"So, isn't there something wrong with this person? Was I just overthinking?"
Barbara had thought she found the answer but again felt a bit puzzled, "But just now the 'Warm Fire Order'... Clearly, the Warm Fire Order..."
Andrew saw the other party no longer questioned him and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He knew he had successfully concealed the truth.
The evidence was: the slight stinging sensation in his skin under their gaze had disappeared.
He felt a slight sense of guilt, seeing as they just helped him.
But the determination to hide his identity remained as steadfast as the moment he had stepped up before.
He thought for a moment and then spoke, "Hey... Thank you."
Though he should hide his strength, gratitude still needs to be expressed.
This thanks was entirely sincere: "Thank you for saving me." In his heart, he added: "Otherwise, I could crush Raymond with a finger, and Raymond could probably punch me half to death."
At this point, Andrew paused suddenly and couldn't help but glance again at the surrounding Crimson Knights.
These knights remained silent, trained to the extent that not even a single horse snorted.
Andrew frowned, feeling a bit strange inside.
The changes brought by the "Water Soul Constitution" had now mostly completed.
He could feel the greatest improvement was not "control over small muscle groups" but "perception"!
The feeling of seeing the world had a new "clarity" he hadn't experienced before, like the moment just after opening one's eyes after eye exercises.
Not only had his five senses significantly heightened.
There was also a vague new sixth sense.
"This feeling... so strange."
Andrew kept staring at those silent Crimson Knights.
The barely discernible sixth sense seemed to inform him: something's amiss!
Something is happening in this Wildfire Town!
"Oh, you don't need to thank me."
Barbara waved her hand casually.
At that moment, she was no longer concerned about Andrew, quietly pondering her matters.
She seemed to suddenly think of something.
Barbara looked at Raymond lying on the ground and opened her cherry lips, gently blowing a breath.
Attempting to catch that elusive sixth sense, Andrew saw:
A tiny orange flame resembling a butterfly was born out of thin air as the girl blew.
The flame floated lightly like catkins, or like a butterfly among flowers.
It gently landed on Raymond's body.
Sizzle Sizzle Sizzle!
Raymond's body was like water meeting a sponge, burned out by the inconspicuous orange flame within a few breaths!
Only half a scorched boot remained.
"This..."
Andrew became stunned.
What... what was this?
This Flame Magic was so beautiful, soft, and seemingly without a hint of killing intent, yet its power was... so domineering!?
And this young lady from the Warm Fire Commerce Association, who seemed as delicate as a doll on the surface, blew a breath and turned Raymond to ashes?!
His body inadvertently tensed up.
Andrew was truly shocked!
Despite the fact she saved him earlier and that Warm Fire Commerce Association had a good reputation, she was, after all, a Fire Mage.
And he himself possessed the Fire Extinguishing Upgrade Method as a Water Mage.
This made Andrew wonder: "If this girl were my enemy, using this Fire Magic against me, could I counter it?"
His mind couldn't help but churn with tumultuous thoughts.
On the surface, however, he quickly returned to normal after a moment of lapsing.
A "Seed of the Water Spirit" was imprinted on Andrew's forehead, helping him regain calm and keep a clear mind rapidly under any external disturbance.
But...
The momentary lapse was still caught by Barbara.
"Hmm?"
Barbara originally planned to ignore Andrew; destroying Raymond's body had her own intentions.
But at that moment, her eyes steadied again, catching Andrew's fleeting sharpness due to his intense emotional fluctuation!
"Ah, so this guy is indeed hiding something?"
Barbara coldly snorted in her mind.
On the surface, however, she maintained her composure and seemed casually approaching Andrew, saying somewhat indifferently, "How about my 'Flame Butterfly', okay?"
"Ah? Oh, oh..."
Andrew instinctively noted the name "Flame Butterfly."
Subconsciously, he continued gathering intelligence about this Flame Realm.
Suddenly, he sensed something was amiss.
The girl's eyes suddenly became somewhat deep, like a vortex.
At the deepest part of that vortex was a faint flame, like a soul's fire!
"This—what is this?"
Andrew's heart trembled.
He immediately recalled when he first came to this world, the terrifying feeling of "having all inner secrets revealed" brought by the eyes of the old Mage Hubert.
At this moment, what the girl displayed was identical to what Hubert exhibited then.
The magic of the Heart Fire Series: Heart Fire Eyes!
By comparison, Hubert's "Heart Fire Eyes" brought an intense sense of oppression, but lacked penetrating power.
Andrew remembered that he had calmly resolved it using "Water Spirit Technique" at that time.
The "Heart Fire Eyes" of this girl before him, however, had astonishing penetrating power!
This is because: the "Heart Fire Series," including "Heart Fire Eyes," is one of the most classic legacies of the Warm Fire Commerce Association. Although Hubert came from the Magic Guild and can also cast the Heart Fire Series magic legacy as a Fire Mage, he is more domineering than spiritual, unable to grasp the true charm of Heart Fire Eyes.
