They begged for light, and the merciful god granted their wish.
Light blazed everywhere. Countless goblin screams were swallowed by the explosion, their figures vanishing into the collapsing fortress like drowning victims dragged beneath dark waves. Shockwaves carrying blistering heat swept outward like a dragon's breath, toppling wizards and goblins alike. Even the Weasley twins, high above, cried out as their Hippogriffs flipped violently through the air.
The earth cracked open. From those bottomless fissures, brilliant golden light erupted skyward. Golden petals spiraled up, landing softly on Harry's face, and for a moment, the scene felt strangely familiar.
It looks just like the Sunflower Bomb that [Mr. Lamp] used before. But Harry immediately pushed the thought aside. Wild joy flooded through him instead! The fortress explosion had to be Ethan's work—from the inside, he'd single-handedly destroyed the goblins' last stronghold! Justice prevails!
Just then, a rumbling voice echoed from the ruined fortress:
[Damn humans! You will pay the price for your recklessness!]
Red light blazed from the broken walls and rubble! Stones shattered outward. Something flew out with an earth-shaking roar—a dragon?!
The wizards' triumphant smiles froze as they stared in shock at the red dragon that nearly blotted out the sun! Its scales gleamed like metal, pitch-black claws easily crushing black iron debris with a casual squeeze! Crimson lightning wreathed its massive body. Orange-red vertical pupils blazed with tangible fury!
This was the goblin leader Ranrok, having absorbed the ancient magic's raw power!
[You think that by destroying my furnace and slaughtering all my goblins, you've won?! Keep dreaming!]
"He seems really angry," one Weasley twin whispered to the other.
"Yeah—after all, his entire capital just got blown up—" "Understandable to be furious—" "Hehe—whoa!" The twins laughed while dodging the sweeping dragon tail.
Nearby, Quidditch captain Wood shouted encouragement, "Beautiful dodge! Do exactly that in the next match!"
Professor Lupin's heart nearly leaped from his chest as he frantically cast protective shields. Leading these troublemakers is absolutely exhausting.
The dragon-form goblin leader panted heavily, truly about to explode with rage. He never imagined that despicable brat would actually blow up the furnace right under his nose! Killing all his goblin subordinates in one devastating stroke!
But no matter. I've already absorbed the ancient magic. Dead goblins are dead goblins. As long as I kill these humans, with my supreme power, the goblin tribe will still dominate the world!
Ethan flapped his Death Bird wings, flying out from the collapsing rubble. He scanned Harry and the others—seeing them with all limbs intact—and nodded with satisfaction, shouting, "Professor Lupin, I'll give you extra chicken legs when we get back!"
"Thank you," Professor Lupin called back wearily. I've told him many times, I'm really not that interested in chicken legs. How did this habit of rewarding with poultry at every turn even develop?
Ethan gazed at the goblin leader's transformed massive form, making a face. "So ugly." Half-dragon, half-goblin—triggering uncanny valley response hard.
The opponent had absorbed ancient magic first. Yet Ethan wasn't panicked. He could clearly sense the truth: the ancient magic hadn't fully formed yet. Like an unstable thundercloud constantly releasing energy outward—not yet refined to its purest, most potent essence!
Refinement... A flash of inspiration struck Ethan's mind. His holy weapon—the silver-white heavy hammer—had another crucial effect:
[The engraved runes contain primordial fire, can serve as a refinement tool]
Refinement tool! Ethan stared at Ranrok hovering in midair after devouring the raw ancient magic, his eyes sparkling with dangerous excitement!
Ranrok suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. Why do I feel like prey being sized up?
Ethan smiled with gentle benevolence. Combined with his half-skull face currently corroded by Death Bird essence, he looked exceedingly "kind."
His wrist flipped smoothly. The silver-white "goblin-beating stick" in his hand transformed into the blood-red-eyed [Touch of Mercy].
Since you're so enthusiastic, voluntarily becoming ancient magic's vessel—how can I let down your generous goodwill! Naturally, I must thoroughly pound you into refinement!
BOOM!
The heavy hammer struck down ruthlessly! Hitting scales, producing sounds like clashing weapons! Golden lightning and crimson magic power intertwined violently. In a trance, it seemed like two primordial dragons battling for supremacy!
"So—so powerful!" Native wizards stared upward, dumbfounded at the lightning-filled sky. This is completely another level of combat! Without this youth appearing from nowhere, we dare not imagine what terrible price the wizard side would pay to win this battle!
