CHAPTER 284: CHAPTER 274: FIRST BATTLE

"—Haha, incredible, absolutely incredible!"

Under the relentless attacks of Dean Charlie, the Dragon Taming Lady’s hair was disheveled, and she looked utterly embarrassed. Yet, a hint of excitement or even crazed joy lingered on her face, "Charlie, you have completely surpassed your teacher, that old Falk! Ah, damn it, you hit me again!"

She yelled and screamed, throwing condensed Elemental Giant Dragons at Dean Charlie like fireballs.

Every condensed Elemental Giant Dragon released a dragon’s roar that shook the hall as it hurled, accompanied by the Dragon Taming Lady’s shouts, both shocking and distracting.

Dean Charlie, however, was unfazed, using simplicity to combat complexity. He responded to the opponent’s Tier Nine Earth Fire Magic from the "Hellfire Series" with the simplest Fireball Technique from Warm Fire Magic.

One fireball after another collided with the Elemental Giant Dragons, and then both exploded simultaneously.

Using a Tier One Fireball Technique against a Tier Nine Elemental Giant Dragon was utterly unthinkable, yet Dean Charlie did it, even suppressing his opponent.

This was because every time he cast a Fireball Technique, Dean Charlie gently blew a breath on the fireball.

The "Blowing Fire Technique," showcased outside the Royal Court not long ago, unleashed!

The Fireball Technique itself was indeed an ordinary Fireball Technique, but when infused with the "Blowing Fire Technique" and a trace of "Wind Attribute," each fireball underwent a fundamental transformation.

"...Amazing!" Andrew focused on observing Dean Charlie’s technique and timing in casting the fireballs, taking the opportunity to learn the "Continuous Counterattack" he hadn’t mastered yet. Meanwhile, he thought again, "Dean Charlie is no longer just a pure Fire Magic Mage; he is a Wind-Fire Dual Attribute Mage, primarily using fire and aiding it with wind. That’s how he uses the simplest Fireball Technique to suppress the Dragon Taming Lady’s Tier Nine Earth Fire Magic. So...what about me?"

Andrew hadn’t forgotten that during his first encounter with Yorkshire, he assumed the opponent’s "Earth Fire Pulse," rich in Earth Attribute, would naturally counter his Water Magic to some extent.

Yet, his Elemental Attribute still decisively suppressed the opponent!

Yorkshire had "Earth" and "Flame" Dual Attributes.

Meanwhile, his Water Element restrained Fire Element, and did he unknowingly possess some Elemental Attribute that curbed "Earth" elements hidden within his magic?

If so, what could it be? What Elemental Attribute restrains "Earth"?

"Ahh!!" The Dragon Taming Lady’s non-human-like screech pulled Andrew’s thoughts back to the present.

He saw the Dragon Taming Lady no longer throwing out Elemental Fire Dragons but instead charging at Dean Charlie with two Hellfire Dragons wrapped around her hands.

Surprisingly, she no longer maintained a casting distance, choosing instead to engage in close combat, a form usually not suited to ordinary mages.

Many keen observers present could discern: the Dragon Taming Lady had no choice but to make this nearly futile decision.

In short, during a long-range spell duel where distance was maintained, she was already overwhelmed by Dean Charlie’s one-sided suppression, and continuing would only lead to a slow death.

So she decided to gamble.

The Dragon Taming Lady was betting that Dean Charlie was even less adept at close combat than she was.

Yet Dean Charlie remained silent, unmoving, with both hands slightly raised.

An invisible whirlwind rose from under the Dragon Taming Lady’s feet, the intense force instantly making her feel like being caught in a storm, and it seemed to cause the Elemental Fire Dragons on her hands to lose control!

The wind aided the fire; Dean Charlie injected the Wind Attribute into the Dragon Taming Lady’s Earth Fire Magic during the very moment she charged.

This was still an application of the Counterattack Technique.

