Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix
Chapter 268 - 268: Reinforcements

Without a moment's hesitation, Rain ascended to the top of the fallen monster's head with resolute determination. There, at the pinnacle of the creature's massive form, he unleashed a relentless barrage of strikes. Each blow was calculated and unwavering, targeting the dragon's once-impenetrable scales.

Under Rain's ceaseless assault, the dragon's formidable scales began to splinter and fracture. The sound of cracking scales reverberated through the air, a testament to the sheer force and determination behind Rain's attack.

When Rain was about to Summon the ice blade, he heard a powerful roar that made him feel like his eardrums were about to explode alongside the ground, trembling. Rain barely had time to jump away when a giant bolt was fired toward him.

When Rain looked to the side, he saw the earth dragon dashing toward him and making several giant bolts emerge from the ground while the beast kept screaming.

"This can't be good…" Rain thought when he landed. "Do your job properly…"

A sudden, oppressive coldness descended upon the atmosphere, transforming the once-dramatic battlefield. It was as if an eerie shadow had engulfed the scene, sending a shiver down the spines of those present.

Amid this eerie shift, the fire dragon, recovering from its initial surprise, blazed back to life with renewed determination. Its fiery eyes burned with a fervor that matched the intensity of the battle.

Yet, the situation grew even more daunting as the earth dragon entered the fray. The colossal earth dragon's imposing form now stood alongside its fiery counterpart, adding an overwhelming presence to the already tense atmosphere.

"I need to get rid of the fire dragon as soon as possible, and then the earth dragon…" Rain thought.

As soon as he made up his mind, the fire dragon sensed Rain's resolve, and the creature decided to fly to the sky and escape from him. Too bad for the beast, but Rain could use magic to help with that… still before he could do that, the earth dragon charged toward Rain.

The dragon fired those giant bolts, and Rain blocked them with his forearm guards. Although they had high resistance against earth magic, Rain was still pushed backward several meters. Still, when the monster was about to headbutt him, Rain used Impulse to the side and then returned while punching the left cheek of the beast.

The impact made the ground tremble and crack. The monster also flinched and was pushed away, but only a couple of centimeters.

"This one is a lot tougher," Rain thought while he felt his right fist troubling. "Physical attacks only won't work, even though I enhanced my attack power to the limits."

The colossal earth dragon swung its massive tail towards Rain with thunderous force. Rain leaped into the air in a split-second reaction, narrowly evading the devastating strike. But the dragon's onslaught didn't cease there. It lunged forward, aiming to crush Rain with a fierce headbutt.

With agility and skill, Rain's expertise came into play. He executed a swift and potent kick, squarely connecting with the dragon's face. The force of his blow not only halted the beast's charge a bit but also propelled Rain backward through the air. He spun gracefully before landing firmly on the ground, poised to confront the unrelenting earth dragon once more.

"It charges in fast, and it has some tricks up its sleeve aside from magic…" Rain thought. "This one perhaps should be around one hundred years old. It is hard to say… I need to find a way to measure their age."

Rain remembered that he possessed the ability to use his Magic Eyes to perceive the auras of creatures, allowing him to compare the current earth dragon's aura with that of the one he had previously encountered. As he focused his gaze, a distinct and formidable aura enveloped the monster, exuding a sense of sheer power and dominance.

Recalling his encounter with the fire dragon, Rain noted a striking contrast in auras. While the fire dragon's aura had danced and flickered like flames, the earth dragon's aura was notably thicker and more imposing, like a rock, hinting at the immense strength and resilience possessed by this colossal beast.

Rain was well aware that creatures' elemental affinities could significantly influence their auras' appearance. However, this knowledge didn't deter him from taking precise measurements.

His Magic Eyes allowed him to scrutinize and compare the auras of both the earth and fire dragons, enabling him to discern not only the elemental nuances but also the distinct characteristics that set these creatures apart.

"Around two times more intense… I guess I was right," Rain thought.

The earth dragon charged again, and Rain could see that the monster was pissed… he could use that in his favor. Since it was a species much stronger than humans, it didn't feel the need to use its head and wanted to overpower him through and through.

While he was formulating his plan in mind, Rain kept using Impulse to the sides to avoid the charges of the earth dragon, but that only made the beast more enraged.

All of a sudden, the monster stopped moving and stepped on the ground several times. The ground began to shake, and then Rain was unable to use Impulse the way he wanted. Still, when the monster charged it, Rain jumped over the monster and landed behind it. However, while he was in the air, Rain saw something worrisome…

When Rain landed, he looked in the distance, and then he saw another dragon approaching from the south… it wasn't the fire dragon from earlier. As if that wasn't troublesome enough, Rain heard another roar coming from the opposite direction, and he saw another in the distance.

"That earlier scream was one for help… shit," Rain thought. "Of all things that could happen..."

The second one was heading in the direction of Jori, Reca, Liss, Asche, and Terra, so Rain couldn't waste his time. Even if it was risky, he had to finish that battle faster.