Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

The soldiers on the walls that had long enough ranged attacks from that distance used their magic to attack the back of the enemy's battalions after Branden gave them the order to do so. However, after traveling three hundred meters in the air and in an arc to avoid their allies, it was unavoidable that they would lose some power.

Some of the enemies were hit by those and slowed down a bit, but soon, they became wary of the attacks and avoided them entirely.

While that was happening, several humans had their weapons and shields broken by the sheer power of the enemies' punches. They were almost at the level of Rain's punches when he used Iron Fists.

Thanks to all that, the enemies began to push back the humans further, and they began to fall and lose a lot of ground… despite that, Branden didn't give any other orders.

He just waited for a while longer, and then he used his last reserves of Mana and dropped the temperature behind the enemies… he didn't do anything else aside from that since it would consume his Mana faster… Still, he managed to affect the entire battlefield by making the enemies tremble, thanks to the cold.

From that point onward, the enemies were the ones who began to falter and fall and thanks to it, the humans started to like the battle and their morale increased by leaps and bounds. Branden fell with his butt on the floor of the wall, though. Since he was mentally exhausted now.

"I am fine. I just need a bit of rest to recover Mana after this battle," Branden said while getting up.

Branden couldn't fall back from the area now since the command wouldn't fall to one of his subordinates. It would come to the royal guards, and he wasn't sure how they would treat the Mercenaries; he didn't imagine that it would be like they treated each other.

In any case, he didn't have time to think about that for long since he suddenly saw that cloaked general approaching the battlefield a bit. He was calmly walking while looking around with his head down. All of a sudden, he crunched down a bit but soon got up… in a single and almost instantaneous motion, the enemy threw a rock toward Branden's head.

Still, Rain blocked the attack with one of his forearm guards…

"Hehe, it will be fun to fight that guy," Rain said while the stone that had turned into dust was falling on the floor. "Do you think that we have time to waste waiting here?"

"Thanks… you have a point," Branden said and then began to think, and then he saw the enemy grabbing another stone and then throwing at Rain this time, who grabbed it with one hand, but he hissed in pain. "Can you really face that guy when he can throw stones that are on par with magic?"

"I will find a way. Besides, I have a feeling that I pissed him off, so he won't run away no matter what," Rain said.

"Let's hope that Cor won't be bothered by this… go straight ahead toward the general and bring me his head," Branden said. "Jori, Reca, Liss, Asche, and Terra, you guys go and make sure that the other enemies won't get in the way and or try to attack Rain from behind while he is busy."

It was a bit weird for Branden to worry about that, but it made sense considering his usual behavior. Even though he said some unusual things as well.

"Roger that," Jori said, and everyone saluted.

Everyone jumped from the wall at the same time, but even before his fall could end, Rain used Impulse toward the battlefield, and the others quickly were left behind. Rain reached the battlefield, but he just sidestepped the enemies and his allies as he advanced to face the general. As soon as he passed by the last of them, he saw a tall shadow in front of him.

The enemy general immediately attacked Rain with a double palm strike in his stomach; he didn't have time to block or dodge it, so Rain felt like his stomach was about to split in two. Still, he didn't let that attack push him backward.

He stood his ground and endured the attack and also punched the enemy's face, or so he tried anyway… the Enemy moved his head to the side and then jumped backward quite fast.

Rain couldn't see the face and what the enemy was thinking behind the cloak, and it was a bit difficult to make him strategize. Still, Rain charged once again toward the enemy. In the last moment, he used Impulse. He closed in the distance insanely fast before punching the stomach of the enemy.

Still, the guy blocked his attack with a single hand, and Rain felt like he had punched a boulder since he barely moved at all.

"He changed from strength and speed to endurance to speed," Rain thought. "His reflexes are quite good…"

In the next moment, the enemy tried to headbutt Rain, and he accepted the challenge; he used Impulse to increase his power as well, but then when their foreheads collided, Rain got dizzy since he felt like he hit a brick wall… he was certain that the enemy would use Strength and Speed again, but he changed in the last moment.

"His reaction and decision-making speed are something else," Rain thought when he jumped backward and calmed down a little.

Rain could tell that the enemy was also trying to analyze him, so he shouldn't rush like a mad dog… the enemy was being cautious since it probably knew a few things about him. If he attacks like usual, he will probably receive a counter that could take his life.

"Well, I can't take my time here, and since it has been a while, I guess I will use that and finish things as quickly as possible," Rain thought and then touched the ground.