Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

While Rain was working on gathering more information about the enemy's location, the others worked on organizing themselves. This time, they wouldn't be able to split the inhabitants of the vessel into an assault team and a stand-by team. Everyone would have to help in some shape or form.

With that in mind, they split literally everyone into teams that always would stay together all the time and help each other, even if those people couldn't fight all the time or their skills were a bit lacking.

To make up for that, everyone worked hard to make their own meditation mastery rings, and with the help of Jori and Liss, they also made some Limit Breaker rings to help those who were still learning that technique. That should increase their survivability a fair bit.

"What do you want me to do?" Iori asked when Rain went to his room.

"Soon, we will enter the enemy territory, and we can't tell what will happen," Rain said. "We all will have to fight so we will be busy to do anything else, so I want you to learn as much as possible from what you will see there," Rain said. "The relics will come with us, so you will be given free reins this time."

"Well, it seems that you are in a really bad spot," Iori said. "I can do whatever I want, huh? Even help them kill you."

"Well, if you can find pleasure in that, you can do so," Rain said. "One hundred years wandering aimlessly after losing your chance to kill me. I am sure it will be fun to let others do the last hit."

Iori remained silent, his expression betraying a mixture of resentment and contemplation. Rain's words struck a chord, highlighting the stark truth of Iori's situation. Despite his desire for revenge, the intricate web of consequences surrounding the potential demise of Rain and his companions weighed heavily on his mind.

Esmeralda and her family would be on the frontlines, too, and the prospect of ending the royal bloodline and the shame it would bring to his own lineage presented a complex dilemma for Iori. Revenge fueled his hatred, but the broader implications of his actions seemed to linger in his thoughts.

The silence that followed spoke volumes, and it became apparent that Iori's internal conflict ran deep as well.

Iori also saw what happened to that planet… a lot less power could be used to destroy them, and it would be highly effective, so perhaps considering his revenge now wasn't the best of options.

During that week, everyone worked tirelessly, to the point that they used all that metal that they obtained to equip themselves and create some mana cannons as well. It was hard to say if they would be able to use all of that… using them might as well be their downfall as well since it might force the enemies not to hold back anymore.

"Your eyes are bloodshot. You need to rest for a bit," Terra said when she arrived in the control room alongside Seara.

"How much time do we have?" Sears asked.

"Around four hours," Rain said while he was testing some new lenses on the telescope. "Did you give the relics to the others?"

"Yes," Sears said. "Although I am not sure why I should keep the javelin, I don't use lightning magic."

"You just need to infuse your mana with it, and you will be able to use it," Rain said.

Rain lent the relics to his friends and family, just to be sure… Terra was still with the gloves, Roan had the hammer, Sears would use the javelin, and Liss would use the dark scepter. And Sealyn had the spear, armor, and shield. That should make things a bit easier for them.

Rain also gave his other relics to his other family members and friends. A bunch of them already had some relics that they won in the tournament or they asked Rain to forge on the weeks after, so they took a glimpse of Rain's real overprotective nature.

"Sealyn, Danny, and Annie said that they came here earlier, but it seems that you didn't pay much attention to them," Terra said.

"Did they say that?" Rain furrowed his eyebrows. "We talked for a fair bit."

"What is the point of talking with someone without looking at them in the eyes?" Terra asked.

Rain couldn't say anything in his defense… he was working on doing everything possible to find any information that they could use, after all.

The control room was filled with tension as Rain, mentally and physically exhausted, continued his relentless work. Terra and Seara exchanged worried glances, recognizing the signs of his overexertion reminiscent of a century ago during the draconic wars.

Realizing that history couldn't repeat itself, they decided to take matters into their own hands. Seara struck Rain on the back with the javelin and then shocked him with electricity. At the same time, Terra swiftly delivered a punch to his stomach. The room fell silent as Rain crumpled to the floor, temporarily stunned by the unexpected blows.

The control room, usually filled with the hum of activity, now held an uneasy stillness. Rain's breaths were slow and labored as he lay on the floor, momentarily stunned by the unexpected physical intervention.

"I am sure you two could have found a better way to deal with this," Sakaki said.

"Not when the person in question is Rain," Terra said and then put Rain on her shoulders and took him to his bed. "Can't let him do any hasty decisions with a tired mind. Otherwise, we might find him once again after one hundred years."

"The story repeating itself, huh?" Sakaki said. "Can't say that such a thing would surprise me. Anyway, at least try to wake him up half an hour before we enter the enemies territory."

"We will do that ten minutes before that. That way, he won't have time to complain," Seara grinned.