"Oh dear, oh dear, it's been completely seen through."
Pete was still smiling, but there was finally a hint of gloom in his eyes.
He was a very cautious person.
For certain reasons, he deliberately concealed his strength, or rather, concealed the fact that he possessed the "Shadow Erosion Fire."
Pete wanted to become stronger but didn't want others to know how strong he really was.
"Went through such trouble, deliberately portraying a friendly image, just for a one-hit kill, not giving others a chance to snatch my credit."
Pete thought to himself, "Never expected it would still be avoided!"
His observational skills were indeed meticulous.
He noticed Andrew's extraordinary movement abilities.
That's why he didn't strike immediately but instead played out the previous scene.
"Honestly, this movement ability and reaction speed are a bit absurd, aren't they?"
Pete's delicate brows like a woman's slightly furrowed, "So this Andrew, could he be following the 'Desert Hunter's' training path? No Mage could have such movement abilities. The speed of a Flame Warrior doesn't cut it. As for the Crimson Knight, they are fast, but strong in straight-line sprints. Andrew's recent movements, however, were instant lateral moves."
Pete was quite formidable, he knew that his strength might not surpass Cook, but at least he was in the same tier as Cook, the top apprentice under the acknowledged Hubert.
But now, he truly couldn't understand Andrew.
"After all, the mere fact that Andrew is with the person our teacher wants us to capture is very strange in itself!"
Pete thought, "Right now, besides me, everyone else is probably still thinking about capturing the third lady of the Warm Fire Commerce Association.
Who would have thought that this matter would be connected to Andrew, whom the teacher predicted would die within seven days."
Thinking of this, Pete shook his head.
He cleared out the numerous distractions from his mind.
He knew that he was a bit affected by the fact that his previous attack missed.
Looking at Andrew, Pete finally withdrew his smile and said calmly, "No matter what secrets you're hiding, Andrew junior, it's not important.
Since you've discovered my secret, even if not for Miss Barbara behind you, today, I must kill you."
To Pete, not being able to capture Barbara was inconsequential, it just meant no benefits.
But exposing his identity as an "Eight Strange Fires" owner was something he absolutely could not accept.
"Damn, if I had a choice, I wouldn't want this cursed Eight Strange Fires, wouldn't want the 'Shadow Erosion Fire'!" Pete thought.
Andrew made an "oh" sound: "Alright, so you want to kill me to silence me, right? Aren't you afraid I'll call for help?"
Pete's expression froze slightly, then he sneered: "Don't joke around, if you call for help, you're done for too!"
He wasn't wrong.
Andrew was indeed joking.
Despite Pete truly being strong.
Stronger than Raymond, possibly even stronger than Barbara when uninjured, someone whom he had encountered who was the strongest enemy apart from Hubert.
But...
"Since I've already understood your true nature, there's nothing to fear anymore."
Andrew thought, "The annoying part was the previous situation where it was unclear whether you were friend or foe, completely unknowable!"
Meanwhile, Andrew had already decided: to make Pete pay for deceiving him!
Yes, you're an Advanced Magic Apprentice and possess the Eight Strange Fires, but so what?
Though I'm one tier lower than you, just an Intermediate Magic Apprentice, but... I have the Tear of the Water God and Fire Extinguishing Upgrade!
Seeing Andrew not only unfazed but even assuming a combat stance with a slight ruthless smile at the corner of his mouth, Pete couldn't help but find it strange: "Do you actually think you can win against me? You're on the Desert Hunter's training path, sure, Desert Hunters are said to counter Mages, but I'm on the 'Shadow Fire Mage' path, your speed is useless against me. Your stone attacks... honestly, they're a bit laughable."
While speaking, Pete lifted a finger.
The Fireball Technique that had been cradled in his hand immediately transformed into a grey shadow, shooting rapidly towards Andrew, targeting his face!
"Shadow Stealth" and "Shadow Fire Mask," after all, weren't frontal combat magics.
Since a sneak attack failed, there was no need to attempt a second one.
Just crush head-on.
Although Fireball Technique was the most basic Fire Magic.
This was no ordinary Fireball Technique.
This was a Fireball Technique formed by condensing "Shadow Erosion Fire"!
After launching one Fireball Technique, Pete slightly moved his hands, already prepared for the second and third ones.
He knew Andrew was fast, but can you dodge the second one, the third one?
Even if you can dodge them all, what if I aim directly at Miss Barbara behind you, what would you do?
Pete had already calculated everything.
Calculation, control.
This was exactly his fighting style, as well as his life philosophy!
However, the next moment, he suddenly froze.
Even with the "Shadow Fire Mask" as a cover, he showed an extremely unexpected and then an unbelievable expression for the first time.
As if seeing something unimaginable, completely beyond all his calculations.
He saw—
Andrew didn't use his speed and movement abilities to dodge the Fireball Technique.
Instead, Andrew stood still.
With a somewhat ruthless smile full of anticipation yet nervousness.
He raised a hand.
And it was the hand that had been burned.
He caught Pete's Fireball Technique infused with Shadow Erosion Fire directly in his hand.
"..." Pete stared at Andrew, a thought flashed through his mind, "Is this kid crazy? Looking for death himself?"
Even someone like Ivan, a formal Desert Hunter, would never dare to catch his Fireball Technique with bare hands!
Pete was very confident about this.
In his view, even if Andrew was on the Desert Hunter's training path, he was at most at the level of an "Apprentice Hunter," not yet a "Formal Hunter." Just like the difference between a "Magic Apprentice" and a "Mage."
What was he thinking, to catch a Fireball with bare hands?!
However, immediately afterward, Pete finally noticed something wrong:
The Fireball Technique that burned Andrew's arm before, although Andrew now caught it in his hand, directly contacting the palm.
But... had no effect!
Andrew's arm still had burns.
But they were from before.
In other words, the Fireball Technique he just threw had not caused any damage at all!
But how was this possible?!
"Ha."
Andrew made a light chant.
His palm suddenly exerted force!
Under Pete's gaze, which could no longer maintain composure, he crushed the struggling Fireball Technique in his hand.
Pete: "..."
Unable to maintain disguise or decorum any longer.
Stunned.
"Is this the true power of the 'Water Soul Constitution'?"
Andrew, on the other hand, was both surprised and delighted.
When he had unlocked the Water Soul Constitution before, that pleasant female voice wanted to introduce the attributes of the constitution to him, which Andrew had stopped.
Now Andrew thought he should have listened properly back then.
Because this Water Soul Constitution had brought him not only enhanced five senses, but also great movement abilities and adaptability.
But also a hidden attribute!
After being burned by Pete's "Shadow Erosion Fire," this hidden attribute of the constitution was finally truly activated—
Flame Immunity!