Chapter 256: A Centipede? All Because of Wade!
Colliver, in charge of the broadcast, possessed a keen journalistic sense. The moment his camera caught sight of the boy with the lightning bolt scar on his forehead, he immediately realized what the true "traffic password" was.
No matter if other teams succeeded or failed, no matter if other Young Wizards performed excellently or comically, none could compare to the significance of the young Savior in people's eyes.
In the audience, some had seen Harry Potter during the trial of Sirius Black, but most were seeing him for the first time. A commotion immediately broke out among the crowd.
Most people focused on Harry's performance, with only a very few—like the fathers of the Weasley and Diggory families—still searching for their children in the side camera feeds.
...
Because there were many competing teams, they had to determine their labyrinth entrance and entry order based on their lottery numbers.
Those who entered first definitely had a time advantage, but they also faced more traps, so it wasn't a matter of fairness.
The Umbrella Room team only got their turn to enter after waiting for nearly half an hour.
By then, only a few teams remained outside the labyrinth, but quite a few students had been sent out after failing.
The injured were sent for treatment, the startled received a cup of hot chocolate, and those who were largely fine went to the audience stands to watch with everyone else.
Harry and the others stood at the open entrance, their faces taut, speaking in hushed tones.
"I can't believe Wade's secret weapon was this."
Neville touched the Flying Broomstick Harry held.
Just a few minutes ago, they heard strange noises from behind the bushes near the labyrinth. They turned to see a House-elf waving at them.
They all knew Wade had a good relationship with several House-elves, so Michael went over and asked a few questions, then came back with this broom.
It was Harry's usual Nimbus 2000.
Hermione looked annoyed—
"No wonder he couldn't tell us beforehand! If the other teams had seen it earlier, they definitely would have brought their own brooms too!"
"In that case—" Michael said, "the school might have prohibited brooms in the labyrinth area."
"So, can Harry use it?" Theo asked.
"If it's not prohibited, then yes."
Michael's principles were flexible. He handed the broom to Harry and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Fly well!"
Michael instructed him like an elder:
"Even if all of us get thrown out, you have to fly ahead of the Ball Python, even if it's just to give it a Scourgify! That way, we can claim later—that we were also a team that challenged the final BOSS."
Ryan was speechless: "So, Michael, can you stop being so pessimistic?"
He makes it sound like he's about to sacrifice himself.
Michael sighed, about to speak, when the bell suddenly rang.
It was time for them to enter. The wall in front of them suddenly rippled and formed an archway.
Professor McGonagall nodded slightly at them, revealing a faint smile.
"Don't be nervous. Good luck!"
The professor said in a gentle voice, watching her students walk into the labyrinth.
Neville, especially, received an encouraging look from Professor McGonagall as he trembled but bravely held himself up.
"Believe in yourself, Longbottom! Puff out your chest!"
"Yes... yes!"
Neville said in a flustered voice, then started walking with his arms and legs moving in unison.
Normally, Michael would have corrected him with a look of disdain.
But now, he was just as nervous and couldn't pay attention to his friend's performance.
Only after they had all entered the labyrinth and the bushes had closed behind them did they relax a little.
The labyrinth was a bit different than usual, but it didn't matter; it was still a familiar environment.
They had trained here many times in recent days.
Others might treat this challenge as a game, arriving cheerfully without even having practiced as a team, but Hermione wouldn't.
Hermione treated every competition as an important assessment and forced her teammates to get serious too.
Harry was sometimes grateful—grateful that Hermione wasn't interested in Quidditch.
Otherwise, he highly suspected that after Wood graduated, Hermione would become the new team captain, then carry on Wood's training style, surpassing him.
The few of them quickly formed a line, wands in hand, and walked forward along the left path.
"Look, there's a centipede."
Ryan said softly.
In the middle of a passage, a gigantic centipede was burnt black and bound by vines, its side legs still twitching.
"Oh, hell!"
Hermione couldn't help but say, "It's all Wade's fault."
Everyone nodded, still shaken.
Before Wade, no one would have thought to use the Engorgement Charm in this way. But after Wade created the "Insect Squad," these creatures became permanent NPCs in the maze.
Every person present had been knocked down by insects, tangled in spiderwebs, splashed with green insect goo, and so on, more than once.
Hermione rubbed her arms vigorously, and the few of them quickened their pace, heading forward.
After only a few steps, they heard another piercing sound, as if a large swarm of mosquitoes was buzzing.
"*Iron Shield Charm!*"
Harry shouted, casting the Spell without thinking. An invisible shield immediately blocked the first wave of attacks.
The others quickly used "Finite Incantatem," and only after the buzzing stopped did they realize that the "monsters" attacking them were actually dozens of paper airplanes.
Harry muttered, "No wonder a single Iron Shield Charm could block them all."
"Let's keep going," Michael said. "There's still plenty of danger ahead!"
Rustling sounds came from all directions within the maze.
Various enlarged "monsters" were hunting for prey. A giant lizard swatted away a few students before hissing at Professor Flitwick.
Seemingly harmless plants quietly extended their branches and leaves, their tips blooming with beautiful flowers that emitted a faint fragrance.
A group of ant-sized ants, about the size of small dogs, passed by. One of them curiously approached and sucked some liquid from a flower. After a moment of愣神, it suddenly turned and bit off one of its companion's legs.
The massive Hagrid used two fingers to pick up a student who had fainted after falling into danger, placing him on the back of a nearby Thestral, instructing it to carry the student out.
Cedric watched as the second companion beside him was transferred out by a House-elf due to injury. He took a deep breath, gripped his Wand, and looked at the Acromantula the size of a small car in front of him.
The path to the core was more difficult than anyone had imagined.
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