Chapter 64: Escaping is also a skill
"Actually, we can talk." Aaron feigned calmness. "I've already sent a signal, Hagrid will be here soon, so…"
"So, you want me to let you go?"
"No, what I mean is, if you surrender, I can spare your life in the name of the Gaius Family.
I think the Ministry of Magic will give our family that much face. You won't have to go to Azkaban; you can retire in a more normal prison."
"Interesting." The hoarse voice spoke again. The Black-robed Man seemed to have gained some interest in Aaron, moving a few steps forward. "You don't seem to understand your current situation."
"Actually, I understand perfectly." Aaron acted very calmly. His free left hand made a swirling gesture behind his back. Abey, who had been acting like a transparent bystander, immediately turned and sprinted away when he saw it.
Just as the Black-robed Man noticed the change, Aarondiverted his attention, saying, "Two first-year Wizards facing a terrifying Dark Wizard would normally only have one path: death.
However, there's a variable now. Hagrid could arrive at any moment. I don't think you, in your half-dead state, would choose to fight a Wizard with Giant blood, would you?"
"You are very clever. Under the current circumstances, I will not provoke more enemies.
But I am confident I can eliminate one or two ants before he arrives." The Black-robed Man sneered.
"Then try it!" Aaron said, emboldened.
He knew very well that under these circumstances, he absolutely couldn't show fear, or he'd be finished if the opponent seized the opportunity.
Hoping for the Dark Lord's mercy was impossible.
Even if he were merciful, it would only be under normal physical and mental conditions.
But he had already degenerated to the point of drinking Unicorn blood to sustain his life, meaning his mind was twisted and perverted to the extreme.
Compassion? Absolutely no chance.
"You have guts." The Black-robed Man continued to advance slowly, but after a few steps, he stopped because a white wand had appeared in Aaron's left hand. This made him hesitate and feel wary. He had encountered a genius!
No one understood the true value of a genius better than him, because he himself was a genius, and he knew a genius's capabilities very well.
His experience in the Magical World could rank in the top ten. He had seen many wandless spellcasters, and he himself was one of them, but this was the first time he had seen someone capable of using two wands simultaneously.
Multitasking, this talent was extremely rare, but it was undeniable that those with such a talent possessed immense potential.
His current condition was extremely poor; to describe it as barely clinging to life would not be an exaggeration. If he were to suffer a setback in this gutter, it would be too humiliating.
"Hahaha! I didn't expect to misjudge someone.
I originally thought you were just an excellent but ordinary student, but now it seems the word 'excellent' no longer suits you.
So young, yet you know how to hide your abilities. Very good, that's a good habit."
"Should I say thank you for the compliment?"
"You can go, but she must stay."
Hermione shivered, trembling as she took out her wand, desperately recalling offensive spells in her mind.
Waiting passively for death—no one would choose that path except those who despaired of life. If you had to fight, you had to fight.
"Why?" Aaron asked, puzzled. "She's just an ordinary Wizard, the kind whose parents are Muggles."
"She is useless, but you are not." The Black-robed Man said meaningfully, his voice full of temptation. "You are exceptionally gifted, with an unlimited future and immense value.
I want you to choose the right path, but this requires a small catalyst."
Upon hearing this, Aaron looked deeply at Hermione, as if he had understood something.
Abandoning a companion and running away alone would surely lead to pangs of conscience later; this was the first step towards corruption.
When a good person feels guilty, if that hole in their mindisn't filled for a long time, they can only become a bad person.
"Holy crap! You're a pervert!
But you might be disappointed; even if I ran away, I'd only direct my hatred at you, and I wouldn't feel any guilt."
The Black-robed Man ignored him, merely asking, "Is it one person's life, or stay and die with her?"
"Uh…" Aaron rubbed his chin, frowning deeply. "That's a profound question. I need a moment to think."
"No problem, take your time." The Black-robed Man said, slowly walking towards Hermione.
"Stop." Aaron immediately pointed his wand at him. "Get back. Don't come any closer."
"Hmph! Isn't it a bit insulting to use such a method to stall for time?" The Black-robed Man's voice held more anger. "You'd better make your choice before I kill her, or you won't escape either."
"So, there's no room for negotiation?" Aaron said coldly. "Don't think I'm afraid of you.
No matter how influential you once were, now you're just a rat who relies on Unicorn blood to cling to life and doesn't even dare to show your face.
