After bidding farewell to the ghosts, Luke returned to the Paths of the Dead and emerged from the Dark Gate on the northern side of the White Mountains.
Feeling the sunlight and fresh air, Luke couldn't help but take a deep breath.
Although there had been some twists and turns, this journey through the Paths of the Dead had been relatively smooth.
However, the atmosphere there was overwhelmingly oppressive and terrifying, filled with skeletons and bones—a true land of death.
Anyone with a faint heart would have been scared to death.
Moreover, the ghosts were like glitches—physical attacks were completely ineffective against them, and even magical attacks had limited impact. Since they weren't dark spirits or demons, even the Patronus Charm and the Light of Eärendil could only repel them, not deal real damage.
If there were only a few hundred or thousand ghosts, Luke might have managed, but there were hundreds of thousands of them!
At the time, Luke had already prepared to apparate immediately if he failed to persuade them.
Due to Isildur's curse, the souls of the Mountain People remained trapped in the mountains after death. If not for the fact that they couldn't leave without being summoned, this ghostly army could have swept across Middle-earth unchallenged.
After leaving the Paths of the Dead, Luke didn't apparate immediately. Instead, he mounted his broomstick and flew toward Edoras, the capital of Rohan.
Edoras was also located near the White Mountains, not far from Dunharrow.
Luke planned to stop by there to check in, and see if he might run into Gandalf.
But just as Luke was about to set off, the sky suddenly darkened.
Puzzled, Luke looked up and saw the sky covered with dark clouds.
The next moment, a thick bolt of lightning shot down from the clouds—straight toward him.
The lightning moved with incredible speed, almost too fast for an ordinary person to react.
Fortunately, Luke was wearing the invisible Crown of Wisdom. In that split second, his mind accelerated, allowing him to react within a millisecond.
Just as the lightning was about to strike him, Luke used apparation and teleported from his broomstick.
The broomstick, left behind, was instantly shattered into pieces by the lightning.
A moment later, Luke reappeared on the mountainside not far away.
He stared at the lightning that had appeared out of nowhere, his expression filled with shock and suspicion.
A coincidence? Absolutely not!
Someone was definitely controlling that lightning!
But who was attacking him, and why? Luke's mind raced with guesses.
Before he could think further, another bolt of lightning struck—this time not at him, but directly at the mountain peak, causing a massive tremor.
The White Mountains got their name from the glaciers and perpetual snow at their heights.
As the lightning struck the peak, the glaciers cracked, and the entire mountain shook.
An unprecedented avalanche erupted from the summit, sweeping down the mountainside with overwhelming force.
Luke gasped and immediately apparated.
He reappeared hundreds of kilometers away, outside the mountain range.
Apparating was, after all, a short to medium-range teleportation spell, and this was his current limit.
"He shouldn't be able to reach me here now, right?" Luke muttered to himself.
But the next moment, another bolt of lightning struck from the sky.
"Protego Maxima!" Luke raised his wand, channeling all his power into his strongest defensive spell.
A brilliant white light shot from the tip of his wand, forming a solid magical barrier above him.
The lightning, as thick as a tree trunk, slammed into the barrier, erupting in a blinding flash and deafening roar. The lightning spread rapidly across the barrier, sizzling incessantly, filling the air with the smell of ozone. Under the scorching lightning, the barrier corroded in places, but Luke quickly repaired it with his magic.
Finally, as the lightning dissipated, Luke lowered his wand, panting heavily. The magical barrier could no longer hold and completely collapsed.
Only the area previously protected by the barrier remained intact, while everything within hundreds of meters was reduced to scorched earth.
Luke did not apparate again. Instead, he looked up at the sky and shouted coldly:
"Saruman, I know it's you! Why are you attacking me? Aren't you afraid of Gandalf and Lady Galadriel finding out?"
There was no response from the surroundings.
"Saruman, do you think ignoring me means I can't do anything?"
As he spoke, he pulled a palantír from his spatial bag, directly locking onto Saruman's location.
The image of Orthanc instantly appeared in the palantír.
It was a bizarre tower formed by four massive polyhedral stone pillars joined together, topped with split pinnacles as sharp as spearheads. Between the pillars was a narrow platform with a polished floor engraved with many mysterious runes.
And there stood Saruman on the platform at the top of Orthanc, holding a staff in one hand and a palantír in the other.
"Who's there?" Saruman sensed something and roared angrily at the sky.
The next moment, the perspective in Luke's palantír shifted, becoming a direct connection between the two seeing-stones.
Saruman's face appeared in the palantír. He feigned surprise, furrowing his brows and demanding, "You? That little follower of Gandalf? Why are you spying on me?"
Luke was almost amused by Saruman's audacious attempt to shift blame.
He coldly retorted, "Saruman, let's be straightforward. I have no grudge against you. Why did you ambush me?"
Saruman flatly denied it, snorting contemptuously. "Nonsense! Why would I attack a nobody like you? And I'm currently in Isengard—how could I attack you from thousands of miles away?"
"You, boy, have the audacity to spy on and offend me with a palantír, and now you falsely accuse me of attacking you? Even Gandalf cannot stop me from teaching you a lesson for your insolence!"
As he spoke, his eyes suddenly turned sharp and penetrating, focusing on Luke through the palantír.
"Let me see what secrets you hold, you little upstart who dares to call yourself a Black Wizard alongside us?"
Luke instantly felt a powerful mental force bursting from the palantír, brutally attempting to invade his mind and pry into his memories. If successful, Luke would not only have all his secrets exposed but could also be turned into a fool.
Enraged, Luke resisted the mental force with all his might while quickly pulling out the Eärendil. The dazzling Light of Eärendil obscured all vision. Caught off guard, Saruman on the other end of the palantír was instantly blinded by the light, tears streaming from his eyes.
