Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

As the enemy's words reached his ears, a chilling realization dawned upon Rain. It seemed that the woman responsible for brainwashing his father, the catalyst for so much turmoil and pain, was present on the battlefield. She stood as the last general of the enemy's army, a key figure in this conflict. Anguish and frustration welled up within Rain as he grasped the gravity of the situation.

The desire to confront and defeat this antagonist surged through him like a torrent, mingling with the complex mixture of emotions that had fueled his journey to this point. The prospect of finally confronting the one who had inflicted such suffering upon his family and society ignited a fierce determination within him.

Rain's jaw clenched, his fists tightened, and his gaze hardened as he faced this enemy who had wrought so much devastation. A maelstrom of emotions swirled within him—anger, grief, and an overwhelming urge for retribution. Yet, even amid these tumultuous feelings, he recognized the necessity of strategic caution.

The burning desire to strike down this woman who had wrought havoc upon his world battled against his awareness of the larger battle at hand. He knew that recklessness would only jeopardize his chances of success. As his fingers flexed around his weapons, Rain vowed that this encounter wouldn't end in folly.

The woman responsible for his father's fate would be held accountable, but only through careful consideration and a strategic approach.

"Only one of her guards was freed, and she was unable to control him after a while… his name was Roan Lonard, was it?" The enemy asked. "He had a wife and a son at that time who was six and two daughters… You must be the son. Leo really didn't tell us about you, and he messed up… we should have gotten rid of you when we had the chance."

"You can try now," Rain said. "This is your perfect chance since I am tired and wounded. Give me your worst… try to keep your head on the same spot while you try it, though."

"Huh? My apologies, I didn't mean it in that way," The enemy said.

Rain listened to the enemy's words, sensing the attempt to provoke him into a hasty reaction. He understood that the enemy wanted to distract him and create chaos. It was clear that this guy was strong, but Rain wasn't going to let him dictate the flow of the battle.

He recognized that this enemy was trying to mess with his head, make him lose focus, and create openings for his underlings. Rain saw through the trick and wasn't going to fall for it. He was determined to stay composed, no matter how powerful or cunning the enemy seemed.

Even though his emotions were running high, Rain was careful not to let them control him. He knew he needed to stay smart and keep his eyes on the bigger picture. This wasn't just about a single confrontation; it was about the entire battle.

Rain wasn't going to let this enemy's mind games get to him. He was going to maintain his cool, assess the situation, and take control of the fight. He wouldn't be rushed into making rash decisions. Instead, he would play it smart, use his strengths, and lead the battle on his own terms… and he did that by charging toward the enemy.

Rain charged forward, his fists swinging through the air with a determined force. He aimed to strike the enemy and finally gain the upper hand in the intense battle. However, to his increasing frustration, the enemy displayed an almost uncanny ability to dodge his attacks, sidestepping with a seemingly effortless grace.

What aggravated Rain even more was the fact that the enemy maintained a nonchalant posture, with his hands casually resting behind his back. This stance seemed to convey a sense of superiority, which only fueled Rain's desire to land a solid blow.

As Rain's frustration grew, he quickly considered employing his magic to target the enemy's legs. But, before he could execute his plan, the enemy responded swiftly. In a calculated move, he leaped backward, creating a considerable gap between them.

This strategic withdrawal left Rain momentarily stunned, as he realized the enemy was both a master of combat and tactics, not easily allowing Rain to predict his movements or capitalize on his weaknesses.

"Did he predict my attack that fast?" Rain furrowed his eyebrows in surprise. "I didn't even channel my mana… what kind of crazy senses are these?"

Rain assumed that the enemy was so experienced fighting those that could use magic that he developed some type of Clairvoyance… It was the only explanation.

Still, that caution also made Rain think that the enemy was too cowardly to take any unnecessary risks… he thought that he could learn a bunch of things from that guy. Still, it wouldn't be that easy, apparently.

Rain took a good look around, and he could tell that no one was going to disturb them. Still, the flow of the battle was moving toward the enemies again… Rain was too far away from the walls to hear about what was happening in the other areas, and since Branden didn't launch any order, things were at the same stalemate.

"Let's see if he is good at improving when I use my modern knowledge," Rain thought.

Using tricks wasn't something that Rain wanted to do, but winning the war was more important than his pride. Once again, Rain charged toward the enemy while running like usual. Still, the guy kept sidestepping and avoiding his hits… until Rain used Impulse when he was only two meters away from him.

Rain had planned to body slam against the enemy, but the cloaked figure anticipated that and then jumped to the side with all his might… Rain was unable to react since the aura of the Enemy changed from red to total dark for a moment… he had used some sort of technique just now.