Rough, labored gasps escaped from the Acromantula Aragog's mouth.
Dark red blood gushed from its enormous body like a river.
It trickled onto the ground, forming a puddle.
Its mandibles trembled as it gazed at its offspring, slaughtered by the Death Bird.
From Aragog's eyes, a liquid—whether blood or something else—streamed down, soaking its fur.
...I wonder if Acromantula blood is valuable.
Ethan muttered to himself, his heart aching as he looked at the contaminated blood on the ground.
There wasn't a shred of pity in his heart.
In this dark Forbidden Forest,
the Acromantula and its colony had received a great deal of shelter and help from Hagrid.
However,
they didn't know the meaning of gratitude.
Ethan remembered that in the original story, even when Harry and Ron told Aragog they were Hagrid's friends,
they were still hunted by the spider colony.
They truly almost died in the Forbidden Forest.
After Aragog's death, during the Battle of Hogwarts,
the spider colony even helped the Death Eaters attack Hogwarts.
It was like raising a tiger only to invite disaster!
Aside from contributing venom worth one hundred Galleons per pint, the Acromantula had done nothing but evil!
Hagrid, you really need to be more careful!
Ethan shook his head, feeling exasperated.
"Hoo!"
On the other side, the Death Bird was having a blast with the kills.
With that "divine weapon" in hand, cutting down those eight-legged crawlers was like harvesting leeks!
Coupled with the mobility of flying with wings,
one dive could take down a whole group of spiders.
It was incredibly stress-relieving.
Ethan was even envious as he watched.
If he could transform into that too, he wondered how awesome it would be...
Ethan lowered his head, looking at his ten fingers, and sighed.
How weak the human body was!
Just then,
"Human, you have slaughtered my offspring, and we will never let you go...!"
The dying spider king rasped, filled with resentment and unwillingness. Its eight compound eyes stared at Ethan, wet and hateful, as if cursing him.
Ethan: "I suggest you turn into a ghost after you die, and we can continue then."
What a joke.
He was the righteous spokesperson of "Light," a warrior of justice.
How could he be afraid of mere evil?
Ethan didn't mind showing the resurrected Acromantula what true art was.
Acromantula: "..."
Damn it, why was this human cub so stubborn?
Was it some new evolved species?
Aragog broke down, roaring hoarsely: "If it weren't for that strange bird... you would have no chance at all! Cough, cough!"
Seeing it cough up blood, Ethan quickly took out a small bottle to catch it.
Couldn't waste it.
The Acromantula trembled all over, looking like it was about to be revived by sheer anger.
Ethan finished collecting the blood with satisfaction.
After thinking for a moment, he said:
"I didn't want to make a move... after all, they're all valuable materials."
"But it seems that unless I clear up your misunderstanding, you won't be able to rest in peace."
Misunderstanding?
What misunderstanding?
The Acromantula was puzzled.
Then,
they saw the delicate-skinned, black-haired human cub raise his wand.
His lips moved, "[Break]"
The next second,
a crimson glow filled Aragog's eight compound eyes!
In its vast field of vision, only a rotating, flowing crimson, like a curtain, could be seen!
The liquid on its body instantly evaporated.
The cries of its offspring stopped abruptly.
It was as if Death's scythe had gently swung down, and only the instantaneous crackling of burning flames could be heard.
In an instant,
the Acromantula Aragog, which had almost no natural enemies in the Forbidden Forest, finally recalled the fear of being preyed upon.
It turned out that from the very beginning, it had no chance at all.
It was purely self-inflicted.
"Hagrid... my friend, I'm sorry I betrayed your trust..."
"But if I had to do it again, I would probably still make the same choice for my colony..."
In Aragog's compound eyes, the last reflection was of that relatively larger figure.
It rasped:
"This is us... beasts..."
Then, it fell silent.
On its body, a deathly gray appeared.
"Snap."
Ethan snapped his fingers.
The crimson dragon flame receded.
The surroundings were clean and black.
In the eyes of everyone, who were already numb with shock,
Ethan took a deep breath, his cobalt-blue eyes looking down at the ashes on the ground, and suddenly showed a pained expression.
Damn it! Still couldn't hold back!
How many Galleons would this be worth!
Sigh, can only get more stock from Malfoy now.
Just then,
a warm cloak was draped over Ethan from behind.
Ethan turned around and met Luna's clear blue eyes.
However, at this moment, these blue eyes were sparkling with excitement.
