Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Chapter 457: Buying time

Rain and Seadir made their landing on the eastern side of the human camp, and their presence was greeted with immediate tension. The soldiers stationed there reacted swiftly, seizing their weapons and assuming battle-ready positions. Suspicion hung heavy in the air as they prepared to defend their territory.

However, as Rain and Seadir drew closer, the soldiers noticed something. Instead of advancing toward the camp, they halted just ten meters from the invisible barrier that marked their advantageous area. Rain and Seadir could clearly see the anti-magic barrier, or so they thought.

The soldiers raised their guards but refrained from attacking, aware that they faced individuals with extraordinary abilities beyond their comprehension.

"Tell the king that we are here to negotiate," Rain raised his voice. "If all the soldiers and the king surrender now, everyone will be sparred aside from Joanis and his soldiers. You have half an hour to pass the message."

The soldiers looked at each other in confusion, but eventually, they began to spread the news to each other, and it eventually reached the king and Joanis as well…

— —

While Rain was expecting his answer, the king and Joanis were preparing their next steps… after increasing the size of their barrier, they assumed that Rain would no longer be a problem with his magic, but then the tremors began to happen…

At that point in time, they couldn't help but assume that the magic people or perhaps the dragons were doing something, so they decided to wait and see. They didn't want to risk losing more scouts, and since their defenses had been deeply reinforced, they didn't have to take any chances. They just had to keep increasing their strength. Still, soon, a soldier arrived and told them what had happened.

"That boy! Again?" The king shouted after he slammed the table in front of him with his fist. "I knew that he had retreated, and now he returned with those damn fish bastards?"

"... We received reports from back home, but they were too suspicious to be true," Joanis rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "What do you plan to do, your Majesty? Surrender now that we are going to be attacked from both sides?"

"Don't be a fool, I want the head of that impertinent bastard to crush with my own hands," The king said while clenching his teeth. "Kill him now!"

"Sir, according to the witness, he is equipped with relics made of ice dragon, and he is keeping his distance from the barrier," the soldier said.

"It seems that he either has good senses or he knows a spell that can reveal the location of the barrier," Joanis kept rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "He also has grown stronger with those relics… Your Majesty, may I offer an alternative? Our preparations for the final battle are about to end, so we need some extra time."

"... Are you sure that this plan of yours will work?" The king asked after he calmed down due to the nature of Joanis' plan.

"With one hundred percent certainty, your Majesty," Joanis said and then smiled. "That boy won't ever be able to use magic in his life, and no magic will be able to heal or support him."

— —

When Rain was starting to consider the possibility of invading the human camp. He suddenly saw a group of soldiers approaching and then soon stopped fifty meters away from him.

"His Majesty says that he can consider your offer if you free the princess, Branden, Orcis, and Lorene," The soldier shouted.

"Why do I even try?" Rain asked and then sighed. "These motherfuckers sure like to test my patience."

"What do you think that they are planning?" Seadir asked.

"They want to buy time, or the king is just a retard… let's leave," Rain said while rubbing his eyes.

Trying to gain time now was stupid since the king knew that two armies would soon surround him. That wouldn't be the case unless he had some trick up to his sleeve… in no time, Rain and Seadir returned to where the others were and reported to them what had happened during both meetings.

"Hmm… I suppose it can't be helped," Seadrei said while scratching his chin. "If the enemies improved their defenses, then it makes sense that we need the help of the magic people to defeat them. Waiting for five days is a cheap price. Much better than waiting for their resources to end."

"Did something happen while we were away?" Rain asked.

"... No," Seadrei replied.

"What was that pause for then?" Rain asked while frowning.

"I am going to talk with my generals. If you are cooking again, then I will join you all," Seadrei said and then left.

Rain couldn't help but think that he had spoiled everyone, but perhaps it couldn't be helped since someone with a Cook path sure was hard to find. After he talked with others and confirmed that everything was fine, Rain began to make dinner while he was thinking about what happened in the previous two days…

"I can't imagine what the king and Joanis are preparing… the camp seemed the same as usual, so their new weapon is something not big in scale," Rain thought. "The more we take our time, the more they will have the chance to cause trouble…"

Your next journey awaits at M V L

Cook's Path Lv 22 (All stats + 2.)

At least the Cook's path was gaining a lot of experience since Rain was cooking for a lot of people… maybe he will be able to master that path soon enough. If anything, it would be interesting to see what would be the path that he would unlock at level fifty.

"Maybe I can get a ton of experience if I create a giant blender in this world and use it to make juice… that should count as food, I guess," Rain thought and then began to serve dinner for everyone, and then he realized that everyone was too quiet. "Something definitely happened while I was away…"