Recalling the scenes when the system previously instilled Defence Against the Dark Arts insight rewards, Ciel felt increasingly confident about this newly formed speculation.
After all, back then, he'd only fought Acromantulas once or twice. The battle duration was very short—far from understanding Acromantula behavioural patterns thoroughly.
Yet in the system-created illusion, it could simulate so many Acromantula movements, creating what felt like genuine mortal combat.
Now this parchment recording White Eagle swordsmanship depicted every movement with minute detail, as if a real knight was wielding a longsword on the parchment—far more detailed than Acromantula movement patterns.
With the system's capabilities, when instilling Defence Against the Dark Arts insights through illusions, simulating a genuine Inquisition Knight Gus wasn't impossible.
This way, he could learn this swordsmanship more easily through actual combat with Gus while referencing White Eagle swordsmanship records.
Simultaneously, his eyes showed curiosity. He really wanted to see how the Inquisition dealt with wizards back then. Could swords truly contend with wands?
Even the Four Founders—Legendary-tier wizards with triple sublimation exploring Mythical levels—felt direct combat offered no victory possibility, only building Hogwarts to preserve magical world seeds.
A thousand years later, Lady Hufflepuff's remnant consciousness remained deeply secretive about those enemies. Perhaps through this experience, he could feel the intensity of that witch-hunting war.
After these thoughts flashed through his mind, he requested a separate room at Malfoy Manor, asking Lucius not to disturb him temporarily.
Then his gaze fell on the Defence Against the Dark Arts insight, still flickering with Diamond-level radiance. Compared to when he first obtained this reward, after simulating numerous Acromantula battles, both the Diamond radiance and text had dimmed somewhat. But supporting another ten to twenty simulations should still suffice.
That meant nearly twenty life-or-death battles. Throughout the magical world, even Aurors constantly pursuing dark wizards and hovering on death's edge probably rarely had so many mortal combat experiences.
If he could fully digest these experiences, his combat ability would undoubtedly soar. Especially against enemies lacking rich combat experience—even if enemies might be stronger on paper, actual combat could result in him crushing them instead!
He gradually cleared mental distractions. Such opportunities were limited now—he'd need to wait for the next Patronus tree seed batch to mature for new Defence Against the Dark Arts insight rewards, taking nearly a year.
So each simulation opportunity must be treasured.
Taking a deep breath and employing Occlumency, he entered a deep flow state, thinking, "System, continue granting me Defence Against the Dark Arts insight rewards. Combat opponent: simulate Knight Gus from the White Eagle swordsmanship parchment."
Following his mental words, the Defence Against the Dark Arts insight radiance on his system panel brightened. Then, like previous reward receptions, the world before his eyes suddenly changed from Malfoy Manor's luxurious room to something unfamiliar.
But unlike the Forbidden Forest when fighting Acromantulas, what now appeared before him was a village burning with raging flames—ruined walls everywhere, burning houses, scorching heat waves in the air mixed with dense bloody smell and the peculiar odour of human flesh roasted to char.
The incredibly realistic illusion was nauseating. His pupils contracted slightly, scanning the ubiquitous crosses with corpses hanging from them—hellish scenery.
What environment was the system simulating? Could this be a mediaeval witch-hunting scene? Where was his enemy?
Moments later, his brow throbbed wildly. The mental eye in his spiritual world transmitted waves of alarm. His sixth sense conveyed unprecedented crisis feelings—like a sharp pen tip slowly approaching his brow, but ten times more intense.
Following this premonition's direction, he looked toward the village interior. Then a figure over two metres tall, clad entirely in pitch-black armour, walked toward him through the ruins. His hand gripped a greatsword comparable to Grønir's Blade, with fresh blood continuously dripping from the blade edge.
When witnessing this figure, it also cast its gaze toward him. At this moment, his crisis sense peaked—as if every cell warned him.
Killing intent—tangible killing intent enveloped him. Without sufficient Occlumency mastery, another wizard with shallower skills would probably already have weak limbs under this killing intent, unable to cast spells.
