"Hmm?"
At the moment of Raymond's death.
In the first-floor hall of Hubert's Magic Laboratory.
The old mage's eyes flickered, as if feeling something.
"Teacher, has something happened?"
A girl nearby couldn't help but ask curiously.
This girl was very athletic, with a well-defined build full of power.
She carried a hammer almost as tall as a person on her back.
"Hehe, nothing much," Hubert said lightly, "Cultivators of the 'Desolate Language Series Magic' occasionally have peculiar whims, but it's not a big deal. Alright, you and Cook go out and help; don't stay here."
"Okay."
A moment later, the old mage stood alone in the laboratory.
All around him were the broken armor and severed limbs of Crimson Knights.
The floor and walls were covered in blood.
It was a scene like purgatory on Earth!
If someone counted the number of knight armors, they would find the number of dead Crimson Knights in the hall was exactly the same as those with Barbara on Andrew's side.
"Heh, managed to escape, did you?"
Hubert walked over the blood and flesh on the ground to the lab entrance, gazing towards Wildfire Town under the sunset, with a faint smile, "But do you really think, now that you're the only one left, you can escape from my grasp? Miss Barbara."
...
...
The sunset gradually faded.
"Phew!"
After confirming Raymond was dead, Andrew slowly exhaled, "That feels better!"
He immediately looked at the girl previously bullied by Raymond.
Seeing that she had fainted from shock but seemed to be unharmed, Andrew was relieved.
The magical girl from the Warm Fire Commerce Association and the Crimson Knights had just made their appearance.
The underlings were surrounded yet still keen on looking at beauties.
None of them noticed: the battle on Andrew's side was already over... or rather, no one even thought there was a battle here! A silent struggle of life and death that began and ended quietly.
His body couldn't help but tremble slightly in excitement and tension, even the "Water Spirit Technique" couldn't suppress it.
This was, after all, his first life-or-death fight since crossing over.
Andrew decided not to forcibly suppress the slight trembling but to fully experience the sensations of this moment.
The significance of this battle was enormous.
It was the first time Andrew felt the confidence of real combat: he could extinguish not only harmful flames like lung burns but also wicked fires like Raymond!
Although he admitted there was an element of two against one with Raymond,
Andrew's own Water Power, with its near-devastating "Self-Control" over Fire Magic users in this Flame Realm, truly had an "Outstanding Effect"!
This gave Andrew a new understanding of what he could achieve—what being the only Water Mage in this fiery world truly meant.
"Speaking of which, at the last moment, Raymond seemed to realize—I'm a Water Mage."
Andrew frowned.
This was indeed a problem!
Reflecting on the brief but intense duel earlier, had he used something like "Earth Spike," "Wind Spike," or "Thunder Spike" instead of "Water Needle," even with the same penetration and defense-breaking ability, lacking the elemental attribute restraint might not have allowed him to finish Raymond in a single blow.
This restraining effect definitely needed to be utilized well.
But at the same time, Andrew felt an even stronger urge to "conceal his Water Attribute."
This was, after all, a world dominated by Fire Mages!
Putting himself in the shoes of a Fire Mage in this world, what attitude would he have towards a Water Mage who naturally countered him?
Andrew considered himself decent, but couldn't help but feel a strong urge to "eliminate this Water Mage!"
"So this battle served as a reminder: as I enhance my combat power, I also need to hide myself well!"
Andrew silently made a decision in his heart.
As for how to use Water Magic in battles without revealing his identity as a Water Mage, that's a very complex issue.
Andrew wasn't aiming to find an answer immediately, so he temporarily put it aside.
He couldn't help but reveal a slight smile.
The pleasant female voice echoed in his mind once more: "You've slain an evil and dominant 'Flame Warrior'! Although it wasn't solely by your strength, from a result-based perspective, he did die by your hand. Congratulations, Andrew!"
Hearing this voice, Andrew couldn't help but clench his fist.
Though initially stepping up wasn't for any gain or reward and had some impulsive elements,
upon discovering Raymond's Fire Attribute, Andrew promptly adjusted his thinking, aiming to "eliminate Raymond to execute the Fire Extinguishing Upgrade Method."
Yet this thought merely flashed through his mind.
There was no room for much distraction in battle.
And Raymond truly exerted immense pressure on him; in a solo fight, Andrew knew even if he could win, it would be a hard-fought victory.
So it wasn't until that pleasant voice resounded again that Andrew finally confirmed:
This somewhat gambling move of taking action against Raymond was a success!
With this, the loss from using "Water Needle" should be fully compensated, right?
Could it even... go further?