This time, Barbara performed the genuine "Heart Fire Eyes."
Known as the "glance into the heart's depths" Heart Fire Eyes!
Almost instantly, Andrew determined:
"This time, isn't merely something the 'Water Spirit Technique' can handle!"
But Andrew was momentarily flustered and then quickly regained his composure.
This girl's Heart Fire Eyes are indeed stronger than Hubert's.
But now, I am completely different from when I first crossed over.
Whoosh!
The newly acquired Water Magic quietly surged.
Andrew used "Water Magic" to trigger "Water Spirit Technique," transforming into a thin, invisible film that covered his eyes!
The "Water Spirit Technique" is actually not a magic primarily for treating lung diseases, nor is it a magic focused on bodily healing.
It's actually a magic to protect the soul!
Under the impetus of Water Magic, the defense of Water Spirit Technique is far stronger than when facing the old mage Hubert—two or three times stronger at least!
"Although I don't know what the opponent's magic is called, it should be necessary to gaze eye-to-eye to see through the soul?"
Andrew was very clear-headed, "That's how it was with Hubert that time, and this time... it's the same! If eye contact was not necessary, this girl wouldn't have had to deliberately step closer to me before casting this eerie eye magic!"
Barbara acted swiftly.
A glance came over, and the magic was unleashed.
Once locked by "Heart Fire Eyes," there's no escaping the sight, not even by closing one's eyes, doing so is useless.
Andrew's response was also quick!
After the battle with Raymond, practical experience indeed increased.
With the enhancement of the Water Soul constitution, the actual improvement is comprehensive, not just perception ability—the speed of reflex nerves has also heightened—
Just hear a "buzzing" sound!
The magic powers of both sides collided through their gaze, generating an invisible ripple between them, and then expanded in circles!
Followed by a soft "crack" sound.
A small cut opened at the corner of Andrew's eye.
Barbara, as the third daughter of the Warm Fire Commerce Association, has foundational skills far superior to Andrew, a newcomer mage who is still practically a "novice tier," even when severely injured herself, she still suppressed Andrew in the duel, gaining the upper hand!
Yet at this moment, Barbara was noticeably dazed for a second.
She could feel that her nearly half-attacking "Heart Fire Eyes" was actually blocked.
The pupil power she thought could see through the other person's soul was unable to infiltrate even a tiny bit into the other's eyes!
If it were just this, it would be acceptable.
Although the "Heart Fire Series" is powerful, being one of the strongest soul magics, it's not without counterparts. For example, the "Desolate Language Series" of the Magic Guild is also top-tier soul magic.
Barbara wouldn't lose her composure just because her Heart Fire Eyes were blocked.
What truly puzzled her was the manner in which it was blocked. Her pupil power felt like a stone thrown into the sea, an uncomfortable sensation akin to punching a cotton nest!
Furthermore, she felt: the magic attribute of this person before her... very peculiar.
It was a magic attribute she had never sensed before.
But the contact between both sides was brief, Barbara couldn't quite pin down what the magic attribute exactly was.
"Forget it, it's not important."
Taking a deep breath, Barbara brushed away the odd feeling in her heart.
This time, she stepped directly toward Andrew.
No need to use "Heart Fire Eyes" anymore.
Because although her magic was blocked, the initial testing goal was achieved...
"You're quite tricky indeed."
Barbara stared at Andrew, the corners of her mouth slightly turned up, as though with a cold smile, "You killed Raymond, right? How did you manage it, with the Flame Warrior's formidable body defense?"
To this, Andrew remained silent.
Didn't even seem to notice the small cut at his eye corner.
In fact, in the moment of magical confrontation, Andrew felt as though he sensed something, was startled, then his expression turned a bit odd: "This Warm Fire Commerce Association girl... how come—?"
The sensation in the magical confrontation is mutual.
While he exposed part of his background, the other party actually disclosed more secrets...
The enhancement of perception ability by the Water Soul constitution is not limited to a single sensory perception.
"Touch," being one of the five senses, has been greatly enhanced as well.
And magic is a product of the combination of soul and body, it can be seen as the energy extension of one's spirit and body, in a way.
Therefore, through "magic contact," Andrew, in a sense, touched the girl's body.
Then, Andrew discovered—
"You're injured?"
Andrew looked at Barbara, who was walking step by step towards him.
Instead of answering her question, he countered, "You're injured, aren't you?"
Although phrased as a question, the tone was affirmative.
Actually, no need to confirm anymore, Andrew was now quite sure: the other side is definitely injured, and quite severely!
In the sunset, Barbara's delicate face showed no expression whatsoever.
Looking calmly at Andrew, the killing intent gradually emerged in her gaze!