Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Rain concentrated his magical energy, directing it into the giant earth gloves that encased his hands. With a determined thought, he reshaped them into long, pointed claws. Each claw gleamed with a sharpness that demonstrated Rain's mastery over earth magic.

Flexing his fingers, he tested the newfound weaponry. It was unconventional for boxing, but Rain had long abandoned the idea that combat was confined to fists. Adaptability was the core of his fighting philosophy. Whether it involved punching, kicking, or employing magic, he embraced all techniques to emerge victorious.

With his earth claws ready, Rain prepared to confront the imminent threat, acknowledging that true martial prowess came from being versatile and resourceful in combat.

The fire dragon slowed down since it recognized that Rain wasn't an easy enemy, and the change in his weapons could spell trouble. Still, that didn't change a thing… Rain used Impulse toward the monster, and while the fire dragon swung its left paw to block his attack, it was pushed away by the punch… it stopped Rain's charge, but blood gushed from its paw.

The fire dragon looked to the side and was surprised to see its arm hurt… a single human hurt its arm. That was impossible… even the magic people had to face a single dragon with dozens of them against one. Even the tribe leaders needed some help.

The monster looked at Rain landing nearby and then saw the serious look on his face. It was the look of someone who wasn't satisfied with that much, and he wanted to do more…

The Dragon Rage intensified, causing the ground to tremble. The fire dragon's colossal form radiated intense heat, its fiery aura growing even more ferocious by the second. It was on the verge of unleashing its devastating Fire Breath attack.

Undeterred, Rain sprinted towards the dragon with remarkable speed. His earth claws gleamed in the blistering atmosphere as he closed the distance in an instant. With unwavering determination, he launched a powerful punch directly at the dragon's face. The impact of the blow sent the massive creature tumbling to the side, disrupting its focus and preventing the imminent Fire Breath attack.

While the monster was showing an astonished expression, blood began to gush from the interior and the side of the mouth of the fire dragon.

"HYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH." The fire dragon roared in anger, and the atmosphere trembled while even the buildings around began to crack in response.

The fire dragon took flight quite fast since it could tell that Rain would be able to stop it if it tried to attack while on the ground. Still, the beast didn't try to go too far away. It just kept a certain distance away from Rain and soon unleashed its fire breath.

The flames erupted from the dragon's mouth and made the area around it explode. Huge buildings began to fall, and large chunks of the stairs began to roll down the city. Amidst that, there were no signs of Rain in any direction. The dragon was certain that Rain was hit directly, and a few seconds under the blast would turn him into charcoal.

Still, when the flames dissipated, the monster was shocked to see a single spot in the area completely free of the destruction of the flames… Rain was there. He conjured a water sphere to resist the attack while he prepared his counter. While that worked, the water boiled so much that it burned Rain's body in many places. He had several bubbles on his flesh, and his whole skin was red…

Still, Rain ignored that and then charged toward the dragon with all his might. Using Impulse to propel both of his legs and kicking the ground with both of them as well, Rain flew toward the enemy and then punched the forehead of the dragon.

The thunderous impact was felt throughout the city, and then the skull of the dragon cracked, but before the beast could die, Rain attacked the same spot with a torrent of punches. The claws reached the brain of the dragon and destroyed it before the creature began to fall.

The skill basic Strikes and Kicks received 50.000 experience points.

The skill Precise Strikes received 50.000 experience points.

The skill Iron Fists received 50.000 experience points.

The skill Punch Mastery received 50.000 experience points.

…

The fire dragon lay sprawled on the ground, its once mighty form now a motionless mass. Rain, landing atop the defeated beast, couldn't help but wince as pain shot through his legs. His previously injured muscles protested the landing with a vengeance. He panted heavily, his heart racing from the adrenaline rush of the battle. Victory was his, but it was a bittersweet one.

This battle had proven far less challenging than Rain had envisioned, leaving him with a sense of unmet expectations. He had always held dragons in the highest regard, creatures with the wisdom of millennia and the power to match, yet this one had succumbed rather swiftly.

Amidst his reflections, the ominous presence of the second dragon made its arrival known. The colossal creature descended upon the same side of the city, its enormous wings beating with a rhythmic force that sent shivers through the onlookers below. Its eyes, akin to molten embers, scanned the surroundings with a fiery intensity. Then, like a thunderbolt, its gaze locked onto Rain.

The second dragon had found its next target, and the battle was far from over.

"Round two, huh?" Rain thought. "I guess I should have known that things wouldn't be so simple for me."

While Rain had used 75 percent of his total mana, he still had plenty of stamina and health left. Considering how many times he leveled up and his path, he was willing to keep it up and then unlock a new path. Still, much to his surprise, the fire dragon turned and flew away.

"This might be bad… let's hope that dragons don't have a good memory," Rain thought.