"Legilimens!" Luke countered by casting a spell back at Saruman through the palantír.
When two palantíri were connected, not only could they see each other, but they could also engage in mental communication.
This meant that, to some extent, power could be transmitted through the palantír.The next moment, through the palantír, Luke instantly sensed Saruman's thoughts and memories.
As a Maia, Saruman's mind was immensely powerful.
Compared to him, Luke was like a pebble against a mountain—ordinarily incapable of shaking his memories. But perhaps due to Saruman's arrogance or his temporary blindness from the Light of Eärendil, his disturbed state left him unprepared, allowing Luke to successfully steal a fragment of his memory.
And it happened to be a memory of his secret dealings with Sauron.
Saruman reacted instantly. His vast mental power formed a solid barrier, violently repelling Luke's mental probe.
Temporarily blinded, he was like an angry lion, both shocked and uneasy.
"Lukeel! I will have your head!!"
Luke grunted, his head spinning from the backlash of the mental collision.
He immediately severed the connection with the palantír, stuffed it and the Light of Eärendil into his pocket, and apparated without delay.
He needed to warn Gandalf and Lady Galadriel as soon as possible—Saruman was already under suspicion.
But Saruman clearly had no intention of letting him go.
As Luke apparated to the next location, a bolt of lightning struck instantly.
The lightning was so fast, it was as if it had been waiting for him, anticipating his arrival.
Luke's hair stood on end. Sensing extreme danger, he had no time to apparated again.
"Confringo!" Luke cast a spell at the lightning.
A brilliant red light shot upward, colliding with the lightning.
At the point of impact, light erupted everywhere, too bright to look at, followed by a deafening explosion. The lightning shattered into countless electric currents, causing destruction in all directions.
The massive force of the explosion sent Luke flying backward, slamming him heavily to the ground over ten meters away.
Luke groaned, his face pale, with several wounds from the electric currents.
Without hesitation, he pulled out a bottle of Ent-draught and downed it in one gulp.
The injuries from the lightning quickly healed, and his complexion returned to normal.
As another bolt of lightning struck from the sky, Luke immediately apparated.
When he reappeared hundreds of kilometers away, yet another bolt of lightning struck him as if preordained.
This time, however, Luke was prepared. The moment he appeared, he cast a Shield Charm toward the sky, buying himself a few seconds to apparate again.
When he reappeared, Luke immediately cast a defensive charm, calmly.
But to his surprise, no lightning followed.
Instead of feeling relieved, Luke grew even more tense and uneasy.
He didn't believe Saruman would give up so easily.
Sure enough, the next moment, his expression changed drastically.
He realized he couldn't apparate!
"Don't struggle. Your every move is within my expectations. This area has been enchanted—your teleportation magic is useless here!"
Saruman rode a tall white Warg, emerging from the distance. His deep, sharp eyes gleamed with cunning mockery.
"Don't resist, 'Black Wizard.' I have no intention of killing you yet. Come with me quietly! Or else!"
"Avada Kedavra!"
Without a spoken word, Luke unleashed his deadliest spell. A blinding green light surged towards Saruman. Unperturbed, Saruman calmly pointed his staff at a nearby boulder, which instantly flew forward, intercepting the Killing Curse. "You wield such vile dark magic. I truly believe Gandalf grows increasingly senile to consider you one of his own," Saruman sneered with self-righteous disdain. "If you ask me, a dark wizard like you should be detained and interrogated to ascertain any collusion with the forces of darkness."
Luke scoffed, a sarcastic smirk playing on his lips. "Saruman, who better than you knows about colluding with dark forces? Had I not just delved into your memories, I would never have grasped the sheer audacity of your plans. To conspire with Sauron—are you not terrified of becoming his puppet?"
Saruman's face darkened instantly, his piercing eyes fixing on Luke with cold intensity. "I know not what nonsense you speak. How could I, a revered White Wizard and leader of the Council, ever dance with darkness? Boy, to slander me in such a manner demands a lesson. You shall learn the consequences of speaking ill of others!"
As he spoke, he raised his staff, instantly conjuring a bolt of lightning that streaked towards Luke.
"Confrigo!"
Luke reacted swiftly, unleashing a counter-spell. The two magical forces collided with a thunderous explosion and a powerful shockwave, scarring the surrounding earth into a desolate wasteland. The shockwave flung Luke backward. Before hitting the ground, he deftly adjusted his posture mid-air, then, the moment he landed, transformed into an owl with an Animagus spell, soaring rapidly towards the exterior.
Though uncertain of the full extent of Saruman's anti-apparition barrier, Luke knew that escaping its confines would grant him far greater mobility. Saruman, however, had no intention of allowing Luke's escape. Without a command, the wolf beneath him galloped forward with astonishing speed. Saruman chanted an ancient Quenya spell, conjuring a fierce storm that hindered Luke's progress. He then used his staff to unleash massive fireballs, which erupted upon impact, gouging deep craters in the earth. Caught in the tempest, Luke struggled to fly, barely evading the fiery projectiles.
Seeing Saruman closing in, Luke spun around and charged directly at him, transforming back into his human form mid-air.
"Confringo!" Still suspended, Luke pointed his wand at Saruman and cast the spell. Saruman effortlessly raised his staff, deflecting the magic. But before he could mock Luke's futile efforts, a sharp silver spear materialized, hurtling towards him a split second after the spell. The spear was indestructible, its edge powerful enough to pierce through magical defenses, making it nearly impossible to resist. Saruman's expression shifted slightly. He chose not to face the attack head-on, dodging nimbly to the side. The wolf beneath him, however, was not so fortunate. With a whimper, it was impaled by the spear, dying instantly.
