Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Without wasting time, Rain used his mana to make that skill level up, and soon, he obtained more knowledge regarding those symbols. They were all simple things, though, how to create a fireball that would float for ten seconds. A water sphere… while it was simple, that kind of magic was pretty fun.

"While I said that, I thought that it would be impossible even for you…" Isa furrowed her eyebrows when she saw Rain creating a bigger magic circle and then combining some symbols to summon a small sand tornado. "For a beginner, you know how to balance everything well in the first attempt…"

"Everyone seems to me like a muscle head, even though I came up with a bunch of techniques," Rain shrugged. "These are easy when you know how to visualize the whole thing in your mind."

Isa does that too, but it takes a while to get used to that… then again, she recalled his mental landscape, so Rain had a better mental image when it comes to stuff than most.

"You will need to combine a bunch of symbols to obtain that result, and the final one that you will need you will get at level eighty, so keep working on it," Isa said and then left while waving her hand.

"This should increase my options for the future, but I can't focus my creativity on this," Rain thought. "Maybe I can use Iori gem to fuel my experiments once I learn the right formula for the magic circle. Considering what we might need, we will have to make a magic circle with many layers, and they won't be able to drain mana from everyone."

"If we have to leave the planet, do you have any idea where we should go?" Larisa asked.

"Not yet… it is probably better not to think too much about that and focus on winning against the ice dragons instead," Rain said.

Throughout the night, Rain dedicated his time to honing his understanding of the Magic Scribe path. Delving deeper into its intricacies, he wanted to refine his skills and improve his proficiency in creating and manipulating magical inscriptions, runes, and symbols.

He meticulously studied the nuances of drawing magic circles and experimented with various combinations of symbols to broaden his repertoire of skills.

Meanwhile, the rest of the group engaged in a day of rigorous sparring and training among themselves. They used this time not only to sharpen their combat abilities but also to reacquaint themselves with each other's fighting styles and presences. The intense practice sessions allowed them to synchronize their movements, strategies, and teamwork, recreating a stronger bond among the group members.

As they continued their preparations, they awaited the decision of Regis and the other elders regarding their course of action in response to the impending threat posed by the ice dragons.

This waiting period allowed them a crucial interval to refine their skills, strengthen their connections, and gather their resolve before the next steps in their plan to confront the escalating danger… even though they preferred to know what they should do instead of just waiting. Fortunately, on the evening of the second day, Regis showed up again.

"Things reached a difficult point, as I had expected… we are split very evenly about how we should take action regarding this situation," Regis said while rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Some people want to defend the island only, while others understand that we need to move."

Regis showed a troubled expression, his furrowed brow reflecting the weight of the situation. His concern wasn't just for the imminent threat posed by the ice dragons but also for the unity of the diverse groups among them. The division among the elders troubled him deeply because he understood the implications of splitting the demi-humans.

The prospect of dividing their forces, even if it seemed practical for survival, was too risky in Regis's eyes. He prioritized the unity and cooperation of all factions, recognizing that their combined strength was pivotal in facing the impending danger. He didn't want to risk fragmenting their solidarity, knowing that their combined efforts were crucial for their survival as well.

To him, the idea of going into battle with only a portion of their collective strength seemed more dangerous than awaiting the arrival of the ice dragons. Fighting their enemies with a divided front appeared to carry a higher risk, especially if it meant facing the dragons with diminished forces.

Regis was wary of such a course of action and preferred a united front, even if it meant waiting and potentially facing a more substantial threat later on.

"Do they even understand that the ice dragons will never come?" Isa asked. "They can survive in any kind of conditions. We can't," Isa declared.

"Some of us are already working on fighting the harsh conditions that the ice dragons want to impose on the world," Regis said. "I also raised the possibility that others might join us to defend our land, and they don't mind if they prove to be formidable allies like the sea folk. They don't care about matters of the past any longer."

Rain felt an intense headache akin to his head being on the verge of exploding. Amidst the ongoing discussions and the division of opinions among the leaders, a third possibility emerged. However, Rain couldn't help but have many doubts about relying on a strategy that centered around outlasting the enemies.

History had shown him that such plans often led to catastrophic consequences in the midst of wars.

What troubled Rain the most was the apparent lack of experience among the demi-humans regarding the realities of conflict. It seemed as though they were oblivious to the perils inherent in a plan based on outlasting the enemy.

Their steadfast determination to hold onto their land, even in the face of looming peril, reflected their lack of comprehension regarding the true nature of the impending danger.

"I guess this falls only on our shoulders," Rain thought.