Andrew is now an advanced magic apprentice.
It is because of this, or rather based on this, that Andrew was able to devise the latest fire extinguishing plan.
Otherwise, even though he felt miserable, he could only take Barbara, and at the same time try to persuade Aunt Sofia to let him take little Sophie, to temporarily escape from Wildfire Town and lay low.
Andrew revealed his identity as an advanced magic apprentice to Aunt Sofia.
What Andrew didn't say was: how he became an advanced magic apprentice.
According to the principles of the Fire Extinguishing Upgrade Method, the more fires extinguished, the larger the upgrade.
The transition from intermediate apprentice to advanced apprentice occurred on the way back to the camp.
But it wasn't just because he crushed the Seeds of the Water Spirit inside the patients at the Living People Cemetery.
Those seeds, even if all crushed, weren't enough for the leap and transformation from "intermediate apprentice" to "advanced apprentice."
The reason Andrew had such a huge improvement was fundamentally because he vanquished a very powerful advanced magic apprentice on the way back.
That person was unlike anyone Andrew had encountered before, unlike Raymond, unlike nearly all the thugs wreaking havoc in Wildfire Town.
Even unlike Humboldt.
Because that person was not just an "evil fire," but a... "strange fire."
...
Time goes back to when Andrew had just set off with Barbara on his back.
"So boring."
At the top of the tallest tower in Wildfire Town.
A muscular young girl carrying a hammer yawned in boredom.
She was one of the two most powerful advanced apprentices under Humboldt, named Sally.
Sally stood atop the tower, her gaze sweeping over the entire Wildfire Town and the vast desert beyond, feeling a bit impatient:
"How long do we have to wait before we can act? 'Cook,' have you found the whereabouts of that girl from the Warm Fire Commerce Association yet?"
Cook, the first magic apprentice under Humboldt, was a refined young mage.
At this moment, he was sitting cross-legged beside Sally.
"Don't worry, as long as that girl from the Warm Fire Commerce Association is still within Wildfire Town, the 'Desert Eagle' will always be able to track her down."
Cook said quietly.
A "Desert Eagle" formed by concentrated flames was circling in the sky above Wildfire Town.
Its sharp gaze seemed even more acute than that of a real desert eagle.
This was precisely the magic Cook was wielding.
This type of magic belongs to the "Magic Life" category of Fire Magic, and all magic of this type can be classified under the "Fire Element Series."
However, even within the same "Fire Element Series," the effects of Earth Fire Mages' magic are somewhat different from those of Warm Fire Mages.
For instance, this "Desert Eagle," although made of magic flames, indeed carries a sense of sand in its texture.
Earth Fire, Earth Fire, meaning within the flame attribute, a trace of the "earth" elemental attribute is fused.
This is the biggest difference between Earth Fire Mages and Warm Fire Mages.
The fire attribute of Warm Fire Mages is purely fire.
At this moment, Cook was quietly controlling the "Desert Eagle."
He was very confident.
And very patient.
Especially in terms of patience, which was completely opposite to the impatient Sally beside him.
So, a long time passed again.
Just when Sally was about to lose her temper and take her big hammer off her back to smash Cook on the head—
Cook withdrew the "Desert Eagle" and stood up: "The opponent has either already left Wildfire Town for the desert area or is simply unwilling to come out, hiding in some building in the town."
"So?"
"So let others slowly conduct a carpet search. Sally, if you're pleased, you can join in."
"Damn it! Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Sally cursed but did not leave, still staying by Cook's side, asking, "Isn't it possible that your 'Desert Eagle' isn't strong enough?"
Cook paused: "What do you think?"
Sally pouted, not asking further questions.
She was very clear about the strength of her "partner."
If the "Desert Eagle" didn't capture any trace, then it must have either escaped or hidden.
There was no third possibility.
Whoosh. At the same time. Andrew, with Barbara on his back, swiftly dashed across a street.
Nimble, agile like a raccoon cat, yet landing silently.
Almost under the noses of nearby magic thugs, he ran all the way.
At the same time, Andrew looked up: "Has that pesky scout-like 'flame magic' of the Desert Eagle finally quietened down? So damn annoying!"
He was that third possibility.
Andrew, carrying Barbara, clearly hadn't left the bounds of Wildfire Town.
But he also didn't simply hide under the cover of the buildings. Though this could evade the Desert Eagle, sooner or later, it would be rooted out house by house by the magic thugs.
Andrew's approach was:
Using "Water Spirit Sensing," to do counter-reconnaissance.
That "Desert Eagle," after all, couldn't cover the entire Wildfire Town with its vision simultaneously, keen as it was, its range of vision was limited.
Taking advantage of the moment when the "Desert Eagle" was not focused on the area where he and Barbara were located, Andrew seized the opportunity to move forward.
Thus, he walked and stopped intermittently.
The Water Magic surged and flowed within him, giving a sense of "endless vitality," making him feel almost no fatigue.
