Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

After disposing of all the enemies, Rain entered the warehouse and confirmed that the place didn't have anything else aside from the prisoners. Since the place was big and they couldn't let most people know that they were capturing some of the enemies, it made sense for the enemies to hid them there.

In any case, while some of the water snipers recognized Rain, they still didn't try to hide their anger… a lot of the friends and family died thanks to the humans and their hatred extended toward him as well.

"Do you want to come at me? I will welcome you with open arms," Rain said. "Don't expect anything aside from that for that, though."

The prisoners knew that Rain was too strong and facing him would be stupidity… They didn't know what game he was playing by freeing them, but they didn't have any other choice.

"I will take you guys to the other side of the wall, but the rest is up to you," Rain said. "The human army has already reached the golem master's town, so you need to plan your actions with that in mind."

They had around fifty prisoners already, so Rain had to spend a lot of mana making everyone fly to outside the city. He also had to get rid of the metal cages that could seal the magic of those inside, so there was a lot of cargo… Fortunately, Rain pulled that off before the sun could rise… just barely though.

Once he finished the job, Rain could hear a lot of noise coming from the city. He used Impulse to the other side of the area and then began to dig the tunnel.

"In the end, being an underling is a lot easier since I can receive money or ask for money for every single thing I do," Rain thought. "Since I am just considering survival, there is no point in thinking about money. Leaving my fate in the hands of others is also something that I would like to avoid if possible."

Since he used his hands and the effects of the spear to dig with more speed, Rain finished the tunnel around noon… just around the time people began to eat. That seemed like a good chance… be tried to connect the tunnel to some taverns and see what people were talking about, but everything seemed too quiet.

In various corners of the city, individuals engaged in discussions regarding the war that had enveloped their lands.

"The king's amassed an army of fifty thousand, they say. Such a colossal force has never been mustered for an invasion into our enemies' territory."

"It's true, and they seem to be achieving swift victories. Reports are pouring in about villages falling with remarkable ease."

"At last, we're taking the fight to them! Those troublesome magic people won't pose a threat any longer."

"I can't help but be concerned. This time, the king's actions have created numerous adversaries. We've attacked a hornet's nest."

Nods of agreement rippled through the tavern, highlighting the growing apprehension. The joy of victory was offset by worries about the repercussions of their king's ambitious campaign.

"I should have known…" Rain thought.

In the end, Rain decided to head home already. The second goal of the mission was a huge failure, but it couldn't be helped… The king's blade was completely under control of the king and if people didn't even try to escape, there was no point in informing them that they had another chance.

The chances of them succeeding in escaping would be basically the same as surviving by joining Rain and the others. With those thoughts, Rain returned home.

— —

In the former town of the golem masters, the king was checking the council room that once had been used by the members of the small council. It was a simple place, but he had heard that in the capital, the chamber of the grand council was much bigger and elegant… he felt that it would be a good place to rule while he establishes his control over the whole territory.

Exiting the council chamber, the king's face bore a triumphant grin. He stepped onto a balcony overlooking the vast city sprawled below him. In the distance, his formidable army of fifty thousand soldiers was camped, a testament to his authority and ambition.

An unprecedented surge of power surged within him, a sensation he had never before encountered. His forces had triumphed, vanquishing the magic people and forcing thousands of them into disorganized retreat. Astonishingly, his own troops had suffered no losses, emerging from the conflict unscathed.

As he surveyed the city bathed in the gentle glow of the setting sun, the king felt an exhilarating sense of dominion. The war was firmly under his control, and the path to victory seemed clearer than ever.

"With this, I will finally leave my mark in history and my bloodline will be able to control a massive territory," The king said and then smiled.

While the king was feeling pretty good about himself, he saw a group of soldiers guarding Joanis approaching. Joanis seemed a bit worried, and that was a first.

"Your Majesty, I have some bad news… the princess was captured," Joanis declared.

"What? You said that she would be fine with that guard of yours!" The king shouted.

"I am deeply sorry, your Majesty," Joanis bowed his head. "You saw the strength of that soldier, the other royal guards couldn't compare and he should have been able to kill all invaders… but it seems that Branden managed to sway some of the royal guards to his side and their betrayal caused the fall of my soldier and thanks to that, they ended up capturing the princess."

"That is impossible, my royal guards would never betray me!" The king declared while confusion was covering his face.

"Fear not, Your Majesty, I will soon send my strongest soldiers to solve the issue," Joanis declared with a serious expression. "They won't have enough time to brainwash the princess and use her against you."