Slytherin naturally would not cast the Killing Curse on his own descendant.
The incantation he shouted aloud was completely different from the magic he actually cast, mixing truth with deception.
It was also a form of advanced duelling technique that required multitasking, though very few people could actually defend against it.
Tom had obviously fallen for it as well, so he made a split-second decision and transformed into a cloud of black mist, flying straight out the window!
The moment Tom escaped, vines lashed down onto the exact spot where he had been standing moments before.
Clearly, what Slytherin had used just now was only Transfiguration... he genuinely wanted to give Tom a good beating!
"Ah! You useless brat! You don't even have the courage to fight me head-on?!"
While cursing loudly, Slytherin charged out after him...
Wade got out of bed helplessly, then picked up the Elder Wand.
As a string of obscure incantations echoed out, a semi-transparent wave of magic rippled outward like water.
The magic formed a transparent dome, completely enclosing the battlefield where Slytherin and Tom were fighting outside.
"Alright, now even if someone slaughtered pigs inside there, nobody outside would hear a thing..."
It was already deep into the night. The other students had all been arranged to stay in the outer rooms, while the only people left in the wooden cabin were Wade and the hardworking Andrews.
So although the sounds of battle had not alarmed the students outside, they still disturbed Andrews and the little nightingale, Elena.
The little nightingale landed by Wade's window, curiously watching the battle outside.
Meanwhile, Andrews had already rushed out. Seeing Wade standing by the second-floor window calmly watching the show, he found it rather strange.
Still, he instinctively lowered his wand...
At that moment, Slytherin had already chased Tom around several laps of the battlefield, yet somehow still failed to catch him!
After all, Tom was using a flying spell while escaping, so it was hardly surprising that Slytherin could not catch up.
Still, Tom felt extremely confused while fleeing, because this time his flying spell could never gain proper altitude. It always felt as though something was blocking him...
"Stop running! Fight me! Have you lost even the courage to fight me head-on?!" Slytherin was furious.
"You old bastard! If you want me to fight, then let me get my wand back first!"
Tom's face had already gone pale from being chased, but he did not dare stop at all... if he slowed down for even a moment, he would immediately be tied up and forced to obediently endure a beating!
Slytherin froze for a moment after hearing that, but then immediately continued lecturing him. "So you can't fight without a wand? Do you think your enemies will wait for you to pick up your wand and prepare yourself before attacking?"
Wade, who was watching the show from the second floor, rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "That actually makes sense!"
As he spoke, he silently put down the Yew wand in his hand...
Left with no other choice, Tom could only retaliate with wandless magic...
But how could a wandless Tom possibly defeat Slytherin?
In the end, Tom still failed to escape and was tightly bound by the vines Slytherin had conjured.
Soon after, Tom's screams echoed through the night sky...
Ten minutes later, Wade finally arrived leisurely with Tom's wand in hand.
"Tsk tsk... that's really miserable." Wade waved a hand, and Andrews immediately came over to help Tom up.
"You seriously didn't set this up to screw me over?" Tom gritted out through clenched teeth.
"No. He really is your ancestor," Wade replied.
"But this... this is impossible! How could someone who's been dead for over a thousand years suddenly appear as a ghost? And... this ghost can even use magic? That's not magical at all!" Tom felt as though his understanding of the world had been shattered yet again.
"You explain it to Tom," Wade said to Slytherin.
"Sigh... Tom, you truly disappoint me..." Slytherin let out a long sigh.
He had to admit that, many times, he genuinely wished his descendant could be more like Wade! Even if his bloodline was no longer pure...
Wade turned to look at Andrews, and Andrews immediately understood that Wade did not want them hearing the rest of the conversation.
So he reached out, picked up the little nightingale, and returned to the wooden cabin.
...
Half an hour later, Tom had already learned everything from Slytherin.
He turned to look at Wade.
Wade somehow produced an apple from nowhere and took a bite. "Why are you looking at me? This has nothing to do with me. He was the one who told me not to tell you."
Tom said nothing and merely began silently unwrapping the bandages around his arms and legs.
He reluctantly moved the arm that had only just recovered eighty or ninety percent, then tightly gripped his Yew wand, fury practically blazing in his eyes.
"I refuse to accept this. Let's do it again!" Tom said coldly.
Although Slytherin's situation was bizarre and complicated, that could all be discussed later!
Right now, after being beaten down and scolded the entire time by Slytherin, all Tom wanted was a proper fight against this bastard ancestor of his!
Otherwise, he would never be able to calm the frustration in his heart!
"Oh? Fine then! Let's do it!" Slytherin also became excited, tightening his grip on the walking stick in his hand.
The next second, the walking stick came smashing straight down toward Tom's head!
Wade silently stepped aside...
Back in the old days, wizard duels had been quite hot-blooded, and physical attacks were perfectly normal methods.
When Slytherin swung his walking stick, it was capable of clashing directly against Gryffindor's sword!
However, Tom had never seen such a novel method of attack before.
Whoosh!
Tom's reactions were fairly quick. Although he had never encountered someone directly swinging a stick at him before, his body still transformed into black mist in time and swiftly dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding Slytherin's strike.
However, the moment he dodged the walking stick, Slytherin's spell had already arrived!
Even the beam of the curse was black, making Tom's scalp go numb!
Left with no choice, Tom could only continue dodging...
"Slow! Far too slow!" Slytherin's figure vanished, Apparating directly behind Tom.
Bang!
A Knockback Jinx struck Tom.
Tom only barely managed to cast a Shield Charm on himself in time.
The next moment, Tom felt as though his Shield Charm had been hit by a galloping carriage...
Crack!
The Shield Charm shattered, and Tom was blasted backward!
At the instant he was about to hit the ground, Tom once again transformed into black mist and shot upward into the sky, cleverly avoiding the secondary impact from crashing into the ground!
Tom felt deeply frustrated. Without having learned Apparition, when facing a powerful wizard like Slytherin, he could not even launch a proper counterattack!
Only now did he finally realize that when Slytherin had chased him around earlier, he had already been holding back enormously!
"What are you spacing out for? Take this!"
The aged voice came from behind Tom.
___
Hey guys,
I just wanted to say... I literally survived a terrifying close call on the road today.
Was dropping my friend home when two trucks came around a turn. One driver decided to overtake on the wrong side, straight into my lane, headlights blinding me completely.
Everything happened in a second.
My mind racing, dodging left, then swerving right to miss a pole, momentum carrying us through. I ended up laying the bike down on the side once it slowed, but somehow both me and my friend walked away without a single injury.
I used to laugh at those who called bikes death machines, but not anymore.
I'm still shaking as I type this. Adrenaline as I've never felt. Really grateful to be okay. Life is fragile... hug your people, and please stay safe out there.