Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

The planet shuddered violently as if it were a fragile balloon being squeezed by the giants' hands. Its surface rippled and warped, the very fabric of reality bending under that immense force. Suddenly, with a deafening roar, the planet seemed to split apart like a burst balloon, its upper and lower halves tearing away from each other.

As the parts broke free, they defied the grip of the machine god's influence, each fragment soaring into the vast emptiness of the cosmos. The severed pieces spun and twisted, carried away by forces beyond comprehension, disappearing into the boundless expanse of the universe, leaving behind only echoes of their former existence.

"The endurance of this body is satisfying… it endured the fall of the core of a small-sized planet which emitted enough force ten times higher than our mana cannons. We were planning to use the spirit of this world, but this was a necessary sacrifice."

The debris of the planet began to spread in all directions. Some of them collided against the body of the machine god, but that didn't even scratch him. Such was the power of the condensed metal, thanks to the aspect of space. The metal used was also a better version of the dark metal that could charge extra corrupt energy… It was a creation that made that machine god pretty proud of himself.

In any case, Rain was still nowhere to be seen, and before he could do anything, the machine god soon saw some parts of the planet returning and then covering his body… all those parts were made of ice… it seemed that even in that state, the spirit of the planet wanted to have their revenge.

"Even with all this time, it still looks like I am not completely ready, huh?" Rain asked.

Rain's presence suddenly appeared in front of the machine god, and soon, he saw a domain cracking in front of him like it was glass marble. Rain had been there the whole time… but he still escaped the sight of the machine god for some reason.

When Rain revealed himself, the machine god understood what had happened… Rain's physical form underwent a deep transformation, as if his very essence had transcended the limitations of flesh and blood. His once-solid figure now appeared ethereal, like a specter haunting the mortal realm.

Transparent and ephemeral, he seemed to blend with the air around him, his presence both there and not there, like a whisper in the wind.

But it wasn't just his transparency that was captivating. Around him, a swirling aura of ice dust danced and twirled, creating an otherworldly halo that accentuated his ghostly appearance. It was as though frozen stars had been captured in orbit around him, casting an eerie glow that illuminated his newfound form.

In this state, Rain appeared to transcend the boundaries of humanity, becoming something more akin to a celestial being, a harbinger of frost and chill. His presence was both beautiful and unsettling, a testament to the unfathomable depths of power he now wielded.

"Why don't I help you fight someone of your size?" Rain asked. "This will make things pretty interesting, don't you think?"

Rain's body began to grow and expand, and while it was only made of ice, it sure looked resilient. The machine god could attack him and stop the transformation, but he decided to wait and see… Rain obtained the power of two world spirits, and the machine god wanted to learn how he could control that.

Rain had the feeling during the battle that the first creature was a world spirit when it tried to grab him… it felt like a cry for help since the machine god turned the spirit and the mass of an entire world into something like that. That was why the creature was so slow, and even slow attacks hit Rain like a truck.

— —

A while ago, When Rain punched the creature and then the dark ice took over the area, time passed very slowly and then Rain found himself in a white space again. It was the mental landscape of the creature, who was also the spirit of another world.

"We didn't expect to find someone who could wake me up like this… you must have obtained a very peculiar power."

The spirit of the ice planet manifested in a breathtaking form, taking on the shape of a majestic ice bird. Its crystalline feathers shimmered with a radiant glow, reflecting the ethereal light of distant stars. With each graceful movement, it left behind a trail of frost, painting the void with delicate patterns of icy beauty.

This ice bird, akin to a phoenix of frozen splendor, soared through the cosmic expanse with a sense of ancient wisdom and boundless power. Its wings spanned vast distances, carrying it effortlessly through the celestial realms. Yet, despite its icy nature, there was an undeniable warmth emanating from its core, a fiery essence hidden beneath layers of frost.

As it flew, the ice bird left behind a trail of shimmering particles, like stardust caught in a frozen dance. Each beat of its wings echoed with the harmonious melody of creation, a symphony of ice intertwined in perfect balance.

"It seems that you caused me a lot of trouble," Rain said. "While it isn't your fault that you ended up in the hands of the machine gods, I still demand repairs."

"There isn't much that we can order aside from giving you some assistance against the enemy that is after your and your friends' lives. Our strength combined probably won't be enough, but the enemy forced us to fight in a world where the spirit there is still dormant but soon will find itself forced to fight before reaching itself."

Rain felt like sighing… he didn't want to become a guy who would go around helping those who cussed him trouble first. Still, while that isn't always true, the enemy of your enemy can be an ally, even if for a short time.