**Ahhhhhh ** ** Teenage War Cries**
**Boom** **Pam**
Screams, flashes and small explosions occurred throughout the corridor of the sixth floor.
**Swoosh**
--Pov Extimum--.
Damn, damn it, I can't find a way out, and running around aimlessly simply isn't working.
Besides... the students' behavior just isn't normal. I could've understood it if only a few hot-blooded youngsters had chased after me at first, but now...
Looking back.
"Stop right there monster, don't run away!"
"Expulso" **Boom**
Stop your grandfather! Why would someone stop just because they are told to?
The way they act is no longer something as simple as the spur of the moment, instead they seem to have gone crazy and worst of all... no one seems to notice the abnormality.
Do they really think that just because they're wearing my glasses then the basilisk can't just swallow them whole in one go? Or send them flying against a wall with a swipe of their tail?
Even if Gryffindors can be that impulsive, I don't think any of the Ravenclaws haven't considered the risk.
"There you are!".
Going through an intersection, a group of three students jumped in front of me trying to do a "sneak attack".
But I just jumped over them and kept running.
They were not the first to try to do so, nor were they the most discreet.
Most of the paths are blocked by obstacles or barriers and the crowd behind seems inexhaustible, plus my size isn't exactly inconspicuous, the situation is only getting more dangerous the more time passes. Being a castle prepared to resist an invasion was no joke.
To make matters worse, my magic seems out of control, which has prevented me from getting out of here sooner with a simple apparition. At first I didn't notice as I was busy running away and dodging spells, but after a while I started to notice where the abnormality or rather abnormalities came from.
The first one was easy to find. *Ugh*
**BOoom**
*gasp* I-I should have known that you can't just screw up and hope no one sees you. But it's a little late to notice, right? *Boom Boom Boom* Damn hyperactive students! Don't they get tired? Where the hell was all that power and energy in dueling classes?
**BOOooom**
The basilisk not only contaminated me with poison, there was something else…a potion perhaps? Most likely, I'm not thinking of much at the moment anyway, that's probably the cause of all this fog of terror and the stupid state of the students behind me.
**Psttss** **sound of lightning** **Rumble**
As for the second thing, although I can't say exactly what it is, but it feels like I'm constantly being shaken by some invisible force or to be more exact, my part nine-tailed fox, which to begin with is the only one I can use right now.
*!!!* **Swoosh*
-In the middle of all the exhaust, a dazzling and boiling ray of light flew by just inches from Extimum's eyes-
**BOOOM**
A cold drop slid down my forehead, while the sound of a loud explosion reverberated from my back, though it quickly flew away with the strong current of air and dust that flowed from the blast site, ruffling all my fur.
**Crack Crack**
Small and medium sized chunks of stone began to crumble from the wall to my left, revealing a large smoking hole.
The huge explosion created a brief pause, as the students stopped a few meters from my position and switched their gazes between the large hole, me, and the direction from which such a destructive spell had come.
I took advantage of the brief moment to rest, running was not a problem, but running while analyzing my situation, looking for an escape route and worrying about not being intercepted by any of the hundreds of spells flying in my direction was a completely different matter.
My thoughts calmed down a bit, as I moved my gaze for a moment to the place where that spell had come from and I saw how among the dust and debris that flew, a figure began to approach, but I quickly averted my gaze as I analyzed my surroundings.
The previous spell was not something a student could do at all.
However, the more I looked the more my brows furrowed, there were no more intersections to run through. Behind me, a horde of students; to my left, a large hole leading to the outside of the castle, not yet large enough to pass through; In front of me, a blocked corridor and a little further to my right, four adult figures with their wands drawn and ready to attack as soon as I made the slightest movement.
With all that, my gaze couldn't help but fall back on one of the four figures to my right. I can clearly recognize Professor McGonagall, Professor Sinistra and Professor Flitwick, however I have no idea who the fourth person was.
Under the cover of dust, her figure became visible, with a wooden staff in one of her hands, wearing a tight-fitting dress that showed a lot of skin, a little too daring? although it was not bad at all... but I prefer something more conservative.
Her face was hidden, concealed beneath a cloth mask attached to the hood of her cloak. With each breath, a faint mist escaped from around her face and drifted into the air.
Is this some kind of Darth Vader-style entrance? Except female? Then again... who even was he? I shook my head. I didn't have time for irrelevant thoughts.
Despite being someone unknown, she had the lead in the group of three masters.
???: "Wow? Do it dodge it? Now, that's interesting. I guess I should give you some points for that"
A strange and mysterious feeling ran through my skin, before turning into an icy and disturbing chill, making all the hairs on my body stand on end just by hearing her voice.
