Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix
Chapter 1221 - 1221: New party

Despite the potential benefits, Rain remained cautious, understanding the dangerous balance required to navigate the treacherous landscape of the prison. Not everything that shines is gold, and not everyone who might help him is truly a friend.

In any case, there weren't many ways to force that guy to cooperate with him, at least for now, so Rain decided to use the core that he had become and attach it to some weapon. That would make him feel some pain. It had been a while since he had made some forearm guards. The previous ones were lost when they were captured, so he decided to make them.

"Those would be so useful with their durability, but I guess it can't be helped…" Rain thought.

When considering metals for a combination of durability and lightness, titanium is often regarded as an excellent choice. Titanium is a low-density metal that is known for its high strength-to-weight ratio. It is as strong as steel but about 45% lighter. Additionally, titanium is corrosion-resistant, which makes it suitable for a variety of applications.

With that in mind, Rain made the forearm guards using those as a basis and then attached the core on the left one.

The metallic white forearms guard almost instantly began to emit a purple, dark brow when the core was attached… Rain also could feel the power of the sins increasing… since he only took a part of the king in the shadow's power, the skills stopped at level thirty-five, but it was still a bit bothersome. Even though the virtue paths were at a higher level.

Level 1: Alluring Temptation - Entrance the enemy with an irresistible allure, causing them to momentarily lose focus and become vulnerable. This skill increases the chance of opponents missing their attacks by 100%, creating an opening for strategic maneuvers.

Level 1: Lethargic Domination - Induce a state of lethargy in the surroundings, slowing down time for opponents and reducing their reaction speed by 100%. This skill grants Rain the advantage of controlling the pace of the battle, allowing for strategic planning and precise execution.

Level 1: Insatiable Avarice - Ignite an insatiable desire for more, increasing the effectiveness of your attacks by 100% when the enemy has an item that you want. This skill enhances your powers by satisfying the never-ending hunger for wealth and treasures.

"Wow… it seems that all of the skills from the sins path are quite messed up," Rain thought. "In any case, it seems that I can't reset this path because the core is making them reach this level…"

No kind of item was supposed to affect the system like that; they could improve the efficiency and power of skills, but they weren't supposed to increase his levels like that. It seemed the same thing as Branden's seal did to Rain in the past… it increased all of his skills and parameters because Branden would give up on them for as long as the seal was active.

Basically, Rain turned a part of the king's power into his, but anyone will be able to use it just by equipping the gloves.

Rain, intrigued by the newfound power, decided to experiment with it. He attempted to tap into the shadow magic that had once belonged to the king in the shadows. However, despite the enhanced capabilities granted by the metallic forearm guards, he found it challenging to control the intricate nature of the shadow magic.

It became obvious that obtaining complete control over the shadow magic required a level of understanding and familiarity that Rain currently lacked. The skills and techniques used by the king in the shadows were intricate and complex, and Rain could only access a fraction of that knowledge with the incomplete core he possessed.

Frustrated by the limitations, Rain realized that wielding the full extent of the king's shadow magic might require either training and practice or obtaining the entire essence of the king. The latter option, however, seemed improbable given the king's reluctance to cooperate fully without Rain working with him… as if he would work with someone who tried to kill him and his friends.

"I guess I'll have to figure this out on my own or find some additional guidance," Rain thought, acknowledging that unraveling the mysteries of the shadow magic would take time and effort.

Before long, Rain decided to head outside and stretch his body a bit, and much to his surprise, the sky was the same as ever… red. Several hours had passed since they came to the zone, so night should have arrived a long time ago… unless that planet was massive or different, and the days and nights were stupidly longer.

"This place is always like this," Elisabetha suddenly said. "There are no nights since this area has four suns."

"Four suns… you say… is that even possible?" Rain furrowed his eyebrows.

"Only Sakaki has that kind of knowledge, so I can't tell," Elisabetha said. "Regardless, I gave Arel the gist of our history, and I learned a bit more about things here."

Over the years, the power dynamics within the zone had been marked by a series of power shifts, with various leaders rising and falling as they vied for control over different territories. It was a lawless land that might dictate the rules, and alliances were formed and broken in the pursuit of dominance.

The cycle of power struggles played out countless times, with individuals attaining enough strength to disrupt the established order, only to be toppled by coalitions of rivals fearing their power.

However, the status quo was disrupted in the last two decades with the emergence of a new and formidable force. Unlike the previous contenders, this force not only survived encounters with coalition armies but managed to stop them. The resilience and power exhibited by this entity set it apart, raising concerns among the remaining leaders.

The usual cycle of dominance and defeat seemed to be disrupted, creating a sense of unease and uncertainty within the prison zone.