Saruman stumbled off the dying wolf, his gaze fixed on his fallen mount and the spear with a deeply grim expression. "Aeglos, I never imagined you would possess Gil-galad's weapon. Your luck is truly enviable! It is a pity, however, that both the Divine Spear and the Palantír will soon join my collection, leaving you with no escape." He slammed his staff onto the ground, unleashing vast impact halos that surged towards Luke.
"Protego Maxima!"
Luke's face tightened, and he poured all his strength into casting a formidable protective spell with his staff. Yet, under the immense force of Saruman's magic, Luke's magical shield rapidly diminished, and he was continuously forced backward, his feet dragging two long furrows in the earth. Luke gritted his teeth, veins protruding on his face, struggling to hold on.
But the shockwaves continued to crash against him like a relentless tide, leaving him like a precarious boat, threatening to capsize at any moment. He finally comprehended the White Wizard's power. If he had no other recourse, defeat seemed inevitable today. Saruman, standing opposite him, wore a mocking expression.
"Cease your struggles, 'wizard boy.' Your gimmicks shall not save you! You grasp nothing of what it means to be a Wizard. The chasm between us is like a stream compared to the ocean. If you were not useful to me, do you truly believe I would allow you to cavort for so long?"
He struck his staff again with even greater force, unleashing a more potent magical shockwave. Luke's magic shield instantly shattered like glass. He was flung backward violently, his staff ripped from his hand and sent tumbling far away.
Luke crashed to the ground with a muffled groan. His face paled instantly, and his body screamed in agony. For a moment, Luke's consciousness wavered, his vision fading to black, on the precipice of oblivion.
Saruman retrieved Luke's staff, examining it closely. "It's crafted from the heartwood of the Mallorn tree, and the gem is the Elessar Emerald. Such a magnificent staff fallen into your hands... what a waste!" Saruman remarked with a sarcastic edge, a hint of jealousy in his tone.
When he first arrived in Middle-earth, he had sought the elven gem from Galadriel to forge the mightiest staff. Yet, he had not received the same privilege as Luke, to whom Galadriel had bestowed the precious Elessar Gem.
Holding both staffs, Saruman advanced towards Luke. Luke, however, was already recovering. The effects of the Ent draught he had consumed earlier had not yet worn off, rapidly mending his injuries. His staff taken, Luke moved his hand, and a magic wand, strapped to his left arm, automatically sprang forth, landing in his grasp.
He clenched his right hand in the air, and the flaming sword instantly appeared in his grip. With a wave of his wand, the surrounding trees sprang to life, attacking Saruman. The flaming sword also slashed powerfully through the air, releasing a searing air blade that hurtled towards Saruman.
"Trees? I utterly despise these trees!" Upon seeing the animated trees, Saruman immediately recalled the Ents, and his face contorted in disgust. One staff unleashed a defensive spell, repelling the tree's assault, while the other conjured fireballs to incinerate the attacking foliage.
He swiftly dodged the air blade, his body incredibly agile and flexible, belying his age. As if losing patience, Saruman forcefully repelled the surrounding trees, then pointed a staff at Luke, launching an energy attack that instantly pinned Luke against a tree trunk, knocking both his wand and sword from his hands.
"Well, the game is over," Saruman sneered. He sauntered closer, pressing his staff against Luke, immobilizing him, then glanced at the wand lying on the ground. "Is this little stick the wand you created?"
He picked it up, examining it carefully, a flicker of jealousy in his eyes. As one of Middle-earth's foremost intellects, he naturally recognized the groundbreaking and versatile nature of this wand. Yet, such a creation had sprung from the hands of an unknown individual he disdained. The proud Saruman found this difficult to accept. When he attempted to cast a spell with the wand, Saruman felt its resistance, its refusal to serve him, and his face grew even darker.
"Hmph, a feeble wand dares to defy the great Saruman the White!" He gripped the wand tightly, almost snapping it.
At that moment, Luke, pinned to the tree, his opponent mere feet away, suddenly erupted. "Glamdring!" The sword, which had fallen nearby, answered his call, vanishing from its spot and reappearing in Luke's hand instantly. Simultaneously, another magic wand sprang from Luke's other hand. "Finite Incantatem!"
The magic wand released a spell, instantly dispelling the magic Saruman had cast on Luke. At the same time, Luke, multi-tasking, swung the flaming sword with his other hand, slashing at Saruman.
Saruman hadn't anticipated Luke possessing another wand. At such close range, he swiftly raised his staff to block the flaming sword's attack.
Ding! The flaming sword struck the staff with a metallic clang, sending sparks flying. Saruman's staff successfully blocked the flaming sword, but being made of wood, it now bore a charred gash from the flames. The flaming sword simultaneously released an air blade, singeing a portion of Saruman's beard and hair. The unpleasant scent of burnt hair instantly permeated the air.
After the initial strike, Luke swung his sword again, engaging Saruman in close-quarters combat. Saruman, witnessing his singed beard and hair, erupted in a terrifying burst of magical power, blasting Luke away.
"You insolent fool!" Saruman unleashed a bolt of lightning that struck Luke. Luke drew a sharp breath, immediately casting spells with all his might.
"Confringo! Protego Maxima!"
The spell and lightning clashed once more, and the immense impact force propelled Luke backward. However, thanks to his protective armor spell, he was unharmed. Seeing his opponent unleash several more massive fireballs, Luke dodged and dispersed them. Taking a few deep breaths, he scoffed, "You're not the only one who can play with fire, are you?" As he spoke, he summoned Fiendfyre. The flames rapidly spread, coalescing into a fiery serpent that lunged at Saruman.
