Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

The glow emanating from the monstrous creature engulfed the surroundings with an intensity akin to the death throes of a star, casting an eerie, radiant light that illuminated the space station with a massive brilliance. It seemed to pulsate with unfathomable energy, radiating waves of power that rippled through the air.

However, as suddenly as it had appeared, the glow began to wane, gradually diminishing in strength until it faded into nothingness. The once-bright illumination dwindled, leaving behind only a faint afterglow that soon dissipated into the void of space. In just a few moments, the awe-inspiring display of power had vanished, leaving behind an eerie silence in its wake. Rain also had vanished…

When Rain opened his eyes again, he found himself in a white space… it seemed similar to his mental landscape, but in that one, he couldn't do anything. So, it wasn't his… considering that he was alive, he couldn't help but furrow his eyebrows in confusion.

"Wait, did I die without feeling any pain at that moment?" Rain asked while looking around.

"You didn't die; you were just summoned by me after I sensed a similar presence behind you."

As Rain observed the strange cloud forming before him, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The cloud writhed and shifted, its amorphous mass undulating as if it possessed a life of its own. Each movement seemed to ripple through the air, sending shivers down Rain's spine.

Yet, despite its seemingly animate nature, Rain sensed a palpable aura of weakness emanating from the cloud. It was as if the very essence of the cloud was dwindling, its once-powerful energy fading with each passing moment.

Curiosity mixed with caution as Rain watched the cloud's erratic movements. There was something unsettling about its presence, something that hinted at a deeper significance yet to be revealed.

"Are you that white giant?" Rain asked.

"That was just a form that my anger took for a moment after it was stimulated by the enemy. My apologies for attacking you and your friends like that. I was blinded by rage."

"Apologies refused. I demand compensation," Rain said. "I lost a mana gem with a shit ton of mana thanks to you, after all."

"I have some information about the beings who captured me and destroyed my shell in order to fulfill their goals. That should be enough. First of all, I need to check your intentions. You also tried to take my remaining energy, just like them. What were you planning to use it for?"

Rain found himself in an unfamiliar position, engaging in a dialogue with what appeared to be the will or consciousness of the planet. Unlike his encounters with the overseer, where there was a sense of detachment and calculation, this interaction felt much more personal and immediate. It was as if he was conversing directly with the essence of the celestial body itself.

This realization left Rain feeling somewhat unsettled. The entity's presence was profound, and its inquiries about his intentions made him acutely aware of the gravity of the situation. In such a moment, he understood that joking or being a moron would be very inappropriate.

"I figured out since the enemy was using the mana of some planets that I could use it as well," Rain said. "Since they are going to use them until they are completely dried up, it wouldn't change a thing if I did the same against them."

"Your logic is acceptable, but accelerating the end of a planet still is a heinous crime. Some species can only grow and exist on some planets; even if they were bound not to appear anymore and the end of this planet was certain, you still became a part of the problem. I can see now why I could feel the presence of someone like me close to you, but you don't have their backing completely."

"The overseer is the type of being who is very cautious with his bets," Rain shrugged. "He doesn't want to bet on the underdog when someone with a lot more latent potential has been around for thousands of years before me."

"What do you think of that?"

"It is whatever, I won't die if he doesn't back me up," Rain shrugged and then rolled his eyes. "I won't put the blame on him, but he entrusted us with the task of saving our species, so I can only do everything in my power to reach that goal. You can hate me if you want. If the machine gods don't kill me, I will certainly pay the price of this crime one day.

As Rain awaited the response from the spirit of the world, a silence enveloped the space between them. It was a long pause, filled with unspoken thoughts and unvoiced judgments. At that moment, Rain couldn't help but feel the weight of the spirit's analysis on him.

The spirit's silence spoke volumes, conveying a sense of deep thinking and evaluation. It was as though the essence of the world itself was assessing Rain's words, actions, and intentions. One could almost sense the spirit's inner turmoil as it grappled with the implications of Rain's choices.

Rain couldn't help but wonder what the spirit was thinking, what conclusions it was drawing about him. Was he truly the best ally they had, or was he merely a necessary evil, a means to an end in their struggle against the machine gods?

"Regarding the information about the machine gods. You should already know that they are beings that had their origins different from organic beings. You also should know that they seek endless evolution of knowledge."

Rain was a bit confused since the topic changed all of a sudden, but he didn't mind. Actually, he didn't know those things for certain, but he had a feeling that it was the case.

The dragon god gave Rain some tips about it… what Rain assumed was that the machine gods wanted to dominate the universe and create an environment where they could control the progress of all species in order to obtain more and new knowledge.