Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Their initial response was a mixture of shock and awe. Their eyes widened, and their mouths hung agape as they gazed upon these magnificent creatures gracefully gliding through the sky. With their colossal wingspans and commanding presence, the dragons left an indelible impression. Witnessing such majestic beings was an awe-inspiring experience that sent shivers down their spines.

As the dragons got bigger, the initial shock gave way to a growing sense of trepidation. The tension that had simmered within the group now surged to the forefront of their emotions. The realization that they were getting closer to these formidable creatures, whose presence was both breathtaking and intimidating, amplified the gravity of their journey.

"... Their numbers aren't that high," Jori said.

"The mountain range stretches endlessly, so there must be others in other points," Rain explained. "Or maybe they think that they don't need that many of them to keep the magic people at bay."

"After all this training, do you think that we can face one of them?" Reca asked.

"If you face the same level of the dragon I faced, you should be able to pull that off if you work together… it will be a pity if one of you ends up being devoured. That won't give any room for Terra to use her healing magic, after all," Rain said.

As the group drew nearer to their destination, they spotted a sprawling camp in the distance. However, this was no ordinary campsite with the usual tents or makeshift shelters. Instead, what lay before them were humble yet robust earth-built houses that seamlessly blended into the natural surroundings.

What truly caught their attention, though, were the scores of golems bustling about the camp. These mechanical beings were a hive of activity, transporting a wide array of supplies and materials to various locations. It was as if an entire workforce of golems had been mobilized to manage the camp's logistics.

The golems, however, were not just laborers; they also stood as a formidable line of defense. Hundreds of them were strategically stationed around the camp, ready to react swiftly, especially if the dragons ventured too close.

"It seems that your guess was right. We might have to deliver the goods to many camps," Asche said when she found some marks of wagons marking a path to the sides of the area.

"You said that one dragon took a good look at you. Shouldn't you hide your appearance then?" Jori asked.

"It will be fine… I think," Rain replied. "Besides, I don't think that dragons can be fooled with a low-level disguise.

Rain told the other guards to go ahead and then alert the magic people at the nearest camp. The last thing that they needed now was to be attacked by them… the guards nodded, and then they dashed ahead while using some customized golems that had wheels in place of legs.

It didn't matter how many times he saw that Rain couldn't understand how golems were crafted. Still, he was starting to develop some theories.

After encountering the magic people on numerous occasions, Rain began to form a theory about their societal structure. Their specialization appeared to be a longstanding tradition passed down from one generation to the next.

In Rain's eyes, this arrangement hinted at a structured society where individuals focused their magical talents exclusively within their chosen tribe, specializing in a specific aspect of magic. This division by magical expertise intrigued him and prompted questions about the history and dynamics of the magic people's culture.

Rain's observations led him to speculate on the origins of the magic people's specialized techniques. He assumed that in the past, a few lucky individuals among the magic people may have stumbled upon these unique magical paths by chance. Armed with rare and potent abilities, these pioneers likely took it upon themselves to share their newfound knowledge with their comrades.

However, Rain believed there was a crucial distinction to be made. While these pioneers may have taught others the practical applications of their magic, they probably held back from passing on the deeper, more esoteric aspects of these techniques. In essence, they shared the "how" but kept the "why" and the profound intricacies of these magical paths to themselves.

Rain speculated that acquiring these unique magical abilities likely involved a history of experimentation within the magic people's society. It seemed probable that individuals had conducted various experiments to discover paths that aligned with their innate talents.

Once these paths were unlocked, individuals would experience a substantial increase in their magical prowess, granting them remarkable strength.

The idea that the magic people were selective in sharing such specialized knowledge made this scenario even more captivating. They appeared to limit the transmission of these paths exclusively to their offspring, ensuring that their exceptional magical abilities were inherited across generations.

This deliberate choice indicated an intention to preserve and safeguard their extraordinary talents within their own family lines.

All in all, they learned a few tricks that made them skip the journey of the paths… just like when Rain learned that he could use the weather conditions to save mana and gain more experience when using magic or when he used magic to create the rails and also leveled up his magic and the Artisan's path.

Still, it seemed that doing the same thing over and over again wasn't the best way to gain experience since the Artisan path was still at level forty-five.

In any case, when Rain and the others arrived at the camp. A lot of the people there approached to receive them, mainly because Josar was the leader there. At the same time, Rain realized that all of them had an aura similar to him, but he had no idea what they could do yet.

"Thank you for coming to help us," Josar said and slightly bowed. "I didn't expect to see you so soon, Rainendall. Still, we all share the same thoughts when I say that it is reassuring your presence here."

"Yeah, right," Rain said.