The goblin leader kept his facial expressionless, but internally he reeled with shock as he stared at Ethan.
How does this brat know my fortress's characteristics?! Those vines that wrapped around the surveillance eye—perfectly positioned—blocked its vision completely, effectively stripping away one of the goblin fortress's major advantages! As if the wizards came prepared.
But how was this possible? The fortress exterior had barriers blocking all surveillance magic, and they'd never detected any wizard spy infiltrating. Moreover, achieving such complete preparation would take at least a month! Could his supposedly impregnable fortress have been cracked long ago, sitting under wizard surveillance all this time?
And those flying wizards... Ranrok had never known wizards had developed "Flying Rangers" as an aerial combat unit!
"You truly impress me, brat." Ranrok stared at Ethan, saying hoarsely, "If it weren't impossible, I'd think you were an extraterrestrial visitor... always creating so many unexpected 'surprises.' But once I kill you, all your schemes will crumble!"
As he spoke, red light gradually appeared in the goblin leader's alchemically-gloved hand.
Ethan withdrew his gaze from the massive furnace, looking at the old goblin, tilting his head with a pleasant smile:
"Sorry, you seem to have misunderstood one thing... I've always been upright and honorable, always—AURUM SAGITTAE! (Golden Arrows Jinx)"
Ethan suddenly roared, fiercely raising his wand! Under the goblin leader's shocked gaze, several arrow-like golden lights flew through the air, shooting straight at him!
"Ahh!" Accompanied by banging impacts, the goblin leader couldn't dodge in time and was knocked flying into the stone wall, crying out in pain!
"I've never been one for tricks," Ethan said calmly, holding his wand steady while completing the second half of his sentence. He showed a pure, harmless smile.
The goblin leader stared at Ethan in shock and fury, feeling aggrieved to the point of rage! Damn brat! Who launches sneak attacks while claiming to be 'upright and honorable'?!
For some reason, Ranrok felt a vague panic rising—as if the torture had just begun.
Rubble tumbled down around them. The furnace had been hit by the golden birds—that thick, hard black iron surface now showed numerous deep dents.
"Despicable villain..." Ranrok climbed up from the ground, casually discarding the shattered defensive bracelet, glaring furiously at Ethan and roaring, "I'll throw your essence into the furnace! Make you part of my power!"
Ethan's lips curved. "If you can do it, come try." His wand pointed directly at the goblin leader. His cobalt-blue eyes filled with confidence and determination.
"Let me show you what human power truly is! Super Fusion! Death Bird, activate!"
Under the goblin leader's horrified gaze, bone-cracking sounds rang out—crack crack crack—and wings wreathed in cold death energy suddenly spread from Ethan's back! He soared upward, looking down at Ranrok like a war god!
Ranrok stared in disbelief: Bro??? This far exceeds the "human" category! What the hell am I fighting?!
The next second—Ethan shouted, "Goblin! Take my hammer!"
A silver-white war hammer came howling down at the goblin leader!
Meanwhile, outside the goblin fortress, the battle raged.
"Well done, Neville!" Harry shouted, giving Neville a thumbs-up from his Hippogriff—Buckbeak.
Neville grinned sheepishly, then mercilessly threw hybrid Biting Cabbages at goblins one after another. Hearing those agonized screams, Harry thought: Hope I never have to face those things in class.
"Woo-hoo!" The Weasley twins yelled like wild savages, coordinating perfectly like two Bludgers, constantly charging into enemy lines and scattering goblin formations. Their reckless behavior kept Professor Lupin frantically busy, continuously firing protective spells to repel attacking goblins.
Wind howled past Harry's ears. The smell of rust mixed with sulfur filled his nostrils, pumping up his adrenaline. Perhaps because professors were present and they'd all drunk Felix Felicis, Harry didn't feel afraid—only surging battle excitement!
More importantly, the omnipotent Ethan was their safety net. Harry looked up toward the sky. Under the blazing sun, a pitch-black Hippogriff hovered quietly—belonging to Ethan and that Ravenclaw "Loony" Luna Lovegood.
Only Luna could apparently face Ethan's twisted, terrifying paintings directly. Luna held a painting aloft, continuously absorbing life and magic from the battlefield below. Though Harry couldn't see the painting's contents clearly from this distance, every glance caused instinctive discomfort—like viewing something that violated "completeness" and "rationality," a blasphemy against universal laws that chilled his spine.
Should just be fierce animals or something... I'm used to it, Harry told himself firmly. After two-plus years of conditioning under Ethan's influence, Harry believed he'd evolved—he wouldn't be scared by Ethan's paintings anymore.
He turned back, focusing on the battle, firing "Expelliarmus" spells at shrieking goblins on the ground.
