Flame Immunity.
This attribute, simply put, means this body's "Flame Resistance" or "Magic Resistance" is ridiculously high!
Of course, it doesn't mean I'm invincible now, fearless against any magic flames in this world.
But it's indeed very resistant!
"Shadow Erosion Fire, as one of the Eight Strange Fires, is indeed powerful. The premise is to pair it with 'Shadow Fire Series Magic'!"
After Andrew crushed the fireball, he snorted and charged toward the opponent, "Come on, bring it on! The Fireball Technique, this common Fire Magic, paired with Shadow Erosion Fire is actually less powerful than paired with ordinary magic flames! Why don't you try to trick me again, throw another fireball at me?!"
If a third party were present, or if Barbara were to wake up, they would see this scene—
Pete quickly reacted, his will still firm. His hands alternated, throwing one fireball after another at Andrew as if throwing snowballs.
Yet Andrew advanced against the fireballs.
Every fireball thrown his way was knocked away, knocked away, and knocked away again!
As if those weren't fireballs condensed from the Eight Strange Fires, but something like flies or mosquitoes.
With an Intermediate Magic Apprentice facing an Advanced Magic Apprentice, after briefly being at a disadvantage and nearly getting killed by the opponent—
Andrew finally turned the tables and took absolute control of the battle!
At the same time, a realization dawned on Andrew: If I were also an Advanced Magic Apprentice, even if the opponent's "Shadow Erosion Fire" were paired not with the Fireball Technique but with a destructive magic in the "Shadow Fire Series," it still couldn't completely break my "Flame Immunity"!
The Eight Strange Fires are akin to a Golden Finger in this Flame Realm.
Likewise, the Tear of the Water God isn't inferior to the Eight Strange Fires, and can even suppress them!
Andrew finally understood the true significance of the Water Soul Constitution for himself.
Survival.
Whether it's perception ability, motor skills, flexibility, coordination, adaptability, endurance, or the hidden attribute of flame immunity.
They all boil down to two words: survival.
The Water Spirit Technique guards the soul, and the Water Soul Constitution preserves life.
Because only by living, can the fire be extinguished!
Perhaps this was the well-intentioned message behind the pleasant female voice in the "Tear of the Water God"?
Perhaps that's why the first two foundational abilities unlocked were compulsory, with no choice!
"—Because in essence, this is the best choice."
Andrew murmured to himself.
He felt inexplicably warm and couldn't help but chuckle.
With a steadfast soul and will (Water Spirit Technique) that fears no evil fire, coupled with a body (Water Soul Constitution) whose durability is top-notch, able to resist even the Eight Strange Fires for a while, the combination nurtures the cornerstone for further fire extinction: Water Magic Power.
This is the true essence and logic of myself as a Water Mage.
Thinking of this, Andrew had already rushed to Pete's face.
A massive amount of Water Magic Power surged and gathered in the clenched fist: "After hitting me with the Fireball Technique so many times, it's my turn to give you a hit!"
"...What the hell!" Facing such an Andrew, Pete couldn't hold it anymore.
He was considered a person with firm determination.
After witnessing his Fireball Technique being crushed by Andrew's bare hands, he quickly regained his composure.
Fireball Techniques, one after another, were thrown at Andrew.
Despite the shock in his heart, his spellcasting – the level of skill – remained as stable as an old dog.
But he really couldn't take it anymore.
Pete thought, this guy isn't normal.
Having the speed of a Desert Hunter, and yet the defense of a Flame Warrior? This guy is a total monster! I wonder how he'd feel if he knew that Andrew was actually a Magic Apprentice like him, taking the path of a Mage.
"Retreat."
Pete finally stopped throwing fireballs.
Seeing Andrew rush right up to him, he finally decided to change his strategy.
"Shadow Stealth" was activated once more.
He seemed to merge into the shadow beneath him.
He planned to run away!
However, a "snap" sound was heard.
Andrew grabbed Pete's arm and with a swift force, pulled Pete out from the shadow.
"What the…!"
Pete couldn't help but swear, "This is a bit of a bug, isn't it?!"
Finally, he decided against hogging all the credit and thought to call for help: "Here—!"
With a thud.
Andrew's fist, packed with Water Magic Power, the size of a sandbag, finally landed on Pete's face.
One punch, two punches, three more punches.
Pete: "..."
He couldn't even shout.
A beautiful face, arguably even more delicious than Andrew's current state, was turned into a pig's head with these simple and brutal three punches!
"Hitting... hitting someone means not hitting the face..." Pete wanted to say.
But what came out of his mouth weren't words, but a whole mouthful of teeth!
Andrew was ruthless this time.
The first reason was because he had been successfully tricked by the opponent earlier, and almost got killed. It was a huge blow to Andrew's heart.
The second reason was Andrew's intense aversion to Pete—or rather, to Pete's possession of Shadow Erosion Fire—which was almost instinctive.
It was a bit like the instinctive fondness he had for Barbara before.
It was just exactly the opposite feeling.
There's also a third reason: Understanding the logic that the Water Spirit Technique protects the soul and Flame Immunity protects the body, gave Andrew a sense of peace in not having to overly worry about his own defense, leading him to naturally invest more in and focus more on offense!
How to describe it...
It's like finally installing two powerful "firewalls" on a computer, allowing unchecked searches for little movies... ahem, just kidding.
In short, after knocking Pete down with three punches, Andrew paused.
Reason urged him: Finish off this guy quickly and then leave.
Andrew indeed had no psychological burden about finishing off the guy who almost really killed him not long ago.
He also knew: Doing away with an owner of the Eight Strange Fires, coupled with smashing those Seeds of the Water Spirit in the Living People Cemetery, should unlock the third and final basic ability.
Andrew was truly looking forward to it now: What exactly would be the third ability which, alongside the Water Spirit Technique and Water Soul Constitution, is called the three foundational abilities?
But Andrew held back for now.
Picking up the half-dead Pete—not that the attacking ability of the Water Soul Constitution was particularly strong, but because the body of an Earth Fire Mage was still quite weak, and Andrew, being uniquely powerful physically as a Mage lifted Pete.
Andrew lowered his voice and asked, "Do you want to live? Answer my question if you do—why hide your strength?"
One could hear the commotion and unrest in the town growing louder.
And they seemed to be moving closer.
Soon, other Magic Apprentices might search this area.
But Andrew maintained his composure.
For he was genuinely curious: Why did this Pete hide his strength?
"In terms of strength, Pete might still be a bit lacking compared to Cook and Sally.
He hid too deeply, thereby lacking opportunities for practical combat training, unable to fully convert his level into combat power."
Andrew thought, "But regardless, he ranks in the top five, even the top three among all apprentices under Humboldt."
So why hide it?
Is there something significant behind this, some information or intelligence I am unaware of?