"So cool, Ethan! I've never seen such a magnificent flame! Is this dragon fire?"
Luna whispered, staring at Ethan without blinking.
He ignored Hermione, who was saying behind him, "Humans can't use dragon magic."
Ethan's breath hitched.
Looking at Luna in front of him, so close that he could see his blood-stained face in her blue eyes.
So dirty!
Ethan declared he couldn't stand it; he felt as uncomfortable as if Acromantulas were crawling on him.
Showing off felt good for a moment, but cleaning up the cremation site was a pain.
Fortunately, the wizarding world had a one-click cleaning spell.
"Scourgify."
The bloodstains disappeared.
Ethan then took a swig of the versatile Invigoration Draught, and only then did he feel alive again.
He let out a long breath, feeling comfortable.
Dragon fire was cool.
But the consumption was truly too great.
In terms of unit time, it was even more than Cerberus.
No wonder those dragons all grew so huge.
There was indeed a reason.
Flesh is weak, indeed!
Ethan: "When I have time, I'll teach you this magic."
Looking at Luna, who was nodding vigorously, he smiled and wrapped the warm cloak around himself.
At the collar, there was even a small carrot embroidered.
Just then,
Ethan's eyes sharpened, and his smile faded.
He saw Hagrid, pale-faced, staggering over.
If Hagrid suddenly burst into tears, demanding, "Why did you kill my beloved!!!"
Then Ethan would really have to slap him twice to see if he was still acting crazy.
Fortunately,
though Hagrid was overly trusting and overly kind,
he still possessed basic rationality and a sense of right and wrong.
Hagrid cast a deep gaze at Aragog, lying on the ground like a decaying hill.
He turned his head, his knees bending—Ethan: !!!
Seeing that enormous body about to kneel before him,
Ethan hastily cast a Levitation Charm.
He sent Hagrid flying!
With a thud, he crashed heavily into a giant tree!
He slumped softly to the ground.
The others: ?!!
Was there an explosive finishing move?!
Fortunately, Hagrid was thick-skinned; he trembled and then got up from the ground.
He sat slumped, large tears falling, constantly choking out:
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry...
"It's, it's all my fault, I was too naive, almost, almost got you all killed...!"
"I don't deserve Dumbledore's trust! I'll resign as soon as I leave the Forbidden Forest!"
"I, I belong in Azkaban!!"
Looking at the wailing Hagrid, Harry and the others exchanged glances.
Azkaban?
Why was Azkaban suddenly brought up?
Had Hagrid finally realized how many laws he had broken over the decades by privately breeding dangerous creatures?
Only Cho Chang's eyes flickered, as if she realized something.
Harry stammered comfortingly: "Ha-Hagrid, I think your intentions were good, but in the future, maybe don't start..."
Hagrid cried even louder.
He suddenly twisted his head sharply, looking at the silent Ethan, and scrambled over using his hands and feet!
!!!
Ethan's eyes widened, feeling the hair on his back stand on end.
Bro, what are you doing?!
The hand holding his wand was already itching to move.
Fortunately,
Hagrid stopped a short distance away, saying hoarsely:
"Thank you, thank you, Ethan! If it weren't for you, I would truly be guilty of a heinous crime!!!"
Not necessarily.
Ethan glanced warily at the crimson flicker hidden in the treetops not far away.
Old Dumbledore, spying again through the phoenix, right?
Harry and the others also reacted then.
They thanked Ethan volubly.
"That strange bird actually listened to Ethan! As expected of Ethan! Absolutely cool!"
"Can Hogwarts actually allow such a creepy thing to exist—"
"I get it, this is also part of the talent cultivation plan!"
Ron: "I knew it! Our boss Ethan definitely had a backup plan!"
Harry: "You wipe the snot off your face first before you say anything."
Amidst the thanks pouring in from all directions, an indescribable feeling welled up in Ethan's heart.
...Originally, he only came for bait.
He couldn't let himself die, so he killed all the enemies.
Hiss! Why are my ears a little hot?
Is it a curse?!
Ethan was startled and waved his hand: "Teleport!"
There was a cry of surprise.
The little ones were thrown far away.
Phew, that felt good.
Ethan hummed softly, awkwardly rubbing his burning ears.
Luna watched the scene with a smiling face.
Just then,
Hagrid wiped his tears, and said hoarsely:
"Ethan, you saved all of us, so you should handle Aragog's... body."
"By the rules of beasts, this is your rightful spoils of war."