Great! Ethan's eyes lit up. Like a wolf catching a scent, strange light suddenly shot from his cobalt-blue eyes.
This letter was like an orphan finding parents, Snape finding Lily, or drowsiness finding a pillow! So timely!
"Halloween Courage Test, hm..." Ethan thought. He had seen this activity on the bulletin board. Simply put, it was an "attack and defence battle".
The defending side would set up scary props and traps throughout Hogwarts. The attacking side, the challengers, would attempt to break through. If they could successfully follow the designated route and obtain the corresponding token, they would succeed in the courage test and receive small prizes.
After the event, students would vote for the scariest and most interesting setups, which would also receive rewards. It was a Halloween activity for everyone's enjoyment.
Perhaps learning from last year's lessons, the courage test had professors supervising throughout to ensure no accidents. But now, Ethan was here. The nature of the game had changed.
Ethan looked at the letter in his hand, curved his lips, and murmured: "Interesting... Perfect timing. After two months of training, I should test my lovely club members' magical abilities."
Moreover, he was close to a breakthrough.
[Breaking Out of Shell progress: 41%]
After two months of club training, his "lamp" propagation progress had greatly increased. In his mind, the pitch-black painting was covered with fine cracks like an egg. Using this event, he might break through the 50% barrier in one go!
Ethan looked up. Gazing at the black torso spanning the canvas like mountain ranges. He raised his hand and gently stroked it. A single scale was larger than one of Ethan's fingers. From his fingertips came a cold, slightly trembling sensation. As if it were alive. Emanating supreme terrifying presence.
Ethan curved his lips in pleasure. "Slytherin made conditions in exchange for letting me choose attack or defence. Although my portals would be quite advantageous, cheating wouldn't be fun. We'll be the defenders setting up scary traps then."
Slytherin Common Room...
Though it was late at night, the common room was still brightly lit.
"Ethan said he wants to be on the defending side, with him setting up while we attempt the challenge." Blaise Zabini spoke, looking up from the letter to meet nervous but expectant faces. "Moreover, Vincent agreed to our request. During the courage test, he won't use offensive artworks himself."
As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding students immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at each other, they all showed relaxed smiles. As long as they banned Ethan's sinister artworks, he wasn't scary anymore! They only had to deal with Ethan's club members.
The tall Quidditch team captain Flint eagerly cracked his knuckles. A crude, evil smile spread across his face as he said: "The Morning Star Club members are all misfits. Red-haired rat twins who only know pranks, a Hufflepuff 'hero', a crybaby coward... I could crush them with one hand!"
This time, he would definitely wash away his shame! Flint thought resentfully. In the previous conflict, he thought Professor Snape would support him. But as soon as Snape heard him say "mudblood", his expression changed, and he gave Flint two weeks of detention! Absolutely outrageous! Is Ethan your son?
"Alright, alright." Zabini mediated: "Though we know the biggest threat is gone, since Ethan trusts his club members so much, we should give him face and prepare properly."
At this moment, a slight laugh rang out. But like a stone dropped into a lake, it immediately drew everyone's attention. Zabini's face darkened as he looked at Draco Malfoy, who was "reading" curled up on a nearby sofa.
"Do you have some problem?"
Malfoy looked up, his pale face full of obvious mockery. "Don't you find it curious why Gemma Farley, also a member of the pure-blood society, completely ignores you? Ha, that's naturally because she's not stupid enough to rush in and die! A competition that needs to ban the opponent's main force – you call that fair? You're actually gloating about it. I'm truly ashamed for you!"
Upon hearing this, many members blushed. Theodore Nott said darkly: "Pure-blood traitor."
"Say whatever you want." Malfoy said indifferently, standing up and putting away his textbook. "But regardless, the Malfoy family always wins in the end."
Or rather, Ethan Vincent always won in the end. Slytherin is about to be absorbed... When that happens, how many Galleons should I send as a congratulatory gift...?
Night, Halloween Eve, Outside Hogwarts Castle...
Nearly the entire school's students had gathered here. Chattering and bustling, countless faces filled with excitement. No wonder. Morning Star Club president, sinister master painter, and Ravenclaw second-year terror contestant, Ethan Vincent! Personally participating in this Halloween Courage Test!
Now, Hogwarts' first through third floors had all been requisitioned. And the first to go in and have a taste would be the Slytherin delegation.
"Extra! Extra! 'Pure-blood vs Morning Star! Old Guard vs New Blood! Who's Superior?'!"
Members of the Ravenclaw society, the Round Table Council, were also among them. They discussed: "I heard whichever side fails has to publicly apologise and disband their society!" "Slytherin really went all-in this time, making such a big deal." "But I heard offensive artworks are banned from Ethan this time. That's basically handing most initiative to the club members." "Mm, these club members Ethan chose... I won't comment."
At the very front of the crowd were the five challengers chosen by Slytherin. Flint, Zabini, Nott. A burly girl named Millicent Bulstrode. And Malfoy's former lackey, Crabbe.
"Former" naturally due to disdain for the "mudblood" Ethan. The Malfoy family, clearly siding with Ethan, was no longer their object of loyalty.
Professor McGonagall: "Remember! Friendship first, competition second!"
Silence.
Professor McGonagall: Exhausted.
"Then I declare this Hogwarts Halloween Courage Test officially begun!"
With a "bang", colourful streamers shot from Professor McGonagall's wand tip. The Slytherin quintet strode toward the castle without hesitation!
At the same time, Headmaster Dumbledore, also out to watch, waved his wand. A water curtain appeared in midair, forming a huge screen. Amid students' exclamations, it revealed the challenger squad's figures. With sound and picture. Though not very clear, it could be called a live broadcast.
Dumbledore chuckled: "This is the Morning Star Club's first public appearance. Really looking forward to it, hehe."
At this time, Dumbledore had no idea what images would appear on his water screen.
From far away, Flint and the others saw two people standing left and right on the stone steps leading to Hogwarts' main entrance. They were the Weasley twins, George and Fred.
Seeing them, Flint immediately laughed loudly: "Couldn't practise Quidditch well, so you're here as gatekeepers? I'd like to see how you two can stop all five of us!"
Flint waved his wand, casting a magical shield in front of himself. He couldn't manage a full-body shield yet. But it could defend against general spells like Stupefy and Petrificus Totalus. Hmph, those two guys probably only know this kind of magic anyway!
"Hah!" Flint shouted and charged forward. Just as he was about to raise his wand and cast a spell, he heard the two by the door chant in unison: "Bombarda."
Red light fell like grenades. The next second... "BOOM!"
Flint was blasted off the stone steps entirely! Like a large piece of charred bacon, he crashed down in front of the other Slytherins with a bang!
Zabini: "?!"
Watching students: "?!"
He... he was so easily blasted away?! This wasn't scientific!
However... "Bombarda." "Bombarda." "Bombarda."
The Slytherin challengers looked up to see grenade-like red light orbs raining down mercilessly from above like scattered flowers. And this was merely outside the main entrance. The actual trial hadn't even officially begun.