In the hall of Herpo the Foul's Abandoned Mansion.
Ethan's breath caught in his throat as he stared at the glowing blue text hovering before him!
From 39% to 44%!
Not only had he shattered the 40% barrier, but he'd surged straight to nearly halfway there!
It seemed that tonight's challenge match had left a profound impression on everyone!
Boom! A rumbling sound echoed from deep within Ethan's body.
But it wasn't like before, where he'd instantly feel refreshed and his magic replenished.
Instead, it felt like a volcano on the verge of eruption, the ground trembling and magma churning beneath the surface.
Creak, creak.
Every joint in his body was gearing up for the impending explosion of magic!
"Huff, huff," Ethan panted heavily, veins bulging on his pale face.
In the humid downpour, white steam rose from his body, like a steam engine revving to life!
"Ethan?"
Penelope asked uneasily, noticing him with his head bowed, utterly silent.
The surging magic in the air made her skin prickle with goosebumps.
Now, only she and Slytherin's Gemma Farley remained in the mansion.
Compared to Penelope's complete confusion, Gemma seemed to have anticipated staying out of the fray, safe and sound.
But at this moment, seeing Ethan's bizarre state, Gemma couldn't help but furrow her elegant brows.
The Cerberus and the massive eyeball had both been dismissed.
Right now, Ethan was at his most vulnerable.
Gemma pursed her lips.
If it were up to her, she'd strike now—
The thought had barely formed.
When a sharp crack rang out!
"Bang!"
A blood-soaked young man, like a raging bear, charged forward!
His eyes blazed with feral intent, and the tip of his wand aimed straight at Ethan!
While Penelope was still dazed, Gemma swiftly raised her wand and shouted:
"Impedimenta—Ugh!"
She was struck by a spell and froze in place, unable to move.
"This is a duel between me and Ethan; weaklings, stay out of it."
Krum rasped, his gaze locked intently on Ethan.
Half his ear was missing, and his face was streaked with faint red bloodstains, diluted by the rain.
"—What gave you the illusion that my true strength is weak?"
Ethan muttered, his head still lowered.
Krum cautiously kept his wand at the ready:
"Whether you're weak or not, after half an hour of high-intensity magic output, you must be completely drained now."
"I didn't want to take advantage of you like this—but I'm sorry, I can't just give up my ranking!"
"Chain Cage!!"
Under Gemma's furious glare.
A sharp, iron-gray beam of light burst from the tip of Krum's wand, hurtling straight at Ethan!
In the blink of an eye, it reached him!
And then, it was blocked!
Krum's eyes widened in shock as he watched the spell dissipate harmlessly in front of Ethan, his own gaze slowly igniting with realization.
"You don't seem to understand what I mean, so let me put it another way—"
Ethan slowly lifted his head, his cobalt-blue eyes staring directly at the burly young man.
"What gave you the illusion that you could defeat me!!"
As his words fell.
"Boom!!!"
A massive surge of magic erupted from Ethan, sweeping outward in all directions!
"Crash!"
Like a hurricane tearing through, every piece of furniture in the hall was hurled away, shattering against the walls!
"Ugh! Such overwhelming magic!"
In the fierce gale—no, it was more like a torrent of raw power—Penelope couldn't help but raise her arm to shield her face, barely managing to stay on her feet.
And Gemma Farley, freed from the Full Body-Bind Curse, stared at Ethan in astonishment, a glint of admiration in her eyes.
—Ethan Vincent, you always manage to surprise me.
The vast, violent magic ripped radial cracks across the floor.
Ethan stood at the center of the storm, his black hair whipping wildly, his robes billowing, a sense of fullness and exhilaration flooding his body and mind like never before.
It felt like a rebirth, overflowing with fighting spirit!
"Is this what a breakthrough feels like—"
Ethan's eyes burned with intensity, cobalt-blue flames flickering in their depths.
He glanced down at the wand in his hand, which shimmered with an otherworldly glow, and murmured:
"I feel like I could take on a dragon right now."
Ethan looked up, locking eyes with Krum's stunned gaze.
He flashed a friendly smile.
Then he raised his hand: "Diffindo."
"Boom!"
A torrent of magic exploded forth!
"Protego—Ugh!"
Krum was slammed back against the wall with a heavy thud, his shield shattering effortlessly under the spell!
The front of his robes was ripped to tatters, his chest crisscrossed with gashes, skin and flesh peeled back, blood flowing freely.
It looked gruesome, but they were all surface wounds.
The Diffindo spell had limited effect on living targets.
The truly deadly one was "Confringo."
If Ethan had used Confringo just now, Krum figured he'd be teetering on the edge of death. Krum gritted his teeth, gripping his wand tightly.
He suddenly looked up, roaring in fury:
"Are you pitying me?! Don't insult me! This is a duel; show me your real power!" His words cut off abruptly.
Because what filled his vision were golden arrows, blanketing the sky and aimed right at him.
Ethan: "This is the Flock of Birds, one of my favorite spells."
Ethan tilted his head, gazing at the golden birds swirling around him, a smile tugging at his lips.
They wove together into a sacred, radiant net.
Making Ethan look like an angel descended to earth.
Their sharp beaks gleamed like arrows.
With a single command from Ethan, they'd riddle Krum with holes.
"..." Krum fell silent.
He'd seen and used this spell before.
But wasn't it supposed to summon just a few palm-sized birds?
What was with each of these being as long as an adult's arm?!
And summoning dozens at once.
Was this still "Flock of Birds"?!
Krum's rugged face twisted as he pondered for a moment.
He looked up and said earnestly to Ethan:
"Hey, can we call it even?"
A moment later.
"Ethan is truly a tolerant and kind person, worth befriending for life."
Krum stood at the starting line, muttering to himself and nodding approvingly.
The other eliminated contestants: "—"
They glanced at Krum, who was missing half an ear, his face smeared with blood, and his chest a mangled, blasted mess, feeling a pang of pity in their hearts:
Well, another one's lost it.
Amid the clamor of shouting healers, Krum turned his head, gazing distantly toward Ethan's direction.
—I never imagined I wouldn't even secure a ranking.
What a humiliation.
But what shamed Krum even more was his earlier arrogance and conceit.
Like a frog at the bottom of a well, strutting before an eagle soaring the skies.
"What a clown, underestimating someone just because they're younger."
He'd learned a harsh lesson.
Krum clenched his fist, a spark of determination and fighting spirit flashing in his eyes.
Just wait until I've honed my skills for a few more years; someday, we'll clash again!
I'll make sure you see me in a new light, Ethan Vincent!!
"Bleeding! Bleeding! Hey? Contestant? Wake up, contestant!"
"Help! Can anyone Apparate? A contestant's fainted here!!!"
Back in the mansion.
Gemma Farley and Penelope stared at Ethan in shock, at the dazzling light filling the room.
They couldn't snap out of it for the longest time.
Their hearts pounded wildly.
No hidden agendas, just pure reverence for his power!!
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