Due to the communication cutoff, the information Barbara had was actually quite limited.

What she didn't know was that the overall situation in the Flame Realm was even more tense than she imagined.

It could be said to be a complete war.

Not only were the Warm Fire Commerce Association and the Magic Guild from both the east and west involved—the latter actively launched an attack while the former quickly mounted a defensive counterattack—but even the Royal Court to the north and the Retirement Land to the south seemed to be getting drawn in!

This war was later called the "Double Flame War."

Research in later years indicated that the actual starting point for this war was a bit earlier than the day Barbara was betrayed and pursued by Humboldt. It was actually the night Andrew traversed to the Flame Realm.

As for the operation to capture Barbara that happened the next day, it was merely a part of the Double Flame War, not the true starting point of the war.

"Well, although it's hard for our side to get support quickly, the enemy also finds it difficult to free up their forces.

Overall, it's not too bad."

Andrew thought.

He quickly pieced together the information Barbara provided in his mind.

To simplify, there are currently two battlefields.

One is the "main battlefield" of the Warm Fire Commerce Association facing the Magic Guild, located outside the Inner Sea Desert; the specific battle situation is unknown. It's only known that the Warm Fire Commerce Association is at a disadvantage.

The other battlefield is within the Inner Sea Desert, where Barbara and Andrew are. This is actually a "sub-battlefield" outside the main battlefield.

—That's roughly the situation.

Although the information Barbara provided is still quite limited.

Andrew thought to himself, I don't need to know too much about the main battlefield outside the desert.

It's like playing League of Legends, where your teammates and opponents are engaging in a 4v4 at the dragon pit, and you're the top laner without teleport. Barbara is like the minimap (Andrew indeed considers Barbara as a minimap, since her role is to provide general information), and in such situations, you basically just glance at the minimap rather than switching over to observe the specific battle situation.

Knowing the overall situation roughly, the real focus is: who is the opponent top laner you have to face head-on?

This question in our current otherworld context is: "Who are we going to face next?" Andrew looked at Barbara, "You also mentioned that the overall strength of the Warm Fire Commerce Association is slightly weaker than that of the Magic Guild. Although the other side can't spare too much strength, they can still send some forces over, right?"

Grand Mage-level experts probably won't be coming.

But mages below the Grand Mage tier will definitely send some here.

They should have already sent them—the one directing the mayor of Wildfire Town to target Shire is most likely one of them!

Barbara calmly spoke, "Yes, before the communication was cut off, my family told me who the Magic Guild sent over to continue the task of capturing me. The information was provided by spies we have inside the Magic Guild, so it should be reliable."

Andrew nodded, focused on Barbara, listening quietly.

Barbara mentioned a name: "Desert Speaker Rose, have you heard of him?"

Andrew thought, of course... I've never heard of him!

"But..."

Andrew silently clenched his fist, "I know this is the next fire I need to extinguish."

Desert Speaker Rose.

Just hearing the name, you know he's a mage specializing in the "Desolate Language Magic Series," practicing Earth Fire Magic.

The Desolate Language Series is among the highest tier soul magic in the Magic Guild's heritage.

The Warm Fire Commerce Association only has the Heart Fire Series to compete with it.

Andrew thought Cook also specializes in this "Desolate Language Series," but definitely cannot be compared to this Desert Speaker Rose.

This person was sent by the Magic Guild to continue executing the task of "capturing Barbara" and might even investigate the circumstances leading to Andrew killing Humboldt.

"Can you tell me the intelligence information on this Desert Speaker Rose?"

Andrew looked at Barbara.

His expression had completely changed compared to before.

Because he finally knew the main target for the next fire extinguishing!

Barbara thought Andrew, like her, felt the immense pressure and wasn't paying much attention to the change in Andrew's gaze.

She recalled the information she knew about Rose and began introducing:

"Simply put, he's a standout in the younger generation, his tier is three, a Tier Three mage, like me. If I wasn't injured, in a one-on-one, I would have the advantage. But..."

Barbara paused, appearing helpless and frustrated, also a bit tense and solemn, she continued:

"But in this Inner Sea Desert, especially during the outbreak of the 'Desolate Beast Sand Tide,' even ten of me couldn't defeat one Rose. This place is basically his home turf, and in the sand tide, he is unquestionably the leader of the younger generation!"

"Why's that?" Andrew asked.

He actually wanted to ask: "In your uninjured state, you were a Tier Three Warm Fire mage? Then... why were you so badly beaten by Humboldt? You should have been stronger than him!"

Humboldt's strength after injury was actually not strong. Otherwise, Andrew teaming up with Ivan and the little one would most likely lose.

Andrew didn't know, Barbara and her Crimson Knights, upon entering Humboldt's laboratory, immediately suffered from the "Fire Snake Trap" scheme.