Saruman's expression grew more serious. He waved his staff, unleashing powerful magic to continuously repel the Fiendfyre. Luke intensified his magical output, and the Fiery Flame surged again, condensing into a towering Balrog. It swung its fiery whip, lashing out at Saruman.
"Hmph, I wouldn't fear even a real Balrog, let alone a mere imitation!" Saruman bombarded the Fiendfyre with his staff, but the flames could not draw close. Then, a bolt of lightning struck the Fiery Demon's chest. The Fiery Demon wailed, its form collapsing. But at this moment, Luke's face lit up with triumph.
It turned out that as the Fiendfyre spread, it inadvertently lifted the magic Saruman had cast on the surrounding area. He could now Apparate again!
"Avada Kedavra!" Luke instantly flashed behind Saruman and cast the deadly spell. Saruman reacted with astonishing speed, successfully blocking Luke's surprise attack. But as Luke's attack missed, he instantly apparated to another location, attacking again.
Thus, Luke engaged Saruman in a relentless guerrilla war.
"Expelliarmus!"
Luke instantly materialized behind Saruman, and the spell struck Saruman's staff successfully. The staff, which was Luke's, flew from Saruman's hand and into Luke's. Obtaining his staff, Luke didn't pause. Before Saruman could retaliate, Luke vanished again.
Saruman's face was grim and contorted with anger. He hadn't expected to be outsmarted by this boy. Raising his staff high, Saruman chanted ancient Quenya spells, his low voice echoing across the wilderness. The sky abruptly darkened, thick black clouds swirling overhead. Luke looked up, sensing an ominous shift. The air became heavy, and his hair inexplicably stood on end. The next second, lightning bolts streaked directly towards him.
Luke instantly teleported away, but no sooner had he reappeared in a new location than another lightning bolt pursued him. It was as if Luke had a tracker, allowing the lightning to pinpoint his exact position.
Just as Luke wrestled with Saruman's onslaught, an owl Patronus flew from a distance, swiftly landing on his shoulder before merging into his body as if its mission were complete. Luke's face brightened with joy at its arrival. "It's finally here!"
When Saruman saw Luke's smile, he felt an instinctive unease. "What are you laughing at?"
"I'm laughing because you've fallen into my trap!" Luke retorted playfully.
Soon, a figure flew into view from the distant sky. "Luke, am I not too late?" It was Gandalf, arriving on his broomstick.
"If you'd been any later, you might've had to rescue me from Orthanc," Luke quipped in return. He then glanced around, asking doubtfully, "Where are Lady Galadriel and Lord Elrond? Haven't they arrived yet?"
Gandalf offered an apologetic smile. "I came directly from Edoras the moment I received the news. As for Lady Galadriel and Lord Elrond, they first accompanied the Ents to secure Isengard before making their way here."
Hearing Gandalf's words, Saruman's expression shifted to shock, suspicion, and then anger. "Gandalf, what do you mean? Why do Lady Galadriel and the others wish to occupy my territory? Are you declaring war on me?"
Gandalf landed beside Luke, his gaze on Saruman heavy with disappointment. "Saruman, you were once the foremost among the five wizards who journeyed to Middle-earth to combat the forces of evil. Yet now you have fallen, choosing to conspire with Sauron. Do you still recall your original duty?"
Saruman's face hardened as he vehemently denied it. "Gandalf, do not patronise me! For millennia, I have tirelessly fought against evil. You cannot slander my achievements! I know you have always coveted my position, Gandalf. In the White Council, you formed a private cabal with Galadriel and Elrond. Just because you possess the Three Rings of the Elves, you treat me as nothing!" Saruman spoke with a mix of excitement and indignation. "Gandalf, do not think I'm unaware of your ambitions. You usually act magnanimous, forging alliances everywhere. Galadriel and Elrond have been deceived by you, believing you to be a good man! But I alone know your true nature! You used a facade to trick Círdan into giving you the Ring of Fire, and then you wandered about instigating wars, all in the name of becoming the leader of righteousness and ruling the world!"
Hearing Saruman's accusations, Gandalf shook his head and sighed. "Saruman, you have been blinded by vanity and ambition. From beginning to end, I have never sought to replace you or rule the world. I have always kept my mission in mind: to aid the free peoples of Middle-earth in their fight against evil. You may have forgotten how you came here, but I have never forgotten, and I always yearn to return to my homeland."
Saruman's eyes wavered for a moment, but then hardened again as he sneered, "Even if you spout such nonsense, you cannot fool me! Even that idiot Radagast has his own petty thoughts. How could you be so selfless?"
Gandalf sighed, looking at Saruman, who seemed consumed by madness, and opened his mouth to speak further. But Luke couldn't bear to watch any longer.
"Gandalf, why are you wasting your time talking to him? If there's no point in conversing, there's no point in saying anything. He's been bewitched by Sauron and has long since turned traitor! We finally managed to lure him out this time, so let's just finish him!"
"Luke is right. Those who have succumbed to darkness are beyond redemption. You cannot change them, Gandalf." Elrond's voice echoed from afar.
Elrond was seen atop the giant eagle Sulond, holding his elven sword, speaking with a stern expression. Behind him, the dragon Smaug also flew over, with Lady Galadriel seated on its back. The two elves, a dragon, and an eagle swiftly descended, surrounding Saruman.
"Lady Galadriel, Lord Elrond, you're here!" Luke's eyes lit up as he greeted them happily. Now it was four against one, with a giant dragon and a giant eagle assisting—a completely overwhelming advantage.
"Thank you for holding out for so long!" Galadriel said to Luke with a gentle smile. Elrond also regarded him with appreciation.
Luke waved a modest hand. "Apart from a few setbacks along the way, there weren't any major incidents. It lived up to our expectations."
Gandalf concluded his greetings and asked the two, "How did things fare, Lord Elrond?"
