Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

The shockwave traveled outward, causing everyone in the arena to blink in surprise. The sudden burst of energy took them off guard for a moment. Then, a deafening impact resonated throughout the stadium. When the spectators reopened their eyes, they were met with a stunning sight.

The werewolf was propelled through the air, spinning vertically like a leaf caught in a storm. His path was set, and there was no way to halt his trajectory. With a resounding crash, he struck the arena wall, making the entire structure shudder once more. Jori's remarkable display of power had left an enduring impression on the battle, earning him the shock and wonder of everyone in attendance.

"The winner is the human warrior," The beast king said and then jumped from the wall and carried the unconscious werewolf to a room on the other side of the arena.

In the end, the beast king didn't even give time for the audience to recover… At first, they thought that those two were only tagging along with Rain, but they finally realized that they didn't win the other rounds by a stroke of luck.

"I want to celebrate, but I don't think that this is the right atmosphere for that," Jori said and then joined the others.

"Who could have thought that fighting in another way would help you this much," Reca said with her arms crossed and while showing a severe expression. "The next time, try not to lose one arm while you are fighting."

"There won't be a next time," Rain said and then began to heal the wounded arm of Jori that was bleeding even more since he used all his might in the last attack. "You can take care of the next opponent, but the final three I will defeat alone."

"Are you sure that you want to lose your mana treating someone that isn't going to fight anymore?" Jori asked.

"You need some treatment, just until we return home and Terra can do the rest," Rain explained. "Besides, thanks to you, I will have some mana, so this much is fine."

What Rain learned during that fight will definitely come in handy when he tried that technique himself. There are some adjustments that need to be made, but at least Rain won't have to mess up a few times during the battles.

It took a bit longer for the next opponent to come… It seemed that the beast king had a prep talk with the other fighters. That made sense, considering the gravity of the situation on their side.

In any case, the beast king eventually returned to the arena, and after a while, the next participant came as well. Entering the arena, the seventh tribe leader immediately caught everyone's attention. He was a Tigerman, and his appearance was nothing short of striking. His jet-black fur, brilliantly adorned with bold, shimmering golden stripes, gleamed in the arena's lighting.

His robust physique spoke volumes about his rigorous training and countless battles. Powerful muscles and broad shoulders showcased his physical prowess, and every move he made exuded unshakable confidence. It was as though the arena belonged to him, and he was its unquestioned ruler.

Yet, it wasn't just his appearance that set him apart. An undeniable aura of authority and strength surrounded him, leaving no doubt about his position among his people. As he stepped into the arena's spotlight, all eyes were drawn to him, and even the rowdiest spectators fell silent, acknowledging his presence.

The seventh tribe leader commanded attention, and anticipation rippled through the crowd as he made his entrance.

"You understand how that technique works, right?" Rain asked.

"Kind of, I am not sure I can pull it off. I am not that calm when I fight," Reca replied.

"Reca… when we return home, let's get married," Jori said.

"This isn't truly the right place to ask that… but I will think about it," Reca said and then left to the center of the arena.

Rain couldn't help but feel a sense of exasperation wash over him. Jori had made a critical mistake. Proposing marriage to Reca in the midst of this intense battle arena was far from ideal. Rain felt like facepalming at the thought... Still, it was better not to say anything.

Jori should have known better. Reca wasn't the type who would appreciate an overly romantic proposal, especially in such a high-stakes environment, but even so…. It was evident that this unconventional declaration of love could have thrown her off balance, causing her to lose focus on the fight.

Furthermore, Rain couldn't help but think that Jori had inadvertently raised a massive death flag. In the heat of combat, making promises of a future together was akin to tempting fate, and it added an unnecessary layer of emotional turmoil to an already intense situation. Rain silently hoped that this wouldn't lead to dire consequences in the battles yet to come.

In any case, it didn't look like Reca let that affect her focus that much. She soon began to look at the opponent with an unwavering gaze… now that Rain thought about it, considering all the people that he knew, Reca was the last person who tended to be surprised by the circumstances for one reason or the other.

She was quite strong mentally… Rain could only hope that such a thing would help her during the fight.

Before long, the beast king swung down his muscular arm and declared the start of the fight. The black tiger suddenly opened his arms while Reca assumed her stance, and much to everyone's surprise, the opponent began to emit sparks of black lightning from his body… that couldn't be good.

Reca opened her eyes in surprise, but only for a moment, and then stepped in while using Limit Breaker. She charged extremely fast and then tried to stab the chest of the opponent, who just disappeared from her sight. It was another thought opponent that had one ability that had some troublesome gimmick...