Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Rain knew that learning the skills of the enemies would take a while and formulating strategies against them would also be a pain… so they had to get rid of all of the allies that could help them.

Rain touched the ground with both hands and then began to impale the golem masters without holding back his mana. Still, despite that, he wasn't able to do that before the next wave of enemies arrived.

In the end, Rain did the right thing in getting rid of as many enemies as possible because even from a distance, the new group began to heal their wounded allies…

"This isn't good," Rain thought.

A group of healers… that was another thing that they didn't hear that the enemies had; perhaps a tribe would be more accurate. Still, the surprises didn't end there, Rain soon saw the healers doing their healing and still approaching the area even though they didn't have the numerical advantage.

Rain could only imagine that they had some tricks up their sleeve… otherwise, it would be too stupid for them to do that. It was close to a death sentence.

The clash between the new battalion and the mercenaries was a whirlwind of movement and precision. The mercenaries swung their weapons with force, their attacks aimed at the newcomers. Still, their strikes met only air as the skilled fighters from the battalion dodged and weaved, narrowly evading the blows.

With astounding agility, the battalion members closed in on the mercenaries, exploiting every opening they found in the enemies' defenses. Elbows and knees struck out with calculated precision, targeting vulnerable points on the mercenaries' bodies. Even through their armor, the mercenaries winced in pain as the powerful strikes landed on their stomachs and sides.

In the blink of an eye, the skilled fighters from the battalion seized the advantage they had created. Swift and decisive, they seized the opportunities presented by their adversaries' momentary vulnerability. Powerful roundhouse kicks lashed out, aiming for the mercenaries' heads. The impact was brutal, the sound of bone meeting bone echoing across the battlefield.

Rain's eyes widened as he witnessed the result of these strikes. Some of the mercenaries' necks twisted at unnatural angles, their bodies dropping like lifeless dolls to the ground. Others were sent sprawling, tumbling over the earth as their equilibrium was shattered. The rapid series of kicks and precise strikes left no room for mercy, and the battlefield was soon littered with the fallen.

The combination of speed, precision, and brutal efficiency displayed by the battalion fighters was awe-inspiring and chilling at the same time. Rain recognized the effectiveness of their tactics and the way they exploited weaknesses and unleashed their attacks with deadly intent.

"They are exactly what I want to be… semi-immortal brawlers with excellent healing skills," Rain thought.

Rain decided to stop daydreaming since the enemies knew how to fight against armed soldiers. Still, the inverse couldn't be further from the truth. Rain looked at his friends, and they seemed as surprised as him, but they had experience fighting "unarmed" people.

"Keep your guard up," Rain said. "I don't know their overall strength, but you need to assume that they are almost the same as me, if not stronger, thanks to their healing abilities."

Jori and Reca exchanged a quick glance, their expressions a mixture of surprise and trepidation. The scene unfolding before them was nothing short of astonishing. The skilled fighters from the new battalion moved with a precision and speed they had rarely witnessed, easily overwhelming their adversaries.

It was a stark contrast to their own experiences, especially when it came to facing Rain in sparring sessions.

In those training bouts, Rain had always held a clear upper hand. His mastery of martial techniques and magic made him a formidable opponent, and Jori and Reca had struggled to even land a hit on him, let alone gain an advantage. Now, as they watched the battalion members effortlessly dodge, strike, and incapacitate the mercenaries, a sense of awe and humility washed over them.

They watched as the battalion fighters displayed a level of combat prowess that seemed almost supernatural. The fact that the enemy could heal themselves only added to the complexity of the situation. Knowing that the enemy could recover from injuries emboldened the fighters, allowing them to take more risks when attacking or counterattacking.

The group charged toward the enemies, and since Rain knew that he couldn't waste time, he decided to use Impulse every single time he and the others attacked… that would boost their power a fair bit. Still, it would also consume his mana insanely fast.

After approaching the enemies, Rain didn't hold back and used Iron Fists and Crushing Blow at the same time on one enemy. Still, even without weapons or protective gear, the target blocked the attack with both arms.

The impact of Rain's punch was thunderous, crushing the enemy's arms and sending shockwaves through his body. The force of the blow was enough to push him back several steps, his feet sliding against the ground as he struggled to maintain his balance. His arms hung at unnatural angles, broken and mangled from the sheer force of the impact.

Despite the excruciating pain and the gruesome injuries, the enemy's resolve remained unbroken. With an eerie determination, he began to channel his magical energy, a pulsating glow surrounding his body. The air around him seemed to shimmer as his rapid healing abilities kicked into overdrive.

Rain's eyes widened as he watched in astonishment. The enemy's wounds began to knit themselves back together, flesh reattaching and bones realigning at an almost alarming pace. It was as if his body was defying the laws of nature, regenerating with a speed that was nothing short of unnatural.

The enemy's twisted arms straightened out, and the skin that was once torn and broken became smooth once more. The pain that should have immobilized him seemed to have little effect as if his body had become impervious to suffering. He flexed his newly healed arms, testing their newfound strength, a malevolent grin crossing his lips as he stared back at Rain.