Consider the Western wizarding world first. Ordinary wizards possessed no idea what was truly happening, but they could sense a dramatic shift in the atmosphere.
The Cavendish family in Britain had been unusually active; wizards bearing their distinctive crest were observed on every street corner, expressions grim and movements urgent with purpose.
The same proved true in Germany. The Cavendish branch, the Ministry of Magic, and various affiliated groups were all on high alert.
Aside from the common populace, every wizard in Germany seemed to be frantically busy preparing for something.
In France, the Ministry and the pure-blood families followed suit with similar mobilizations.
In the United States, after the Demos family's catastrophic fall, the remaining pure-blood families had sworn fealty to the Cavendishes.
A month ago, the Cavendishes issued a call to arms across the States, demanding manpower and resources. The American pure-bloods were initially baffled and resistant—these wizards represented their families' core strength, their greatest treasures.
However, after the Cavendishes casually obliterated two defiant families, the rest fell into line immediately. They began recruiting dutifully, understanding that compliance was preferable to annihilation.
Beyond these major powers, smaller nations mobilized under the Cavendishes' banner. In a heartbeat, the entire Western wizarding world was thrown into coordinated turmoil.
The East was experiencing no different circumstances. Kunlun remained at the forefront of crisis management.
The disciples were working round the clock without rest. The national protective wards had systematically malfunctioned, leading to a catastrophic surge of monsters and supernatural incidents across China.
A recent incident in a remote village saw a lightning bolt strike a fresh grave, unleashing a vengeful spirit centuries old—an entity rivaling an elite Auror in raw combat strength.
There wasn't just one such incident; there were hordes.
Even the senior Elders had descended the mountain to assist the exhausted disciples.
This chaos was entirely due to the Resurgence of the Dragon Vein. Its return had massive impact, destabilizing the national wards and causing these chaotic incidents to spike dramatically.
The Kunlun Sect Leader was suffering terribly under the strain. He had contacted Erwin several times; they were on the absolute brink of collapse.
Finally, two days ago, he received a reply: the entire Cavendish forces would deploy to China. It served a two-fold purpose: preparation for war and aid to stabilize the region.
The Sect Leader agreed immediately; the plan had been set from the start.
Back at Hogwarts, only two weeks of the term remained. The wizarding world was behaving strangely. Diagon Alley was practically deserted, as were the streets of other nations.
The Western wizarding populace, including Ministry employees, had seemingly vanished. Ordinary people in China were baffled by the sudden influx of "foreign tourists," even in remote villages, completely unaware that a storm was brewing.
Meanwhile, Erwin remained in the Room of Requirement, utterly oblivious to the outside world.
Time flew by. Another ten days passed. With less than a week until the holidays, the young wizards were beaming with anticipation. The professors, however, were losing their smiles, replaced by creeping tension.
Three days before the holidays, the seventh-years left early, followed by the sixth and fifth years. All other magical schools did the same.
No one knew their destination, only that the professors had "other plans."
July 23rd, 1996. The Hogwarts holidays arrived.
At the farewell feast, Professor McGonagall offered standard holiday instructions before hurrying out. Professors Flitwick and Sprout followed immediately. Even Voldemort departed early, leaving Snape—who was caring for the pregnant Lily—to hold the fort.
The students in the Great Hall were baffled by the professors' abrupt exits. Only Hagrid remained to handle the aftermath.
The others were already en route to China.
The next day, the Hogwarts Express carried the students home.
In China, however, the atmosphere was electric.
All wizards, including Kunlun disciples, were stationed atop a mountain range known as Mount Li. It was an ordinary peak but famed in Chinese history as the final resting place of the First Emperor, Emperor Zheng Qin.
The entire province had been evacuated under military control.
The Kunlun Sect Leader stood alongside Dumbledore and Grindelwald—everyone except Snape. He turned to Old Tom, his brow furrowed.
"It is almost time. Has Erwin not emerged?"
Old Tom stood firm. "The Master will make it."
The Sect Leader sighed, looking down at the mountain. "I wonder if we are rebelling against the Heavenly Order. These are the ancestors of our land."
Old Tom remained silent. Since learning the identity of their enemy, he too had questioned if they were unfilial descendants turning against heaven.
Suddenly, the ground trembled violently.
The Sect Leader's expression froze. "It has begun! The Dragon Vein can no longer be suppressed!"
As if summoned by his words, the earth cracked open. From all directions, countless spectral dragons of every color rose from the earth, piercing the sky with mournful cries.