Elrond smiled and nodded. "Things went smoothly. The Ents breached Isengard and eliminated the Wargs and enhanced Orcs secretly bred there. With the help of the dragon Smaug and the giant eagle Sulond, Lady Galadriel and I successfully entered Orthanc and sealed it off, temporarily entrusting its care to the Ents." He then looked at Saruman with a stern expression, produced a crystal stone that exuded an evil aura, and presented it for Saruman to see. "Saruman, you recognize this crystal, do you not? Lady Galadriel and I found it in your secret chamber. We also saw the Wargs and Orcs you bred there, as well as the blueprints you secretly studied for the Ring of Power. What more do you have to say now?"
Upon seeing this, Saruman knew he was fully exposed and had no room for argument. His face was dark and ugly, but he remained wary of them. "When did you know I was a traitor?"
"When you first made contact with Sauron, Luke had already foreseen your betrayal, but we had no evidence then and had always hoped we were wrong." Galadriel stood on the dragon's back, disappointment in her deep, beautiful eyes. "But in the end, you still disappointed us."
"So you knew all along and were secretly searching for evidence?" Saruman suddenly realized, looking at Luke with a complicated and resentful gaze. "I truly underestimated you. I never expected you to possess the ability to predict the future. My plans have been thwarted again and again! Was this all planned for today? You used this boy as bait to lure me out of Orthanc, then cut off my escape route?"
"Unfortunately, that's not quite the case," Luke said, shaking his head playfully. "But I'm not going to tell you. After all, I know the lesson that villains die from talking too much!" As Saruman stood bewildered, Luke suddenly shouted to Smaug, "Smaug, kill him!" and simultaneously cast the Killing Curse himself. He had been forced to the brink of death several times by Saruman earlier, and now he could finally vent his anger.
What Luke hadn't told Saruman was that when he passed Isengard before, he felt a pair of eyes watching him, a feeling of being spied upon that only dissipated when he reached the White Mountains. At first, Luke thought it was Sauron; after all, Sauron had previously attempted to spy on and corrupt him with the Palantir. But he soon realized it was Saruman using the Palantir to observe him.
Luke had long been wary of Saruman, and when he saw him suddenly spying, he knew his intentions were not good. It wasn't until Saruman attacked him with lightning from a distance that Luke knew he was no match and immediately used his Patronus to inform Gandalf, Elrond, and the others, which led to the subsequent series of events.
At this time, hearing Luke's words, Smaug immediately spewed scorching dragon fire towards Saruman. The intense flames forced Saruman to raise his staff in defense, while simultaneously remaining alert to his surroundings, seeking an escape route. Seeing this, the others also sighed and immediately joined the battle to besiege Saruman.
Elrond, wielding the elven sword, chose close combat. The long sword in his hand demonstrated great power, not only deflecting magical attacks but also shattering incoming fireballs with a single strike.
"Saruman, surrender!" Gandalf waved his staff, sending a magical shockwave towards Saruman. His voice resonated like thunder around them. "As long as you lay down your weapons, we will not attack you further."
"Surrender? Dream on!" Saruman sneered, continuing his stubborn resistance. He unleashed a burst of powerful magic, and the gem on his staff shot a dazzling beam of light straight into the sky. The next second, an ancient spell was chanted from his mouth. The sky abruptly shifted, darkening instantly. Thick thunderclouds surged overhead, and then, like a collapsing pool of thunder, countless bolts fell from the sky, striking everyone.
Luke's face changed drastically. He had already estimated Saruman's strength, but he hadn't expected it to still exceed his expectations. Such terrifying thunder made even Elrond and Gandalf look solemn. Not to mention the trembling giant eagle Sulond and the dragon Smaug. Faced with the terrifying, seemingly divine punishment of the thunder, Sulond and Smaug were instinctively afraid, feeling that a direct hit would result in serious injury, if not death! However, at this moment, Lady Galadriel stepped forward.
She raised her slender right hand as if supporting the sky, and the Water Ring Narya emerged, releasing a brilliant light that formed a huge, transparent, film-like shield, protecting them, Smaug, and Sulond. Countless lightning bolts descended like sharp arrows, striking the protective shield and erupting with terrifying explosive force.
The thunder summoned by Saruman was a cataclysmic force, akin to a world-ending storm. Rocks crumbled, trees ignited, and the surrounding landscape was utterly charred. This terrifying spectacle was the full might of Saruman the White. Luke, observing from within the protective barrier, couldn't help but feel a profound shock.
Fortunately, Saruman's initial intent was merely to capture him, and his overconfidence meant he hadn't yet unleashed his full power. Otherwise, Luke recognized, he would likely be in grave peril now.
However, such horrifying power was rendered inert when confronted by Galadriel, the most formidable elf in Middle-earth. Wielding the power of her Ring of Water, Nenya, she conjured a vast, ethereal barrier of water, effortlessly repelling countless lightning strikes. She stood unyielding, as if impervious to the raging storm.
When Saruman beheld the shimmering ring on Galadriel's hand, his face contorted with fear and envy. His very collusion with Sauron stemmed from his desire to acquire the art of forging Rings of Power, aiming to create one more potent than the Three Elven Rings, perhaps even rivaling the One Ring itself. He was the sole wizard among the five who voluntarily came to Middle-earth, tasked with aiding its peoples against Sauron and the dark forces. Yet, when Círdan the Shipwright bestowed the Ring of Fire upon Gandalf instead of him, resentment and jealousy began to fester. Subsequently, Galadriel convened the wisest beings in Middle-earth to form the White Council, nominating Gandalf as its leader.
