In the face of provocation, what is true confidence and inner strength?

It's not about immediately striking back whenever challenged. Of course, retaliation is necessary, but it should be on your own schedule, in your own way, at your own pace! Not letting the opponent lead you by the nose.

Andrew understood Barbara's upcoming plan with "Water and Fire United" and shared mutual understanding with her.

While continuing to heal Dean Charlie, Andrew quietly began to operate Whole Power.

Tier Four Water Magic, Water Prison Training, had already quietly been initiated!

Compared to when he released Yorkshire and planted the mark inside him not long ago, Andrew had since grasped the Heart of Assistance and, after observing the duel between Dean Charlie and the Dragon Taming Lady, he had a preliminary touch of the Secret Technique of Continuous Counterattack.

Therefore, although the magic remained the same "Water Prison Training," it appeared unchanged, yet several subtle elements had been adjusted.

The trace amounts of Water Magic Power inserted into Yorkshire's body in advance started to quietly coalesce.

As the one involved, Yorkshire was completely unaware of this!

In fact, at this moment, Yorkshire was scanning the entire Eternal Frost Hall blankly, entirely oblivious to the subtle movement within his body. Only vaguely, he sensed something extremely bad, extremely eerie, extremely unfavorable might be about to descend upon him!

The problem is…

Everyone's sights and attention within the hall were drawn towards Capella and Barbara.

Capella would be the one to fight in the upcoming negotiation challenge.

Yorkshire thought to himself that the second match in the negotiation challenge had nothing to do with him at all.

Then why this sense of unease, where did it originate?

Yorkshire calmly glanced quickly at Andrew.

He saw Andrew furrowing his brows, a well-hidden look of "worry" on his face, seemingly concerned about Barbara who was about to face Capella.

Yorkshire's gaze swept over Andrew a few times but couldn't discern anything unusual.

He couldn't help but withdraw his gaze, switching his view towards Capella not far away, thinking to himself: "So, ultimately is it this girl who's too strong? So strong that even as her ally, I can't help but feel uneasy and apprehensive in the presence of her fully released aura and power fluctuations?"

As the Third Saint Son of the Magic Guild, Yorkshire undeniably carried his own pride. Sometimes, his pride made him irritable.

For example, he always felt quite discontent towards the Second Saint Son Tiago. He even truly believed that facing the widely rumored First Saint Son, who had been training continuously on the Outer Battlefield, he might not necessarily lose in a direct confrontation!

The Third Saint Son felt discontent towards both the Second and First Saint Sons.

Only towards Capella did Yorkshire genuinely concede in his heart, albeit he wouldn't openly admit it.

As proud as he was, he couldn't help but acknowledge one thing: Capella was stronger than him and vastly so. Nominally, they were all Tier Four prodigies of the younger generation, but Yorkshire knew well that Capella was unique, a prodigy among prodigies.

At this moment, the area had been cleared anew.

Traces of power fluctuations and other remnants from the previous battle had been thoroughly cleaned.

Capella then stepped forward, heading towards the venue.

According to Andrew's plan, Barbara must enter the venue one step ahead of Capella, to activate "Water Prison Training" from Andrew's side, completely awakening the Water Element Magic Power within Yorkshire, and before anyone could react, pull Yorkshire into the venue.

Thus, the opponent for the second negotiation challenge would be Yorkshire, not Capella. This was the traditional rule of the negotiation challenge, much like "once a third party intervenes to help, the assisted side automatically loses."

But now, Capella was walking directly towards the venue.

She didn't speak much, and her previously flamboyant aura seemed to be slightly restrained.

Yet from Andrew's perspective, it was clear: Capella was slightly moving her muscles up and down her body as she walked towards the venue, likely performing pre-battle self-adjustment.

Her aura seemed less arrogant yet more condensed, roughened, and oppressive.

Like a black hole in human form, it weighed heavily in the hall, simultaneously capturing everyone's gaze, like a black hole drawing in light, capturing them firmly. Indeed, when people's gaze landed on Capella, there was an odd and terrifying feeling of inability to retract it, as if about to be devoured!

Capella walked and raised her hand.

A giant black axe spear appeared gradually from her hand.

The "New Edition Dragon Transformation Combat Technique… Dragon Transformation Weapon!" Andrew's heart froze.

Though he had seen it once at the Shield of Flowing Fire, that time was merely a residual force left in Orleans' body by Capella, and now it was Capella herself, personally and in front, demonstrating the Magic Guild's "New Edition Dragon Transformation Combat Technique," coalescing from the inside out a "Dragon Transformation Weapon."

Unlike the old Dragon Transformation Combat Technique, the new technique does not cause any form changes but condenses a weapon externally.

A very viscous black flame emerged silently from the Dragon Transformation Weapon.

The black fire enveloped the axe spear, then encased Capella.

Precisely one of the Eight Strange Fires, the "Fire of Extinguishing!"

Thud, thud!

Capella's body seemed to be incredibly heavy, each step causing the entire Eternal Frost Hall to slightly sway.

The domineering "Lock" power Andrew had previously sensed in the Shield of Flowing Fire also reappeared with the emergence of the "Dragon Transformation Weapon" and the "Fire of Extinguishing."

But this time, Capella's target of locking was no longer Orleans, nor Andrew, but Barbara!

"Is this… really someone of our age?"

Sabye's face turned pale.

Calling her "our age" might not be entirely accurate.

Capella's face and figure were extremely youthful, appearing younger rather than older compared to Sabye, Andrew, Barbara, and others.

Yet, the strength Capella displayed was overwhelming, pressing heavily upon the heart, making one feel an unbearable, terrifying sense of suffocation.

From Andrew's perspective, he saw more than anyone present—

The moment "Fire of Extinguishing" and "Locking Power" emerged, all traces of anxiety on Capella's body disappeared completely.

Behind her, strands only Andrew could vaguely see connected to the enormous dragon silhouette.

The strands were black.

They seemed to be condensed from the Fire of Extinguishing! It appeared as though the Fire of Extinguishing on Capella, on the axe spear in her hand, was in reality transmitted to her from the dragon silhouette behind her via the strands.

Capella, receiving the Fire of Extinguishing, seemed temporarily to transform into that vague dragon silhouette, as if projecting from the world beyond, becoming a demonic incarnation in this world, aiding the dragon silhouette in locking, hunting, devouring, and then digesting within the world!

At this moment, looking at such a Capella, even Andrew, whose heart was filled with invincible belief, couldn't help but feel his confidence waver.

Continually reminding himself: No matter how different Capella may be, she ultimately remains a Flame Warrior.

Yet at the same time, another voice in his mind shouted: "Is this really still a Flame Warrior? This has evolved into some existence beyond the level of a Flame Warrior, hasn't it? What on earth is this non-human aura?"

Andrew couldn't help but entertain a thought: "Without employing the 'plan,' if facing such a Capella directly in battle, could Barbara win? If I took the field, could I… win?"