-The woman's voice was sweet, like an angel's song, nuanced with touches of surprise and playfulness, however, when the voice finished settling in each of the listeners, icy and shuddering chills ran through their bodies, as if they would have heard something horrible and terrifying.
It was a feeling difficult to describe, as if they had heard something they shouldn't hear, a taboo, a heresy, an affront against nature itself.
All of the students who had stopped felt as if needles were pricking their skin and couldn't help but take two steps back, erasing every thought and intent towards the mist creature they had been chasing. -
What a dangerous woman.
Just a few words, but it can already generate such a feeling.
Mcgonagall: "Miss Izorim, I'll ask you to please be careful with the spells you use. Although destroying school property is still acceptable to deal with the current threat, but your sudden attack may have hurt the students."
What did she just say?! Izorim?
Christelle: "Hehehe, don't worry, headmistress. My Izorim family will pay for all the damages and as for the students, rest assured, I have a sense of myself."
She really said Izorim...
Christelle: "Although…" Placing a finger on her face in what seemed like a cute attitude, except for the featureless mask that covered her face—"A basilisk…? Are they sure? Is this the same creature that has been causing trouble?"
-Her words made more than one frown.
Especially Mcgonagall and Flitwick who had managed to keep up with her and get here.
In fact, the purple cloud in front of them did not resemble a basilisk at all. Even if they couldn't see its shape, but on second thought…
A basilisk would not have taken things so calmly if it was chased by so many students, at least some would have ended up eaten and seriously injured or even killed, but they had already been chasing it for a long time and at most there were some incapacitated.
As if that weren't enough, in this short time it still hadn't moved to attack them even after being chased and almost fatally wounded by Christelle.
All these points made it very suspicious, considering the hot-tempered behavior of basilisks, but then why did everyone think it was the basilisk?-
I don't know her, but she seems more insightful than everyone else, on the other hand, I haven't allowed any teacher to get close enough to me so far, it would just be too dangerous.
My eyes quickly wandered around the surroundings.
There's no easy way out of here, but there's definitely a weaker link.
My gaze slid stealthily to the horde of students a few meters behind me.
I hadn't been willing to attack them before, that would escalate the situation very quickly, plus I might unknowingly hurt someone I know, however, looking at my current situation…
I couldn't care less, I had already given them enough indulgence.
But… my eyes returned to the mysterious woman who apparently shares my last name in front of me, I can sense a great threat from her and I don't think she would let me leave so easily.
Christelle: "Well, it doesn't matter anyway even if it's not a basilisk. You showed up at a very bad time and you're clearly an unknown and dangerous creature, so…"
There was a faint glow from the staff in the woman's hand.
Christelle: "Tristis tie!"
That spell!
Without a second thought, I kicked off the ground with all my strength, launching myself upward until I was nearly at the ceiling. Without stopping, I kicked off the air once more as I shifted my direction, propelling myself toward the students.
At that very instant, the shadow cast by my body across the floor twisted unnaturally, transforming into a dark tentacle that lashed out at the exact spot where I had been just a moment before.
The students were frozen due to the sudden turn of events, but some were still able to react in time to at least try to break through the students to avoid being crushed.
However, I jumped into the air again just before landing on them and ran over them, pushing some of them to the ground hard, due to the heavy pressure of my kick.
As soon as I landed on the other side, I took off running without slowing down. It was a relief that not too many students had gathered there, or making that jump would've been far more difficult.
Christelle: "Oh my, where do you think you're going little cloud?"
*!!*
My eyes widened when I felt a whisper near my ear.
Without thinking twice, I kicked the floor with all my strength and propelled myself diagonally away from the female figure that had appeared at some point next to me.
**Crack Crack**
Christelle: "Hehehehe, oh come on, don't be shy, I'm really intrigued by what's hiding under all that purple mist, plus…you smell strangely like poison and…dark magic."
Every hair on my body stood up painfully on my skin at the sound of her voice as I tried my best to run faster.
Christelle: "That's it, run, run..."
I ran back down the path I'd come from, taking advantage of the moment I reached an intersection of several corridors. It was one of the few I'd found where not every passage was blocked, so without slowing down, I dashed into one I hadn't taken before.
However, when I glanced back, I realized the woman had no trouble whatsoever keeping up with my pace. The distance between us had barely increased. I frowned and swept my gaze across my surroundings until it landed on a wall torch bracket, and an idea flashed through my mind.
I'd already tried it once before, so I knew it was possible.
