CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 56: EVEN A SLAVE NEEDS QUALIFICATIONS?

"Congratulations, young Hubert, from today onwards you are a proud ’Magic Apprentice.’ Young Hubert is the best!"

"Hmm, Mom, I will keep working hard!"

"Congratulations, young Hubert, from today onwards you are an official ’Fire Mage!’"

"Hmm, thank you... Mom."

"Congratulations, young Hubert, from today onwards you are a Grand Mage—"

"Now that you know I’m a ’Grand Mage,’ please don’t call me young Hubert anymore, Mother."

"...Alright. Hmm, still congratulations to you, Hubert, Grand... Grand Mage."

"Hmm."

After that, there was no more.

That was the last time in Hubert’s memory that he spoke to his mother, who raised him alone.

Soon after, his mother left the "Scholar’s Fortress" and returned alone to her hometown, Wildfire Town.

In less than six months, his mother passed away.

Hubert remembers feeling slightly sad upon hearing the news of his mother’s death.

But it was just a moment.

Because his focus had already been fully drawn to a higher level, to the title of "Magic Guide Sorcerer," a title enough to be engraved in the world’s history.

Bravely forging ahead, overcoming all obstacles.

Finally successfully breaking through to the realm of "Magic Guide Sorcerer," he had even already acquired the top among the Eight Strange Fires, the "Molten Rock Fire"—

Deep within his soul, it seemed he "saw" an incomparably colossal, non-human towering existence.

That existence indifferently said one sentence: "You... are not qualified to become my slave."

As the words fell.

Hubert felt soul-searing pain! He almost instantly lost all consciousness.

Before losing consciousness, he felt: the backlash of "Molten Rock Fire," the frenzied regression of his realm level, the "Puppet Fire Substitute" triggered amidst screams...

When he awoke again, it was after a year’s coma.

Hubert found it hard to accept, but had to accept the fact that: although barely saving his life with the "Puppet Fire Substitute" and his own strong Magical prowess, he not only failed to break through but fell from the realm of "Grand Mage" to a level between an Official Mage and a Magic Apprentice.

Although leveraging his past accumulation, the strength he could display was still more powerful than the average Mage.

But the remaining days were already numbered.

Alright...

Apparently, becoming a Magic Guide Sorcerer is not so easy.

Hubert tried to comfort himself.

Honestly, he wasn’t completely unable to accept the failure to break through, just needed time.

Even for the severe blow received after failing the breakthrough, he was somewhat psychologically prepared.

After all, in the history of the Magic Guild, nearly half of the Grand Mages experienced various problems when breaking through to higher realms, either dying or becoming disabled.

So it really was barely acceptable.

But...

Why...

Why say I’m ’not qualified’?

If I’m not qualified, who is?

Do even slaves have qualifications these days?

How dare you say I’m not qualified!?

"You are the one who’s not qualified! None of your family is qualified! No matter what kind of powerful existence you are, you have no right to say I’m not qualified! Even my mother... never said I wasn’t qualified!!"

This was actually Hubert’s ultimate angry shout from the depths of his soul when he reached out his hand to Andrew for the last time.

Then he fell to the ground with a thud.

Strangely, at the last moments of life, he thought of some things he had forgotten before—

When he first returned from the Scholar’s Fortress to his hometown Wildfire Town, he saw still a young Raymond upon entering the town. At that time, Raymond’s dream was to let everyone in Wildfire Town live and work in peace, no longer threatened and disturbed by the "Desolate Beast Sand Tide."

Just after awakening the Eight Strange Fire "Shadow Erosion Fire," a terrified Pete came running to seek his help.

Even knowing he was about to die soon, little Cook and little Sally still chose to follow him.

Then there were Brian, Lisa, these kids who were not cute but were willing to endure tough days with him in this Wildfire Town, no matter what...

"How did it come to this?"

Hubert wondered.

Meanwhile, in the deepest corner of his heart, sealed away forever and unreleased, Hubert finally spoke the words buried deep in his heart: "Mom, I’m sorry for you, I’m really sorry... Sorry... sorry..."

His consciousness falls into eternal darkness.

"..."

Andrew held his gaze at Hubert’s lowered head.

He could see that Hubert’s eyes had completely lost their brilliance.

From the old Mage’s eye sockets, however, silently flowed two streams of tears.

"Uh, feeling like before dying, he seemed to think first about some things that made him very angry and dissatisfied, and then about some regretful things?"

Andrew naturally knew nothing of Hubert’s thoughts before death, just looking at those two streams of tears," These are tears of regret, aren’t they? Feeling regret at the end of life..."

His mood was somewhat complex.

Since crossing over to this Flame Realm, he had lived under Hubert’s threat and shadow.

Now Hubert had finally died, the heavy burden on his heart finally lifted, feeling so much lighter, yet faintly sensing a trace of lost bewilderment.

But this trace of bewilderment was quickly cast aside by Andrew!

"Bewildered my ass, lost my ghost."

He thought, "With Hubert finally dead, I can truly have a foothold in this Flame Realm!

As for what to do without Hubert—continue extinguishing fire! Extinguishing fire feels great in the moment, keep doing it forever great!

To truly live happily and live well in this Flame Realm, and also let everyone live a good life with me, keep extinguishing fire, enhancing strength!

Implement the ’Fire Extinguishing Upgrade Method’ to the end! Hmm, that’s right, precisely!"

Sometimes, when focusing on defeating someone becomes the goal of efforts, after truly defeat them, there can be a brief period of confusion.

Luckily, Andrew understood well: this Flame Realm is vast, Inner Sea Desert is just a corner of the world, let alone a Hubert in the small Wildfire Town of Inner Sea Desert.

So ultimately, it’s all about the "Fire Extinguishing Upgrade Method!"

Must push this strategy further to the extreme!

"Hmm, so let’s first gather this massive Fire Extinguishing Value from defeating Hubert."

Andrew quickly snapped out of the feeling of confusion, lifted his spirits, "Through this battle with Hubert, I’ve realized more profoundly: relying solely on myself is absolutely insufficient, I must have exceedingly powerful helpers.

The final strike was delivered by me, but in reality, I reached Hubert with the help and support of Ivan, that Desolate Beast, and all the folks at the temporary camp including An Ya. I was merely the one to finish it, but this battle was not fought by me alone."

With such thoughts in mind, Andrew naturally wanted to divide the massive Fire Extinguishing Value he currently faced among all those involved in this battle, including himself.

"It’s a good thought."

That pleasant female voice rang out again, "However, this Fire Extinguishing Value cannot be shared.

It is crucial for completing the ’title assessment’ as your final step.

By passing the assessment, becoming an Official Water Mage, you can truly help everyone through the ’Enlightenment Series.’

So don’t rush, gather this Fire Extinguishing Value, secure it, okay?"