"This is an Inquisition knight from the witch-hunting war a thousand years ago—"
He took a deep breath, his gaze unprecedentedly solemn and grave. Truly worthy of that darkest, most turbulent magical age. War intensity was unimaginable to modern wizards.
This knight named Gus had probably experienced hundreds of life-or-death battles—a butcher who only knew sword-swinging slaughter. Among people he knew, none could match Gus's combat experience. Even Snape, compared to him in combat, was probably like blank paper.
While he maintained high alert, Gus emitted a dull voice, "Heretic—die!"
The black-armoured knight suddenly burst forth. Despite wearing such heavy armour and wielding such a greatsword, his speed was unimaginably fast.
His pupils abruptly contracted, shocked. Could normal humans possess such strength and speed? Even magical creatures were no better! Could the Inquisition mass-produce such knights? Impossible!
But now wasn't the time for contemplation. The greatsword's edge was already upon him, fierce winds seemingly ready to tear him apart. The incantation casting was too late.
He immediately waved his wand—his self-created wandless magic. Mage Hand emerged, like an invisible palm suddenly grabbing the black-armoured knight, deflecting the greatsword's trajectory.
His chest gained a deep bloody gash—just grazing left him slashed open by the greatsword's edge. But at least he avoided being disembowelled by that strike.
This pain was routine for him. Not missing this opportunity, he raised his hand, his wand slashing like a sword blade. Sectumsempra unleashed—a fierce edge covered with shadow magic swept toward the black-armoured knight.
However, the supposedly non-magical black-armoured knight seemed able to sense magic, even more acutely than him. Instantly shifting his body to avoid this Sectumsempra while incredibly twisting his body, generating power from his waist, the greatsword spiralled like a white eagle, howling toward him even faster than before.
His eyes flickered strangely—he'd seen this move on the parchment, seemingly called White Eagle Spiral.
He waved his wand again, Mage Hand re-emerging to try deflecting the greatsword. But this time, the black-armoured knight's greatsword seemed to sense Mage Hand's direction, following its force as the knight leaped airborne. The greatsword fell even faster.
His vision suddenly darkened. When he reacted, he'd already exited the system-created illusion, returning to Malfoy Manor's luxurious room.
He still subconsciously touched his head, confirming no bloody line splitting him in half existed before relaxing. Wiping forehead sweat, he recalled the battle scene, countless confusions flashing through his mind.
He could confirm—Inquisition knights were definitely not normal humans. Normal humans absolutely couldn't possess such strength, speed, and magical perception.
So what method did the thousand-year-old Inquisition use? Magical transformation of these knights, or other means?
But moments later, he exhaled softly, shifting attention away. Understanding how the Inquisition trained these knights was completely useless currently. A thousand years had passed—whether this organisation still existed was questionable.
Even if it existed, the magical world hadn't heard of witch-hunting actions for years. At least its threat to him approached zero infinitely.
Rather than worrying about this, it is better to consider what he could gain from that mortal combat—that was meaningful.
His mind carefully reviewed previous battle scenes. Why could Gus move so fast, with such great strength? Theoretically, even with Legendary Life and Legendary Strength suppressed to Diamond level in the illusion, he should be on par with illusion-Gus.
But the opponent's bodily utilisation completely crushed his performance. Especially the final instant killing him—he couldn't even react.
Recalling that final sword, besides subconscious lingering fear, his eyes then filled with burning intensity. Though magic was miraculous and powerful, sometimes swords in combat were no less useful than magic.
Setting aside the distant past of Inquisition knights hunting wizards, in the original story, when Harry single-handedly killed the basilisk in his second year, relying on his limited magic, he couldn't even break basilisk scales—no victory possibility existed.
But give Harry Gryffindor's sword, and he truly could solo-kill the thousand-year-old basilisk.
During the final battle, Neville similarly relied on Gryffindor's sword to cleanly sever Voldemort's great snake Nagini, protected by many powerful defensive spells, with one stroke.
In the original story, the sword's combat record was already so impressive. He wasn't like the most rigid pure-blood families, stubbornly believing in wands above all else, that using other things—especially items from the non-magical world—was unforgivable.
