Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Both of them charged at the same time. Even if his guard was strong, the orc could enhance it by adding some momentum to it. As for Jori, he swung his sword while the tip hit and cut the floor of the arena. it slowed it down a fair bit, but eventually, it left the ground behind when the two of them were facing each other.

Jori swung his sword upward with all his might, and the opponent kept his guard. No one heard the sound of metal crashing, so it felt like Jori missed the hit. However, they stopped in front of each other, and that showed that it couldn't be true…

A sharp, unmistakable sound pierced the air—an ominous creaking followed by a resounding crack. It was the distinct noise of metal yielding to an overwhelming force, the orc's sword beginning to splinter into pieces. The fractured weapon, now rendered useless, tumbled to the ground in a pile of shattered steel.

Simultaneously, a grotesque wound materialized on the orc's chest. It was a bizarre sight—there was no blood, no crimson flow to accompany such a grievous injury. Instead, a peculiar emptiness marked the wound as if life itself had been drained from the afflicted area.

The orc staggered backward, his eyes swirling with disorientation and confusion. Despite the absence of blood, his body had clearly suffered a devastating blow, leaving him incapacitated and helpless.

Even Rain had a hard time following the attack completely. Still, he saw that Jori hit and destroyed the opponent's swords with the reverse side of his blade. That was also the side that he hit the opponent's chest and chin.

At that crucial moment, the entire audience found themselves in a state of bewilderment. It wasn't a common occurrence for these diverse beast tribes to unite and cheer for the same side. Their conflicting emotions left them torn.

On one hand, their loyalty to their respective tribe leaders ran deep, making it challenging to openly support outsiders like Rain and his companions. However, on the other hand, it was impossible to ignore the remarkable skills and unwavering determination displayed by the human warriors.

The repeated defeats of their tribe leaders, courtesy of Rain and his friends, left the audience in a state of disarray. They were troubled with conflicting thoughts and a growing sense of frustration as they witnessed their champions being bested one after the other.

The once-enthusiastic cheers in the arena had given way to an uncomfortable silence, with spectators exchanging uncertain glances, struggling to make sense of this unexpected turn of events.

"The human warrior is the winner," The beast king declared.

Jori breathed a sigh of relief, his tense demeanor finally giving way to a sense of accomplishment as he witnessed the defeated orc tribe leader being taken away from the arena while he joined his enemies.

Meanwhile, the beast king struggled to hide his growing impatience and frustration. He had initially underestimated the true strength of these young humans, and it was becoming increasingly apparent that his earlier arrogance had been a costly mistake. He knew he couldn't continue pretending otherwise.

"Man, I am beat… copying Rain's fighting style is too draining," Jori said while massaging his left shoulder. "Still, I guess I don't have a much better option when fighting alone."

"You guys need more time to rest, but maybe you won't have the chance to fight anymore if the level of the fights keep increasing," Rain declared.

"Hey, we can still fight," Jori and Reca said in unison.

"I suppose… it will be troublesome if you guys end up losing a limb," Rain said. "Terra isn't here, and I am not as good as her when it comes to healing."

"I bet you saying that out loud makes your skin crawl," Jori smirked.

Rain let out a deep sigh, content with his outlook on personal growth. He understood the futility of trying to be the best in every single field, a task that was simply beyond human capability. Instead, he took comfort in the steady progress he made each day. Rain believed that the path of gradual improvement, which had served him well so far, would continue to lead him toward success in the future.

The next contender appeared in the arena, and she was a sight to behold. She resembled a stunning golden fox with a strikingly human-like appearance. Her slender figure conveyed an aura of delicacy, though Rain knew better than to underestimate her based on looks alone.

She wore a simple yet vibrant green dress that swayed gracefully with her every move. It was an unconventional choice for a fighter, leaving Rain to wonder how she planned to engage in combat dressed this way.

Despite her unassuming appearance, the golden fox exuded an orange aura, indicating her considerable strength. Rain couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and wariness as he prepared for the upcoming battle. This opponent served as a reminder not to judge someone solely by their appearance.

"This could be a problem, I hope she isn't planning to use my horny side against me," Rain thought.

In the next moment, the woman suddenly made a curved knife appear on her left hand… the sick shape of the weapon made Rain feel his skin crawl… she was the assassin type, apparently. It was unusual to find that type in situations like that, but she probably had a few tricks up her sleeve.

"Is it a coincidence that I am going to fight another woman?" Rain wondered. "Me thinking that this could be a problem is sexist? Or not thinking at all is sexist? I guess it doesn't matter in this world."

In the next moment, the beast king swung down his hand and declared the start of the battle, and then the woman began to move, and that left everyone speechless… that was one thing that Rain wanted to learn, but it was probably a skill that only her trice could use...