Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Seeing dragons up close only made Rain feel more eager to become tougher and stronger physically, so he opted to keep leveling up the Martial Artist path.

Level 5: Iron Limbs Channel your inner energy to reinforce your limbs, dealing extra damage with both punches and kicks. Five more extra points of damage per level

Level 10: Endurance Training Push your body to endure longer battles, gaining +05 endurance per level and surpassing your limits.

Level 15: Vital Surge Tap into your vital energy to surge your health. Elevate your health pool by +05 per level, reinforcing your stamina.

Level 20: Precise Strikes Focus your strikes and kicks on weak points, bypassing a portion of enemy defenses. Ignore three points of endurance per level.

"Earth dragons' main weapon should be their defense since they can't fly," Rain thought. "I can't train my vitality here without hurting myself since I need to protect them, but it will be fine if I train my stamina."

As Rain contemplated these newfound meditation insights, he glanced over at Branden and Esmeralda, who were sound asleep on their respective beds. It was well past midnight, and three days had passed since the awe-inspiring sight of the dragons.

Outside, the colossal bodies of the earth dragons had been left exposed for all to see. This display was intended to serve as a symbol of the magic people's strength and their ability to confront and overcome such formidable creatures, prompting a city-wide celebration of their collective prowess.

Rain couldn't help but ponder the possibilities. As he gazed upon the immense bodies of the earth dragons, he wondered if these formidable creatures would be used in the creation of more dracos. Such a move could potentially enhance the Draco's power significantly.

He contemplated the idea that, for efficiency's sake, it might be advantageous if all the dracos possessed the abilities of fire dragons. The thought of having a unified and powerful force of dracos, each wielding the formidable powers of fire, danced in his mind as he considered the strategic advantages it could offer to the magic people.

While Rain was thinking about that and watching the city through the window of the room, he suddenly noticed the atmosphere changing. Still, he didn't notice anything happening or the guys that were watching them moving.

Rain was already ready to fight if he had to since he kept his forearm guards and shin guards equipped at all times, after all. Still, despite all that, he was caught off guard when a loud screeching sound echoed in the dark sky.

"Hiiiiiiioooooooooohhhhhhhh!"

Rain opened his eyes widely… that had to be the scream of a dragon. Branden slowly got up from his bed since he heard that, but he wasn't sure of what he heard since he was still half asleep.

"Wake her up. It seems that we have some visitors," Rain said.

Branden opened his eyes widely and began to wake Esmeralda. Before long, they heard an explosion in the city, and the ground began to tremble. On the other side of the city, Rain could see a flash of light glowing in Orange red… There was no doubt of what was happening.

"We are leaving," Branden said. "Sorry, but you will have to carry our stuff."

Esmeralda was wide awake as well, and while she knew that time was of the essence, she still felt troubled that she would have to walk outside with her bed hair and with her pajamas, which were just a long sleep dress. She didn't say anything, though.

Under the cover of the night, the dragons' rageful screams tore through the silence, their shouts echoing ominously across the city. These anguished wails, filled with pain and despair, reached deep into the hearts of all who heard them.

Amidst this chaotic soundscape, fiery explosions illuminated the darkness, punctuating the sky with bursts of brilliant light and thunderous detonations. The cacophony of magical clashes filled the night air, creating an ominous backdrop.

Down on the city's streets, the once-peaceful urban scene had transformed into a scene of pandemonium. Panic-stricken citizens added their voices to the chaos, their urgent shouts blending with the general tumult. The city, once known for its tranquility, had descended into a state of utter disorder.

In their haste to escape, Rain, Branden, and Esmeralda chose an unconventional exit strategy from the inn: they slipped out through a window. They used an earth platform to lower themselves to the ground. Little did they know that the city outside had transformed into a scene of chaos and peril.

A colossal fire dragon, its scales aglow with blazing intensity, had unleashed a ferocious torrent of flames from its gaping jaws. This searing inferno tore through the night sky, resulting in a catastrophic explosion that consumed multiple buildings in its fiery wrath.

Realizing the immediate danger, the trio had no choice but to swiftly leap away from the platform, desperate to avoid drawing any unwanted attention. Their escape, initially discreet, now had the added urgency of evading the destructive fury of the fire-breathing behemoth.

"Why? Why?" Esmeralda asked when they began to rub and joined a large number of people who were heading to the main path that would lead to the exit of the city.

"Most likely, bringing the bodies of the dragons here wasn't the best thing that they did in the recent years," Rain replied. "It seems that some dragons got enraged thanks to it…"

The large number of people was getting in the way, so Rain considered flying again. Still, soon he looked over his shoulder and then saw a fire dragon flying toward them… it seemed that the beast wanted to kill as many people as possible, and the main path to the exit was the best option for that.

"Just my luck…" Rain said.

Branden looked over his shoulder and gulped… he tried to stop his fiancee, but Esmeralda didn't resist the temptation, and thanks to that, the blood drained from her face.

"Rain, buy me some time," Branden said. "I will erase a large mist that will hide us."

"That will only make the dragon target you more…" Rain said and then sighed. "I guess I jinxed myself when I wondered if I could face a dragon… it is time to satisfy my curiosity in a very dangerous way."