At this moment, a melodious female voice asked, "Would you like to unlock the second basic ability: Water Soul Constitution?"
Hmm?
Water Soul Constitution?
Is this the second magical ability that I unlocked from the Tear of the Water God after the Water Spirit Technique?
The previous Seed of the Water Spirit was a natural result of mastering the Water Spirit Technique, not a newly acquired ability.
The previously cast Water Needle was a powerful ultra-short-range single-target attack magic, but what I gained wasn't the magic itself, but a consumable magic artifact crafted from it. It could only be used once. And now it's used up.
"Water Soul Constitution, huh..."
Andrew was quite surprised, thinking why a magical ability would be named after a certain 'constitution'?
That's just too bizarre, isn't it?
After pondering for a moment, he asked tentatively, "...Are there other options?"
Uh, yes, Andrew wasn't really keen on this Water Magic called "Water Soul Constitution."
And if possible, Andrew hoped to have more room for autonomous choices.
Rather than accepting whatever the Tear of the Water God offered him.
Right now, in his fight against Hubert, what he needed most was combat-type magical skills.
Preferably a magical skill that combines offense and defense, not like the purely offensive Water Needle.
If not, even a Water Magic for stealth, stealthing, or escaping is fine! How about Ripple Step?
In short, trading a consumable magic artifact, Water Needle, with huge destructive power for what seems to be a not-so-impressive Water Soul Constitution... well, although gaining something is always delightful, it still felt a bit different from expectations.
Andrew calmed down his joy from successfully defeating Raymond.
A slightly apologetic tone emerged from the melodious female voice, "Unfortunately, at this stage, there are no other options."
Andrew couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.
The female voice patiently explained, "'Water Spirit Technique' and 'Water Soul Constitution' are both 'required basic abilities.' The 'optional choices' you want will be available to you after learning all the basic abilities."
Oh? Is that how it is?
Learn the required ones first, then have optional choices?
Andrew tentatively asked, "How many 'basic abilities' are there in total?"
Just in case, what if it's called 'a combination of required and optional,' but the required part covers 99%, leaving less than 1% for options...
"Three."
The melodious female voice replied, "Including the 'Water Spirit Technique' you've already learned, you only need to confirm unlocking the 'Water Soul Constitution,' leaving just one more required basic ability."
So few?
Andrew was happy again. Great!
Thinking about it, he suddenly found it strange: "Since this 'Water Soul Constitution' is mandatory, why are you asking me whether to unlock it?"
The melodious female voice answered solemnly and earnestly, "Because it's necessary respect."
Andrew: "..."
Seeing that Andrew didn't respond, the melodious female voice asked once more, "Would you like to unlock it? Oh, I almost forgot to introduce the specific function of the 'Water Soul Constitution'—"
"Okay, hold it right there!"
Andrew stifled a laugh and replied in his mind, "Just unlock it directly. I'm allergic to long explanations, I'd rather personally experience what kind of ability this 'Water Soul Constitution' is."
Before long, the Tear of the Water God on his chest began to tremble gently.
Andrew felt a peculiar aura emanating from the Tear of the Water God, quickly permeating every part of his body.
The world in his eyes seemed to become clearer immediately.
His body also seemed to become more flexible, agile, and lightweight.
Further changes were continuing subtly.
Andrew, however, at this moment, wasn't focusing on the changes in his own body.
Because at this moment, Andrew finally understood why the Water Soul Constitution would be the second basic ability after the Water Spirit Technique.
"The focus isn't really on the constitution itself, is it?"
Andrew marveled in his heart.
The true focus is that this "Water Soul Constitution" collides and blends with the existing "Water Spirit Technique!"
The first basic ability, Water Spirit Technique, and the second basic ability, Water Soul Constitution, aren't separate entities; rather, they're interconnected!
The new product of the fusion and combination of the two is—
Magic Power.
A trace of water-blue Water Magic Power!
This is the foundation of a Water Mage and the root of all casting.
It is the true source of the powerful restraining effect of the 'Water Overcomes Fire'!
"Simply put—
'Water Spirit Technique' mainly represents the strength of the soul and spirit.
'Water Soul Constitution' naturally represents the strength of the body and physique.
The fusion of soul and flesh, deriving magic power. It's probably like this."
The improvement in body constitution was continuing.
The newly formed Water Magic within was already surging on its own.
Andrew silently experienced all this, outwardly pretending to be calm and composed.
Yet inside, he was filled with mixed joy, almost wanting to dance around in a grass skirt!
"Because now I am..."
Andrew thought, "...a man with magic power!"