Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

The corridor proved to be quite the anomaly. Despite its immense scale and the potential threat it posed, there were no visible defenses or barriers preventing the outside world from intruding. The absence of any protective measures was unnerving as if the corridor existed in a realm of its own, disconnected from the natural order.

As the group advanced cautiously, the surroundings remained eerily clear. There were no signs of activity, no guards, and no indications that anyone else had crossed this passageway.. it wasn't a passageway, though.

It was almost as if the corridor existed in isolation, undisturbed by the chaos and life outside its confines and even the effects of time since no dust or dirt crossed the large opening of it.

The team moved forward, their eyes constantly scanning the walls adorned with glowing blue patterns. The traces of mana on the walls seemed to guide them, but they soon realized that these ethereal pathways were moving at a pace faster than their own progress. It was as if the corridor itself was alive and the lines were the veins of it.

Rain looked at everyone for a moment and he realized that they were starting to get impatient… they had been moving for a while and not finding anything was wearing their minds. Moreover, they knew that it would take a while before they reached the base of the cannon.

"Telling them to calm down won't do it…" Rain thought. "Telling them to relax would be pretty stupid as well… I guess it is better to let them build tension and then let it explode when the time comes."

"The mana density is getting higher ahead," Larisa said. "I would advise you and your friends to wake up."

"We are getting closer to something, everyone," Rain said. "I will deploy my domain and make us fly as well. Only do anything when I give the sign. Also, while I can hide us, it will be almost useless if we talk, so let's keep communications to a minimum."

Everyone nodded and Before long, they finally were able to see why the mana density ahead was high. The corridor changed a bit and started to look more like a factory. The lines of mana ended on some capsules and after reaching a certain level of concentration, they began to assume a physical form.

"... I didn't think that mana actually could assume a physical form like that," Nigel said.

Everyone stopped to see the capsules. After they were filled, they were moved from the machines that they were connected to and put on some moving belts that led them to the end of the corridor and empty glass capsules took their place.

"That should have massive amounts of mana…" Terra said. "To think that the life of the planet was being taken and stored like this…"

"Do you think that they are just storing that or they are planning to use that as bullets?" Jori asked.

Rain didn't say anything about that… but it was certainly a possibility. At the same time, he didn't want to let people consider that the vessel could truly be targeted like that.

In any case, Rain considered if he should absorb some of the mana to empower his friends, but it was better to lay low for a while. They shouldn't do anything that will reveal their existence. Besides, they had no idea how long that would take.

The group resumed their run and they kept going like that for one hour, and then eventually they found the light at the of the tunnel. They lost the notion of how many hundreds of kilometers they crossed, but it was clear that it had been a lot. Still, such thoughts disappeared from their heads because they soon saw the first enemies…

The enemies almost looked like they emerged from the shadows, clad in formidable mechanical armor that didn't look like the conventional aesthetics of medieval design. These formidable suits covered every inch of their wearers' bodies, leaving no vulnerability exposed.

The armors were a fusion of cutting-edge materials, featuring a combination of smooth, metallic surfaces and advanced synthetic materials. The design reflected a utilitarian approach, lacking the ornate additions of traditional armor. Instead, it exuded a sense of functionality, as if each component served a purpose in a highly efficient manner.

A pair of visors shaped like eyes shielded the gaze of the individuals encased within the armors. These visors not only protected the wearers' eyes but also added an intimidating touch to the overall appearance, giving the impression of unyielding, mechanical sentinels.

There was no discernible opening in the armor, making it a seamless, impenetrable shell. The absence of exposed skin or vulnerable areas suggested a meticulous attention to defensive capabilities. The armor seemed impervious to conventional attacks, leaving Rain and his group to ponder the best strategy for dealing with this technologically advanced threat.

"Wow, it is real power armor," Sakaki said. "In all of these backpacks, they have more mana than you, Rain."

That was quite something since Rain had increased his mana a lot lately since he reached the max level in his Scholars Insight skill and was about to break its limit as well… still, even if they had that much mana, it shouldn't be as efficient as Rain's… at least in theory. It was better not to thrust too much on that.

Name: Rainendall

Level: 462 (28.000/46.200)

Current Path: Diligence Path (Lv 68 45.550/68.000)

Health: 105.670/105.670

Mana: 401.960/401.960

Stamina: 107.330/107.330

Strength: 13.036

Dexterity: 12.396

Intelligence: 22.534

Vitality: 10.272

Wisdom: 20.827

Endurance: 10.270

Luck: 7101

Free Points: 370

Main Skills:

[Limit Breaker Lv 135)

[Magic Sacrifice Lv 46]

[A Matter of Skill Lv 38]

[Endurance Sacrifice Lv 50]

[Magic Boost Lv 128]

Support Skills:

[Iron Resilience Lv 92]

[Relentless Speed Lv 55]

[Draconic Anatomy Lv 92]

[Scholars Insight Lv Max]

[Calm Melody Lv 43]