Gollum intended to turn invisible and flee, but Saruman was not like those humans.
Activating his staff, he released detection magic that made everything around him visible.
He instantly locked onto the invisible Gollum.
His gaze fixed directly on the creature as he conjured a ball of scorching flame. "If you don't want to burn to ash, then show yourself!"
Seeing himself exposed and staring at that terrifyingly hot flame, Gollum sensed mortal danger. He fearfully removed the ring to reveal his form.
When Saruman saw the ring in Gollum's hand, his eyes blazed with greed.
"Give me the ring!"
Gollum hesitated.
The next second he saw Saruman's cold killing intent and immediately shuddered, hastily handing over the ring.
Saruman didn't even bother hiding his disgust as he snatched the ring from Gollum's hands.
"The Ring—the One Ring is finally mine!" Saruman's face showed excited fervor, as if already seeing himself ruling the world.
But the next second, he felt something wrong. His expression froze as he examined the ring more carefully.
His face turned gloomy. "Fake. This is a fake!"
He threw the ring on the ground, grabbing Gollum's throat with one hand and lifting him up.
"Where's the real one? Where is the One Ring? Tell me!"
Gollum choked, barely able to breathe. He desperately flailed his limbs, struggling to speak. "I don't know—I don't have the Ring!"
But Saruman wasn't willing to accept this answer. "You're lying! Tell me where the Ring is, or I'll make death a luxury you can't afford!"
Gollum didn't have the One Ring, so naturally he couldn't answer Saruman. He could only struggle desperately and beg for mercy, swearing he didn't know the Ring's whereabouts.
"Then explain this ring in your hand! Why is it identical to the One Ring?"
"The black-robed wizard gave it to me. He caught me, tortured me, then gave me this ring—made me carry it to attract others—" Gollum immediately betrayed Kael completely.
Hearing Gollum's words and confirming he showed no signs of lying, Saruman disgustedly threw Gollum to the ground.
"Kael?" Saruman looked toward Weathertop to the south, his eyes obsessive. "He can create a ring identical to the One Ring—he must have seen it or even possess it!"
Gollum fell to the ground, weak and pale, curled up, gasping for air.
Then he saw the gold ring Saruman had thrown down. Seeing text faintly appearing on the ring's inner surface, he instinctively picked it up, wanting to examine it.
But he didn't recognize the script, only able to tilt his head curiously.
"What are you looking at?" Gollum's movements caught Saruman's attention.
Hearing Saruman's voice, Gollum shuddered fearfully. He held out the ring, carefully explaining, "Text appeared on the ring that Gollum doesn't know—"
Saruman snatched the ring again, frowning as he examined the inner surface. It was Elvish Tengwar script.
"Ring bearer, speak my name, and you shall see me?" Saruman read aloud, showing confusion.
Just then, Gollum suddenly spoke: "Black-robed wizard Kael!"
"Hmm?" Saruman looked at Gollum doubtfully.
But the next instant, the ring in Saruman's hand seemed to activate. It vibrated slightly, radiating blue light.
"Not good!" Saruman instinctively sensed danger, trying to throw the ring away.
But the ring adhered to his hand. Without giving him time to react, it transported him away, vanishing from the spot.
Gollum, seeing this, smiled sinisterly with satisfaction. He surveyed his surroundings vigilantly before quickly fleeing.
Hogwarts Castle, Amon Sûl tower top floor.
Saruman appeared out of thin air.
"Expelliarmus!"
But before he could react, a spell struck him.
His staff flew from his hands, caught by Kael.
"Long time no see, Saruman." Kael greeted with a smile. "Didn't expect you'd visit me today. What an honor!"
"Kael!" Saruman's face turned grim.
He knew he'd fallen into a trap. That Gollum was just bait, but he'd been blinded by the One Ring's temptation—he'd taken the hook and been reeled in.
Kael was equally surprised and delighted.
He'd originally used Gollum as bait to draw out whoever was hiding behind the scenes.
But unexpectedly, he'd caught a big fish—Saruman himself had taken the bait.
Saruman lost his staff but didn't panic. He sneered, "You think this makes me helpless?"
He raised his right hand, revealing a ring with an angular crystalline structure.
"A Dwarf-ring!" Kael showed surprise, then mockery. "Sauron is truly generous—actually giving you one of the remaining three Dwarf-rings from the Seven!"
Saruman snorted coldly, showing no awareness of being trapped. Instead, he was full of confidence.
"Kael, bringing me before you is your greatest mistake! Now hand over the One Ring! Don't try deceiving me—I know it's in your possession!"
Kael spread his hands. "Saruman, you've guessed wrong. The One Ring isn't in my hands. I wouldn't want that thing even if you gave it to me! Can't understand why you're so obsessed with a ring."
Saruman's eyes were cold, full of disbelief. "You can't deceive me. Even if the Ring isn't in your hands, you definitely know its location!"
"Tell me where the Ring is, or I'll show you what the head of the Istari is capable of!"
"Is that so? Then I'd like to see what you can do." Kael's expression showed no pressure whatsoever.
Saruman was enraged by Kael's attitude. He activated the Dwarf-ring, chanting incantations, preparing to capture Kael.
But the next second, he was dumbfounded.
His incantation seemed powerless. The Dwarf-ring also seemed useless.
The fireball he'd conjured became a small spark that extinguished itself.
"This—what's happening?" Saruman finally panicked. He tried casting greater magic, but it all failed.
Kael looked at Saruman's flustered state and chuckled, tapping the ground with his wand. "Saruman, look around you."
The floor, surrounding walls, ceiling—all were inscribed with mithril runes.
These runes suppressed magic, similar to Finite Incantatem. The densely packed runes transformed the entire room into a magic-forbidden domain where no one except Kael could cast spells.
This was a room Kael had prepared long ago, with Gandalf's guidance and help, precisely for unexpected situations like today.
Taking advantage of Saruman's distraction, Kael cast without hesitation: "Avada Kedavra!"