Though Gandalf declined, recommending Saruman in his stead, Saruman felt no gratitude. Instead, he perceived Gandalf as a hypocrite. Especially as he witnessed Gandalf, Galadriel, and Elrond naturally forge a close alliance due to their shared possession of the Three Elven Rings, Saruman felt increasingly isolated, and the jealousy and resentment in his heart steadily intensified. It could be argued that Saruman's betrayal was not an isolated event, but rather the culmination of long-standing grievances. Even without Sauron's direct influence, Saruman and the other members of the White Council would likely have drifted apart.
"Saruman, Isengard has been conquered. You have no escape. Cease your resistance and accept your punishment!"
Elrond, too, drew upon the power of the Ring of Air, Vilya, summoning powerful winds to disperse the thunderclouds in the sky. Gandalf also invoked the power of the Ring of Fire, Narya, to bolster his allies and diminish Saruman's magical resistance. For the first time in history, the Three Rings of the Elves were utilized in concert, solely to confront the formidable Saruman the White.
"Hmph, you may wield the Three Rings of the Elves, but I am hardly inferior!" Saruman sneered, then produced a golden ring from his robes and slipped it onto his finger. At first glance, the ring bore a striking resemblance to the One Ring, almost identical. This shocked Luke, Gandalf, and the others, who momentarily feared Saruman had acquired the One Ring! Then they remembered that the One Ring was safely kept by Tom Bombadil . Gandalf regularly visited Tom's house to ensure its safety and that Tom hadn't lost or forgotten it.
After donning the golden ring, Saruman's aura intensified dramatically. The thunderclouds that Elrond's storm had dispersed now re-gathered, becoming even larger and more expansive than before. The sky plunged into darkness, thick black clouds obscuring the sun. The land for hundreds of miles around became dim, and even from thousands of miles away, the terrifying thunderstorm would be visible.
Saruman flaunted the golden ring on his finger, declaring proudly, "This is a creation I have crafted with my heart and soul. It is as magnificent as your Three Rings of the Elves, and indeed, more perfect and powerful! Even if all of you unite, you will never defeat me!"
Gandalf, Elrond, and Galadriel all adopted grave and solemn expressions. The creation of the Three Rings of the Elves was not driven by ambitions of conquest or rule, but rather by a desire for understanding, creation, and healing; thus, the pursuit was not for ultimate power. However, when Saruman forged his Ring of Power, he entirely disregarded the inherent qualities of the Three Elven Rings, instead prioritizing raw might. Consequently, the power emanating from Saruman's Ring of Power seemed to eclipse that of the Three Elven Rings. Saruman activated his Ring of Power, unleashing a potent magical shockwave that directly assaulted them. Simultaneously, countless lightning bolts from the sky continuously struck down, threatening to reduce everyone to ashes.
The water barrier erected by Lady Galadriel gradually diminished under the relentless bombardment of thunder and Saruman's attacks. Gandalf also deployed the power of the Ring of Fire to erect a shield, assisting in the defense. Elrond and Luke were tasked with the offense. Elrond, with his elven sword, cleaved through Saruman's magical assault, engaging him in close combat. Luke, meanwhile, used Apparition to constantly flash around Saruman, disrupting him while cooperating with Elrond's attacks. However, Saruman was clearly no easy opponent.
Despite his aged appearance, his fighting prowess was exceptional, his body incredibly agile. While constantly guarding against Luke's surprise attacks, he also wielded his staff as a weapon to block Elrond's strikes, even unleashing shockwaves from its head to repel Elrond.
"Confringo!" Luke apparated behind Saruman, casting a spell directly at him. Simultaneously, Elrond attacked Saruman head-on, slashing with his elven sword. For a moment, Saruman was assailed from both sides. If he chose to resist Elrond's sword, his back would be vulnerable to Luke's spell. Conversely, he would be struck by Elrond's blade. However, Saruman would obviously accept neither. The golden ring on his hand conjured a fiery shield that enveloped him, blocking both attacks.
"Haha, your efforts are futile! I am the greatest Wizard, Saruman the White! No one can defeat me!" Saruman bellowed wildly, and the flaming shield instantly expanded, burning directly towards Elrond and Luke.
At this critical juncture, the giant dragon Smaug suddenly clamped his jaws around Saruman and his shield. While biting the shield fiercely, scorching dragon flames erupted from Smaug's throat, threatening to incinerate Saruman. Saruman was caught off guard, instantly trapped within the dragon's maw.
"Damn dragon!" Saruman roared in fury. He swiftly used his staff as a brace to force open the dragon's jaws and quickly unleashed a bolt of lightning. As the lightning exploded inside the dragon's mouth, Smaug let out a pained shriek, instantly losing his fighting capacity. Saruman managed to escape from the dragon's mouth, though he now looked disheveled, his beard, hair, and robes singed by the dragon's flames.
"Smaug!" Luke cried out, concerned for the dragon. However, he couldn't spare a moment. He flashed directly behind Saruman, gathering his utmost malice, and cast a dark spell.
"Crucio!"
Saruman reacted quickly, but the Cruciatus Curse wasn't pure magical destruction; it was torture for both mind and body. The Cruciatus Curse passed through Saruman's staff and acted directly upon Saruman, instantly contorting his face into a hideous mask as he shrieked in agony. But Saruman's will was incredibly strong. Even under the torment of the Cruciatus Curse, he remained conscious.
He used all his strength to activate his staff, releasing a dazzling magical shockwave that blasted both Luke and Elrond away. At the same time, he conjured two lightning bolts to strike them. Luke used Apparition mid-air to evade the lightning, reappearing beside Elrond the next second and pulling him back to Galadriel and Gandalf.
"Saruman possesses a Ring of Power, and he's far more formidable than any of us individually," Elrond stated seriously. "We must first disperse the dark clouds in the sky and prevent him from using lightning before he can attack!"
