Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix
Chapter 1199 - 1199: Father and Son

However, the effectiveness of Power Shot came with its own set of challenges. The extended cooldown period of one minute meant that precise timing and strategic coordination were essential. Unless Asche had a reliable and trustworthy team that could cover for her vulnerability during the charge-up phase, using this attack effectively proved to be a formidable task.

"Do you think that it will be enough to defeat the king?" Asche asked.

"For every level, you can charge the arrow by one second and gain ten percent more power per second, right?" Rain asked. "You probably can with other buffs, but we don't want to kill him yet, remember?"

"Will we gain the same number of points by giving up after the fourth challenge?" Seadrei asked.

"We will have to find out," Rain shrugged. "Still, that is a question for another time since we will be testing a bunch of strategies against him."

Everyone nodded. As far as they were concerned, the rules of the place wouldn't allow them to die… it was more beneficial for the prison for them to stay alive and well. It was to the point that they would be completely healed after the fights… as long as they were defeated. Rain was never healed because he was never defeated.

"You are pretty quiet. Are you nervous?" Rain asked when he called Danny to a bit further away from the castle.

"No, not really," Danny said while forcing a smile.

It didn't seem like Danny wanted to talk about that… since he didn't say anything else, it was a fair assumption. Rain felt like sighing since he was unable to teach his son that he was fine and open up with some people like him… it was good that he grew up to become someone who was that steadfast, but holding back so many things inside him could cause problems in the future.

Something recently changed to make Danny nervous, and Rain was so busy lately that he didn't have the time to notice that… that made him feel worse. It was almost comical at that point in time how often that happened.

"Maybe it is about a friend that disappeared or something… I could only afford to worry about Esmeralda and her family when it comes to the missing people," Rain thought. "I should ask Terra and Seara later if they know about something."

"Why don't you just ask a bit more?" Elisabetha asked.

"As a man, I don't want to hurt my son's pride by making it look like he can't handle his issues on his own," Rain said.

"Father and son are about a pain in the ass," Elisabetha said.

"It is a men's thing, naturally, you wouldn't understand," Rain said.

"Sexism at its finest," Elisabetha said.

"Who should pay on the first date?" Rain asked.

"The man, obviously," Elisabetha replied.

"Hypocrisy at its finest," Rain said.

Rain had a profound understanding that humans were essentially a box filled with contradictions. This thought certainly was not lost on him, and he often observed the paradoxes inherent in human behavior. Examples of these contradictions surfaced in various aspects of life. Including his own

One notable contradiction lies in the balance between independence and the need for connection. On one hand, individuals sought autonomy and self-sufficiency, yet on the other, they craved meaningful connections and relationships. This internal struggle often played out in the delicate dance of personal interactions, where people desired for both solitude and companionship simultaneously.

Another contradiction dwelled in the realms of pride and vulnerability. People strived to project strength and confidence, yet beneath the façade, vulnerability lingered. Rain himself recognized this dynamic in his approach to parenting, acknowledging that Danny's pride might be hindered by a perceived need for help.

It was a quintessential contradiction — the desire to appear invincible while having insecurities. That was why he didn't feel like pointing out the obvious… he was probably the person who had the most contradictions there…

"Well, if you need to talk about anything, I will be here," Rain said. "Despite my youthful good looks, I have lived plenty, and also, despite looking busy, I will always have time for you guys. As long as you don't make the women in the family cry, I will always have your back."

"Ha-hahaha… thanks, Dad," Danny said while looking away nervously. "I appreciate that."

It looked like Rain stepped on a landmine. That was also the core of the issue… he had to investigate it further since they didn't have time to talk about that anymore since Sealyn arrived.

In the end, Sealyn heard and agreed to the plan… she wasn't much used to letting others take the role of the offense while she was the one who offered support, but she was glad that her father came up with the battle plan.

"This is a team battle, though," Sealyn said. "Are we going to solely rely on Power Shot?"

"The skill has a cooldown, but while I don't have the same skill on the paths system, I can copy it to some extent," Asche declared.

"How effective that will be without levels?" Sealyn asked.

"There is only one way to find out," Asche smirked.

Sealyn had a hard time holding back a sigh… she knew how her auntie was, so there was no point in letting that bother her. In the end, they talked a bit more about their formation… to make sure that Asche would have enough attack power without burdening her too much. Sealyn would offer her support with magic, while Rain, Seadrei, and Danny would form their frontline.

Once everyone was ready, they chose to enter the castle at the same time. After being teleported, they appeared in the middle of the chamber and soon found the king in the shadows, moving from his throne… he suddenly looked interested when he realized that Rain was no longer alone… he was waiting for a chance like that, to pay for the humiliation he suffered.