Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

"Just try to do it and see what will happen," Rain said. "In the last moment, when you don't know what to do, try that. Anyway, just be sure to return alive now."

"Roger," Jori said.

Jori moved to the center of the arena, and Rain wondered why he didn't let Reca go first… she would have the upper hand against someone that uses claws like the werewolf.

Still, Rain knew that he would piss Reca off if he were to say that he would face the seventh tribe leader since he would be stronger than the sixth… in the end, he had already been whipped by Reca.

"What did you tell him?" Reca asked while showing a bit of concern.

"That was…" Rain said and then began to explain his idea.

While Rain was explaining things to Reca, the beast king declared the start of the fight. The werewolf raised his arms and then made his claws grow even longer… They were as long as short swords, and that was a problem since he had three of them.

Unlike the previous opponent, the werewolf looked quite calm. He slowly began to move to the side while Jori mimicked his movements. However, all of a sudden, the opponent suddenly disappeared and then appeared behind Jori… he hissed in pain as some scratch marks on his left arm suddenly appeared and began to gush a bit of blood… the Enemy's charge speed was insane.

Jori quickly turned around and then took a deep breath to calm down and ignore the pain. He messed up by letting that attack land and letting the opponent use a brief moment of carelessness to attack him. Still, the same thing wouldn't happen again.

As if he was a day predator that wanted to surprise its prey in a weird way, the werewolf began to move to the side again. Still, after a while, he realized that Jori wouldn't show any more openings.

Rain couldn't help but frown while looking at that… it didn't make sense for Jori's battles to be such stand offs of analytical thinking and planning. Regardless, he had better things to do instead of worrying, even though Jori could help him solve the issue that he was considering.

In any case, the werewolf got tired of the staring contest and then charged at Rain and swung his claws. In the next moment, Jori swung his sword down and used Limit Breaker. The thunderous impact made the entire arena tremble, but Jori was still pushed backward.

The opponent jumped again at him and began to swing his claws up and down with speed and ferocity. The movements of those weapons created blasts of wind that scratched Jori's arms even though he jumped away to avoid them or blocked them with his sword.

Jori bit his lips after he hissed in pain thanks to the pain and the wounds, but soon he would take a deep breath. Just blocking the hits like that wouldn't do it… he had to change his approach, but he didn't have many options in that regard.

Jori found himself grappling with a growing sense of inadequacy as he battled his current opponent. Despite his opponent not appearing particularly formidable on the surface, Jori was struggling more than he'd like to admit. What stung even more was the fact that he was deliberately holding back his full strength, reserving it for his upcoming showdown with Rain.

Even the minor scratches on his body felt like glaring reminders of his own limitations, especially when he glanced at Rain. Rain had endured far more vicious and deep-seated attacks without showing a hint of weakness. It was a clear contrast that left Jori feeling frustrated with his own shortcomings.

The notion of proposing to Reca, a thought that had crossed his mind, still lingered, but he couldn't muster the courage to do it. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was far from being a true man, especially when compared to someone seven years his junior who possessed superior talent, composure, and tactical prowess.

Jori grappled with these feelings of inadequacy as he continued to battle in the arena.

"It is time to show my guts… not in a literal way," Jori thought and then moved his sword to his right side.

It seemed that Jori was showing one hell of an opening, but the beastly senses of the werewolf told him otherwise… Jori was going to show his true power, and he couldn't hold back against such an opponent… Despite that, Jori didn't do a single thing, and that annoyed the opponent.

While grunting in annoyance, the werewolf thought that he might have fallen for a cheap trick to make him waste time. It made no sense for him to feel that guarded against a human who had only been fighting for a decade or so…

The opponent charged at Jori and then began to swing his claws insanely fast. Downwards strikes, horizontal strikes, diagonal strikes… he could attack from all directions without a break. Meanwhile, Jori swung down his sword from one side to the other and blocked the attacks…

Horizontal strikes were his specialty, and he was using Limit Breaker, too. Thanks to that, he was able to fight back against the opponent on equal terms… However, things soon were going to end…

Each beastman tribe boasted its own distinct trait that defined them. The werewolves, among these tribes, possessed a bunch of advantageous qualities. However, it was one particular trait that truly distinguished them—their ever-evolving claws.

As a werewolf's strength increased, their claws underwent remarkable transformations. They became sharper, longer, and astonishingly more resilient. This transformation rendered their attacks exceptionally lethal, capable of effortlessly piercing through armor and flesh.

What truly set them apart was the adaptability of their claws in the midst of combat. The longer a battle raged on, the claws seemed to adjust in response to the user's intent. They grew lighter and swifter without compromising their durability.

This unique feature gave the werewolves a significant edge, enabling them to excel in prolonged confrontations, making them formidable adversaries in the field of battle.

Confirming that, all of a sudden, Jori failed to attack fast enough, and then his left elbow was sliced.