"This is our general! Eth—cough, Light!" The Weasley twins shouted excitedly, continuously firing support spells to help Ethan, however minimally.
Harry watched this scene, his bright green eyes shining with fierce pride. The long burden finally lifted from his shoulders. With Ethan here, who needs the damn Chosen One prophecy! Can Voldemort do this? He can only kneel and beg for mercy!
[ROAR—!]
Ranrok released a furious roar, crimson breath spraying from his massive jaws. In moments, it annihilated vegetation and rubble, leaving nothing but a scorched crater.
[I admit, you're a somewhat interesting opponent...] Ranrok stared intently at Ethan, his body covered with hammer-induced patches of bloody flesh. However, under ancient magic's power, the wounds rapidly healed.
[But possessing ancient magic's power, I am invincible!]
He roared, red light blazing across his entire body! The magical pressure blew back Ethan's hair and robes like a windstorm.
Ethan panted, his cobalt-blue eyes focused on the massive coiling creature. Around his neck, the Spider Heart pendant continuously replenished his magic reserves. Even so, consumption remained enormous.
Seeing Ethan's silence, Ranrok grew more triumphant, certain this brat had run out of tricks. Makes sense. To contend this long against someone who absorbed an entire mine's crystallized magic power—already impressive. Those endless clever tricks were indeed eye-opening. Time to run out of ammunition and food.
Ranrok spoke slowly, savoring his assumed victory: [I will remember you, human. In my future long, powerful life, I probably won't encounter an opponent as excellent as you again. Now, die with honor.]
As his words fell, every wizard's hair suddenly stood on end! Crimson arcs of energy rose around them—crack crack—carrying heart-palpitating, terrifying power. Like spike cages forming, all pointing at Ethan, hovering in midair!
Instinctively, the wizards felt this attack absolutely couldn't be survived!
Eve Black cried out in alarm, about to rush forward—when suddenly her heart violently jumped! Thump-thump!
"Gah?!" She involuntarily arched backward, eyes wide, arms hugging herself as she went rigid in place. Crimson magic surged through her veins, blood roaring—as if something deeply buried was about to break through the soil of her consciousness.
High in the sky, Ethan didn't notice the ground's strange abnormality. He raised his hand, watching crimson magic pierce his skin like needles, murmuring thoughtfully:
"This all-out strike does have some merit... Ah, how wonderful. Even incomplete ancient magic can construct such a magnificent, destructive scene." Ethan sighed with genuine appreciation, then lifted his eyelids, glancing at the goblin leader's orange-red vertical pupils. He spoke with complete indifference:
"But the windup is too long. If you can't release it in time, no matter how powerful, it has zero effect."
Hearing this, the goblin leader's pupils contracted sharply! He blurted defensively: [Bluffing! You couldn't possibly have a method to suppress such concentrated, powerful magic! Absurd!]
Yet though reason told him spell failure was impossible, vague unease gnawed at him... Must quickly kill this bizarre, dangerous brat!
[ROAR—!]
A desperate roar! Thunderous red light converged on Ethan from all directions simultaneously!
"Ha, look up there!" Ethan's lips curved into a smile as he suddenly pointed skyward, gesturing dramatically toward the blazing sun. "Luna!"
The blonde girl astride the pitch-black Hippogriff held his "Sleeping Wolf" painting aloft, the canvas continuously absorbing all destructive energy like a black hole!
What is that?! The goblin leader recoiled in shock. An ominous premonition washed over him, cold and suffocating. Wait—just how many tricks does this monster have up his sleeve?!
"Awaken, my Sleeping Wolf..." Ethan spoke slowly, spreading his arms wide, his face alight with ecstatic joy. Time to show this world what real art looks like.
"Woof!" A quiet wolf howl echoed from above. At first, it seemed almost gentle—nothing threatening. Yet in that instant, it froze the crimson magic mid-surge, halting all motion, plunging the world into absolute silence.
On the painting, two pairs of wolf eyes that had been closed suddenly snapped open.
[ WARNING! WARNING!]
["Sleeping Wolf" has awakened]
[Now transformed into "Split Wolf"]
[Disaster descends upon the world]
[Please bow your head in prayer]
Rip, tear. In the deathly silence, spine-chilling sounds of flesh-tearing were horrifyingly clear. Blood droplets rained from the painting onto the earth below.
Then, light disappeared completely. Shadow shrouded the entire battlefield, outlining massive wolf-head shapes.
[—HOWL!!!]