Mystic Overlord: Reading Gives Strength-Chapter 1267 - 1261: Preliminary Reconnaissance

"Sister... Ronald, where did you hear about this?"

Upon hearing Ronald's query, Catherine's eyes flickered for a moment. However, after her time at Barrier Mountain, she had already developed emotional control far surpassing the average person, so she quickly calmed down:

"I know I had a sister, but that was towards the end of the Dark Age. She did not enter the 'Infinite Negative Territory', but stayed in the external world. According to the flow of time between the two worlds—my sister should have long become a part of distant history by now."

Ronald shook his head and recounted his experiences during his voyage:

"As for Fisher, I met her a while ago. But that was at the magical city on the sea, 'Larchmont'..."

"Catherine, Fisher has been searching for you all along, even until the end of her life."

"..."

This time, Catherine did not suppress her emotions.

The tower master of the Astronomy Department folded her straight legs together, then hugged them at her chest, her usual commanding gaze rarely showing a hint of melancholy.

"In my memory, my sister is just a blurry shadow... I can't even remember her voice and appearance clearly."

"But Ronald, after hearing what you said—indeed, the emotions within the human heart, this kind of feeling never deceives."

Ronald lowered his head and said:

"I'm sorry, I just thought you should know about this."

"Apologize for what?" Catherine waved her hand towards Ronald, "Tell me this news—I should be thanking you."

While speaking, Catherine's gaze shifted from melancholy to wistful.

She extended one arm that was hugging her legs, with her white palm pointing forward, her gentle movements seemed to sprinkle powder. The fire lake in the center of the square rippled with her soft gestures, a strand of flame rose under the guidance of Magic Power, then flowed between the girl's hands.

Ronald watched the scene silently.

In Catherine's eyes was a mix of reminiscence and slight confusion, a look that in her exceptionally handsome presence, seemed like a torrential downpour obscuring the view, the rain gently nurturing everything in the forest.

At Catherine's fingertips, the raging flames under her Magic Power were tamed like a pet.

She toyed with the flames while reminiscing for a while.

She waved her hand gently, casting the crimson firelight back into the fire lake, then stood up and softly patted the nonexistent dust by her side.

"Ronald, let's go over to the lava lake."

"Although there's still plenty of time, since it's your first time here, you should at least scout the area where the battle will take place afterwards."

With those words, Catherine reached out to Ronald.

Ronald, still seated, took her hand, and Catherine pulled him up from the ground.

"Alright, let's go take a look."

"..."

Ronald and Catherine walked within the city of fire.

Because there's still a day before the Fire Element Demigod needs a large amount of 'fuel', the victims driven by the fire elements in the city were at their densest.

The two encountered hiding victims frequently.

In some areas, the indoor spaces for hiding were already crowded, so many victims were running around the streets of the fire city, seeking a place where they could take refuge.

In the process.

Sometimes the Flame River didn't need to sweep people away; in times of panic, victims would stumble into it themselves.

—The scene was heartbreaking.

Whenever Ronald had time, he'd naturally lend a hand.

He couldn't instantly save all the victims in the city, but he couldn't be indifferent to the tragedies happening before his eyes when he could do something.

Yet next to him, Catherine had no reaction at all to this.

The tower master of the Astronomy Department watched everything in the city, only deepening her determination for action. Other than that, she had no pity for these victims.

Over an hour passed, and Ronald and Catherine arrived at the lava lake in the city.

At this point, the two were in completely different situations.

Ronald was followed by some who, after being saved, chose to come along to see what was happening; Catherine remained unchanged, standing sharply alone.

"Ronald, you can observe freely here."

"As long as you don't extend your Magic Power below and alarm our target prematurely, you can do whatever you want."

Catherine explained briefly, then leaped onto the highest nearby building.

—She's planning to use the high point for reconnaissance.

Ronald glanced at Catherine, then utilized the spells from 'Astronomy Master' to carefully investigate the surrounding terrain and conditions.

As long as they cautiously avoided the lava lake below, everything progressed quite smoothly, the atmosphere even felt as peaceful as an outing.

Until a quarter of an hour later.

An inevitable turn of events occurred here.

Driven by curiosity about what Ronald was doing that saved them.

Those few brave victims gradually approached the edge of the lava lake! 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The Flame River across the city's ground can reach out fire tongues to sweep away 'fuel', so the lava lake, being the source of everything and housing the Fire Element Demigod, naturally has that capability.

At this moment, when these few approached, several tendrils immediately extended from the edge of the lava, pulling down the two closest people.

"What?" Ronald instantly turned his head while researching the situation.

Upon seeing the scene over there, he waved his hand, quickly using a spell to toss the terrified survivors far away.

Ronald himself quickly came over and warned these people:

"It's dangerous here; you'd better stay away from this area!"

The trembling survivors exchanged glances, then one of them stepped forward hesitantly:

"Sir, actually... we wanted to bring you to a safe shelter; it's just that you moved too fast, we couldn't keep up!"

"..."

Ronald fell silent for a moment.

Given his and Catherine's physical fitness, it wasn't easy for them to be followed.

But the shelter they spoke of wasn't something he needed.

In a moment of helplessness, the representative survivor continued:

"Sir, the closer the houses are to the lava lake, the less likely they are to be grabbed by those fire tongues. To repay your life-saving kindness, we wanted to find you such a safe place."

"..."

Ronald quickly understood the message in the survivor's words.

He took a deep breath and then pointed towards the far end of the fire city:

"Listen, escape now, as far away as possible."

"This place will become a dangerous battlefield, not a so-called shelter. If you want to survive, go quickly!"

"..."

Upon hearing Ronald's warning.

The survivors didn't hesitate for long and soon scattered like birds and animals.