I accelerated even further, and the instant I entered one of the corridors, I extended one of my tails, wrapping it tightly around the torch bracket. Then, with a sharp pull, I yanked my body toward the opposite side, changing direction almost instantly.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the woman fail to react in time to my sudden turn and nearly crash into the wall trying to follow me. After all, we weren't exactly moving at a leisurely pace.
A faint smile tugged at my lips as I watched her stumble while I sprinted off in the opposite direction.
That should buy me at least a few seconds.
However, I hadn't gotten very far when I felt a warm tickle brush against my ear.
Christelle: "How interesting... You can grow extra limbs too. Hmm... Are you some kind of octopus or squid? Or perhaps some sort of plant-like creature? Though those usually aren't this fast..."
My eyes flew open, and without a second thought, I kicked off the ground again, throwing myself away from where I'd been while snapping my head to the side.
And there she was.
Only a few meters away.
How...? How did she catch up so quickly? That last maneuver should've put at least some distance between us.
I blinked rapidly as a cloud of dust brushed against my eyes...
Only to find her mere inches away from me!
Christelle: "Surprised? Hehehe."
Impossible! How had she gotten right beside me so quickly without me sensing her presence at all?
Unless...
I shook my head and kept running, squeezing every last ounce of strength from my body.
Before long, I reached another similar intersection and repeated the same trick. This time, however, I tried to force my stagnant magic into creating an illusion. The attempt failed miserably, but it did manage to produce a slight visual distortion in the air—just enough to better conceal my escape.
Let's see you catch me now. Could she actually have some kind of teleportation magic?
I'd barely turned into the next corridor when I once again felt her breath against the back of my neck, accompanied by her unsettling voice, sending chills racing across my skin.
Christelle: "Nice try, but that won't work, Bombar-Gukk-da!"
**Swoosh****Pam***Boom**
Before she could finish casting her spell, I twisted my body midair and drove a kick into her stomach, sending her flying into the corridor wall. At the same time, the spell she'd been preparing was completed, but it veered off course and slammed into the wall beside me.
Without even looking back to see whether my attack had done any damage, I kept running.
The staircase chamber soon came into view. Once I reached it, I didn't even bother waiting for the staircase to shift into position. With a single leap, I threw myself into the open space below.
Several staircases stretched from one side to the other, while others drifted slowly just beneath me. The wind whistled in my ears.
I barely had time to propel myself through the air a couple of times, veering my trajectory by mere inches to avoid the staircases that threatened to cut across my path. Each burst of momentum consumed an absurd amount of energy, so I kept them to a minimum and let gravity do the rest.
**Swoosh**
5 floor
.
.
4 floor
.
.
3 floor
.
.
2 floor
.
I could already see where the first-floor staircase began. Once I reached it, I could slip through one of the secret passages I knew and leave the castle without drawing any more attention.
Christelle: "Expulso!"
**Swoosh** *Slam* *Boom**
Christelle "Where do you think you're going in such a hurry?"
*Ughhh* My back…
Christelle: "Tsk, tsk, tsk, you shouldn't have thrown yourself like that, don't you know the stairs are for something? It's not like I'd expect a mere beast to understand something like that though."
"Grrr"
I slumped weakly against the castle's cold stone wall, grunting in pain. That hit had come out of nowhere, and it had probably broken a bone or two.
**heavy breathing**
**Haaaa**
I let out a long breath of air. No matter how much I run and get away, she somehow manages to quickly appear close, very close to me. How is this even running away? Isn't it just a game of cat and mouse?
It's almost like... if I'm stuck to my shadow...
That is!
Although knowing now doesn't change much if I can't stop her.
At least it's both lucky and strange that the other teachers haven't tried to follow me or stop me.
I haven't even seen or heard another student or teacher along the way, which only served to highlight the strangeness of the situation.
Holding back another grunt and before the masked woman got too close, I scrambled up off the floor. I was tired, tired of running and jumping around and while I didn't have any major injuries, there were no shortage of scrapes and lacerations on my body.
However, I didn't run immediately, it didn't make much sense at this point, not when I knew that no matter how far I went she could blink from behind me and deliver the final blow. If there was any chance of survival, it was by facing her head-on despite how unfavorable that option seemed or perhaps... now that we were alone, I could try talking to her.
Christelle: "Wow? Did you get tired of running so fast? That's not fun, I thought we'd have some more fun… Hmm? Nothing? Maybe it's finally time for a desperate fight?" Thinking of the last possibility, the woman jumped on her spot excited.
Tch, crazy bitch.
