Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Unfortunately, Liss found herself in a different predicament, as her abdominal muscles remained elusive, making her the only one in the group without visible abs. This disparity had left her feeling somewhat disheartened amidst the camaraderie of her toned friends.

"What the hell.. what a stupid reason," Rain facepalmed.

Over several weeks of dedicated training, the group made remarkable progress. Terra's physical endurance had grown substantially. While Rain was holding back, they were still heavy since he was even wearing the weights.

Meanwhile, Liss and Asche harnessed the power of wind magic, using it to execute rapid movements in all directions. They employed gusts of wind to propel themselves to the front, back, and sides. Although there was room for improvement, their mastery of this technique was evident.

Jori and Reca focused on breath control techniques, emulating the approach of the second general. Through precise regulation of their breath, they experienced a significant boost in their physical capabilities and strength. Recognizing that  he needed to call this technique something else, Rain decided to call it "Limit Breaker."

"I see… it is amazing that you managed to keep up with the general when he used this," Jori said while clenching his teeth. "I can feel the anger and power building inside me.

"Raw power isn't everything," Rain said. "At first, I thought that he paced himself, not using the technique often in order to fight for longer periods of time. However, one's judgment also gets clouded after using Limit Breaker for too long. That was why he got my counterattack and died."

Rain recognized that the "Limit Breaker" technique held a special appeal for martial artists like himself, primarily because they relied on their limbs as their main tools of combat. What set martial artists apart was their exceptional precision and control, developed through rigorous training.

This expertise allowed them to deliver powerful blows while minimizing the risk of self-inflicted injuries or the loss of limbs during intense combat situations. As a result, integrating the "Limit Breaker" technique into their skill set proved to be a natural and highly effective choice, further enhancing their martial prowess.

"I recommend using Limit Breaker only to surprise your enemies when running away or when to finish them off," Rain said. "This technique probably can cause harm to your bodies if you use it for long, after all."

Over the past few weeks, the group has made significant progress in their training. Asche had developed the ability to infuse her arrows with wind magic, adding a new dimension to her archery skills. Meanwhile, Liss had been making strides in controlling lightning magic, a remarkable achievement.

This newfound expertise not only improved their overall combat abilities but also opened up new possibilities for the group.

Rain was particularly interested in Liss's lightning magic control. Her insights and guidance were proving invaluable in helping him grasp this challenging aspect of magic. With her assistance, he, too, was making notable progress, further broadening his magical repertoire.

"I guess we will just have to keep it up for a while now," Rain suddenly declared.

"What about improving meditation? Didn't you have any other ideas?" Liss asked.

"No, but I guess it is fine for now," Rain replied. "As long as we work together, we will be able to use the current version well. Maybe you guys will have the surge of inspiration before me to keep the technique active at all times."

Rain was about to level up the mage's path, but soon, the sunset and the group split up. While he preferred not to continue in order not to show his sisters that he didn't follow his own advice of resting properly and not pushing their bodies too much, he decided to spend his mana as soon as possible before they could realize that.

Rain honed his skills, wrapping his fists in the swirling wind before infusing them with crackling lightning. In the past, such attempts had been painful misadventures, leaving him shocked and his arm temporarily paralyzed. Thanks to Liss's guidance and helpful advice, he had made significant strides.

Now, he could maintain the spell without harm, even in motion. The surge of power flowing through his fists was electrifying, but the cost was steep. This technique demanded an enormous amount of mana, instilling in him a newfound respect for the intricacies of lightning magic.

Rain extended his experimentation to water magic, envisioning a crystalline layer enveloping his arms. He manipulated the water's properties with intense concentration, gradually transmuting it into a solid, jewel-like substance. This was no easy feat, as it required a delicate balance between maintaining the water's form and preventing it from freezing.

As the transformation took hold, his arms became encased in a transparent, glimmering sheen, resembling a crystal that emitted a powerful layer of cold.

"This should be useful against fire dragons… but I am feeling shivers," Rain thought. "I need to learn some defensive elemental spells."

Combining that with earth magic would be a better option, even though it would consume some more mana. A blade made of ice against a fire dragon certainly will cause a disgusting amount of damage.

Rain already knew what he could do with earth magic and his arms, so he didn't do that. Instead, he used his magic on the ground and focused his senses on it. Before long, he began to raise a bunch of minerals from the ground… they were only small particles. Still, with his skill, he could control them and separate them from the ground.

The next step will be if Rain can refine ores by himself. Still, he was planning to start training on the creation of earth with magic and then proceed with whether he could do the same with ores or minerals, which seemed more useful in the long run.

As for fire magic, Rain decided not to try to use it. Just as usual, he was really bad at controlling it, so it was better to use it only for miscellaneous stuff.