"Come on, bow, Snape! Do you dare to have a fair wizard's duel?"
Devereux stared at Snape arrogantly, nostrils flaring with provocation.
"Or are you afraid of losing to a first-year student in a head-on confrontation? Worried it'll sound bad if the news gets out, so you resort to underhanded tactics? Oh~ Don't worry, I'll make sure everyone in school knows about your defeat!"
Devereux frantically spewed out everything he thought would enrage Snape.
Yet, Snape only looked at him with interest.
"Interesting. You really think you can defeat me in a formal wizard duel?" he asked coldly, a dangerous gleam flashing through his eyes.
"Of course! I will beat you fair and square. If I use any underhanded means, then I'm a ghoul!" Devereux swore confidently.
Hearing this, Snape's chilling smile widened.
"Very well. I'll give you a chance."
Snape slowly walked to the opposite side of the room, facing Devereux.
"Now, bow."
Devereux narrowed his eyes at Snape, always on guard for a sneak attack.
Seeing Devereux's wariness, Snape's smile deepened. He waved his hand dismissively.
"Relax. I won't attack when you bow. But, there's something you should know—"
Suddenly, Snape's head jerked toward an open space in the classroom.
"Your Disillusionment Charm isn't working, Mr. Little Ghoul."
"Expelliarmus!"
"Protego!"
The red light from Snape's wand was bounced back by a transparent shield.
Seeing this, the fake Devereux standing before Snape transformed his wand into a greatsword and charged.
At the same time, the real Devereux broke out from a pile of debris, ending his Disillusionment Charm.
Bursting forth, he waved his wand and shouted:
"Expelliarmus! Damn it, you old ghoul! When did you realize!"
Snape easily sidestepped Devereux's spell, sneering.
"I knew the moment you stood up."
"Reducto!"
Snape turned and blasted a spell directly at the fake Devereux charging with the greatsword.
With a loud bang, the fake Devereux exploded into a pile of wooden debris.
It turned out the fake was actually a table Devereux had crashed into earlier!
"Human Transfiguration? That's N.E.W.T.-level magic. Your Transfiguration skills are impressive!" Snape sneered while praising him, then coldly chanted:
"Stupefy!"
Devereux rolled away, barely dodging the Stunner.
He looked up in disbelief.
"I can actually dodge like that?" he thought, marveling at his sudden agility.
"Oh my god! If it weren't for Professor Flitwick's dueling experience, I wouldn't have survived!"
He gritted his teeth.
"Damn Voldemort's Disillusionment Charm! If my magic power wasn't so drained, there wouldn't have been any flaws!"
Snape waved his wand again with a sneer.
"Acting skills? Then you're my teacher! Expelliarmus!"
Crimson spells shot toward Devereux like rain.
Devereux hastily cast Shield Charms to block.
"Damn it! I'm completely suppressed!"
At this point, Devereux realized:
Snape's dueling skills were no weaker than Flitwick's!
If Flitwick had only half his magic power—just like Devereux right now—then losing to Snape would only be a matter of time!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three consecutive spells slammed violently into Devereux's shield.
He staggered backward, face grim.
Cracks spread across his Shield Charm—it was about to shatter!
Stomp!
Devereux's back hit a table.
An idea flashed through his mind.
Immediately, he waved his wand.
The three tables behind him flipped and folded, transforming into three towering armored warriors.
"Charge!"
Devereux commanded.
The three warriors charged at Snape.
Seeing this Muggle-style attack, Snape sneered.
"Is that it? Let me show you real advanced magic! Reducto!"
Snape's wand trembled slightly.
A silver spell shot forward—then split midair into three beams!
Each aimed precisely at one warrior!
This wasn't any standard magic; it was a technique Snape had clearly developed himself!
Even Devereux, who possessed Flitwick's [Duelist] trait, didn't know this move.
But Devereux was a [Magical Prodigy]!
What spell couldn't he learn?
Ding!
[New spell has been added to the library!]
A grin split Devereux's face.
He flicked his wrist!
"Protego!"
A laser of light shot from his wand—
"What?!" Snape gasped.
The Shield Spell split into three beams midair, covering each armored warrior!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three spells hit, but the warriors emerged unscathed from the smoke.
"Haha! You old ghoul! I learned your spell the moment I saw it!" Devereux shouted triumphantly.
Snape's expression darkened.
Twisting his neck grimly, he glared at the advancing warriors.
"Fine. Then I won't play house with you anymore. Witness the true Dark Arts—Fiendfyre!"
Snape barely waved his wand, merely pointing ahead.
Instantly, Devereux felt his heart seize in terror!
A monstrous energy burst forth from Snape's wand tip!
His pupils shrank.
"This is bad! Protego!"
But he had no time to protect the armored warriors.
Boom!!
A deafening explosion rocked the room!
The three armored warriors were obliterated instantly.
A massive crater formed in the center of the classroom!
Devereux was thrown backward by the blast, crashing heavily into a tapestry on the wall.
Dust filled the air.
Devereux barely raised his head, his face filled with horror.
In the original books, high-level battles like Dumbledore vs. Voldemort seemed thrilling.
There were even accounts of Peter Pettigrew killing thirty-two people with one spell.
But witnessing the terrifying power of true Dark Arts firsthand—
The sheer force—
Was a completely different experience.
Yet even through the fear, a grin cracked his lips.
Ding!
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