Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

60  Limitations

Rain stood atop the roof of his grandparent's house, the night enveloping him in its cloak of darkness. His keen eyes scanned the surroundings, and his senses heightened as he kept a vigilant watch over the village. The moon hung high in the sky behind many thick clouds, casting a dim glow upon the landscape below.

He listened intently to the sounds of the night, the chirping of crickets, the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. His gaze darted from one shadow to another, searching for any signs of movement or danger. The air was thick with anticipation, and his heart beat steadily in his chest.

Rain's mind was sharp; he knew that the beasts, though cunning and elusive, would reveal their presence through subtle clues—a rustle in the underbrush, a faint growl carried by the wind. He remained alert, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.

As midnight approached, Rain felt a shift in the atmosphere, a heaviness that hung in the air. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, alerting him to the impending danger. His gaze swept the horizon, searching for any signs of disturbance.

Then, in the distance, a flickering light caught his attention. A solitary torch, its flame dancing in the darkness, pierced through the night like a beacon. Without hesitation, Rain tapped into his magic, summoning an earth platform beneath his feet.

Swiftly, he ascended into the air, soaring toward the source of the light. His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins. The wind whistled in his ears as he propelled himself forward, propelled by a sense of urgency and the need to protect his village.

The ground below blurred as Rain raced through the night sky, his eyes fixed on the distant torch. He could sense the threat lurking beneath its glow, the imminent danger that awaited. His mind raced with thoughts of strategy and preparedness, his determination unyielding.

His heart quickened with a mix of apprehension and determination as he recognized the unmistakable forms of armored beetles. These were no ordinary insects but formidable creatures with hardened exoskeletons and menacing pincers. Their presence signaled danger, a threat to the livelihood and safety of the village.

Rain's instincts kicked in, and he knew that he couldn't stand idly by. The guards, overwhelmed by the sheer number of beetles, had taken a step back, unsure of how to handle the growing onslaught. It was up to Rain to step in to defend the fields and their precious resources.

Determined to protect the village, Rain tapped into his earth magic and conjured sharp earth darts. The darts spun rapidly as Rain hurled them toward the approaching beasts. He aimed for their heads, hoping to find a weak spot in their armor. However, the darts collided with the beetles' tough carapaces, causing only a momentary flinch.

Undeterred, Rain adjusted his strategy. He focused on targeting the beasts' vulnerable areas, such as their joints and underbellies. With quick and precise movements, he launched his attacks, exploiting any opening he could find.

The impact of the earth darts against the beasts' armored bodies echoed through the air, creating a metallic clang. Although the beasts were momentarily disrupted, their defenses held strong. Rain realized that a direct assault on their carapaces was ineffective.

Rain gazed intently at the menacing monsters as they locked their gaze upon him. With their dark, unyielding eyes, the beasts seemed unfazed by his presence. Determined to find a weakness, Rain focused his attention on their eyes, aiming his attacks with precision.

He summoned a barrage of earth projectiles, launching them toward the beasts' vulnerable eyes. However, his hopes were quickly shattered as the creatures swiftly reacted, using their sharp pincers to block the incoming assault. The earth projectiles collided with their formidable defenses, causing only a momentary disruption.

The beasts' pincers, sturdy and resilient, acted as impenetrable shields, thwarting Rain's attempts to incapacitate them. Their reaction time was impressive, a testament to their instinctual defense mechanisms. Rain realized that he needed to come up with a new plan if he wanted to overcome these annoying opponents.

"I can't kill all of them with my current mana, but…" Rain thought and then clicked his tongue. "I suppose this is the current limit of my abilities."

Rain took a moment to compose himself, his mind racing with possibilities. Realizing the limitations of his previous approach, he made a decisive choice. Drawing upon every ounce of his mana, he focused his power on the ground beneath the approaching monsters.

With a surge of energy, Rain caused the earth to churn and buckle, creating deep pits that quickly engulfed the unsuspecting creatures. As their massive paws sank into the soft soil, they found themselves trapped, their movements severely restricted.

Sensing their impending doom, the monsters let out blood-curdling screams of agony, their piercing cries filling the night air. The weight of the earth immobilized them, leaving them vulnerable to Rain's next move.

Rain unleashed his strength without hesitation, channeling his mana into the ground. The earth responded to his command, exerting an incredible pressure on the trapped monsters. With a bone-crushing force, the hardened earth compressed around their limbs, causing unbearable pain.

The monsters writhed in anguish, their struggles futile against the unyielding grip of the earth. Each movement intensified their torment, further driving them to the brink of despair. The once fearsome creatures now found themselves at the mercy of Rain's merciless assault.

The cacophony of their agonized cries echoed throughout the surrounding area, causing their fellow beasts to recoil in fear. Sensing the impending danger, the remaining monsters, driven by their primal instincts, turned tail and fled, desperate to escape the fate that awaited their companions. Rain clicked his tongue while watching that. The work was far from over.

(An Unknown skill leveled up.)

(An unknown path received experience.)

(Until the path is unlocked, you will gain bonus experience in the Human Path of two hundred percent.)

(Human Path received 600 experience points.)

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