Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Rain also considered his younger sisters, who had a proficiency in water magic and access to potent relics. They had the potential to be valuable allies, but Rain hesitated to involve them in the brutal realities of conflict.

This dilemma weighed heavily on Rain as he sought to find a way to achieve his goals while safeguarding his sisters' well-being and innocence. He could ask the sea folk to help with that, but working together would be a weapon for the enemies as well.

"Your priorities are all right, but we should split into teams to guard the main routes since we don't know when the enemies will find us," Roan said. "While you work on moving the ocean to create the barricade, the others will focus on keeping an eye on those places."

"That won't be necessary if we can use the barricade that you will create. you might not be fine with us cooperating, but do you have anything against us using this barricade?" Sirenus asked.

"... It would be better if we weren't seen cooperating so we can split the areas that we both will use," Rain replied after thinking for a short while.

"We could use the waterway to reach our homes faster while you work as well. Thus, we would have to work for it," Sirenus added. "You can ask for some of us to help when you approach the ocean. Some of us will be willing to help you."

"... All right then," Rain said.

Rain saw the potential advantages of working together with the sea folk to construct the underground waterway. As long as their collaboration remained hidden from prying eyes, it could show significant benefits.

The truth was, both the king and Joanis would likely attempt to manipulate the situation to their advantage, accusing Rain of cooperating with the sea folk, regardless of his actual intentions. In the bigger picture, the optics of their partnership were not as important as the outcome they aimed to achieve.

Rain's main concern was achieving victory and ensuring that a more reasonable leader would replace the current king. He had no desire to rule over others; in fact, he found the idea burdensome. His goal was to free his family and ensure their safety, not to become a ruler.

The key to success lay in their ability to outmaneuver the king and Joanis, ultimately achieving their objectives and paving the way for a more peaceful and just future.

"Just to be safe, you should work in two groups at max. We don't know if the enemies have spies in this area to keep an eye on the beastmen beyond the mountains, after all," Rain said. "If some are around, splitting into two groups would be enough to fight back. How many villages are around, Grandpa?"

"Eight of them, with decent horses, we can probably visit those places in four days and return," Meiro replied.

"Four days should be fine to leave the roads unguarded," Rain said. "After that, you can work on guarding the roads for the remaining time until the waterway is complete. You guys should rest for the day."

Although Rain said that, he immediately flew toward the coast with several boxes filled with potions. The others will have to prepare a bunch of things before leaving, so it was for the best for them to start working the next day. Around that time in the morning, Rain also reached the coast and began to work.

"I am right in the area between the farms and the closest town that is used as a checkpoint… there is no better place to start the waterway," Rain thought.

Constructing the waterway demanded Rain's full focus and stretched the limits of his abilities. Its sheer magnitude dwarfed any of his prior endeavors, including the tunnel he had dug earlier. Urgency compelled him to act swiftly. Stepping into the ocean, Rain harnessed his control over the water, coaxing it to create into a colossal sphere measuring twenty meters in both width and height.

With determined resolve, Rain directed this immense sphere toward the beach, setting it into a rapid rotation. The sphere's spinning motion interacted with the sandy shoreline, causing grains to scatter in all directions. As he meticulously carved out the waterway, Rain was pleasantly surprised to find that the ground offered minimal resistance, likely due to the seawater's higher mineral content.

However, as the waterway continued to take shape, the splashing water threatened to disrupt his progress. Rain tapped into a larger portion of the ocean's resources to maintain control and counteract this challenge, restoring the sphere's size. Yet, he soon realized that this monumental task was consuming mana at an accelerated rate, presenting a formidable test of his magical abilities.

"I guess I have to improvise," Rain thought.

Rain displayed his expertise by ingeniously using water magic. He crafted two sleek, curved blades made entirely of water, which sparkled with an icy brilliance. These weren't just for show; they served a practical purpose.

With precision, Rain utilized his mana to freeze the blades, making them exceptionally sturdy and almost crystalline in texture. Then, swiftly and deliberately, he drove the frozen blades into the ground.

What followed defied expectations. The blades effortlessly penetrated the soil, encountering minimal resistance due to the proximity of the ocean's softening influence. Surprisingly, the presence of the water also shielded the blades from significant damage.

"What in the world is that?" Seadir suddenly asked.

Rain barely had made the waterway five hundred meters long, and Seadir had arrived, and he quite couldn't understand what Rain was doing. He already knew that he used magic in weird ways, but that left him baffled.

"Just something I came up with to increase the digging speed. What are you doing here already?" Rain asked.

"Father told me to keep an eye on the coast, but then I sensed the coral spear," Seadir explained. "Until now, the humans didn't do anything on the coast, so I came to check what you learned since the last time."