Eve Black stared up at the scene in utter disbelief. At this moment, she and her subordinates, along with the other allied wizards, were battered and filthy after days of brutal combat. The goblin fortress itself was like a living beast—its walls repaired themselves automatically, while surveillance eyes tracked every movement and unleashed scorching magical rays at anyone who came too close.
With the fortress providing such overwhelming advantages, the goblins had turned what should have been a straightforward assault into a grueling siege. The wizards' attack had ground to a near standstill. Just as Eve steeled herself for one final desperate push—even if it cost her everything—salvation descended from above.
Reinforcements descended from above. Riding Hippogriffs, classified as "extremely dangerous wild animals" that no one had ever successfully tamed, they burst into the battle like golden arrows piercing dark storm clouds! Unstoppable!
They wrapped the Surveillance Eye with fire-resistant Devil's Snare vines, froze fortress mechanisms with Freezing Charms, then bombarded weak points with Blasting Curses and alchemical bombs—successfully causing irreparable damage to the fortress! As if they already knew the living fortress's weaknesses! Instantly reversing the entire situation!
"It's 'Light,'" Eve murmured, watching wizards fly across the sky with practiced coordination. An indescribable warmth surged in her heart! A heroic figure floated through her mind, lingering in dreams, unforgettable.
I knew it. I would definitely reunite with that powerful, mysterious hero!
Just then, a hoarse voice came from behind her. "Done daydreaming? You can go get yourself killed—don't block me."
Eve jumped, whirling around to see a "black bat" with a hooked nose, sallow face, and greasy hair.
For some reason, looking at him, I don't think he's one of the good guys.
"Tch." Professor Snape clicked his tongue heavily, his face extremely gloomy. "I could be enjoying the rich aroma of brewing potions in my warm office... not fighting goblins on this stinking battlefield."
Snape's lips curled in disgust. He raised his hand casually, and a goblin's head exploded. Blood and brains splattered everywhere.
Eve gaped in shock. Other nearby wizards stared too.
"Hehehehe~" Snape laughed with dark satisfaction. This is cathartic.
This greasy bat-man fights like a Dark wizard! Eve thought in alarm. Using brutal Dark magic, he instantly swept through the battle line, soaking the ground with blood and severed limbs.
"'Light's' subordinates certainly have distinctive personalities," Eve thought dazedly. Not like 'righteous heroes' at all—more like another villain gang! Dark consuming dark!
Explosions erupted continuously across the battlefield. With the "Flying Cavalry" and Snape joining the fray, the wizard side's battle situation gradually stabilized, slowly advancing forward toward the fortress.
But that massive black iron fortress still gave the goblins their final, strongest defensive support.
"No good!" a wizard shouted in frustration. "The goblins are retreating into the fortress! They want a war of attrition! Damn these despicable, cowardly vermin!"
Eve looked at the goblins' smug, arrogant faces visible inside the fortress openings, fury burning within her chest. "Damn it! We must completely destroy this fortress!" But how? What powerful explosive could blow up such a massive, magically reinforced structure?
"Indeed, someone would need to infiltrate the fortress..." Just as everyone felt at a loss, a loud, confident laugh rang out. "Ha. If I were you, I'd be more patient."
Professor Snape spoke slowly, looking at the pitch-black fortress with a meaningful tone. "Because our 'great' general is probably already inside the fortress."
Under Felix Felicis's effect, one perfectly-timed step delivered our 'ultimate weapon' directly into the fortress.
Hearing this revelation, Eve's eyes suddenly widened with realization. But the other wizards didn't know Ethan's fearsome reputation, so they frowned with concern:
"One person? You're sending him to his death!" "Even the strongest wizard absolutely cannot single-handedly kill through the goblin headquarters!" "Much less destroy the entire fortress!" "We should send rescue teams immediately!"
Hearing this, Snape curved one side of his mouth upward, showing a mocking smile reserved for foolish mortals.
Just then, the magical fluctuations in the air changed dramatically—like rapidly boiling water, restlessness appeared around everyone. The earth began shaking, trees rustling violently. An earthquake?
Everyone nervously looked around in confusion. Even the goblins involuntarily stopped their attacks. In the tense silence, the air grew hotter and hotter, the tremors more and more obvious, clearer and more violent!
The goblins realized something terrible, showing terrified, incredulous expressions! However, before they could react—
BOOM!
An earth-shattering explosion! Red-orange firelight burst forth violently—pitch-black iron walls suddenly shattered outward like a broken eggshell!
(◉Д◉)?!?! Everyone froze in complete shock, mouths hanging open!
Reflected in their wide eyes: the supposedly impregnable goblin fortress exploding spectacularly from within!
WTF! What the hell did you send in there?! Hellfire itself?!