Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Although the underworld didn't have light, things were pretty comfortable there since everyone worked together to make things work after they healed themselves. Those who came from Earth felt like visiting the upper layer and talking with those they left behind, but they couldn't do that without risking the entire planet.

In any case, with their numbers, they had to work for a while to create a decent base for all those people, but it was done after a couple of days. They also had to clean the area and get rid of the mountains of trash, but at least everyone worked together in unison and without picking fights since they finally had some room to move around.

Level 15: Spatial Distortion - Deepen your understanding of spatial manipulation with Spatial Distortion, allowing you to bend and warp the fabric of space itself. This skill grants you the ability to create localized distortions, altering the geometry of the environment to your advantage.

Level 20: Spatial Focus: This grants you the power to distort some spaces and alter their effects on the ambient and those inside it. Higher levels grant more freedom and power when using this technique.

"I guess I can do something about this place using those two techniques," Rain thought while furrowing his eyebrows. "Still, should I focus on this, which seems easier, or on my other plan, for which I haven't made any progress yet?"

While Rain was thinking about that, his wives approached. It seemed that it was time for another meeting… which also meant that they finished counting the losses of that battle. Rain silently nodded and went to follow them.

Just like before, everyone reunited around the tent of the reunions to hear and see what the leaders would say or talk about it. They were completely silent since that kind of conversation could determine how long their lives would last, after all.

Despite their recent victory in forcing the enemies to retreat, a sense of unease and uncertainty was heavy among the assembled warriors in the underworld. While they had achieved an important milestone in their ongoing battle against the machine gods, there was a palpable feeling that their victory was merely a temporary one in a much larger conflict.

The leaders and warriors alike couldn't shake the feeling that, despite their efforts, they had yet to make significant progress in their ultimate goal of defeating the machine gods and securing their freedom. The end of the war seemed distant, an elusive prize that remained just out of reach despite their valiant efforts.

"It is useless to keep postponing this," Sealyn declared. "We lost fifty thousand warriors in that battle. The beings called the first dragons easily crushed almost twenty percent of our forces… it felt like the enemy was fighting a bit more seriously for a change, and that was what they could do with only one hundred of their minions. We should expect even more difficult battles from now on."

"The machine gods must be looking for us as we speak, and soon, they will assume that we are here if we don't make our next move," Regis added. "So, we don't have much time, and we will have to take our chances. We obtained a new relic, but it seems that the person inside is still asleep… are the other relics going to be like that as well?"

"Possibly, if they were being used just like this guy," Rain said. "I use the golden vase now and then in order to awaken the person, but it must take a while."

The person sealed within the golden vase was revealed to be a woman who assumed the role of Demeter in Sakaki's weird pantheon. Skilled with support powers and elemental affinities of wind and water, she possessed abilities that could be instrumental in aiding their cause. Despite her current state of slumber, her presence within the golden vase held promise for the group.

The golden vase itself possessed the ability to produce an elixir imbued with restorative properties, capable of replenishing health, mana, and stamina. However, due to the woman's dormant state, the effects of the elixir were relatively weak compared to their full potential.

Nevertheless, even in its decreased state, the elixir held the potential to provide valuable assistance to the group, offering a glimmer of hope amidst their struggles.

Just as the golden vase held promise for support and aid, the other relics scattered throughout their journey were likely to possess unique abilities and powers that could prove invaluable in their ongoing battle against the machine gods.

"Finding the other relics will be helpful, even if they are in this state," Esmeralda declared. "The overseer also might help us if we recover all of them, and his assistance will be useful… that might also make him ignore the dragon god."

Unless the dragon god manages to kill one of the machine gods before they do that… Rain thought about that, but he didn't say it out loud since he didn't want to decrease the morale of the group.

"Perhaps Esmeralda should keep and use the golden vase while you keep working with the other issues, Dad," Sealyn said.

"Fine by me," Rain said and then passed the golden vase to Esmeralda.

"I am not sure how I can use this to help others, but I will see what I can do," Esmeralda said after frowning. "Regardless… what should be our next step? What is the closest relic?"

"According to the map that we have, it is the double of the distance away from Earth and that planet that we fought in," Rain said. "As such, we will have to jump in on a bunch of planets along the way before reaching the destination… recovering that relic should be relatively easy if things go well along with the plan, but after that, the machine gods will know that we are looking for them.

We will have to think a bit more to keep fooling them…"