Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Rain paid a visit to Branden, and he felt bad since he brought some bad news… because he found Esmeralda as well, and she was clearly pregnant.

"Thanks for informing me in advance… I guess my congratulations aren't that important to you two," Rain frowned.

"Sorry about that… but you were so busy," Branden said. "Like starving yourself and finding a lost and isolated civilization."

"How are you feeling?" Rain asked.

"I am fine, just feeling a bit dizzy now and then," Esmeralda said, and then she smiled. "These are some good news, I was thinking of naming the kid after you. What do you think?"

"You sure know how to pick some heroic names. What if it is a girl?" Rain asked.

"Rainendall still sounds a bit feminine, don't you think?" Esmeralda asked.

"I am not sure," Rain shrugged. "Sorry, but I have come with some bad news… I always only show up with bad news, right?"

"It is fine, just tell us what you found out, there is no point in worrying anymore, we just have to do our best," Esmeralda said.

Rain found himself happy thanks to Esmeralda's resilience. Despite the looming threats and the dire circumstances surrounding them, her unwavering determination and the prospect of their child's arrival were like a ray of light amidst the storm.

This child could only be seen as a blessing, a symbol of new beginnings, and a source of strength during these turbulent times. Esmeralda's unwavering spirit and the promise of a brighter future served as a beacon of hope that warmed Branden's and her heart and gave him the fortitude to face the challenges that lay ahead.

"All right," Rain said.

After hearing what Rain saw, both of them stayed silent for a while… they knew that both sides would be able to control the monsters since they were quite close to nature… they also had special abilities that would make things even easier for them.

"They will try to command the forces instead of trying to overwhelm us with numbers and speed like before," Branden said while holding his chin. "You still don't know about the location of the beast people leaders, right?"

"Yes," Rain nodded.

"They might return now… I would bet on that," Branden said.

"It has been a while since we saw the magic people's leaders as well… do you think that they disappeared as well and will return stronger like those brainwashed warriors?" Esmeralda asked.

"We should act considering that," Branden said. "You made everyone become leaders of the group, right? You should ask them to name some vice generals and make them talk with the captains now, Rain. They will be the commanders of their respective armies, but they won't have time to talk with hundreds of captains."

"I will do that… I should have done that sooner," Rain said while scratching the back of his head. "I was too busy learning new tricks."

"We can ask Seadrei for some help as usual since he is back to normal," Esmeralda added. "The enemies might come stronger, and while our forces leveled up as well, it will be better if we tire the enemies out before any real confrontation."

A war in two fronts will be very annoying… the enemies will certainly try to attack and destroy the weakest side first and gain territory, mainly because of the sea folk that could help them.

In any case, Rain went to visit his family and friends and told them the news… they needed to prepare for the next battle. Unlike those who wanted to stop the dungeons, the enemies wanted to use them, so they would do whatever it takes to make them break faster than the ones in their territory… possible around the same time their dungeon breaks.

"Even if that doesn't happen… the deaths will make the dungeons grow faster," Rain thought while rubbing his eyes. "A war of attrition will be annoying, but a quick one will break the dungeons sooner. The enemies want us to stay busy."

As Rain returned home, he couldn't shake off the unsettling realization that there might be three distinct enemies conspiring against them. The first enemy appeared to be a human who had orchestrated stealth attacks on both the beast people and the magic people, aiming to sow discord between them and place blame on the humans.

The second was the suspicious hooded figure who had demonstrated the power of teleportation, making them an annoying adversary. The third adversary was a demi-human who seemed to be collaborating with both the magic people and the beast people, further complicating the situation.

However, Rain remained confused about the ultimate goal of these enemies. Their motives and intentions remained covered in mystery, leaving him with a sense of unease and uncertainty. It was clear that they were up against a complex and multifaceted threat…

"The worst kind of enemy is the one that you can't see… just like the worst kind of punch is the one you can't see coming," Rain thought and then sighed.

When Rain arrived at home, he found his family waiting for him while sleeping on chairs. It was late already, but it seemed that they wanted to confirm his safety… the kids were in their mothers arms resting peacefully.

Rain smiled, but then he soon sighed… he was trying to leave behind for them or to create a better world for them, but that wasn't something easy to accomplish.

"It is weird… the stronger I get, the less suited I feel to protect them," Rain thought. "I also want to make them strong enough to protect themselves, but things aren't that easy… it feels like the current age of strife will never end."

Since that was the case, they will always have to keep trying to improve themselves, and it seemed that the best thing that they would be able to do was to survive instead of thrive… Rain couldn't let that be their whole life. Read new adventures at empire