Wands indeed accomplished many convenient daily tasks, but in combat, methods that killed enemies were good methods.
Having witnessed swordsmanship's capabilities plus already possessing Legendary Strength, adding this trump card was purely profitable.
Then he squinted, continuously replaying every detail of Gus's movements in his mind. Especially the final process where Gus split him in half—he even "frame-by-frame slow-motioned" this process, meticulously examining it.
But this also meant that the sensation of edges cutting flesh, of being split down the middle, was clearly replayed. Death's fear instinctively surged—every cell seemed to resist this experience.
But he took a deep breath, flashing through his mind scenes from Forbidden Forest trials. Facing even the weakest Auror Quintaped, he needed the Invisibility Cloak to kill it.
When that elite Auror Quintaped chose capturing all young wizards to force his appearance, without his dark magic transfiguration, Quintaped transformation, and curse studies knowledge—thinking to use curses affecting magical power balance in transformed Quintapeds—Hufflepuff should have suffered considerable casualties.
Though in the original story, after the first year, Voldemort didn't reappear for a long time, he still remembered Quirrell's dying warning. He didn't know who Quirrell specifically meant, but warranting special warning must relate to Voldemort.
Couldn't let his guard down. Moreover, compared to the original, the Philosopher's Stone plot had shattered. The deeper he delved into the magical world, the more unfathomable it seemed. Who knew what subsequent school years would become?
He couldn't rely on luck. Self-improvement was the only thing he could do.
Moments later, he shook his head, gritting his teeth. Distracting thoughts cleared by Occlumency, entering a deeper flow state. Only previous combat scenes remained in his mind, replaying repeatedly.
Being bisected's pain and death's fear impacted Occlumency but never shook it. While enduring these, he absorbed beneficial knowledge like a thirsty sponge.
Each replay of his execution was like thousand-year-old Inquisition Knight Gus personally teaching him White Eagle swordsmanship and maximising a supremely powerful body's utilisation.
Gradually, his muscles seemed to alternate between tension and relaxation. On his system panel, Legendary Strength's radiance gradually brightened. Simultaneously, blurred text flickered—White Eagle Swordsmanship characters.
After a while, his eyes suddenly opened. Generating power from his waist, spinning around, Grønir's Blade, sheathed in its scabbard, instantly unsheathed, swirling fierce cold light around him.
"This White Eagle Spiral move has some semblance now. Though compared to Gus's execution, still far inferior, combined with my Legendary Strength plus Grønir's Blade—even several fire dragons surrounding me would be completely severed by this stroke."
"Far stronger than my previous crude Legendary Strength utilisation."
His eyes brightened. Legendary Strength was currently his strongest trump card. Having methods making this card more thoroughly effective naturally couldn't be missed.
After deep breathing, he looked determined, "Again!"
Moments later, he received Defence Against the Dark Arts insight again, re-entering that village burning with raging flames, facing black-armoured Knight Gus.
This time, he simply set aside his wand temporarily. Gus had hunted countless wizards, incredibly sensitive to magic, with combat experience beyond his imagination—as if born fighting from the womb.
War-era beings' experienced battles were unimaginable to peaceful eras. Forget him—he suspected even Snape capable of variously defeating him; facing Gus purely through magic, probably wouldn't have optimistic results.
Therefore, rather than being slaughtered using magic, it's better to rely on his body—at least gaining more useful combat techniques from Gus during this opportunity.
However, facing his actions, Gus's eyes showed no ripples whatsoever—as if, whether he used wands or not, his fate was already determined. All he needed to do was swing his sword and execute.
This time, guarded against Gus's strength, speed, and extremely sharp sword moves, he lasted several more exchanges than the first time. The result was still being bisected by that greatsword at an incredible angle, struggling on the ground for nearly half a minute before finally leaving the illusion.
He wiped his dripping forehead sweat and couldn't help cursing, "Seriously? Can't you give a quick death? Must it be bisection?"
"If not, at least finish me off after bisection!"
"Making me review and still suffer?"
But moments later, he sighed, gritting his teeth again. No choice—endure it.