Honestly, I really don't take you seriously."
"You're asking for death." The Black-robed Man was enraged and turned to dart towards Aaron.
Just now, he had wanted to nurture Aaron well. With this young Wizard's aptitude, it wouldn't take long for him to stand on his own, become his right-hand man, his confidant.
But now he had changed his mind. No one had ever dared to insult him like this, never.
Before subjugating this genius, he still needed to suppress him. Being too arrogant was not a good thing.
"Now!" Aaron shouted loudly.
At his command, Abey, who had circled behind the Black-robed Man, quickly switched to combat mode and slapped the back of the opponent's head hard with a paw.
"Ah ah ah ah!"
An extremely shrill scream came from inside the black robe, echoing continuously through the Forbidden Forest.
"Abey, get out of the way.
Diffindo, Diffindo, Diffindo…"
Strike while the iron is hot. Aaron made a decisive move, both hands out, casting several spells while the opponent was wailing.
However, the Black-robed Man's reaction speed was much stronger than he had expected. He cast six spells consecutively, but the opponent dodged five of them; only the last one sent him flying into a tree.
But as the Black-robed Man said, his spells caused very limited damage to the Black-robed Man, at most making the opponent feel the Pain! of a tearing body, and that for only a very short time.
"Run, quickly run."
Aaron didn't care about anything else, directly grabbing Hermione's right hand and sprinting back in the direction they came from.
At this moment, he somewhat regretted why he had given the magic carpet to Professor McGonagall back then. Such a life-saving tool should always be carried with him in the future.
But the next moment, he threw that thought far away.
Because the Black-robed Man was chasing them by flying. He didn't need to watch the path, didn't need to worry about the vines, bushes, and various uneven grounds in the Forbidden Forest. His speed was significantly faster than Aaron's.
"Holy crab! That's cheating!" Aaron couldn't help but curse. "I must learn this flying magic in the future."
But seeing the Black-robed Man getting closer and closer, Aaron was anxious. He wished he had cast a few more spells on him just now; every second he could delay was a second gained.
Whoosh!
A rush of wind came, and Aaron felt a chill down his spine. He quickly pulled Hermione down into a crouch.
A black shadow swept over their heads. When they stood up, the Black-robed Man was already standing in front of them.
"Hahaha!" Aaron laughed awkwardly. "Actually, that was just a misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding? That hurt a lot!" The Black-robed Man sneered. "Should I cast a Diffindo on you too? No, a Bone-Shattering Curse would suit you better."
"Don't be so petty. A Dark Wizard like you must have been famous in the past. You shouldn't hold a grudge against a twelve-year-old child like me, right?"
"Your glib tongue won't save you.
Since you're unwilling to give up this girl's life, then you two shall die together!"
"I'm not that easy to kill." Aaron said very calmly. Ever since he knew he would face the Dark Lord, he had shamelessly asked his family for a life-saving magic item.
But that item was quite precious, and wasting it now would really be a loss, he was extremely reluctant.
"Is that so? I'm truly curious how you plan to save this Gryffindor."
Aaron was stunned, feeling a headache. He wasn't even sure he could survive running away alone, and now he had a huge burden.
"Hermione Granger!"
"Ah! I'm here."
"I'll buy you some time. In a moment, you need to run as fast as you can. Don't look back.
Can you do that?"
"I… No, I can't. How can I let you face him alone?"
Aaron: …Don't tease me. Do you really want me to call you a burden?
"Fine, then at least take my pet and hide to the side, alright?" Aaron said, giving Abey a wink: Don't worry yet, be ready to run at any moment.
Hermione nodded and was about to pick Abey up.
But the dragon, having suffered a huge loss once, naturally dodged her hand, proudly raising its head and crouching under a tree.
Hermione awkwardly withdrew her right hand, looked at Aaron worriedly, and also stood to the side.
"I'm curious, how do you plan to hold me back?" The Black-robed Man's voice was sinister, even a little impatient.
"I want to duel you, in the Wizard's way.
I'll stake the honor of the Gaius Family. If I lose, I'll give you my life.
But if I happen to win, you have to let us go." Aaron said righteously, ready to take off the ring on his left hand that sealed half of his magic power.
This was one of his trump cards, which he hadn't intended to reveal so early, but now he truly had no choice.
Whether this Dark Lord agreed or not, he had to take the opponent by surprise again. This was his last chance.