CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 53: ZERO-DISTANCE WATER CANNON

"Desolate, desolate beast? What’s happening??"

Hubert was dumbfounded.

Although he quickly regained his composure, upon noticing what seemed to truly be a desolate beast charging towards him, Hubert, despite his age and experience, couldn’t help but cry out, "Why... why is it a desolate beast?!"

Andrew completely understood this reaction.

"When I previously sensed the presence of this desolate beast through ’Water Spirit Sensing’, my inner response was much the same..."

Luckily, Hubert was wounded in his lungs, not his heart.

Otherwise, if the old mage had been frightened to death by this desolate beast that suddenly appeared... uh, it might have been an acceptable outcome.

At the end of the day, it was Ivan, a Desert Hunter, who brought back a desolate beast as an ally—this in itself was just too preposterous!

Desert Hunters and desolate beasts are natural enemies, each other’s nemesis; when they meet, it’s a battle to the death.

In fact, the group known as Desert Hunters originally had no name.

It was only due to their mastery of hunting desolate beasts that they earned the name "Desert Hunter".

"Really want to ask, why do mice and cats become friends?"

Andrew was indeed very curious.

He wanted to immediately ask: how did you do it? Is that really a desolate beast? By the way, why does this desolate beast... look so much like a husky? Clearly, it looks like a dog but is as big as an African elephant from a past life!

Of course, now was not the time.

The focus now was—

Upon seeing that seemingly oversized husky-like desolate beast jump out, Andrew smiled slightly, knowing this battle was essentially secured.

Suddenly a huge fire serpent emerged and fiercely flung the desolate beast flying!

Meanwhile, the old mage’s curses resounded: "Futile desolate beast, did you think I feared you? Get lost!"

Any normal person witnessing this and hearing these words might think: it seems precarious.

Yet Andrew was more convinced: not only was it essentially secured, but it was... already won.

This wasn’t arrogance.

No, the primary issue in facing Hubert was feeling "unable to aim, unable to hit", essentially how to ensure hitting Hubert.

If it was only him and Ivan working together, indeed as Hubert implied, the chances wouldn’t be high.

Because Ivan couldn’t steadily create "chances to hit Hubert" for him. Ivan himself was responsible for terminating the enemy, and "what I need to do next" actually overlapped slightly in nature with that.

This desolate beast before him was different.

Seeing the desolate beast get knocked flying by Hubert’s "Fire Serpent" and then quickly rise again, shaking its head, and charging forward again—

Andrew suddenly felt moved to tears: "Is this... the feeling of having a tank in the team? So safe, so considerate, so reliable!"

This way, with Ivan and the desolate beast he brought back cooperating, Andrew had no doubts, knowing they would definitely create a chance for him to hit Hubert.

And once "hit" Hubert, "elimination" in Andrew’s mind was as natural as water flowing.

Not only because his accumulated big kill move was now filled with a large amount of fire extinguishing value collected during previous battles.

But also because the "Long-range Water Needle" is an extremely unique spell within the "Fingertip Series Magic".

Even among the many intriguing Water Element magics in the "Fingertip Series", it is unique and distinct!

Its power and form are linked to "casting distance".

During long-range casting, it is a water needle, and the farther the distance, the more concentrated the force, the thinner the water needle appears (although under invisible enchantment, only Andrew can see it), all for stability and hit rate.

If the "Long-range Water Needle" is cast at maximum range, it becomes needle-like with super piercing and defense-breaking ability.

Conversely, when the attack distance shortens to an extreme threshold, infinitely close to zero distance—but without truly touching the opponent—casting the long-range water needle causes its form to change more dramatically than merely "water needle to water spear".

It becomes an immensely giant... water cannon.

No longer winning with "elegant penetration", but with wild power, blasting the enemy’s body apart!

During long-range casting, it is "Long-range Water Needle".

When cast in close proximity, it transforms into: Zero-Distance Water Cannon.

"Well, can’t be careless, must give it my all."

Andrew admonished himself against being lax, "Since it’s already in the bag, try to go a step further to ensure absolute success. No more mistakes or accidents."

With a bang.

The husky-like desolate beast was again repelled by Hubert’s flame magic, falling not far from Andrew.

"Argh..."

It bared its teeth but finally struggled, letting out a sound of fear and frustration like a bullied puppy.

In terms of toughness, a desolate beast was more so than a Flame Warrior. Moreover, a desolate beast had no weak points regarding soul defense, which was the Flame Warrior’s vulnerability. Flame Warriors feared soul magics like "Heart Fire Series" and "Desolate Language Series".

"Even Ivan’s desolate beast ally can’t hold out much longer?"

Andrew took a deep breath, and as the desolate beast charged forward again, silently followed using its huge body as cover.

Hubert coldly remarked: "Don’t think that just because I’m old, on the verge of death, you can overlook me!"

The giant fire serpent surrounded him as though alive, integrating offense and defense.

In a short time, Hubert had already repelled the desolate beast’s nine consecutive pounces, nullified Ivan’s three assassination attempts!

"And you, kid, don’t think I forgot about you!" Hubert bared a slight menacing smile while speaking, repelling the beast’s charge again, and during Ivan’s fourth assassination attempt, burning his black short dagger into molten iron!

Then Hubert suddenly waved his hand, the fire serpent soared into the sky, transforming into viscous magma-like flames, pouring down like a waterfall.

It drenched Andrew’s head silently as he arrived before Hubert!

"I’ve been watching you all along, brat!"

Hubert sneered, "You come forward with the desolate beast’s cover while Ivan immediately launches a fourth assassination for cover, thinking you could evade my sight?"

The magma waterfall formed by the fire serpent slowly dissipated.

Even with "Flame Immunity", Andrew was scorched miserably. If not for the old mage wanting to capture him alive, Andrew actually felt this strike might have been too tough to withstand.

"Luckily, what needed to be done, finally... has been done."

Andrew thought numbly. After fighting till now, he had reached his limit.

Wrapped in that "big kill move", his left index finger, at some point unbeknownst, had lightly touched between Hubert’s chest and abdomen.

This was a chance created by the desolate beast and Ivan for him.

Also a chance created by himself, enduring Hubert’s attacks without retreat.

The method to turn "essentially secured" into "absolutely sure" was simple: risk and trade injuries with the opponent.

Andrew gambled Hubert wouldn’t end him directly!

Because through Water Spirit Sensing, Andrew had captured Hubert’s command to Cook and Sally that he must be captured alive.

"This feels right, it’s correct, this is the feeling of ’hit’."

Andrew looked at Hubert, smiled, and then gently said, "Zero-distance... Water Cannon!!"