Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

In the end, the first test had truly being a joke. Even though the end of one piece had been quite emotional, Rain still didn't change the order of the best events. At leas the ones that touched him the most. Ace's death, Sanji's past with his mentor, and Vivi's goodbye… he didn't even have to explain why and Zeus just nodded with him in satisfaction.

"To the second test…" Zeus said.

"You'd better not say anything insane here…" Rain said while he tapped his index finger with his arms crossed.

"Don't worry, this will be a serious one," Zeus said. "I don't have much time left, so if you fail, I won't have enough mana to wait for someone else, so this will be a risk for me as well. I hope that your spirit doesn't break."

All of a sudden, the surroundings shifted seamlessly, and Rain found himself transported into Nigel's memories, witnessing another battle with the colossal lizard through Nigel's eyes. The once-ruined city now unfolded before Rain, and he felt a strange connection to Nigel's experiences. Moreover, he could even feel the air entering his lungs and the sense of the dust touching his skin.

"I don't like this…" Rain thought.

Nigel, now in full battle gear with the spear, shield and armor, confronted the massive, blue and green lizard. The creature's scales glistened as it roared, unleashing a terrifying display of anger. The air crackled with tension as Nigel raised his spear, ready to engage in a life-or-death struggle.

Rain, still observing from Nigel's perspective, could sense the adrenaline, fear, and determination coursing through Nigel's veins.

It became apparent that this test wasn't just a mental challenge; it was an immersive experience, an opportunity to understand the depth of the sins' influence on their powers. As the scene played out, Rain braced himself for whatever revelations awaited him in this simulated battlefield.

"How he can wield the relics… wasn't he supposed to become a part of them during their creation?" Rain thought.

Regardless, Nigel raised his spear and made a tsunami approach the beast and hit it from all sides, but the monster didn't even more after being hit. Without hesitation, Nigel charged in while surfing on the waters that had invaded the city…

All of a sudden… The colossal lizard retaliated with a powerful blast of water, unleashing a torrential line of pressured water in Nigel's direction. In a display of agility, Nigel swiftly dodged the attack, leaping to the side just in time. The immense force of the water blast continued across the ocean, leaving destruction in its wake as it carved a colossal fissure into the ground.

Nigel gulped as he watched the aftermath with a gulp, realizing the destructive potential of the creature's attacks. The vast expanse of water had been split in two by the force of the assault. However, determination was clear in Nigel's eyes as he prepared for his next move.

Without hesitation, Nigel charged once more, riding the waves he had summoned. Surfing across the water, he closed the distance between himself and the gigantic lizard, spear poised for a decisive strike. Only to be hit by a lightning fast strike by the tail of the monster… Nigel raised the shield in time to block the attack, but he was still smashed against the ground.

"What the heck…" Rain thought while feeling like his own soul was being crushed.

The impact was devastating as the tail struck with incredible force, crushing Nigel against the ground. Despite the resilience of Nigel's shield, the sheer power behind the attack sent shockwaves through his entire body.

The shield managed to withstand the initial impact, but Nigel felt the reverberations of the strike coursing through his bones. It was as if his very skeleton was shattering like glass under the immense pressure. The force of the tail strike created visible fissures in the surrounding area, a testament to the sheer power of the lizard's assault.

The air was forcibly expelled from Nigel's lungs, leaving him breathless and battered. The pain surged through his body, but the determination in his eyes remained unbroken. The immersive test seemed to push the boundaries of pain and struggle, forcing Rain to confront the harsh reality of the sins' influence on their powers.

The giant monster raised its tail, but soon swung it down again and little by little Nigel began to be crushed… he felt his bones piercing his muscles and he didn't even have time to groan in pain. The blood of the dragons let him heal quite fast… but not fast enough.

Eventually, Nigel was no longer able to move his body and then the beast took its time to raise the tail and swing it down as fast as possible… but before it could hit him, Nigel pierced his own heart with his spear.

"Son of a bitch…" Rain thought.

Rain couldn't even groan or flinch, but he felt the pain that made him feel like sweating cold… Rain didn't feel more pain after that, but he could feel something leaving his body and moving to the spear and the other relics.

"So, this is how he met his end… he returned to his Homeland, only to fail to even scratch the monster," Rain thought. "Way to go, Poseidon."

Rain wanted to at least see what left the body and went to the weapon, but he didn't have the chance for that… in the next moment, the massive monster's face approached him while it studied the relics and Nigel's body.

The eyes of the monstrous lizard showed a malevolent intelligence that sent shivers down Rain's spine. In that moment of confrontation, he sensed a depth of darkness and malice within the creature's gaze. It was as if the monster harbored a profound desire for death and destruction, an insatiable craving that had consumed it for an eternity.

There was a haunting quality to those eyes, a sinister awareness that transcended mere instinct. It was as though the creature had sought out chaos and devastation for an extended period, its malevolence etched into the very essence of its being. Rain couldn't shake the feeling that he was confronting not just a mindless beast, but a malevolent force that thrived on annihilation.