Water Mage in the Flame Realm-Chapter 318 - 306: The Price of Power

"What is... that?"

Not only Andrew, but everyone present also saw it then, the Single Finger Dragon Shadow emerging behind Capella.

Unlike the dragon form that was formed from the frozen earth not long ago, when that dragon shadow clearly showed the single finger, everyone had a strong feeling: that dragon shadow seemed to come alive.

It wasn’t a dead object, but a living dragon!

"Dean, what on earth is that?" Havier, his face pale, looked at Dean Charlie.

Not long ago, he was considering whether to drop his "problem child" facade and replace Andrew in battle.

Now, looking at that Single Finger Dragon Shadow, Havier only had one thought in his mind: If I go in, I’ll die.

Beside him, Shabiye, like Havier, also looked at Dean Charlie.

Charlie too appeared pale and did not answer Havier’s question, possibly not even hearing it.

Charlie just kept staring fixedly at the Single Finger Dragon Shadow behind Capella, recalling what President Beiru had told him after the Double Fire War: "The Magic Guild may just be a puppet. Behind it, there may be a dragon still alive in this world..."

Honestly, the Magic Guild’s heritage being related to dragons isn’t a secret. Everyone in the Flame Realm knows the Magic Guild’s Dragon Transformation Combat Techniques.

The true focus, however, lies in the description "possibly still alive"!

Deep down, Charlie hadn’t believed Beiru’s judgment.

He didn’t think a living Dragon Race still existed in this world.

Until now, seeing that Single Finger Dragon seemingly full of life appear behind Capella.

"So, was the president’s judgment correct? Is there truly a living Dragon Race somewhere in this world?!" Charlie couldn’t contain himself any longer and shouted at Andrew in the field, "Attack, attack immediately! Don’t let her build up power any longer!"

The Single Finger Dragon Shadow was growing clearer and more vibrant, and the power flowing into Capella through it was increasingly formidable.

They absolutely couldn’t let that dragon shadow accumulate and solidify; they couldn’t let Capella gather more strength!

Otherwise, not only would they lose this third negotiation match, but everyone who came to the Royal Court for this negotiation would face utter defeat!

Yet Andrew, after subduing the trapped Barbara and exorcising Yorkshire, remained unhurried in the field, earnestly observing Capella and the Single Finger Dragon Shadow behind her, not in a hurry to act.

At this, not only Charlie, but everyone couldn’t help but think, "What on earth is Andrew thinking?!"

"Probably scared witless," Flame Turtle’s voice echoed coldly.

Charlie ignored Flame Turtle, turning to look at Catherine, hoping to ask if she had any solutions.

However, a heavy shock jolted Charlie as he looked over.

He saw Catherine sitting on the throne, her gaze fixed on the Single Finger Dragon Shadow, her expression different from everyone else’s present.

Everyone else, including even Flame Turtle, was filled with dread upon seeing the dragon shadow.

But in Catherine’s eyes, there was a faint trace of... fervor.

What unsettled Charlie even more was that Catherine’s expression at that moment matched that of the king seated next to her.

Both of them were watching the Single Finger Dragon Shadow with eyes of hidden fervor, seemingly indifferent to Capella standing before it, and equally disregarding Andrew in the field. It was as if, besides the Single Finger Dragon Shadow, nothing else could capture their attention at this moment.

Until Andrew’s voice resonated calmly in the field once more, "So this is the power Yorkshire wanted you to embrace, not resist?"

As he spoke, Andrew’s gaze shifted downward.

While everyone else was fixated on the Single Finger Dragon Shadow, Andrew earnestly looked at Capella.

He found the other person’s gaze meeting his.

Since Yorkshire’s death, Capella had been silent, staring blankly at the spot where Yorkshire last stood.

It wasn’t until Andrew exorcised Yorkshire that Capella’s eyes moved slightly, after which she quietly watched Andrew, up until now.

Their eyes met in the air.

Capella didn’t answer but asked, "You tell me, what did you just do?"

Her question, naturally, referred to Andrew’s exorcism of Yorkshire.

Andrew paused, shaking his head, "Nothing much, just a belated gesture of respect."

It was the truth.

Yet Capella seemed not to accept it, coldly saying, "Can’t you see, every second you waste on anything other than stopping me from gathering strength is reducing your chances of winning against me?"

This wasn’t just Capella’s question; it was the question on everyone’s mind.

Why, since Yorkshire’s death, had Andrew been moving so slowly, seemingly oblivious to the ever-strengthening Capella?

Andrew blinked at Capella, smiling as he said, "Because there are things that must be done. And most importantly..." Andrew withdrew his smile, calmly but confidently stating, "I can still defeat you."

Capella: "..."

She looked at Andrew and stayed silent for a long while before saying, "Are you out of your mind?"

Anyone present could see: Capella in her berserk state emitted a power aura stronger than when she teamed up with Yorkshire.

In a one-on-one situation, what could Andrew use to fight such a Capella?

Andrew certainly knew this as well, aware that it wouldn’t be an easy fight.

He, like others, also felt it: after that single finger appeared, the aura of the dragon shadow changed too, as if that dragon shadow really connected to a terrifying flame giant dragon.

Yet, Andrew felt things others did not—

A massive strength, using the dragon shadow as a medium, continuously infused into Capella’s body.