Come on, my magic, I only need you to work once, even a little, and I'll appear so high in the sky, this woman will have no choice but to forget about me!
Christelle: "Hmm? Trying to use your magic? Kukuku, you can try all you want, but it won't work. Ha! See this beautiful staff of mine here? It's specially made to deal with beings like you, once I get it I use, it causes all magical creatures in the surrounding area to go into chaos, unable to control themselves.
Something very useful when dealing with elusive or sneaky creatures.
In fact, you're already quite outstanding from your monstrous physical ability alone, plus you seem strangely calm…a fine specimen indeed, jujujuju, although it's disappointing, as this usually doesn't have much of an effect on mythical creatures, so perhaps, You're not that special..."
Although I haven't exactly felt in chaos? Given past events, I would realize if it was.
Maybe my magic is blocking it and that's why I can't use it properly?, but what about this weird clichéd villain trope where she explains to me how her abilities work? …Although it's not like she knows that I can fully understand her.
Christelle: "Well, I suppose that's been enough fun. I still have a great serpent to hunt, so hurry up and put up your desperate little struggle... or die like the good beast you are."
As the woman spoke, the tip of the staff she was holding began to glow with a faint light.
Is this the end for me?
And yet... I didn't feel particularly disturbed or reluctant at the thought. If anything, I was surprised by how unusually calm and indifferent I felt about it. There were certainly still things I would've liked to do, but none of them were enough to make me desperately cling to life.
Though it's rather ironic that a member of my own family would end up being the cause of my death... or perhaps not...
But just because I wasn't afraid of crossing over didn't mean I was willing to accept it. My life had barely begun, and besides...
How could I rest in peace knowing that that damned basilisk was still out there?
How could I ever reconcile myself with that, or quell the boiling rage churning in my stomach, when all of this was its fault... and Voldemort's?
Come to think of it, it's entirely possible this whole situation was, at least in part, orchestrated by him. The basilisk's sudden appearance near me had been suspicious from the start. I'm always extremely cautious whenever I'm alone, and even if I'm nowhere near strong enough to match a creature like that, something of its sheer size shouldn't have been able to approach me unnoticed.
He must have tried to eliminate me as soon as he realized I was doing something capable of countering his pet's deadly gaze. Everything else... was nothing more than trivialities, the sort of insignificant matters that only someone as small-minded as him would concern himself with.
At least I know the fragment of his soul that plotted against me won't be around for much longer. Harry and Ron...
Oh, right. Hermione too.
By now, they should've already confronted Lockhart.
They should already be inside the Chamber of Secrets...
Christelle: "Hmm? Is the cloud dispersing?"
I would've liked to see what she actually looked like. After all, I'd only seen her make her entrance in the bathroom—
**Pop Swirl**
--End Pov--.
.-.
Second floor, Bathrooms.
**Boom**
A deafening crash shook the entire bathroom as a faint flash illuminated the room. The very next instant, a massive figure partially shrouded in purple mist slammed heavily into the floor, smashing through several wooden stalls. At the same time, another, much smaller figure was hurled across the room and crashed into one of the stalls.
Christelle: "Ugh... Damn creature... So you could teleport too? But... how? Your magic should still be sealed."
The woman let out a faint groan as she pushed herself back to her feet with some difficulty, still recovering from the violent, unexpected impact.
The enormous figure shrouded in purple mist remained perfectly still.
From the very moment he had assumed that form, he had made every effort not to utter the slightest sound that might allow anyone to associate his appearance with something. Even the supposed hissing that seemed to accompany him was nothing more than an illusion created by the mist surrounding his body.
The sudden teleportation had caught him off guard as well, but the sheer size and resilience of his transformed body allowed him to absorb the impact with barely any discomfort.
With a quick glance, he noticed the faint green aura surrounding him fading rapidly, while at the same time he felt himself regaining control over his human magic. However, his Celestial Fox magic still refused to answer his call.
Meanwhile, the purple mist concealing his body slowly began to disperse, gradually revealing his silhouette.
Extimum: 'Was that... perhaps some kind of guided curse?'
Christelle: "Heh... Looks like I'll have to get serious, or a lowly creature like you might start getting a little too confident."
"Shadow Banishment!"
A dark radiance immediately burst forth from the tip of her staff, expanding at high speed as it sought to engulf the entire bathroom.
Extimum: 'Not good.'
Without hesitating any longer, he cast every other thought from his mind and leapt into the massive hole at the center of the bathroom, quickly disappearing from sight.
The spreading darkness missed him by mere inches.
Christelle: "Ughh... He got away... and by Erebus... since when was there a hole in the middle of the bathroom?"