All eyes locked on Erwin, waiting for his next move. He'd come here to demonstrate his power, so he planned to handle this without relying on the other wizards if he could avoid it. As for the Protego Totalum shield...
This was his chance to cut loose.
Erwin stepped forward from the group, peering through the shimmering blue barrier at the Yaxley family members trapped inside. He raised his wand slowly.
The gesture caught everyone off guard—even those behind the shield.
"What the devil is he doing? Trying to crack that barrier alone?" one onlooker muttered.
"He's mad," another scoffed. "The lad's talented, but that's impossible solo."
"He's bitten off more than he can chew."
Lucius Malfoy and the others frowned, exchanging uneasy glances. Lucius sidled up to Erwin and murmured, "They're weak inside, but that shield's layered with heavy spells. One wizard can't punch through. Let's hit it together—we'll smash it in no time."
Erwin flashed a grin. "You reckon? Watch me."
In an instant, he struck. A bolt of purple light erupted from his wand, slamming into the blue barrier. It was the Killing Curse—or Avada Kedavra—though its unusual hue and silent cast left many none the wiser. Odd colors had a way of throwing people off.
The impact boomed like thunder. The barrier flared, absorbing the curse in a burst of light. All eyes fixed on the collision point.
"Tough shell," Erwin muttered, his voice icy.
The Yaxleys inside sneered. "Give it up, boy! You haven't got the chops to breach a Protego Totalum alone. Once reinforcements arrive, you're done for!"
Erwin's eyes narrowed. "That right? Then shatter!"
Magic surged from him in a torrent, his wand vibrating with the raw force. The purple beam swelled, thickening as it hammered the barrier again.
The Yaxleys faltered, eyeing the shield overhead with growing alarm. It held firm—at first. Their smirks returned, laced with scorn.
But then came the crack. Sharp and unmistakable.
Everyone froze, staring as a hairline fracture spiderwebbed from the impact site.
Crack. Crack.
More fissures raced across the surface. Seconds later, the entire blue dome exploded in a shower of sparks.
Erwin checked his reserves; he was nearly drained. Without the Dark Arts augmentations boosting the curse's potency, that "eggshell" might've held. Still, he'd done it.
As the barrier crumbled, he leveled his wand. "Take them down!"
The wizards—Selwyn family and allies alike—charged. Spells flew in a deadly barrage. The Yaxleys barely reacted; by the time the Selwyns closed in, the fight was over. Bodies lay still amid the debris.
Erwin shook his head at the carnage. Muggles had their firearms, but they paled against wizarding firepower. One-on-one, wizards dominated. Still, he needed to empower these families with some magic. Without it, they'd be sitting ducks in the next scrap.
Nurmengard suddenly felt like priority one. Did Grindelwald truly hold the key to awakening magic in Muggles?
He strode over the wreckage to the fallen Yaxleys, glancing down with a cold snort. Appetizer served—now for the main event.
Meanwhile, at Yaxley Manor, the family patriarch stirred groggily. Cornelius Fudge hovered nearby.
"You're up," Fudge said.
The old man nodded. "How'd I get here?"
"You passed out from the rage," Fudge replied. "I hauled you back myself. Time I was off—you've got to plan your next move. The Selwyns declared pure-blood war."
Memories flooded back, and Yaxley bellowed, "Someone!"
A subordinate rushed in. "Sir, you're awake!"
"Casualties?" Yaxley demanded.
"The raid hit like lightning—with Muggle guns. The manor's in ruins. Your eldest and second sons are dead, the third's wounded badly. Over thirty percent of the household... gone or maimed."
Yaxley's vision blurred; he nearly retched. "My boys! Those filthy Selwyns—I'll have their heads! Rally everyone. We're wiping out the Selwyns!"
Fudge inhaled sharply at the toll. Were Muggle weapons truly that devastating?
An owl swooped in then, dropping a letter into Fudge's hands. He scanned it, face paling.
"What's that?" Yaxley snapped.
"Malfoy and Parkinson just declared war on you too," Fudge stammered. "And your Diagon Alley shop—Erwin Cavendish shattered the wards single-handed. Your wizards there? All dead. A hundred strong are marching on the manor now."
Terror gripped Yaxley. "Bastards! They mean to end us!"
Fudge eyed the raging patriarch, shifting uncomfortably. "I'd best go. This mess could spark chaos—I need to alert the Ministry, keep the wizarding world from panicking."
He bolted without another word.
Yaxley glared at his retreating back, fury boiling. Fudge, the spineless turncoat—fleeing when the Yaxleys needed him most. Survive this, and there'd be a reckoning.
A subordinate hovered anxiously. "Sir? We can't hold off that many."
Yaxley snarled, "The Selwyns, Malfoys, Parkinsons—they think they'll crush us? Fools. Arm the able-bodied and raise the manor's defenses. I'll handle the rest."
...
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Bonus chapter progress:
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Every stone gets us closer.