Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Chapter 448: Final push

Hydras pose a formidable challenge to those who dare confront them due to a combination of unique characteristics that make them fearsome opponents. Hydras boast multiple heads, and their numbers can vary. Each head can act independently, enabling them to strike from various angles simultaneously. Continue reading on ???

A well-known trait of hydras is their swift regenerative ability. When a head is severed, it rapidly regrows, and in some legends, two new heads may sprout in its place. This makes conventional methods of decapitation less effective. Hydras are often covered in robust, scaly skin that serves as natural armor, mitigating the damage inflicted on them.

Hydras are typically powerful creatures. Their fearsome size and strength make them formidable even without their regenerative prowess. Hydras may also adapt to specific threats by growing new heads with unique abilities or resistances, confounding opponents who rely on consistent strategies. It was like a mix of all troublesome traits a monster could have.

"Only their family can give birth to hydras and it goes without saying that their potential can't be compared to other types of dragons," Seadir added.

"Why don't they try to take over the world?" Lorene asked. "It should be easy if their leader is that strong."

"They probably don't think that it is worth the hassle since it would probably be too easy for them," Seadir explained. "Besides, they live for thousands of years, so their sense of time is very different from ours… they could be planning to do that eventually and we don't know, or maybe that will happen when a new dragon god appears and they want to subjugate or exterminate all the other species."

"That sure would be troublesome…" Rain said and then stretched his body. "Well, that didn't happen until now, so I am sure it won't happen. Murphy's law shouldn't be a thing here."

"Who is Murphy?" Branden asked.

"I will explain another time," Rain said. "Anyway, after discussing for a while, we decided to work with you to stop the king and Joanis once and for all, but we have some conditions."

"I am listening and I will pass them on to my father," Seadir said.

"First of all, we fight to defeat the human army, but the moment they surrender, all the killing should end," Rain started. "Second of all, the king, his wife, and son will be spared unless he resists until the very end, and he will be our prisoner.

Anyone that has ties with Joanis in the war will be handed to you all, but if the magic people try to get in the way of those goals, we will fight together to repel them."

"Only to repel them?" Seadir asked.

"That will depend on them, if they try too much, I will make them sink on the ground," Rain explained.

"All right, I come again with father's answer, this might take a while since all the important people in the ocean are gathered in our Castle," Seadir explained.

"No problem," Rain said.

Rain's mind showed him two distinct images of what the sea emperor's castle might be like. In one vision, the castle stood as a magnificent and vibrant structure, an ode to the ocean's collection of colors. Its coral walls bore intricate patterns, painted in the rich blues, soothing greens, fiery reds, and soft purples borrowed from the marine world's own palette.

But Rain also contemplated an alternative, recognizing the nature of the sea. In this version, the castle was shrouded in mystery, a darker place that invoked the profound secrets hidden within the ocean's depths. Its architecture featured a deep indigo and obsidian palette, hinting at the unfathomable mysteries concealed beneath the waves.

"We are returning now, but I will send of the guys back home to work and protect you, they must be sick and tired of only seeing farms day in and day out," Rain said.

"All right, Orcis said.

"Inform us when the time to head to end this, we want to be there too," Lorene said.

Since they had been involved in the whole mess more than a little bit, it made sense that Orcis and Lorene would want to be there when they surrounded the human army, but they weren't warriors, so they didn't have to be there.

Rain returned home and then left Branden and Esmeralda there before taking the first encommend toward the port city and then he returned again. That seemed a lot of work, but since he was gaining two cold coins for all that work, it was worth the castle.

On the next day, the others returned from the mountains as well, and it seemed that they had finished their work as well.

"That was quite fast," Rain said.

"We worked hard, even though it was pretty boring," Kei said while rolling her eyes.

"Then I will make something nice as your reward," Rain said. "I will make the legendary pizza."

"Yay!" Dana, Kei, and Gila raised their arms and celebrated.

Even though they never ate that, they liked all the new dishes that Rain prepared for them. Thanks to the newly attained Cook path, the taste was even better than the other things that Rain had made. Everyone kept asking for more slices…

"Maybe I should sell my food around as well… I have to find a way to automate the process first, though," Rain rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Anyway, did you see the beast people moving?"

"No, we kept an eye on their closest town to the mountains, but we found nothing," Roan said. "It seems that you have made up your mind as well to finish things with Joanis."

"It isn't certain yet, but we told the sea folk our offer, we just have to wait for their answer now," Rain explained. "I don't know for how long we will have to work there, so I will fill the warehouses with as much stuff as possible and I think that it would be better if everyone were to come this time."