Although Pete's Shadow Erosion Fire only injured himself once.
Andrew still understood from the battle just now: the Eight Strange Fires are very powerful.
Pete was clearly one tier higher than me, but he couldn't defeat me because his own frontal combat ability was still lacking.
Or rather, as a cultivator following the path of a "Shadow Fire Mage", he really shouldn't have engaged me in frontal combat; he should have continued with tactics of stealth, guerrilla, and ambush.
In short, the strength of my "Tear of the Water God" Golden Finger is undeniable, but I cannot be careless, definitely not able to mindlessly crush this world's Eight Strange Fires.
It might even be that when facing the leader of the Eight Strange Fires, the "Molten Rock Fire", I might not have an advantage at all? Molten Rock Fire is, after all, the leader of the Eight Strange Fires!
Andrew really believed there was such a possibility.
The Golden Finger doesn't mean invincibility.
If it were truly invincible, then why in this Flame Realm, besides myself, is there no other Water Mage?
Andrew truly felt that there were probably Water Mages in this world before, but for some reason, they were eliminated later.
Maybe they were eliminated by the Earth Fire Scholars of the Magic Guild.
"Forget it, it's not the time to think about this now; it's too distant."
Andrew shook his head.
What finally became clear was that this old guy Hubert unexpectedly was once a Grand Mage-level figure, and among Grand Mages, he had the potential to go even further.
Simply put, he once had the potential to become a big shot Earth Fire Scholar!
He came to this remote Wildfire Town only because he suffered serious injuries and sought healing and prolongation of his life.
That's probably how it was, right?
"I never imagined that the person I've been strategizing against these two days was once such a high-level figure."
Andrew wasn't too afraid of this.
After all, things had already come to this point.
The next question is just whether a starved camel is bigger than a horse, or is it a matter of taking his life while he's ill?
"Then, the last question."
Andrew looked at Pete, "Why did the Magic Guild act against the people of the Warm Fire Commerce Association?"
He glanced at Barbara, then back at Pete: "You better not tell me this is Hubert's personal action!"
This was also one of the crucial questions Andrew wanted to figure out.
Although he saved Barbara and was once saved by her, seemingly forming a bond with the Warm Fire Commerce Association.
But until now, Andrew actually didn't know why the Magic Guild wanted to target Barbara.
What he didn't know was that even Barbara herself didn't know why!
"I don't know about that."
Pete shook his head, nearly fainting, "I really don't know! Like everyone else, we were just following orders to capture someone. It was just my bad luck to run into you..."
Andrew nodded, releasing his grip on Pete's neck, saying: "You've answered well. Now, scram!"
He said "scram" out loud.
But the action of his hands, taking advantage of the moment Pete relaxed in ecstasy, twisted and snapped Pete's neck with a click.
The strength and explosive power of the Water Soul Constitution aren't particularly strong, but it's not difficult to snap the neck of a Magic Apprentice with no special physical advantage over a normal person.
"You goddamn bastard! You said you'd let me go, didn't you?"
This was Pete's last thought before his consciousness plunged into darkness.
Then, this very tenacious, actually quite formidable character's eyes lost focus and died.
Until the end, he never got the rescue he was hoping for.
Andrew thought, "This story tells us that in everything, we must share, and we can't always think of hogging everything."
Though the evaluation of Pete was definitely higher than that of Raymond, and by quite a bit.
But Andrew wasn't someone to engage in that mushy hero-respecting-hero stuff.
He kicked Pete's corpse into the shadows of the corner.
Since he came from the shadows, let him return to the shadows.
It's not that he didn't want to destroy the corpse and erase the evidence, but as a Water Magic Apprentice, there aren't yet any magic skills to quickly dispose of a body.
From this perspective, Fire Mages definitely have their irreplaceable advantages...
Andrew calmly handled Pete's corpse, turned back to Barbara, and picked up the Miss of Warm Fire Commerce Association who lay on the ground for so long, carrying her on his back.
His hands moved methodically, while internally, he was simultaneously processing another matter.
The fact proved that eliminating Pete, the owner of a Strange Fire, was much more rewarding than eliminating a Flame Warrior like Raymond, whose strength was about the same.
That pleasant female voice echoed in his mind again: "Nice to see you again!"
"Yes, nice to 'see' you again."
As Andrew picked up Barbara again, he simultaneously communicated with that pleasant female voice in his heart.
He wasted no words, asking directly: "After the Water Spirit Technique and Water Soul Constitution, what is the 'third essential foundational ability'—"
Although he defeated Pete, knowing Hubert was once poised to become an "Earth Fire Scholar" still made Andrew feel an enormous pressure.
He urgently wanted to quickly enhance his strength.
The female voice seemed to sense Andrew's intent, gave a small "hmm", and straightforwardly said, "Congratulations, Andrew, the third foundational ability… success unlocked!"
At that moment, Andrew didn't notice: on his back, Barbara, clearly in a coma and unable to hear the female voice in his head, moved her eyebrows.
If Barbara were conscious, she would have certainly felt that the "Warm Fire Order" on her chest gave an unusual twitch.
Of course, Andrew knew none of this.
He only heard that female voice say:
"Unlock 'Lifebound Series Magic': Fingertip Series."
"Gifted a Fingertip Series Water Magic: Long-range Water Needle."
"And permanently enchant all your subsequent Water Magic with 'Invisible Enchantment'!"
Andrew listened carefully, not missing a single word.
He was initially stunned when he heard about the "unlocking of Lifebound Series Magic 'Fingertip Series'."
He thought that it meant the Tear of the Water God determining that the most suitable magic for him to cultivate is this series?
Just like Pete, as the owner of the "Shadow Erosion Fire," is most suited to cultivate the "Shadow Fire Series Magic," without exception?
He couldn't think further.
For hearing the "Long-range Water Needle," Andrew's heart raced with excitement, a flush of delight appearing on his face, nearly bursting into a cheer!
Finally!
Finally, a bona fide combat-type Water Magic!!
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