Galadriel nodded in agreement, saying, "Elrond, your Ring of Air controls the weather. Only you can disperse these thunderclouds. I will focus on defense to prevent Saruman from disrupting you."
Gandalf added, "I will assist you!" As he spoke, Gandalf continuously channeled the power of the Ring of Fire into Elrond's body, enhancing his spiritual strength. Unable to directly assist with the weather magic, Luke declared, "Then I will be responsible for distracting Saruman." He then used Apparition to flash around from various angles, making it difficult for Saruman to contend with.
Elrond raised his left hand, bearing the Ring of Air, and chanted an ancient Quenya spell with a serious expression. His voice was low and mysterious, echoing between heaven and earth. The surrounding wind elements heeded his call, stirring into a storm that finally condensed into a mighty tornado.
The tornado grew in size, its immense roar deafening, making it impossible to hear anything nearby. Huge rocks were torn from the ground, and tall trees were uprooted. Fortunately, Luke and the others were within Lady Galadriel's magic barrier and were not swept away by the tornado, though their robes flapped wildly, and they could barely open their eyes.
Saruman, directly outside the magic barrier and facing the brunt of the assault, his face changed. As the tornado bore down on him, Saruman clenched his staff with both hands and plunged it into the ground. His entire body seemed rooted, and though caught in the eye of the tornado, appearing precarious and on the verge of being swept away, he remained firmly anchored to the earth, unblown by the wind.
The tornado grew larger and larger, like a colossal dragon surging into the sky, piercing the clouds, then, like a dragon drinking water, it began to tear the surrounding thunderclouds into shreds, sucking them into its vortex. For a moment, it appeared as though a vast hole had been torn in the sky.
The thunderclouds, continuously absorbed into the tornado, flashed with internal lightning. Eventually, all the dark clouds were swept away, leaving a clear blue sky. The sun once again illuminated the entire earth. The tornado, which had resembled a sky-piercing pillar, rapidly disintegrated and vanished. The huge rocks and trees that had been swept up were now pulverized into dust, settling back to the ground.
Without the aid of thunderclouds and lightning, Galadriel and Gandalf were finally able to free their hands and join forces with Luke and Elrond to deal with Saruman.
"Saruman, you no longer possess the strength to resist. Surrender!" Galadriel's beautiful face held a majestic, unyielding quality; her voice carried an irresistible power, and her long, silver-gold hair radiated a potent aura.
"Surrender?" Saruman sneered, his deep, gloomy eyes mocking Galadriel, Elrond, Gandalf, and Luke. "You cannot force me to surrender!"
He unleashed his "bewitching power," a primal force derived from his Maiar essence. His eyes pulsed with spiritual suggestion, and his voice resonated with enchanting magic. "Please set aside your hostility, my friends! I am not your enemy; this is merely a misunderstanding! This world yearns for order, and I am merely striving to make it a better place..."
Luke felt a sudden trance, the figure of Saruman before him appearing impossibly tall, his hostility sharply diminishing. Saruman's voice echoed in his mind, full of an irresistible charm, compelling him to listen. He fought desperately against the influence, using his last reserves of willpower to cast a spell to block his hearing. But it was in vain; Saruman's voice did not merely enter through the ears but silently invaded the mind with invisible spiritual power, attempting to sway will and thought.
Not only Luke, but Galadriel, Gandalf, and Elrond all wore worried frowns. Saruman's voice was like a symphony of curses, the sound itself materializing, no longer mere words but a direct magical assault. "Don't heed his words; only lies reside in his voice!" Gandalf's voice boomed in Luke's ears like thunder. "He is weaving shadows in our minds. His voice magic must be interrupted!" Elrond also warned seriously, his brow furrowed, maintaining his mental focus.
Saruman's voice couldn't corrupt the will of Gandalf and the others, but it persistently fragmented their thoughts like a cacophony, shattering their concentration. Worse still, the dragon Smaug and the giant eagle Sulond were clearly being manipulated. They turned and attacked Gandalf and the others. As for Luke, due to his master's command and their magical contract, Smaug couldn't attack him, leaving Luke unharmed. But this sudden internal conflict instantly shifted the dynamics of the battle.
Gandalf and Elrond were both concerned about harming Smaug and Sulond, being Luke's companions, so they refrained from using full force and could only passively defend themselves. Galadriel was forced to cast a barrier, slowing Saruman's magical voice while simultaneously deflecting the attacks from Smaug and Sulond. Luke, grappling with a headache, immediately employed the music magic Tom had taught him. The cheerful magical melody counteracted some of Saruman's enchanting voice. However, due to the disparity in their powers, Luke's music magic gradually began to falter.
But then, Galadriel and the others' eyes lit up. Gandalf promptly channeled the power of the Ring of Fire into Luke, enhancing his spiritual strength. Galadriel and Elrond also passed on the power of their respective rings to him, augmenting his magical power. In an instant, golden notes floated across the wilderness, evolving from a solo into a joyful and magnificent symphony!
The music, imbued with positive and uplifting power, overwhelmed Saruman's magical voice, gradually nullifying it until his voice lost all magical effect. Smaug and the giant eagle Sulond, freed from Saruman's control, regained consciousness and immediately ceased their attacks.
To Saruman, however, this joyful music sounded like an unbearable, harsh noise, causing him great discomfort. "Enough! Enough! Stop this racket!" Saruman angrily covered his ears, clearly agitated.
Faced with repeated setbacks, Saruman began to retreat. He chanted dark spells over his long-dead mount, the wolf. The warg's carcass was consumed by dark magic, becoming grotesque and hideous, emanating a dark aura as it reanimated like a zombie. Saruman then mounted the reanimated warg, turning and fleeing eastward. With his stronghold, Isengard, now captured, he couldn't return to walk into another trap, leaving his only recourse to escape eastward, towards Mordor or even further.
