almost missed an attack while analyzing a monster's body portrayed his supportive nature. He offered words of encouragement, reassuring Danny that he would succeed in the next attempt and encouraged him not to let the previous miss affect his focus.

"Don't try to copy him. He is only working like that because it is us who are fighting alongside him," Terra said. "When he was leading the raging phoenix, he worked the same way as you."

Sealyn looked to the side and saw Seara checking the body of the monster alongside Rain and Danny. It looked like she sent Terra to talk with her because that would make things less awkward.

"There weren't any differences?" Sealyn asked.

"I guess the differnece was the fact that he was a worrywart," Terra said while holding her chin and recalling those days. "At that time, he was pretty well known, but he always refused to lead others. He only created the raging phoenix out of necessity. You know that he was working for Branden at first because he wanted to recover his home, right?

Thanks to all that, he recruited people that didn't have any backgrounds to fighting and trained them from scratch."

Sealyn was already familiar with the broad strokes of Rain's leadership history, particularly how he had cultivated a legendary army, the Raging Phoenix, virtually from scratch within a mere three years. Even though she possessed some memories of Rain training the Raging Phoenix from her early childhood, she hadn't given those memories much consideration until now.

Nevertheless, the magnitude of Rain's accomplishment remained impressive to Sealyn. To build an army capable of facing dragons, with members lacking prior combat experience, within such a short span was an extraordinary feat. The fact that these individuals not only learned to fight but also demonstrated unwavering dedication and bravery was remarkable.

Sealyn acknowledged the immense effort and skill it must have taken for Rain to mold them into a formidable force in such a relatively brief period.

"He isn't trying to correct you or change your ways, Rain feels like he isn't suited for that since we lost that war one hundred years ago, and he doesn't want to be responsible over so many people once again," Terra said. "He doesn't want to overreach, and he also wants to avoid failure. It doesn't matter what happens. If his family and friends survive, he will consider that a victory."

"Do you think that this is enough?" Sealyn asked. "Considering this way of thinking, it doesn't surprise me that feels unsuited to leading again."

"Are you worried that he might not be reaching his true potential?" Terra asked. "It might look like that, but look at the things that Rain made happen since he returned. Considering all that, do you think that leading an army or not would make any difference to him?"

Sealyn had a moment of clarity after reflecting on Terra's words. She came to realize that Rain's perspective on leadership had always been distinct—he didn't seek titles, ranks, or formal positions of authority. What mattered to Rain was the unity among individuals, the collaborative effort toward a shared goal, and the safeguarding of their world.

Rain's influence transcended the conventional boundaries of leadership. His actions spurred countless people to come together, fostering alliances and cooperation aimed at defending their planet. His impact was such that it extended to the consideration of space travel—a testament to the collective effort and ambition he inspired.

He didn't require a formal rank or a grand army to earn their respect. It was Rain's character, his actions, and his innate ability to bring people together that earned him this respect. The fact that esteemed individuals looked up to him purely for who he was and what he stood for, rather than his position or title, was undeniably impressive.