The power contained the heat of fire, the rough weight of the earth, and a black hole-like greedy devouring aura.

Just like the feeling the dragon claw mark on the chest of the woman in the ice coffin gave Andrew!

Thus, what Andrew really wanted to clarify was: "What is the relationship between the ancient dragon race that injured the woman in the ice coffin and the dragon race represented by this single finger dragon shadow before me? Are they two different dragons? Or... is it the same dragon, shedding the extra fingers over the ages, leaving only the single finger, turning into an ultimate form single finger dragon?"

It should be noted that the woman in the ice coffin should be a powerhouse surpassing the Realm of Magic Guide.

The ancient two-fingered dragon that could injure that woman must have been at least above the Realm of Magic Guide.

Such an already extremely formidable existence, to then shed the excess fingers, leaving only one...

Andrew simply couldn’t imagine what kind of power that would be.

Nervous? Of course, it was nerve-wracking.

Without using the Water Spirit Technique to steady his mind, Andrew might even lose control, trembling with anxiety.

But along with the nervousness, there was excitement and thrill.

Because Andrew had a strong feeling: if handled well, this next step would not only win this crucial third negotiation match, but perhaps even unravel the big secret behind the Magic Guild, and might even figure out what went wrong in the Flame Realm!

Everyone else thought that Andrew, after Yorkshire’s death, allowed Capella to amass strength and instead foolishly wasted energy on exorcizing Yorkshire, because he feared Capella, wanting to delay until Barbara could escape to face two against one.

No one knew that Andrew planned to win one-on-one.

Not only win, but seize this opportunity to clarify some crucial things!

To do so, it was essential to let the opponent fully exhibit their powers first.

If Andrew hadn’t allowed Capella to amass strength, how could he so quickly witness that single finger of the dragon shadow?

As for whether doing so was too arrogant, too risky, or might allow the opponent to gather strength only for him to be defeated in a second, Andrew acknowledged there was such a possibility, that his choice indeed involved an element of risk.

"But, Capella, you’re not the only one gathering strength," Andrew thought, "I am too..."

At this moment, Capella said from across, "Yes, this is the power Yorkshire mentioned just now, telling me not to resist anymore and to embrace it proactively."

"Oh?" Andrew was a bit surprised, why was she suddenly willing to answer the question he had just posed?

Capella continued, "You’re either out of your mind, or you’ve gone insane. Still, no matter what, you just exorcized Yorkshire, letting him find peace, so I’ll let you understand what’s really happening before killing you to avenge Yorkshire."

Then Capella pointed at the single finger dragon shadow behind her, which continued imbuing her with power, and said, "This is the power Yorkshire wanted me to embrace, and what has always been the cause of my anxiety. Yorkshire didn’t really know what it was, which is why he naively told me to embrace it."

Andrew interjected, "So your anxiety, your constant distractions, were all due to this power, not because you have to marry the King?"

Capella chuckled, as if hearing a joke that wasn’t funny, "Of course... it’s not about marrying the King or anything. It’s all because of this power."

Andrew nodded, adopting a sincere demeanor of seeking guidance, "So what is it, exactly?"

Capella said, "Still don’t understand? This is the new version of the Dragon Transformation Combat Technique. But it’s not just any ordinary combat technique. When the technique succeeds, the dragon shadow forms. Once the dragon shadow condenses, the dragon transformation weapon, the fire of extinguishing, and compensation for weaknesses in speed as a flame warrior, as well as the locking power from the combination of fire of extinguishing and dragon transformation weapon, all become available."

Andrew listened intently, knowing that the dragon transformation weapon, fire of extinguishing, and locking power mentioned were things he had heard and seen in Shield of Flowing Fire, while treating Orleans.

Now it was finally confirmed: these methods indeed originated from the new Dragon Transformation Combat Technique.

And the mark of the new Dragon Transformation Combat Technique is precisely the dragon shadow behind Capella.

"So, not only you, but any other flame warrior who masters the new Dragon Transformation Combat Technique would also gather this single finger dragon shadow behind them?" Andrew asked Capella.

Capella nodded, "Theoretically, yes." Then shook her head, "But the new Dragon Transformation Combat Technique isn’t easy to master. I succeeded, but too many others have not. Flame Turtle Lord is far above my tier, yet hasn’t succeeded. For most flame warriors, this new Dragon Transformation Combat Technique merely provides a way to avoid Desolate Beast Transformation. Truly gaining powerful strength through this technique is extremely difficult, extremely difficult."

Capella’s voice echoed, and everyone quieted down to listen carefully.

However, as they listened, many couldn’t help but show strange expressions on their faces.

Because how could it not seem that Capella was in Versailles?

Such a difficult new Dragon Transformation Combat Technique, not even Flame Turtle has mastered it, but she has, and after mastering it not only eliminated the risk of Desolate Beast Transformation from the old version but also gained a series of powerful abilities and methods, aren’t these all good things?

Given this, what is there to be anxious about? Why did she keep resisting this power until Yorkshire used death to persuade her to embrace it?

Andrew also looked at Capella.

Then he heard Capella say, "I do not like this power. Even now, at this very moment, I still do not like it. Because in gaining this powerful strength, I feel like I have become... a servant."