At this moment, Andrew really had no choice but to believe it.
So, this Flame Realm, is it possible that not all fire is bad?
For instance, the Warm Fire Commerce Association.
For instance, Barbara on his back.
And then… this Senior Pete?
Andrew truly didn't expect that within the Magic Guild, there would also be such people.
So in the future, when encountering people from the Magic Guild, he couldn't just use the banner of the Fire Extinguishing Upgrade to kill them recklessly.
Fire Extinguishing Upgrade is meant to extinguish the evil fires poisoning this world, not the warm fires that warm it.
This is a very important point.
"Luckily, it was a false alarm."
Andrew watched Pete's departing figure, even feeling a bit moved in his heart.
However, at that moment, the "Tear of the Water God" on his chest suddenly began to tremble violently.
At the same time, it seemed that something on Barbara's chest behind him also suddenly heated up! Andrew didn't know it was the Warm Fire Order that Barbara always carried with her.
At this moment, both the Tear of the Water God and the Warm Fire Order reacted violently.
They were both conveying the message: Danger!!
Andrew almost without thinking, suddenly exerted force to move sideways.
At the same time, relying on instinct, or rather the sixth sense endowed by the "Water Spirit Sensing" —
With a backhand, he hurled a stone filled with Water Magic outward!
Swish.
Andrew suddenly moved horizontally five or six meters and turned back around.
Because he loosened his hand that was holding Barbara to make the stone-throwing motion.
As a result, Barbara slowly slid from his back to the ground.
Andrew wanted to reach back again to support Barbara.
However, he found: he couldn't!
The entire forearm of the arm that threw the stone was ignited by a strange lead-gray flame!
Intense pain surged in his heart.
Andrew resisted the urge to cry out in pain and exerted all his strength to mobilize Water Magic, Water Spirit Technique, Seed of the Water Spirit, Water Soul Constitution — basically all the methods he currently possessed, only then did he extinguish the flame.
But his sleeve had already been burned away.
A large burn and a strange corrosive wound were left on his arm, too.
"Oh, did you actually evade that? I really must look at you with new eyes, Junior Andrew."
Pete's voice sounded from where Andrew originally stood.
As always, it was soothing like a spring breeze.
Yet finally… it revealed a hint of unexpected emotion.
The team that seemed to be heading this way ultimately didn't come, they turned and went in another direction.
The figure of the "Pete" who originally said he was going to lead those people away also silently turned into a cluster of lead-gray flames which scattered as the wind blew.
Andrew saw the real Pete, his lower body seemed to merge into the shadows, while his upper body appeared normal. Meanwhile, in his hand, he held a ball of lead-gray fire.
It was exactly this fireball that struck Andrew's arm earlier, causing severe injuries.
If not for the stone that Andrew flung out backward, forcing Pete to make a sidestep to dodge it.
Andrew knew he might have already been killed!
"This guy… this Pete!"
Only then did Andrew realize he had broken into a cold sweat.
He broke out in a cold sweat almost instantly.
And he didn't bother to carry Barbara anymore, leaving her to lie on the ground temporarily.
Andrew slowly got up, staring intently at the smiling Pete, gritting his teeth and said:
"I see, 'Fireball Technique,' 'Shadow Stealth,' and 'Shadow Fire Mask,' three magic spells in total!
Pete, you're not just an ordinary Advanced Magic Apprentice, you are the kind that's just one step away from becoming an Official Mage!
You… you're even stronger than Cook!"
The minimum requirement for an Advanced Magic Apprentice is to possess one magic spell.
This Pete has three:
Concealing Aura, creating clones, and hidden stealth with "Shadow Stealth."
Imbuing him with a flawless performance skill comparable to, or even exceeding Water Soul Constitution with "Shadow Fire Mask."
And the "Fireball Technique" that injured me!
At this level, just a step further would make him a certified Fire Mage.
Not only that,
But the key is: his magic flames are not ordinary flames.
They're a variant kind of magic flames accompanied by "Shadow Attribute."
Andrew recognized that flame, and reverse-analyzed it, guessing the three magic spells mastered by the opponent!
Because normal magic flames cannot perfectly perform these two techniques, "Shadow Stealth" and "Shadow Fire Mask."
The "Fireball Technique" formed by normal magic flames is more explosive in power, but won't have the sticky and corrosive sensation of that lead-gray flame that burned my arm earlier!
At this moment, lots of magic information surged and rolled within Andrew's mind.
Staring at Pete, he gritted his teeth and said: "So you are the Owner of the 'Eight Strange Fires'!"
The color of magic flames varies from person to person.
The magic flames of Warm Fire Mages are generally a pure "fiery red."
The magic flames of Earth Fire Mages often carry a touch of dark red, not so pure, like flames mixed with impurities.
This Pete, being an Earth Fire Mage of the Magic Guild, his flame color should have been dark red.
But in reality, his flame color is that peculiar lead-gray with an eerie aura.
Such unique magic flames, matched with the "Shadow Fire Series" tailored specifically for these flames —
"This is the real reason why even my 'Water Spirit Sensing' couldn't capture his aura!
Now I understand!"
Andrew became enlightened.
Although completely deceived by the opponent's acting,
and his arm was injured.
At this moment, Andrew felt instead a clarity in his heart.
Firstly, he confirmed the opponent is indeed an enemy and not a good person within the Magic Guild!
Secondly, he clarified the opponent's capabilities and knew the type of flames possessed by him:
"The 'Shadow Erosion Fire,' one of the 'Eight Strange Fires'! This should be it!"
One must admit, the knowledge accumulation of the original owner of this body was indeed excellent.
Information regarding the "Eight Strange Fires" surfaced in Andrew's mind.
In simple terms, in this Flame Realm, there are eight top-tier and rare special magic flames.
"Molten Rock Fire," "Necromancy Purple Fire," "Shadow Erosion Fire," "Fire of Extinguishing."
These four flames are exclusively for Earth Fire Mages of the Magic Guild.
"Pure White Flame," "Formless Blade Fire," "Orange Flame Warm Fire," "Eighth Fire."
These four flames belong exclusively to Warm Fire Mages of the Warm Fire Commerce Association.
A total of eight flames, collectively referred to as: Eight Strange Fires.
"Having one of the 'Eight Strange Fires,' the 'Shadow Erosion Fire,' isn't that the reason why this Pete deliberately hides his power?"
Andrew stared at the opponent.
Actually, Andrew's knowledge about the "Shadow Erosion Fire" wasn't much.
He only knew one thing: once the owner of such a Strange Fire masters it, he becomes a unique "Shadow Fire Mage."
It's a branch of Earth Fire Mages.
But unlike Earth Fire Mages, Shadow Fire Mages are not afraid of Desert Hunter's assassinations, on the contrary, they, being Magic Professionals, possess stealth and assassination abilities comparable to top-level Desert Hunters, as well as surpassing Desert Hunters in the powerful attack capabilities and various bizarre and unpredictable magical means possessed by Mages.