Chapter 65: The Fuling Potion is Really That Effective
The Black-robed Man paused slightly, and the icy killing intent around him receded considerably.
"A Wizard's duel?
Alright, I accept."
As soon as the Black-robed Man finished speaking, his body trembled involuntarily, and a pleading voice echoed in his mind, "Master, we don't need to waste time on these two.
Kill them quickly, that Unicorn..."
"Shut up, it's not your place to tell me what to do." The Black-robed Man snarled, and the voice in his mind instantly fell silent.
"What's wrong with you?" Aaron pondered, his gaze filled with confusion.
"Nothing, let's begin when you're ready!"
"Wait!" Aaron took a deep breath and pulled a small, transparent vial from his pocket.
Felix Felicis, after drinking it, one would have good luck for twelve hours.
He had always been reluctant to use this item, but now was absolutely the most opportune moment, because using it increased his chances of escape, and if he didn't, he might never have another chance.
After taking a small sip, Aaron carefully put the bottle away.
"What is that?"
"A magic replenishing potion, I paid a hefty price to have someone concoct it.
However, it's only useful for those below Advanced Magician level." Aaron spoke nonsense with a straight face, then pretended to be generous and took the bottle out again, "Do you need it?
If you do, just say so, don't be shy, Wizard duels are all about fairness.
Although you far surpass me in age, magic, knowledge, and experience, I don't mind giving you a little more advantage."
The Black-robed Man was stunned, frozen for several seconds.
To be honest, he suspected that the bottle didn't contain a magic replenishing potion.
But Aaron's words made it awkward for him to ask again.
Even the mighty Dark Lord had his pride; since the other party had wagered his family's honor, he absolutely couldn't be stingy, at least he couldn't suspect him of cheating in a duel.
Besides, the strength of the Gaius Family had always been a mystery, but Aaron was just a twelve-year-old child; what kind of treasure could he possess?
Even if he had something, he might not be interested.
Unless it was something that could replenish vitality and solve his current urgent problem, it wouldn't be worth him losing face to act.
But when Aaron drank that substance just now, he couldn't feel any life force at all, confirming that it was of no help to him.
"No, I don't need it."
"You don't need it?" Aaron breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, but his expression grew more serious, "I apologize for my behavior just now."
"Don't stall, let's begin!" The Black-robed Man's tone also stabilized, "I have important business to attend to after I'm done with you!"
"Alright." Aaron said, lowering his wand in front of him as a sign of respect.
But as soon as he completed the gesture, he looked at the Black-robed Man before him with a hint of anger, "You insult me, where is your wand?"
"Do you think I can still use a wand in my current state?" The Black-robed Man said, "Don't underestimate me, I still know how to cast magic without a wand."
It was a joke; he was currently possessing someone else's body, and if he used a wand, wouldn't that person be exposed?
Unless he killed these two people and that magical creature—whatever it was—tonight, there would be endless trouble, possibly even affecting his subsequent plans.
But Aaron truly gave him a long-lost feeling of being pleasantly surprised; it would be too much of a pity for him to die.
He still wanted to subdue him, and the first step to subduing this young Wizard was to defeat him with absolute power.
Genius were all arrogant, but genius could also be impressed by other genius.
The Dark Lord was very confident in his personal charisma, and although he was barely clinging to life now, he believed his return was only a matter of time.
However, not all of his former followers might be reliable, and he needed to cultivate new blood.
"Never mind, let's continue!" Aaron lowered his wand and slowly retreated.
In a formal duel, both parties needed to walk to opposite ends of the arena before combat could begin, and they were currently in a small clearing, which could barely serve as a dueling platform.
The Black-robed Man valued such dueling etiquette, which Aaron hadn't expected, but this gave him more opportunities.
As Aaron retreated, he casually removed the ring from his left hand.
The moment he reached the second to last step was the best time for a surprise attack; at that point, the opponent would be most alert, but also most caught off guard.
Aaron was certain that the arrogant Dark Lord would never expect him to play such a trick, especially since his previous performance had been so deceptive, full of acting.
Although the methods were somewhat shameful, life was paramount.