The Water Soul Constitution endowed Andrew with impressive overall athletic ability, ensuring that once Andrew planned the best escape route, he could turn that route into reality!
"Now it can be completely confirmed—"
Andrew thought to himself, "This 'Water Soul Constitution' is absolutely stronger than 'Water Needle'! Using up one Water Needle Prop to take down Raymond and gaining this Water Soul Constitution and Water Magic is definitely not just breaking even, but a huge profit, a bloody gain!"
Even though being a Mage with a strong physique, good stamina, and extraordinary athletic ability made Andrew feel somewhat out of place.
But no matter the case, it's a good thing.
"Perhaps the path that Water Mages take is inherently different from the Fire Mages in this world?
Maybe it's the path of a Close Combat Mage or a Combat Mage?
Or perhaps it's the Tank Mage route? Strong magic, even stronger flesh?"
He pondered some inconsequential thoughts.
What can be confirmed is: with such athletic ability, when he acquires real battle-type Water Magic in the future, he won't be bound by the "Standing Posture Spellcasting" routine and can perform magic casting and attack-defense while moving—and at high speed.
"So I really do need a battle-type magic now."
Andrew mused.
Currently, he has a calm mind (Water Spirit Technique), a robust physique (Water Soul Constitution), possesses magic power (Water Magic), and has keen senses and a broad vision (Water Spirit Sensing).
Just give him one more battle-type Water Magic, something like "Water Needle", and his combat power will instantly achieve a qualitative leap!
"Maybe I could seize an opportunity to take down a Magic Thug, and perhaps unlock a battle-type magic?"
Andrew couldn't help but think.
The embryo of the latest plan was planted in his mind at this time.
However, at this moment, Andrew was more focused on taking Barbara to a safe place.
Shaking his head, he suppressed the thought of "seizing a chance to boldly take down a Magic Thug", and continued with the original plan.
After Cook's "Desert Eagle" reconnaissance was no longer present, Andrew's progress speed increased significantly.
Although he was almost noticed by the nearby Magic Apprentices several times.
But ultimately, it was with thrilling danger, even making Andrew himself feel a bit incredible, that he crossed the encirclement successfully!
"Taking my sister across the frontline, truly aligns with the Fire Extinguishing Upgrade Method!" Andrew was both excited and a bit anxious, "The Seed of the Water Spirit from the Living People Cemetery has already been crushed by me, and is exerting its effect. Crossing the frontline with Barbara now also counts as a fire extinguishing upgrade—
I'm just a step away, truly just a step away. It feels like if I could unlock one more new magical ability, I would be an Advanced Magic Apprentice!"
Thus, Andrew carried Barbara, crossing numerous frontlines, and finally reached near the temporary camp.
Having reached this point, Andrew relaxed considerably internally.
With just the naked eye, he could almost see little Sophie waiting for him from afar at the camp entrance.
Nevertheless, out of caution, Andrew maintained the expanded state of "Water Spirit Sensing".
Because he still needed to ensure that when entering the camp, he wouldn't be noticed by anyone, nor by the camp residents—
"Isn't this Andrew?"
A faint voice suddenly and unpredictably sounded.
Andrew abruptly halted in his tracks!
"What the hell?!"
This was Andrew's genuine thought.
Although operating Water Spirit Sensing, Andrew hadn't noticed anyone was here!
Instantly, Andrew felt a cold shiver, a terrifying sense of being haunted.
The performance of "Water Spirit Sensing" had been remarkably good all along this route.
It's like a person with particularly good sight walking down a wide-open, deserted street, confidently believing they're alone.
And suddenly someone says, "Hey, dude."
——It's that kind of feeling!
Fortunately, the calming effect of "Water Spirit Technique" quickly took over.
Rational judgment quickly determined: "It must be a kind of Fire Magic specifically used to 'hide presence' that escaped the detection of my 'Water Spirit Sensing'!"
Water Spirit Sensing detects "presence".
Especially sensitive to "the presence of flames".
If the opponent's presence is completely concealed, Water Spirit Sensing becomes harder to detect.
Also, if the presence is too strong, Water Spirit Sensing faces bottlenecks, forcibly sensing would be akin to staring directly at the midday sun.
Hence, Andrew never used Water Spirit Sensing lightly to perceive Humboldt's Magic Laboratory on the way here.
That place in the view of Water Spirit Sensing was like an untouchable hot iron!
"Humboldt's Magic Laboratory can't be sensed by me using Water Spirit Sensing because of the overpowering 'presence of fire'.
But this person now has completely concealed 'presence of fire', making me unable to discover it in advance!"
After figuring this out, Andrew took a deep breath, looking in the direction from which the eerie voice came.
His expression solemn.
He then saw a figure emerge from the shadows, blocking his way.
This person was clad in a Magic Apprentice robe, with a youthful face that was so strikingly handsome it could easily confuse one's perception of his gender.
He was clearly standing right in front of him, visible to the naked eye.
Yet in the perspective of "Water Spirit Sensing", the place where this person stood was still vacant.