Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Rain had planned to save his mana for later, but soon he began to use Impulse again to catch up with the human army. That happened around noon.

The massive human army, numbering around fifty thousand strong, marched relentlessly as they stretched across the landscape. Their synchronized footsteps echoed like a thunderous drumbeat, filling the air with an ominous sense of purpose. Banners representing various noble houses fluttered in the breeze, but one stood out prominently – the king's banner, a symbol of authority and might.

Amidst this vast force, Rain's keen eye caught sight of another banner. It was the banner of Joanis, the very man he sought to kill once and for all. Positioned prominently at the center of the formation, it underscored Joanis' significant influence within the human army.

Rain felt an intense urge to strike at his enemies, to disrupt their advance, but he remained acutely aware of the daunting distance separating him from the targets. They were tantalizingly close yet impossibly far away. Any impulsive action could jeopardize his mission and the safety of those he aimed to protect.

Rain watched with conflicting emotions, torn between his desire for revenge and the necessity of a careful, calculated approach.

"... There is no point in trying when nu death is certain," Rain thought after taking a deep breath. "They are probably waiting for that."

Typically, in a military campaign, the king's entourage would position itself at the rear of the army. This placement was not only a matter of protocol but also a strategic choice, ensuring that the king remained well-protected from potential attacks originating from the front or flanks.

However, the fact that the king's banner was positioned in the middle of the advancing human army was a clear indication of their anticipation of attacks from the rear.

Understanding this tactical consideration, Rain recognized that rushing ahead recklessly would be a stupid course of action. His enemies were prepared for assaults from behind, and any hasty move on his part would likely result in failure or even endanger those he aimed to rescue. Patience and a well-thought-out plan were necessary in this situation.

Rain made the decision to temporarily avoid a direct confrontation with the advancing human army. Instead, he focused on avoiding further detection and maintaining a strategic advantage by moving a bit further from the main path.

While distancing himself from the army's path, his keen magical vision detected a squad of scouts dispatched by the enemy several kilometers ahead of the army in order to prevent ambushes.

Determined to disrupt their reconnaissance efforts and impede the progress of Joanis and the king's forces, Rain acted swiftly. From a safe distance, he utilized his magic to create pits beneath the scouts and promptly sealed them inside. By doing so, Rain ensured that he wouldn't make things easy for his adversaries, compelling them to face unexpected challenges.

Rain was a bit tired, so his moving speed dropped… he only reached his destination when the sun was setting, it was the city where Geio was supposed to work and the main base of the golem masters. The people were living there normally completely unaware of the threat that was fast approaching.

"Wow… I am really going to save their asses, huh?" Rain thought and then sighed.

In the midst of his high-stakes actions and strategies, Rain found himself fighting with a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. He couldn't escape the fact that he was actively assisting his former adversaries in their mission to create problems for his newfound enemies. This ironic twist of fate left him feeling deeply unsettled.

Compounding his inner turmoil was the sight of innocent children playing in the town. As he observed their carefree laughter and playful antics, he couldn't help but see reflections of his own sisters in their youthful innocence. This stirred the philosopher within him even though he hated it, prompting profound questions about the nature of his unrelenting hatred.

He wondered about whether his intense animosity was powerful enough to justify jeopardizing the lives of those who had committed no wrong, a moral dilemma that weighed heavily on his conscience.

The people around found Rain, but they didn't react that much since humans had been coming to their territory a lot to negotiate as of late, but some of them recognized Rain, he moved toward those and his words left them speechless.

"Where is Geio? An army is coming to attack this city and you guys don't have much time left," Rain declared.

"... What?"

"The king of the human country went bananas and now he wants to take you all down," Rain added. "His army is fifty thousand strong and they have a lot of tools to use against you all. Now, tell me, where is Geio?"

The people around who heard that were paralyzed in shock… Rain wondered if they were naive enough to think that the peace would last forever. Then again, if they weren't actually fighters, maybe that would make sense.

Eventually, Rain got tired of that and decided to look for Geio himself. He recalled the last time that after leaving them at an inn, he walked in the same direction everyday. While he was doing that, the news about the attacks began to spread, but it seemed that everyone was still unsure about that.

Thanks to the noise, a lot of people that were inside their homes began to leave the buildings and check what was happening.

Amidst all that, Rain saw a bunch of people leaving a building that seemed like a smaller version of the council that he saw in the capital of the magic people country… Unlike the tribe leaders there, those guys weren't wearing veils, so Rain was fortunate enough to find Geion among them.

"You are… from that time," Geio said.

"No time for chit chat, a human army is coming to attack this place and they already destroyed the water snipers village," Rain declared. "You should warn all the other nearby places and your leaders as well… I suppose evacuating would also be a good idea."