Among the ancestral teachings summarized by the ancestors of the Gaius Family, there was this one: Nothing is more important than life; sometimes, for the sake of life, one can resort to any means.
Although he didn't know which ancestor's famous quote it was, completely unrelated to honor or anything similar, he particularly liked its directness.
Especially at this moment, this sentence was simply the truth.
Being alive still offered a chance to turn things around, but if he died, let alone turning things around, he wouldn't even have a coffin lid.
If the opponent could bully the younger, couldn't he also disregard martial ethics?
There were seven, six, five steps left to the edge of the clearing... Aaron's heart was in his throat; the ring on his left hand had already been removed, and the magic energy within him was being replenished frantically, but he dared not be careless in the slightest.
Finally, at the second to last step, Aaron quickly raised his wand, ready to unleash a full-powered "Bone-Shattering" spell at the Black-robed Man.
If he missed, he would turn and run; having created a little distance now, he could run a few more steps.
But if he was lucky enough to hit, he would have to follow up with a few more blows, then flee.
He had chugged Felix Felicis before the battle precisely for this moment.
"Aaron, Hermione, are you there?"
Hagrid's voice suddenly came from not far away, his massive body moving quickly, crashing through the low bushes with a crackling sound.
Behind him followed an exhausted Harry, Ron, and Draco.
At the same time, Aaron also cast a Bone-Shattering Curse, which landed squarely on the Black-robed Man's body.
However, upon hearing Hagrid's voice, he had timely reined in some of his power, not unleashing his true potential.
"Ah!"
A shrill scream rang out; the Black-robed Man felt immense Pain! but dared not linger for a moment, flying rapidly in the opposite direction, quickly disappearing into the night.
Aaron looked at this scene somewhat bewildered, thinking that the effect of Felix Felicis was perhaps a bit too good!
He should have taken a sip before entering the Forbidden Forest; perhaps he wouldn't have even encountered this Black-robed Man.
"Where is he?" Hagrid asked breathlessly, his crossbow already poised.
"Does that even need asking? Of course he ran away!"
"Are you two alright?"
"What do you think?
If I hadn't thought quickly enough and stalled for so much time, who knows if both of us would have been dead." Aaronsaid grumpily, "Of course, I might not have died, but Hermione definitely wouldn't have survived."
Hearing this, Hagrid couldn't help but feel a little guilty.
It was his idea to split up, but he hadn't anticipated such a high level of danger.
When he saw two flames appear above the Forbidden Forest, he started rushing towards them frantically, encountering a fleeing Malfoy halfway.
After learning that there was a strange man in black robes sucking Unicorn blood here, his speed increased significantly, but this was the Forbidden Forest after all, and after two falls, he had to limit his speed.
"I'm sorry." Hagrid said shamefacedly, "I shouldn't have split you up; that way, at least you wouldn't have encountered danger."
"No, Hagrid, it has nothing to do with you." Hermionecomforted, "No one expected such a monster in the Forbidden Forest."
"I warned him.
I said there were uncertain factors in the Forbidden Forestrecently, and we shouldn't have come here tonight, but Hagrid didn't seem to take my words to heart."
"I'm sorry." The simple-minded Giant lowered his head again, "This is all my fault."
"Hmph! It should be your fault; if you hadn't been so headstrong, we wouldn't have encountered such danger.
Hagrid, you should be thankful there were no casualties, otherwise, you'd be spending the rest of your life in Azkaban!
Dumbledore might not even be able to protect you."
"Aaron, that's enough, Hagrid already knows he was wrong." Hermione said, feeling a little sorry for him.
"Hey! Hermione, don't forget who saved you.
And we just narrowly escaped death, can't I complain a little?
If Fang hadn't sneezed, we might have gotten away unscathed.
If you hadn't suddenly..."
At this point, Aaron suddenly paused; he was afraid that if he continued, a certain girl would start crying again.
"In short, tonight was unusually exciting, but all of this could have been avoided."
The others exchanged glances, then nodded noncommittally.
"By the way, where's the Unicorn?" Hagrid asked, "Malfoysaid you found it."
"We found it, but..." Hermione bit her lip, "Hagrid, you need to prepare yourself; I'm afraid that poor creature no longer has any life left."