[Such terrifying power… Is this truly your strength? It's not enough—not yet. This alone still isn't enough.]
Lucius's gaze was locked firmly on Wes, his eyes filled with a tangle of complicated emotions.
Internally, he was wrestling with conflicting thoughts. The immense strength Wes had just displayed left him both impressed and deeply unsettled.
Madam Bones, on the other hand, stood slack-jawed in astonishment. For a brief moment, she saw the shadow of Dumbledore in Wes.
She quickly realized her lapse in composure and shut her mouth, but the shock in her heart remained far from settled.
Umbridge, who had run off earlier, had at some point crept back and was now hiding nervously behind Dumbledore. She poked her head out, watching the fierce battle unfold with anxiety.
Her gaze toward Wes now carried a flicker of fear. Never in her wildest imagination had she thought him to be such a powerful wizard—someone capable of facing off against a legendary Basilisk.
But Wes had no time to consider their thoughts.
The Basilisk slowly slithered out from the sea of flames, its massive body completely unharmed. Its scales were still as smooth and gleaming as ever.
Wes wasn't surprised in the slightest. After all, if the Basilisk could be defeated that easily, it wouldn't have been classified as one of the most dangerous magical creatures in existence.
Though its eyes were still blindfolded, the Basilisk had inherited many of the serpent's traits. Even without sight, it could still clearly sense everything around it.
It knew exactly who its enemies were.
[I haven't eaten in so long… I'm starving. These humans will make for a decent meal.]
Driven by primal hunger and violent instinct, the Basilisk hissed lowly and lunged toward Wes with terrifying speed.
It moved like a mobile mountain, its massive body whipping up a strong gust of wind as it surged forward.
Wes immediately raised his wand. With a sharp incantation, the serpentine carvings wrapped around the ancient columns seemed to come alive. One by one, they broke free and transformed into lifelike snakes.
They slithered and writhed, moving as if truly alive. Under Wes's command, the swarm of snakes surged toward the Basilisk like a living tidal wave.
Though much smaller in size, the enchanted snakes were quick and agile. Like a true snake colony, they coordinated their strikes into waves of coordinated attacks, hoping to slow the beast's advance.
But the size difference between them was simply too vast. The Basilisk barreled through the swarm effortlessly, flinging the animated snakes aside as if they were twigs.
Every impact shook the ground slightly, a testament to the Basilisk's overwhelming strength.
The creature rampaged forward, growing ever closer to Wes.
Yet Wes remained calm. With a simple flick of his wand, it was as if the waters of an entire lake had been summoned.
A torrent of wild, crashing water appeared in an instant and swept the Basilisk away.
The rapid current roared like a waterfall, slamming against the creature with relentless force.
Still, even within the torrent, the Basilisk continued forcing its way toward Wes, fighting with all its might to escape the water's grasp.
But Wes's control over his magic was masterful. He raised his wand to his lips and gently blew across it.
"Hoooo…"
With that breath, a wave of chilling air surged through the Chamber of Secrets.
The temperature plummeted in an instant.
The Basilisk froze mid-motion—transformed into a towering ice sculpture.
All the water that had been summoned turned to solid ice, forming a massive frozen pillar with the Basilisk trapped deep within.
The entire chamber became a world of frost and snow. The biting cold seemed to pierce to the bone.
The three spectators stood utterly stunned by Wes's magical mastery.
Lucius, above all, felt elation. He thought to himself:
[With this level of power—and with Dumbledore at his side—not even the Dark Lord at his peak could stop them.]
Madam Bones's eyes shimmered with admiration. She realized that Wes wasn't just a young wizard.
His strength and wisdom had already far surpassed his years.
Umbridge was more wary than afraid. She knew well that a powerful wizard like this would bring immense trouble if made an enemy.
Seeing the basilisk frozen, everyone couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, thinking the crisis was over.
"Hoo~~" Umbridge blew into her hands and rubbed them, trying to warm herself up. "Looks like the basilisk isn't all tha—"
"Shut up."
Wes's voice was quiet, yet carried an undeniable authority that cut her off mid-sentence.
"What?" Umbridge couldn't believe her ears. As a senior official of the Ministry, she wasn't used to being treated like this.
"I said shut up," Wes said coldly, giving her a piercing glare.
Feeling the chill in his tone, Umbridge involuntarily stepped back.
At that moment, the frozen basilisk began to tremble. Cracking sounds echoed as the ice started breaking. The basilisk was still alive—its resilience was shocking.
"Guess I'll need to be a bit rougher."
Wes shifted his gaze to the Salazar Slytherin statue, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips. "Let your master deal with you."
His wand traced a complex pattern through the air, magic surging and weaving an invisible web.
The ground began to quake. Stones fell, and some pillars collapsed under the stress.
To everyone's shock, the statue of Slytherin began to move.
It was as if the giant sculpture had been brought to life.
"Oh, why didn't I think of that?" Dumbledore slapped his forehead with a chuckle. "Young people really are creative."
"This is too noisy. Will the place collapse?" Madam Bones looked up worriedly at the debris falling from the ceiling.
"Don't worry." Dumbledore lifted his right hand and cast a repair spell.
A soft glow enveloped the chamber. The falling stones were caught mid-air and gently returned to their original spots.
Seeing Dumbledore step in, Wes let loose.
The basilisk, just freed from its icy prison and still disoriented, was instantly grabbed by two massive hands of pure magic.
Wes's wand danced through the air, issuing silent commands. The statue seemed alive now, swinging the basilisk up and slamming it into the floor.
A deep pit formed with the impact, dust flying everywhere.
The basilisk, stunned, shook its head, clearly dazed by the sudden assault. Wes could even see a hint of confusion on its face.
"Try this on for size."
Under Wes's control, the statue flung the basilisk again and again.
Front.
Back.
Left.
Right.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
"So brutal," Dumbledore muttered. "Utterly brutal."
The other three were gaping as one of the most powerful magical creatures in the world was tossed around like a rag doll.
Finally, the basilisk lay limp like a noodle, unmoving.
Wes ended the spell. The statue released its grip, and the creature thudded heavily to the ground.
A diagnostic spell confirmed it—no signs of life.
"Done," Wes said calmly, turning to Dumbledore. "The rest is up to you."
He spoke as if he'd just finished a mundane task.
Dumbledore nodded slightly and led Lucius and the others out of the chamber.
Lucius's expression was a complex blend of excitement and concern.
Umbridge stared at Wes, her eyes filled with fear. To her, he was an extremely dangerous man—someone who clearly had no respect for the Ministry.
She desperately wanted to get far away from him.
Once everyone was gone, Wes's lips curled into a faint smile. He snapped his fingers, the sound echoing crisply through the silent chamber.
From the shadows, Jandi appeared, dragging along a suitcase.
"Now comes the harvest," Wes said, voice tinged with excitement and anticipation.
Tools floated out of the suitcase—saws, hammers, even surgical scalpels.
Under the dim light, they gleamed with a chilling luster.
°°°
A/N: The patreon advanced chapters option is still ongoing, will update this if it's ready.