Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix
Chapter 1250 - 1250: Mana Drain

When Rain saw the insect queen once again, he frowned because she had just smashed some of the flies with her arms and then drank a small amount of red blood that came from them... Rain wondered how that was possible, but that blood was his. Did those insects teleport after Rain split them in half?

Regardless, the insect queen slowed down as she trembled in the air, and her aura changed. When Rain was about to reach her, she suddenly turned around and then fired a blast of wind that pushed him backward for hundreds of meters.

When Rain stopped moving, he felt his ears wet and ringing… his eardrums had been damaged. He immediately began to heal them, but soon, the beast charged toward him and swung its claws at him. Rain blocked the attack with his giant earth arms, but the impact pushed him downward until he hit the ground. He landed on his feet, but Rain couldn't help but be astonished.

"Why was she running away with that level of strength?" Rain thought. "Or did she get this power after absorbing my blood?"

The insect queen began to fly around Rain; despite her size, she was so fast to the point that she almost could bend the air, leaving it distorted. While Rain was watching that, he couldn't help but think that his blood truly boosted her strength, but for how long?

"I can't let her scratch me even once… or she will get even stronger," Rain thought.

All of a sudden, the insect queen charged at Rain and swung down its claws on his neck from both sides. Rain blocked the attack with his giant earth arms, but then the big mouth of the beast approached him.

When Rain was about to be devoured, the ominous blade suddenly flew from the distance and almost pierced the head of the monster, but she jumped away in a fraction of a moment… those were some crazy reflexes.

Before Rain could have time to even take a deep breath, the monster began to suck the air in the area. Rain contemplated a risky idea as he observed the insect queen sucking the air. Perhaps, he thought, he could allow the ominous sword to be drawn into the vacuum created by the monster. Once inside, Rain considered splitting the monster from inside, aiming for a surprise attack.

However, as he was about to put this plan into motion, he noticed something alarming. The ominous sword encased in a layer of ice, began to lose its icy coating at an alarming rate. In less than ten seconds, the sword lost all the mana that Rain had infused into it. The insect queen's vacuum-like ability was draining not only the air but also the magical energy that fueled Rain's attacks.

"It can drain mana like that from active spells, huh," Rain thought. "Still, my giant arms are fine, so she can't suck anything that has been soaked in corrupt power as well."

Once again, the giant beast charged at Rain ready to split him in half or devour him alive, but then one of the claws of the beast was stopped by a powerful punch coming from Rain's right arm.

The impact made the area tremble, but at least it stopped the beast… since the giant fly wasn't that heavy, it was actually pushed backward. That was the power of Rain's punch added with Power Shot. He wondered if he should call it Power Punch. Or PP, but there was no time for jokes.

In the next moment, Rain's giant earth-left arm and legs turned into dust, and all of his wrath was transferred to his right arm. The monster saw that and raised its guard despite its hunger… Rain's right arm looked like it was on fire, covered in black flames.

Moreover, Rain soon coated his left arm with earth magic as well, and this time, instead of assuming the obsidian color, the giant earth arm began to emit a transparent glow… it almost looked like Rain enhanced it with light.

The monster groaned in annoyance since that arm passed it some bad feelings… Rain was planning to do something with that left arm, something that would be very troublesome for the monster. Still, the creature knew that it couldn't waste time… the buff granted by Rain's blood wouldn't last forever.

"I won't kill you. I will turn you into my daily snack and then use the power of your blood to take over this zone," The insect queen said.

"Please do," Rain said and then moved his right arm backward, preparing to launch his attack.

The insect queen, very aware of Rain's intentions, recognized that he was charging another powerful attack. Determined not to let him unleash it, she focused on disrupting his concentration. However, as she attempted to drain the mana from Rain's body using her air-suction ability, she realized something unexpected. Initially, there was no discernible effect, and Rain seemed to resist her efforts.

Yet, after a brief moment, Rain's expression changed, and beads of cold sweat formed on his forehead. The insect queen, perceptive and relentless, confirmed that her vacuum-like ability was finally working. She watched with satisfaction as Rain's mana levels rapidly decreased.

In a desperate attempt to halt the process, Rain struggled against the suction, attempting to regain control. However, the insect queen's ability proved too powerful, and soon, Rain found himself in a dangerous situation. His mana, a source of power vital for his magical prowess, reached alarmingly low levels.

"Hehehehe, so delicious," The insect queen said. "I will truly turn you into my pet and savor you everyday."

The insect queen looked ecstatic after draining all of Rain's mana. It had been a while since she had such a good meal, after all. Keeping Rain alive for his blood and mana truly was the best option for her. Still, there was something in his defiant expression that made her aware that he wasn't done yet…