The Dragon Taming Lady screamed, throwing away the Elemental Fire Dragons from her hands. Barely stabilizing herself, she looked up to see a calm face—it was Dean Charlie, who had already advanced and closed in on her!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Dean Charlie pressed on step by step, launching fireballs at close range, bombarding the Dragon Taming Lady’s Body-Protecting Magic Shield.

At this point, the Dragon Taming Lady found herself entirely powerless to counterattack, continuously reinforcing her protective shield around her, somewhat resembling her partner, the Flame Turtle.

"Great, well done! Beat this old hag to death!" Havier shouted excitedly, his face flushed with fervor, vigorously waving his fists.

Andrew, however, furrowed his brows suddenly, "Something seems off."

Beside him, Barbara also said, "You think something’s amiss too? Judging by the situation, the Dean clearly holds an overwhelming advantage and could win steadily. But why, why does the Dean..." Barbara trailed off.

Andrew, however, understood her implication: Dean Charlie, while attacking, seemed terribly impatient to determine the victory as if...someone were continuously urging him on!

As they spoke, another fireball from Dean Charlie descended powerfully onto the Dragon Taming Lady’s Magic Shield.

Strictly speaking, this fireball could no longer be called a Fireball Technique, as wind and fire seemed completely intertwined, inseparable.

When the fireball fell, unlike before, it carried a fierce whistling of the wind!

Andrew stared intently at the trembling Dragon Taming Lady, suppressed by the fireball.

Now, it seemed her exaggerated shouting actually hid something true. But her trembling body and pale complexion didn’t seem fake at all.

Andrew quietly shifted his gaze, looking at the Flame Turtle, Capella, and Yorkshire on the opposite side, feeling a chill in his heart.

The Flame Turtle showed a serene face, appearing entirely unconcerned about the Dragon Taming Lady’s utter disadvantage, instead wearing a barely noticeable sinister smile!

"Come on, if you’ve got the guts, kill me!" the Dragon Taming Lady yelled hoarsely, her hair wild.

This was an obviously exaggerated deliberate provocation.

Renowned for his stable temperament, Dean Charlie seemed genuinely angered, his attacks growing increasingly fierce and agitated.

Susan shouted, "Charlie, you fool, what are you rushing for? Stay calm and fight!"

Havier turned his head, dumbfounded, noticing Susan, Andrew, and Barbara all staring sternly, lacking the thrill and excitement of having a definitive upper hand, leaving him a bit confused: What happened? Did I cheer for the wrong side?

Looking back at the scene, Dean Charlie slowed down after hearing Susan’s words.

Yet, his slowed casting turned every move into something more ponderous, more ruthless.

With a cracking sound, the Dragon Taming Lady’s Magic Shield finally shattered under Dean Charlie’s assault.

The Dragon Taming Lady screamed, falling backward, yet uncontrollably smiling.

Dean Charlie remained silent, his face dark and vaguely colored with an abnormal purplish hue. Having already breached his opponent’s defense, he only needed to step forward and attack once more to seize victory in this first duel of the negotiations.

But as Dean Charlie slightly lifted his foot, seemingly intending to advance, his body wavered and with a thud, he collapsed forward!

This turn of events caught almost everyone off guard. Even Susan, Andrew, and Barbara, who sensed something was wrong, did not foresee Dean Charlie suddenly falling.

Only the Flame Turtle seemed prepared for this, suddenly rising and shouting, "Now’s the time! Quickly!"

As soon as these words were spoken, a figure on the scene darted towards the fallen Dean Charlie.

It was the Dragon Taming Lady.

Andrew noticed the Dragon Taming Lady’s movements were clearly awkward and not very fast, which proved that her previous disadvantage wasn’t feigned—she truly was at a disadvantage and seriously injured. This time, she rushed at Dean Charlie, enduring severe pain.

The question was, if the disadvantage was real, and the injuries were also real, just how did this old woman cause Dean Charlie to attack wildly and then suddenly collapse at the critical final moment?!