After he meticulously absorbed this mortal combat's experience, his entire complexion paled. After all, repeatedly experiencing bisection's pain—no matter how accustomed to pain—couldn't be sustained this long; mentally exhausted.
Fortunately, this harvest was substantial. Compared to the first magical confrontation with Gus, this bodily and Grønir's Blade use made each collision with Gus more clearly feel explosive power surging through Gus's body—far more profound than magical void collisions.
This also made the White Eagle Swordsmanship text clarity on his system panel greatly increase. He increasingly felt this Legendary Life and Legendary Strength body's true potential was finally being grasped.
Previously, he was like owning a supercar without driving skills. Now he began mastering his body like true mediaeval warriors immersed in blood and slaughter.
Even without Legendary Life and Legendary Strength progress, his close-combat killing ability had grown remarkably. Especially against enemies lacking rich combat experience—even if enemies' paper strength exceeded his, actual combat might reverse into him crushing them!
Taking a deep breath, after mental exhaustion gradually subsided, he looked determined, simulating for the third time.
Afterward, he nearly repeated this routine—receiving Defence Against the Dark Arts insight rewards, entering illusions for mortal combat with Gus, then repeatedly using Occlumency's mental control to review and replay his entire death process.
While enduring pain, analysing Gus's movements, and absorbing beneficial knowledge.
In a blink, three days passed.
When he numbly prepared to continue the next simulation, the system showed no response. After a while, he came to his senses, his gaze falling on the system panel.
The Defence Against the Dark Arts insight reward that flickered with Diamond radiance three days ago had completely vanished from the system panel.
"So—in three days, I've experienced nearly twenty life-or-death combats? Time really flew. Initially felt quite gruelling, but unknowingly exhausted all simulation uses."
His eyes gradually shed numbness, replaced by unprecedented sharpness and coldness. At a glance, he surprisingly resembled illusion opponent Gus—eyes forged through countless battles and mortal experiences.
Moreover, when he stood up, his entire being seemed ready to launch the fiercest attacks anytime—stance, arm positions, and gaze patrol directions all completely different from before.
He took a deep breath, having extremely clear judgement about his strength after so much combat.
"Purely regarding physical close combat with cold weapons, current me is naturally just Gus's superficial level. But compared to previous me—complete dimensional suppression."
"Setting aside various magics, purely using Legendary Life and Legendary Strength for combat—previous me versus current me, I'd be chopped into pieces in three minutes!"
As for that first-year-end Forbidden Forest trial, if current me returned using Grønir's Blade plus Legendary Life and Legendary Strength—those Quintapeds, even that Auror Quintaped, could at most leave me lightly injured before I slaughtered them all!
"This is Legendary-level abilities' normal performance strength. Previously, I was dragging this body down."
Of course, close-combat killing ability would remain his deepest-hidden trump card. But continuous mortal combat also benefited his magical combat ability—footwork, timing, distance and combat opportunity judgement are all transferable.
Current him using magic could easily defeat his previous self.
Simultaneously, his gaze fell on his system panel. A new line of text shone brilliantly there:
[White Eagle Swordsmanship (Gold Level)]
Though not high-ranked, the radiance above was extraordinarily solid, almost tangible. Obviously his foundation was solid—after all, this swordsmanship's creator Gus had "taught" him through repeated mortal combat.
Even unable to continue simulating, with his current foundation, he could gradually improve his White Eagle Swordsmanship mastery himself.
Sensing these improvements, despite suffering considerably these days, he felt somewhat unsatisfied. Suffering was genuine suffering, but usefulness was genuine usefulness!
Unfortunately, he'd need to wait for the next Patronus tree batch to mature to continue obtaining Defence Against the Dark Arts insight rewards.
Moments later, he exhaled softly, reminding himself again, "Pursuing strength is naturally correct. But even previous repeated combats resulted from my cultivation providing such rewards."
"Cultivation and herbology—these are my true foundations. Everything else is merely fruitful results from this foundation."
"Now, Divine Joy Flowers might make my herbology soar dramatically. This is currently most important to me."
Then his eyes showed anticipation, "Three days already. Items exchanged from Moser Club should have arrived by now."
He pushed open the door and stepped out.