In this swamp, the cycle of life and death had long become the norm.
As the scent of cinnamon gradually filled the air, strange presences began to stir.
Since Nolan had already agreed to help them, he had no intention of stepping away at such a crucial moment. He stood firmly behind the group, his gaze deep and unwavering as he looked into the distance.
Sure enough—
Beneath the fallen leaves, as expected, grotesque beings exuding a foul stench began to emerge.
They were no larger than the palm of an adult, their heads vaguely human-like but with a texture more akin to damp earth. Their facial features were nothing more than sunken holes, and rather than resembling human skulls, their shape was reminiscent of a peculiar musical instrument.
Believing themselves well hidden beneath the leaves, they attempted to remain unnoticed. However, whenever the wind blew through, the holes in their faces emitted eerie, wailing sounds, betraying their presence.
Harry had also noticed these tiny creatures, and his face immediately showed his unease.
Hermione quickly spoke up, "These are lingering souls of the dead. Because they've existed for too long, they can no longer maintain their original forms. Due to the nature of this land, their spirits have fused with the soil, taking on a physical shape."
"At times like this, though they may not be powerful, their resentment is overwhelming. They would rather vanish completely than leave without dragging someone down with them."
"It's the scent of the cinnamon trees that has drawn them here," Hermione deduced effortlessly, her studious nature once again proving invaluable.
"Then what should we do? What magic can deal with these things?" Ron shuddered involuntarily.
In truth, these little creatures didn't appear particularly dangerous at first glance. However, the piercing cries they emitted whenever the wind blew through their hollowed features were unbearably mournful—like the wails of vengeful spirits.
"They belong to the category of undead creatures. Perhaps Light Magic could be effective against them," Hermione suggested with a deep frown.
Seeing how seriously they were discussing the matter, Astoria hesitated to interrupt. However, when she realized they had completely lost interest in collecting the cinnamon bark, she finally spoke up, "Nolan already told us—just focus on harvesting the cinnamon bark. He will take care of whatever comes next. There's no need to worry."
Astoria's words successfully redirected everyone's attention to Nolan. He simply curled his lips into a knowing smile.
She wasn't wrong.
Raising his hand, Nolan casually snapped his fingers.
A sudden flurry of wings echoed through the air. Under the stunned gazes of the group, hundreds of bats emerged from the shadows, swooping down and tearing the tiny creatures apart.
Before the bats, those creatures were nothing more than fragile bubbles—dispersing into nothingness upon the slightest touch.
"Nolan is so handsome!" Astoria clasped her hands against her cheeks, her eyes shimmering with admiration. The blatant adoration in her expression made the four others click their tongues in exasperation.
Hopeless fangirl.
But still, they had to admit—Nolan's method was incredibly efficient.
Refocusing their attention on the cinnamon trees, the group soon realized that as time passed, the scent of the trees was growing stronger. The earlier creatures were just the beginning; more formidable entities were drawn by the intensifying fragrance.
Rotting creatures started appearing around them.
One of them was a colossal, decayed serpent—two meters wide and stretching over twenty meters long. Even Nolan couldn't help but furrow his brows at the sight of it.
Like the previous creatures, these too belonged to the realm of undead.
Most were remnants of magical creatures that had died without completely fading away, their decaying bodies transforming into these grotesque abominations.
They retained their primal instincts but lacked life. In a way, they were prime materials for Dark Wizards to create puppets, as their unique nature made them highly desirable components.
Even certain forest witches sought after them, using their decomposing flesh as ingredients for potent brews.
In short—they were useful, but utterly revolting and highly dangerous.
"Nolan, please be careful!" Astoria's voice carried clear concern as she gazed intently at Nolan. If not for the worry that interfering might hurt Nolan's pride, she would have already rushed to his side.
Not that Nolan had any intention of getting close to the creature.
A beautifully crafted wand appeared in his hand—no longer than two palm-widths, made from the heartwood of a pitch-black tree. Intricate carvings of twin serpents coiled around the shaft, stopping just before the handle. Their eyes, inlaid with rubies, gleamed ominously, enhancing magical potency.
The serpents' tails intertwined at the wand's tip, forming a dangerously sharp point that reflected the moonlight with a metallic sheen.
This was Nolan's personal design—combining magic with function. By embedding the tip with a magical alloy, he ensured that even if his magical reserves were depleted, he could still use the wand as a dagger in close combat, turning it into a lethal surprise weapon.
Murmuring an incantation, Nolan's deep voice resonated through the air—low and chilling, like the whispers of an ancient demon.
Without warning, a violent gust of wind erupted around him, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. His robes billowed wildly, and the banyan tree leaves rustled furiously, as if applauding the impending chaos.
None of this, however, deterred the rotting serpent. Unaware of the looming danger, it only sensed the intoxicating scent of cinnamon drawing ever closer.
Its gaping maw lunged straight for Nolan's head, its decayed body coiling like a powerful spring before striking with alarming speed.
But at the exact moment of impact—
Nolan finished his incantation and pointed his wand forward.
Boom!!!
A surge of violet lightning burst forth, crackling violently as it struck the decayed serpent.
"Deathstorm Thunderclap..." Nolan murmured with a satisfied smirk, watching as the arcs of lightning engulfed the creature.
The instant the magic touched it, the entire serpent convulsed violently. The following explosion sent chunks of charred flesh flying, filling the air with a revolting stench—an awful mix of rot and sizzling meat.
Just like that, with a single spell, Nolan annihilated the monstrous creature.
He glanced down at his wand, satisfaction evident in his expression.
This was his newest creation, designed entirely to his specifications. Today was its first real test, and it had performed flawlessly.
The display of power left the group in stunned silence. Even Harry, who had witnessed many formidable spells before, had an intense glint in his eyes.
"I've never heard of that spell before..." he muttered, clearly fascinated by its sheer destructive force.