Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Almost instantly, Reca swung her spear sideways and then hit the side of the opponent. He used his right arm to block the attack, but it easily snapped…

The Tigerman, after being struck by Reca's forceful blow, was sent hurtling through the air, his body twisting and rolling violently as it careened toward the side of the arena. With a resounding crash, he collided with the arena wall, his form absorbing the impact and causing the very ground beneath them to tremble.

The force of the collision sent shockwaves through the spectators, who watched in astonishment as the Tigerman struggled to regain his footing, his body visibly battered and bruised from the powerful blow.

The place trembled once more, and the shape of the body of the opponent was left in the wall… at the same time, Reca almost fell, but she used her spear as support to stay standing. The pain in her back was making her sweat cold, but she had to endure until the end of the fight was declared. Eventually, the Tigerman fell…

"The human warrior is the winner," The beast king declared while looking like he was eating something very sour.

Rain and Jori quickly approached Reca to help her leave the arena. While Jori helped with a shoulder to lean on, Rain used his healing magic, but it seemed that he wouldn't have much time for the first aid. Rain suddenly heard footsteps approaching, and then he saw everyone in the arena waiting for the next fight.

"... Wait here a sec; I will finish this quickly and make them understand that playing games with me won't work," Rain said.

Rain's friends exchanged glances, a collective realization dawning on them that they had never seen him like this before. Rain was typically a calm and composed individual, someone who didn't let his emotions dictate his actions. However, the sheer anger and frustration radiating from him now were impossible to ignore, and it was a clear departure from his usual demeanor.

It was becoming evident that the situation had pushed him to his limits, and when Rain displayed such unbridled anger, it was a foreboding sign that the outcome might not be favorable for their opponents.

"Just don't do anything stupid," Reca said. "We don't want to bring your body to your family and Terra."

"Reca…" Jori said and facepalmed.

"Relax, have you seen me doing anything stupid?" Rain asked.

"Picking a fight with two kings isn't stupid enough?" Reca asked. "I guess you have a very  different idea of stupidity if compared to ordinary people."

"Touche," Rain shrugged.

Rain moved to the center of the arena while looking at his next opponent. Standing boldly in the arena, there was a colossal red lion, easily towering over the crowd. His coat was a striking shade of crimson, a stark contrast against the arena's surroundings. With every step he took, his powerful muscles rippled beneath that fiery fur.

His arms were firmly crossed over his chest, exuding an air of confidence.

Yet, it was his eyes that drew the most attention. Gleaming like two orbs of molten gold, they bore into the arena and its spectators with a predatory intensity. His presence was undeniable, a fusion of authority and simmering anger, as if rage itself had found a physical form in this formidable beast.

This red lion wasn't just a formidable figure; he symbolized might and fury within the beastmen kingdom, commanding respect and caution from all who gazed upon him.

"I was planning to knock some of you down without serious injuries since we don't have time to have more enemies, but I guess I will have to change my mind in order to make a point," Rain said, and then he unequipped the weights on his arms and then threw them to the side, making them sink on the silver arena. "This will be your last chance to give up on the fight… I won't hold back."

Rain took out the ankle weights as well, and the opponent could tell that Rain wasn't joking, but he was fine with that. He wanted to see his full power and make the others prepare and think of countermeasures against it. The lion man just assumed his fighting stance by raising both of his arms and then waited for the beast king to swing down his arm.

As the beast king's colossal arm signaled the start of the battle, Rain seemed to vanish from the lionman's field vision, blending seamlessly with the surroundings. The audience gasped in surprise, all eyes straining to understand what had transpired.

In the blink of an eye, the lion man was propelled high into the sky, his face showing utter shock. He spun like a top upward, a massive silhouette against the horizon, before crashing hundreds of meters away from the arena.

Amidst the hushed astonishment of the spectators, Rain reappeared his focus now on his friends. The spectacle was beyond belief. The audience struggled to grasp how Rain, with a single punch, had defeated the beast kingdom's third mightiest warrior, sending him soaring through the sky like a mere pebble. Such power and prowess left them in awe, and the arena buzzed with whispers of incredulity.

Rain began to heal Reca again while looking at the beast king and wondering if he was still planning to keep his bullshit. They were playing their game, so it was time for those guys to get a clue that they shouldn't pull the rope too much…

"Well… that was certainly something…" Jori said. "Was it your best punch?"

"No, I held back a bit since I didn't want to rip his head out of his neck," Rain replied.

Jori and Reca wondered if Rain was joking or not… it was hard that even Rain would tell such a morbid joke, and they were correct. Rain didn't use Impulse or adjust his skills to improve the power of only punches, or only one for that matter.