"After him!"
Gandalf, astride his broom, pursued him. Elrond and Galadriel also mounted the giant eagle Sulond and the dragon Smaug, respectively. Luke simply Apparated to keep pace, constantly flashing around Saruman, casting spells to slow his escape. Flying is always faster than running on the ground, so Gandalf, Elrond, and Galadriel soon caught up, forming an aerial pincer movement around Saruman.
Saruman, furious, raised his staff, unleashing lightning and fireballs as he fled. He also conjured a storm once more, aiming to diminish the advantage of their aerial pursuit. The chase spanned across the plains of Rohan. Galadriel primarily shielded their group from Saruman's attacks, while Luke, Gandalf, and Elrond focused their siege.
Knowing he was the weakest, Luke avoided direct confrontation, instead constantly appearing to assist and distract Saruman. Elrond and Gandalf pursued him head-on, Elrond engaging in close combat while Gandalf used his staff to counter Saruman's magical energies. Lightning, fire, and explosions erupted along their path.
When they cornered Saruman at the banks of the River Ent in Rohan, Elrond directly summoned a flood from upstream, transforming it into a torrent of water-forms to block Saruman's path. "Saruman, you have nowhere left to escape!" Gandalf's voice thundered, and he unleashed a bolt of lightning at Saruman. Saruman raised his hand, and a counter-lightning bolt shot forth. The two bolts collided mid-air, exploding into countless dazzling electric lights that temporarily blinded them.
"Expelliarmus!" Luke appeared behind Saruman and cast the spell directly. Saruman was caught off guard; a powerful force struck his hand, and his staff flew from his grasp. Luke flashed again, caught Saruman's staff, and retreated. Without his spell-casting staff, Saruman's threat was significantly reduced. Gandalf then used a magical shockwave to propel Saruman into the River Ent. Elrond controlled the river's waters, fashioning a massive whirlpool that trapped Saruman, spinning him relentlessly, allowing him no chance to struggle.
"Saruman, you have already lost!" Gandalf declared. "Surrender. As we were allies in the past, we will not harm you. We will simply imprison you. When all this is over, if you can truly repent of your mistakes, you may be forgiven and return to the West."
Saruman thrashed in the water, but his defiance remained. He sneered, "I am not wrong! I merely desire power. What fault lies in pursuing power? The age of the gods has passed. Why should I return to the West and continue to be a slave? Just because they are born stronger than us, we should become their servants, letting them drive us around? I wish to remain in this world and rule it!"
Gandalf frowned upon hearing Saruman's words. He had initially believed Saruman was simply bewitched and corrupted by Sauron, but these words now revealed a deep-seated dissatisfaction with the Valar, clearly indicating long-held grievances. This defiance of the Valar's will unsettled Gandalf, who remained loyal to them.
But Luke suddenly regarded Saruman with a different perspective. This world had clear class divisions. Beyond Ilúvatar, the unique and supreme creator god, came the Ainur, born from Ilúvatar's consciousness. The Ainur were the divine beings who assisted Ilúvatar in creating the world. The most powerful Ainur were called the Valar, considered the primary gods.
The weaker Ainur were the Maiar, responsible for assisting the Valar and maintaining the world's operation. Among them, Morgoth, as the most powerful Valar, was the first to rebel against Ilúvatar. He united a group of Maiar, including Sauron, and launched a rebellion against Ilúvatar's Pantheon. After Morgoth's defeat, Sauron, the most powerful of the Maiar, became the second to rebel. Then there was Saruman before them, also expressing discontent with the pantheon.
However, whether it was Morgoth, Sauron, or Saruman, their rebellion wasn't fundamentally against pantheon itself, but rather a dissatisfaction with their own status, desiring to overturn the order and replace the gods to rule and dominate the world. So, while Luke now saw Saruman differently, it didn't lessen his dislike for him.
He stated directly, "Don't waste any more time talking to him. To avoid any accidents, just kill him directly!" As he spoke, he raised his staff, ready to strike Saruman once he received consent from the others.
Saruman, still in the river, showed no fear. Instead, he smiled sarcastically and, like a curse, uttered, "I have seen your pursuit and desire for power, and the dark deeds you perform. Wielding dark magic, I truly look forward to the day you fall into darkness. By then, you will become enemies with your current allies, just like me."
The others looked at Luke with concern, fearing he might be influenced by Saruman's words. But Luke appeared unperturbed, sneering calmly. "I am pursuing power, but I only wish to strengthen myself so I can protect myself and those I care about. As for your so-called ambitions of ruling the world, I have no interest in them whatsoever. So you needn't expect me to fall into darkness one day, because to me, light and darkness are like the day and night of this world of Arda—neither can be absent."
Saruman was momentarily stunned, suspecting Luke was lying. But then he looked at Luke's determined expression and mental resolve, and suddenly he couldn't comprehend. In his view, the pursuit of power was synonymous with ruling the world. Who would seek strength merely for strength's sake? Isn't that like parading in embroidered attire at night, carrying treasures and wandering in a foreign land? Why then pursue power at all?
At this, Gandalf, Galadriel, and Elrond understood Luke's ambition for the first time. They were surprised but also filled with admiration. Luke, unwilling to waste more time with Saruman, cast a spell directly at him: "Expelliarmus!" The spell struck Saruman.
"No! My precious! Give it back to me!"
With Saruman's look of shock and anger, the Ring of Power on his finger flew off and landed on the shore. Luke ignored Saruman's roar, carefully picked up the golden ring with his wand, and examined this Ring of Power, as formidable as the Three Elven Rings.