[Extraordinary artwork detected! Automatically added to Gallery!]
[Name: Nest of Fusion]
[Type: Concept Sketch]
[Grade: Tier 1 · Blue Rare]
[Description: A super-fusion card drawn with fusion magic]
[Effect: One-time item. Consumes magic to fuse designated non-human targets; fusion targets must be far below the user's magic level]
[Evaluation: A scarlet nest that devours life and gestates death]
On the paper, a black nest formed from countless streams of light seemed to leap into being. Like a pregnant womb, it faintly throbbed and pulsed. A faint metallic scent drifted from it, sharp and unsettling.
Justin, who had witnessed everything: ?
W-what is that?
It looked like Ethan casually drew with an ordinary pencil and then drew an eldritch god.
Justin swallowed and turned stiffly to stare at Professor Lockhart. Someone as formidable as Lockhart would surely keep them safe, right?
Ethan looked satisfied with the drawing. With the rise in Soul Fusion and painting skill, he could feel his power growing. A casual sketch now produced an extraordinary artwork. A year ago, when he had just come to this world, even careful charcoal pieces were only slightly captivating as ordinary art.
"I really look forward to the world-shaking works I'll create when I hit max level," Ethan murmured.
He looked up at the cage covered by cloth. Sensing the chaotic magic leaking from within, he curved his lips, pinched the card, and called softly, "Super Fusion, activate."
A surge of warped magic shot from the card and streamed into the cage.
"Eeeeek!"
An ear-piercing shriek erupted from within. It sounded as if an invisible giant hand was crushing things together, and brittle, jaw-grinding crackles followed.
Students blanched in fear. Lockhart spared the cage a glance. Even though Ethan had cast a spell right under his nose, he noticed nothing. Instead, he declared proudly, "Yes, you heard it, the creatures inside are very dangerous. But do not worry. With me here, I will not let you suffer the slightest harm."
You said it.
Ethan happily withdrew his hand. Only Justin sitting beside him noticed what he had done.
Justin: I should be able to make it through this class alive… right?
"Before facing danger head-on, let us do a quick quiz. Do not be nervous, it is just to see whether you have read my complete works carefully," Lockhart said.
He was completely unaware. A new life was gestating at his side, waiting to be born.
Border-printed test papers were handed out, then collected. Lockhart leafed through the answers, nodding with satisfaction.
"Mm, Ravenclaw students generally answered quite excellently. I must award Ravenclaw ten points. Indeed, my ideal is coexistence between those who can use magic and those who cannot."
He flashed a row of gleaming white teeth.
A great way to lose the Slytherin market, Ethan thought.
Then Lockhart suddenly gasped theatrically. He stood up and raised a paper to the class.
"Look. Ethan's paper. Facing such a brilliant child, nearly catching up to me, I must read it out properly. 'Draw the Gilderoy in your heart'… a jar with a brain? What does that even mean?"
Ethan smiled and said nothing.
Lockhart: ???
A primal shiver ran up his spine. Event after event flashed through his mind.
Hmph, Ethan, oh Ethan. You must understand that strange little stunts do not build popularity. You have to show real strength. Like that so-called [Mr. Lamp]. As bitter as it was, it was precisely the terrifying and ruthless methods of [Mr. Lamp] that shocked the crowd and landed the Daily Prophet's front page.
So he must also make a stunning impression.
Lockhart set aside the test he could not handle, rubbed his hands, and pressed them atop the cage.
"Now, be careful. You are about to face the most terrifying, most evil thing in the wizarding world. I only ask that you remain calm."
The entire class held its breath. Only Ethan's eyes widened with a flicker of excitement.
Here we go.
Lockhart whisked off the cover and declaimed, "These are the Cornish Pixies we just captured."
The classroom fell dead silent. Everyone stared, petrified, eyes wide and frozen in their seats. Countless gazes fixed upon the large cage.
Justin muttered in a daze, "Merlin… What in the world is that…?"
Seeing this, Lockhart was very satisfied, even more than he had expected. As he thought, an angry swarm of Cornish Pixies was the perfect choice. Professor Snape had been so snide about it. Truly ignorant—
Just as Lockhart was preparing to reassure the students, a piercing scream sliced through the stillness.
"AAAAAAH!"
A Hufflepuff girl pointed at the cage. Her eyes were round with terror, her face reflecting tangible dread, so palpable it was unsettling.
"W-what is that thing?"
Even Lockhart finally sensed something was off. Cornish Pixies were not this terrifying, were they?
He peered down into the cage. Then he saw the most twisted, grotesque creature of his life.
It filled the entire cage, pressing a broken avian skull against the bars, staring out. Within the hollow sockets of the skull, deep in the bone, flickered a ghostly blue soul-flame. Beyond that stretched a neck nearly longer than the creature's entire body, tightly folded and cramped by the small space.
Its hairless, wrinkled body, tattered wings, and elongated limbs gripped the cage with forelimbs, as if ready to burst free at any moment. It resembled a hatchling just out of the shell, yet it looked like a desiccated corpse. Together, these features made it unfathomably grotesque and horrifying.
Lockhart: pupils-quaking.jpg
Huh?
W-what is that?
Did I not capture Cornish Pixies?
No one said Pixies could evolve.
[Fused Pixies ×17]
[New Species Acquired: Death-Bird Hatchling!]
[Possesses certain intelligence; can wield weapons to attack]
[Still juvenile; after evolution, it can use exclusive magic]
[Evaluation: Patches the bug where evil little wizards don't have a phoenix]
[Congratulations! You've entered the Hybrid Creatures Leaderboard!]
[1st: Herpo]
[2nd: Hagrid]
[3rd: Ethan Vincent]
A new species popped out. A magical creature, no less.
Ethan's eyes widened as he leaned forward. Joy sparked in his cobalt blue eyes as he gazed at the being he had created. Unlike the Cerberus, this was a living, real-world creature. Like the basilisk or a blast-ended skrewt.
Ethan could not help but reach out a hand.
"SCREEEEE!"
A razor-sharp shriek ripped from the cage. With a single crack, the cage, clearly lacking any protective spells, split under the gaze of the entire class, snapped open by the monstrous bird.