After nightfall, the three sat together in the clearing in front of the ice house. Ethan had lit a campfire, and the warm glow dispelled the darkness. On the simple, temporary grill, fish were skewered for barbecuing. Lindong had gathered wild vegetation nearby and ground it into spices, sprinkling it on the grilled fish, releasing an enticing aroma.

It was originally a very cozy scene, yet McCarthy Delin felt unhappy.

He had been hanging his head, his face akin to those sub soldiers who sensed that the war was already lost.

Not long ago, Ethan returned excess spoils to the pond, never expecting his beginner-level fishing skills to be this effective, piquing his curiosity about what master-level fishing could catch.

Perhaps rarer fish, or even creatures beyond the realm of fish like the Boi Long or Storm Carp.

Lindong explained the principle to him.

The secret to fishing lies in the bait. Her seemingly affectionate actions were actually part of the lesson, as she had imbued Ethan with the scent of cherry snowberries, a fruit that most fish adore.

His success wasn't due to luck but rather a scientifically based outcome.

Ethan could only marvel that Lindong might be a natural-born cat, even inheriting catching fish as a talent, and she seemed to enjoy eating fish. Her mood was great as she hummed a tune, occasionally turning the skewered grilled fish.

The gloomy-faced McCarthy Delin seemed like someone from a different world.

Cold winds swept by the lakeside, and this legendary Elemental Shaper felt utterly desolate.

This made Ethan feel a bit marvelous.

According to Kane's theory, the McCarthy Delin before them wasn't the real McCarthy Delin but an illusion crafted from Father of War Kaisaros' memories, hardly constituting a real human being.

If the festival were viewed as a large holographic role-playing game, then the current McCarthy Delin would be a BOT.

A BOT seemingly possessing independent thinking and consciousness, not only inheriting a love for fishing but also sulking due to the air force concluding events.

"Mr. McCarthy, do you have something on your mind?"

Ethan asked knowingly.

He had long noticed that when he caught the seventh big fish, McCarthy Delin started behaving abnormally.

"No, nothing."

McCarthy shook his head, endeavoring to maintain composure. He couldn't feel the warmth from the campfire at all, only finding the grilled fish above to be dazzling. As a deity in the fishing realm, he confidently cast his rod but ended up being taught a lesson by a novice just exposed to fishing.

This lesson was about avoiding arrogance and impatience, meaning he still needed practice.

He proactively changed the subject, "Are you also Elemental Shapers?"

Whether the ice house or the campfire in the clearing were products of Elemental Shaper magic, McCarthy had been secretly observing the two. Their relationship looked like a couple in love. Initially, he wanted to find some objective, irresistible reasons for failure, such as bad Feng Shui of the lake restraining him, or perhaps his fishing rod being the problem, not the one he usually used.

However, soon, he discovered something unexpected.

He saw the way Ethan and Lindong employed elemental magic.

Skipping the casting process, they directly achieved their desired results.

McCarthy had proposed a similar theory in his early years, back when he was still engrossed in magical duels, believing that if one could cast magic without incantation, it would lead to a dramatic improvement in the overall level of Elemental Shapers.

Yet his research failed; this theory seemed simple but was fundamentally impossible to implement.

Immediately, McCarthy noticed Ethan's uniqueness.

Such a master proficient in Wind Element Magic, seemingly young, yet his level had reached an unsurpassed peak, with a gentle breeze always swirling around Ethan's side.

"I'm traveling with my wife, hoping to learn more about Elemental Shaper magic."

Ethan's reply was half-true, with a hint of regret on his face at just the right moment, "Unfortunately, most of the cities we've passed recently have been occupied by followers of the Old Gods, or destroyed in the war."

Upon hearing this, Lindong beamed, her movements turning the grilled fish became even more lighthearted.

"Yes, this damned war."

McCarthy echoed with deep feeling.

He was a scholar, never having thought he would one day become a commander, guiding the direction of war. His interests were originally very simple: fishing in his spare time from researching elemental magic, chatting with students about life and philosophy, and discussing the changes brought to the world by the Old Gods and faith.

But now, most of his students had died in the war, and his personal interests had almost all been discarded.

He had long grown somewhat weary.

Luckily, recently they finally received some good news.

Kadela's scheme advanced very smoothly. They completed the sealing ceremony, establishing a barrier in this world that effectively isolated the Old Gods. After severing the empowerment of faith, the adherents of the Old Gods greatly weakened, and all reports from frontal battlefields were victories.

It was the first time McCarthy truly believed the war was nearing its end.

This was no longer a kind lie to console students.

"Would you like to come to our camp for a visit?"

After pondering for a moment, McCarthy extended an invitation to the two.

With their human identities coupled with being powerful Elemental Shapers, plus a shared interest in fishing, McCarthy couldn't find any reason not to invite the two. He suddenly had a feeling that perhaps everything happening today was destiny's arrangement, and these two fortuitous Elemental Shaper encounters would bring an end to the chaotic era.

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