The "Fire Snake Trap" is a massive magic array, in some sense, a weakened version of Humboldt's power level before injury.

It was already incredibly difficult for Barbara to escape alive. This was the result of the twenty-five strong Crimson Knights who accompanied her sacrificing their lives to protect her.

Of course, the main point now is:

"Why is Desert Speaker Rose considered the invincible figure among the young generation in the Inner Sea Desert?"

Barbara answered very simply and understandably this time:

"Because he can control Desolate Beasts."

When Barbara said this, she shook her head: "Although I am reluctant to admit it, that guy Rose is truly a monster. Practitioners of the Desolate Language Series have existed throughout the ages, and there have been many. After all, it is the only Soul Magic of the Magic Guild that can compete with our Warm Fire Commerce Association's 'Heart Fire Series.'

But Rose was the first to practice the 'Beast Taming Route' from the 'Desolate Language Series.' Before him, no one ever thought of using the Desolate Language Series to command Desolate Beasts. Even if someone thought of it, no one succeeded in doing it."

Barbara was also a very proud and confident person, but she had to admit that within the Inner Sea Desert, she was completely not a match for Rose.

"I see."

Andrew finally understood, "So that's it, that's why Rose is targeting 'Shire'? It's not just a test, nor just a demonstration, but because the existence of Shire precisely restrains the Desolate Beasts controlled by his Desolate Language Magic!"

Desolate Beasts are a kind of Fire Element Magic Beast with unknown origins. They only appear in the Inner Sea Desert.

Most of the time, they are solitary.

During the Sand Tide, for unknown reasons, they gather and form a terrifying, unstoppable stampede. Below the level of a Grand Mage, one can only avoid their edge.

Rose's ability is to turn this chaotic, unruly force into his own.

But his ability still has a weakness, which is—

Wherever there is a Water Tower Tree, Desolate Beasts cannot approach too closely.

This is why every town in the Inner Sea Desert is built next to a Water Tower Tree.

Otherwise, facing the tide-like sand tide, any town in the Inner Sea Desert would be wiped out. There is no other possibility but to be flattened by the Desolate Beasts like an overwhelming tide in no time.

That's why the Water Tower Trees are called the guardian deities by the people of the Inner Sea Desert!

Indeed, Shire is the most important guardian deity of Wildfire Town!

"So, I really have to thank you, Andrew."

Barbara looked at Andrew and said softly, "If it weren't for you saving the Water Tower Tree of Wildfire Town, we would have been finished; we could already declare the conclusion of failure in advance."

Andrew nodded. On the surface, he still sat in place, without any particular action.

In reality, Andrew, after understanding the crucial importance of "Shire" in the upcoming confrontation with Rose, acted immediately.

"Stay calm without fire, hold onto the Fire Extinguishing Value, and don't use it blindly.

If fire comes, extinguish it.

——This is the specific way to implement the Fire Extinguishing Upgrade Method."

Andrew thought to himself that the fire had arrived—Desert Speaker Rose.

The first step to extinguish him was: "Don't even think about touching a single strand of our guardian deity Shire's hair! Damn bastard!"

He lightly tapped his fingertip on the ground.

An invisible Water Demon Puppet quietly emerged.

This Water Demon Puppet exited the tent and hurried at full speed towards where "Shire" was.

Little Ha was a bit bored guarding beside Shire.

The small Water Demon Puppet sent by Andrew didn't disturb Little Ha, but quietly drew a circle around Shire and Little Ha.

This is a newly unlocked Defensive Water Magic Array, and once triggered, it will cloak Shire and Little Ha with Magic Armor.

This was not the end.

After drawing a small circle around Shire, the Water Demon Puppet spent about fifteen minutes drawing a large circle, enclosing the entire Wildfire Town and Shire within it.

This circle is also a newly unlocked Water Magic Array.

But it was no longer defensive, it was offensive.

A Gray Lizard's eyes glinted with human-like light as it stealthily trekked through the desert towards Wildfire Town.

That Desert Speaker Rose, hiding who knows where, was using his Desolate Language Magic to manipulate the creatures in the desert to conduct reconnaissance and investigate Wildfire Town!

The Desert Speaker Rose could not only control Desolate Beasts but also control all the reptiles living in the Inner Sea Desert.

This Gray Lizard advanced silently until it stepped onto the large magic circle just drawn—

Swoosh!

The Gray Lizard entered into the circle's range without any obstacles.

Its gaze became somewhat confused, with a feeling of: "Huh? Where is this? How did I appear here?"

This was because it regained its original consciousness!

As for the strand of consciousness belonging to Desert Speaker Rose that possessed it, it had been silently erased by the magic circle drawn by Andrew.

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