Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Chapter 366: Orc

Jori had a valid point when you looked at it closely. In a sense, Rain, too, was a wielder of dual weapons, though not in the conventional sense. His fists were his primary weapons, and in many ways, they were the best ones he could ask for. They were also extremely easy to use since they were part of his body, so he could attack whenever and wherever he wanted.

His hands were formidable tools, capable of delivering devastating punches and strikes. Over time, he had honed his hand-to-hand combat skills to a level that made his fists deadly weapons in their own right. With precision and speed, he could deliver a flurry of blows that few could withstand.

So, while he might not have carried swords or axes like some of their opponents, Rain's fists were a potent and reliable means of offense. One that Jori had dealt with a bunch of times.

In any case, both participants moved to the center of the arena, where they faced and measured each other with their eyes alone. It seemed that they were quite serious since they determined that they were on the same level in terms of strength, speed, and technique… that was weird.

Jori felt that since that was the case, he should have the upper hand with Limit Breaker, but his instincts warned him that he shouldn't drop his guard.

Before long, the beast king declared the start of the battle, and both participants grabbed their swords and assumed their fighting stances… it seemed that they were also the same type of fighters too, the type that knew that the situation was too serious and that they couldn't mess up.

In the end, Jori was the first one to step in, and he started with a wide side slash. The third tribe leader moved his swords to the side and blocked the attack with ease… sparks emerged from their weapons and spread across the area while Jori tried to overpower the opponent.

Still, the guard of the orc was more firm, and he was the one who eventually pushed away Jori's guard. The orc stepped in after pushing away Jori's sword and then thrust his weapons at him with all his might.

Jori raised his long sword to block the strikes, and while clenching his teeth, he pulled that off, but each blow pushed him away backward… even if they had the same power, speed, and technique level. The opponent had the upper hand since he was bigger and heavier.

The orc studied Jori once more while he was fixing his guard. The third tribe leader quickly realized that he had the upper hand there, but he didn't have to get carried away thanks to it. Even in that sense, he was similar to Jori.

Rain was pleasantly surprised by Jori's sudden display of analytical prowess. He had never considered Jori as such an analytical warrior before. Rain had always thought of him as more of an instinctive fighter. However, at this moment, Jori's keen observations and insights were shining through.

Initially, Rain had intended to concentrate solely on his own thoughts and opponents. His mind was occupied with his own problems. But as he watched the ongoing battle, he couldn't help but notice that Jori's adversary seemed to have a slight upper hand. This realization piqued Rain's curiosity.

He became engrossed in the fight, his analytical instincts coming to the forefront as he assessed the situation.

"When did he become a swordsman that thinks this much?" Rain asked. "Wasn't his style meant to defeat the enemies as soon as possible with big swings?"

"Yes, but he is trying to become a more reliable leader as well, after seeing you for a while, he thinks that it is cool to be able to fight while keeping your cool no matter the circumstances," Reca explained.

"I guess he still is a kid at heart," Rain shrugged.

Jori charged again, imitating his first attack, and the opponent prepared to block and then make his swords slip through Jori's before splitting him in half. However, when the weapon collided, a thunderous sound echoed in the area, and the orc was pushed away.

The arena was left stunned when they saw that… it seemed that Jori suddenly had gotten stronger, or maybe he was fighting for real this time. When the orc stopped moving, he looked at Jori with a bit of a surprised expression, but he remained focused. Until he took a deep breath and then charged again.

Jori sprang into action with a flurry of rapid side slashes. His swords moved with precision and intensity, slicing through the air. While his attacks lacked variety, there was a calculated purpose behind them. With each strike, Jori relentlessly pushed the dual-wielding swords orc backward. The force he exerted was undeniable, challenging his opponent's defenses at every turn.

Although Jori's approach seemed straightforward, there was an underlying sense that he was holding something in reserve. It was as if he was patiently waiting for the opportune moment to unleash a hidden technique or a surprising maneuver. His unwavering focus and determination in the face of the opponent suggested that he had a well-thought-out plan at play.

"So, it is like that, huh?" Rain thought.

Rain didn't see Jori using Limit Breaker, but he was using it, only for a moment, though. It was probably the best way to use it for a long period of time, but it required a fine control over one's own body. Jori was able to activate the technique just before his attacks landed, and that would make him save his stamina.

Still, he had to remain one hundred percent focused, and he couldn't let anything get in his concentration.

Before long, the orc got tired of being in the defense, and then pointed his swords to the side and blocked the next attack just before Jori used Limit Breaker. In the next moment, the orc's body also began to turn red, and his face contorted to anger.