Chapter 192: Conceited People Are Easier to Be Deceived
The magic circle emitted a white light, dispelling the gloom in the Chamber of Secrets.
But what was different was that this time, crimson flames also surged from the formation, and the magic power Aaron consumed was more than double what it had been in the past.
After the light dissipated, two magical creatures appeared in their original spots: a white Holy Dragon and a red Phoenix.
Abei flew to Aaron, flapping its wings as if seeking praise. "How was that? I found these powerful reinforcements."
"No wonder I was so tired!
But are you sure you found this Phoenix?" Aaron glanced at Fawkes, who had thrown the Sorting Hat in front of Harryand was now quietly perched on his shoulder, and his mouth twitched involuntarily. "I'm too embarrassed to call you out."
Just then, a rumbling sound came from above, and Salazar's statue opened its mouth wide, the clear sound of a Basiliskhissing reaching everyone's ears.
"Take Ginny and run, don't look back," Aaron said immediately. "Go to the barrier; as long as there's a rooster's crow, the Basilisk won't dare to approach."
"What about you?" Harry asked worriedly. "You can't fight the Basilisk alone."
"I have my ways." Aaron took a deep breath, extended his right hand into the air, and retrieved a silver longsword from a red magic circle.
"What are you standing around for, do you want to hold me back?
I've had professional training; I can fight with my eyes closed, but you can't."
The three immediately picked up the cold Ginny. At this moment, Fawkes flew off Harry's shoulder, its red form soaring straight to the ceiling.
"Come back, Fawkes!" Harry shouted anxiously. A Phoenix is magical, but he didn't think a Phoenix could fight a Basilisk; their size difference was too great.
However, the scene that followed completely overturned their understanding, leaving them dumbfounded.
Fawkes circled the Basilisk, unafraid to meet its gaze, completely immune to the Basilisk's magic.
The Basilisk, perched on Salazar's statue's shoulder, straightened its body, thicker than a tree trunk, and opened its mouth full of sharp fangs, angrily biting at Fawkes.
Fawkes, however, did not retreat but advanced, avoiding the venomous fangs and flying to the top of the Basilisk's head.
Its long golden beak pierced the Basilisk's green scales, pecking its head several times, and black blood splattered onto the ground from above.
The Basilisk was in excruciating pain, writhing its body constantly, falling from the high statue to the floor, making the ground tremble.
But Fawkes did not stop; its two claws plunged into the Basilisk's yellow eyes, tearing them into a bloody mess, making everyone present feel particularly nauseous.
But when they thought that the Basilisk was blind and its magic could no longer be used, a sense of relief welled up in their hearts.
Even without its eyes, the Basilisk still had its venomous fangs and massive body, but its deterrent power was greatly diminished; at least everyone had the courage to face it directly.
"No, get away from that bird, get away from that bird!" Riddleshrieked, somewhat angry at their lack of concern. He looked at the triumphant four, composing himself. "Don't celebrate too soon; even without its eyes, the Basilisk can still locate by sound and still smell you.
It can easily kill you."
"Eh? I have to say something about that; your 'you' doesn't include me.
I originally thought I'd have to fight the Basilisk blindfolded, but I didn't expect the difficulty to drop by more than half. I'm somewhat confident in dealing with a giant snake that can't see."
Riddle gnashed his teeth, about to wave his wand to attack.
"You just said you wouldn't interfere. Could it be that the famous Dark Lord goes back on his word?" Aaron said calmly.
"You..." Riddle sneered. "You don't really think a single Phoenix can kill a Basilisk, do you!
Even if the Basilisk is covered in wounds, it's still easy for it to bite a few young Wizards to death."
As he spoke, a snake tail swept over.
Accompanied by a powerful whooshing sound, it was like a green wall crushing down.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione immediately put Ginny down and ducked to the ground, dodging the tail, while Aaron raised his longsword to block. Half of the silver blade cut into the Basilisk's tail like a hot knife through butter.
While leaving a sword wound on the Basilisk, he was also pushed back more than ten meters before he managed to stop.
"Aaron, are you alright?" Harry asked.
"I'm fine, it's just that the Basilisk is too big.
My sword is sharp, but it's hard to inflict a fatal wound."
The wound on its tail stimulated the Basilisk's ferocity. It suddenly straightened its body, pushed Fawkes aside, and then opened its gaping maw, lunging at Aaron.
The Basilisk's mouth was wide open, two rows of venomous fangs glinting coldly, and corrosive venom seeped from between its teeth.
Aaron calmly gripped his longsword, sidestepping the moment the forked tongue whipped out, and precisely stabbed the longsword into the Basilisk's lower jaw. Black blood instantly gushed out.
The Basilisk let out a pained hiss, trying to shake Aaron off.
But he held onto the longsword tightly, and at the same time, the first black magic crystal on the hilt began to glow, greedily absorbing the Basilisk's blood, not even sparing the venom.
After holding on for over a minute, Aaron was slammed against a pillar several times by the Basilisk. Only when he saw the second magic crystal light up did he pull out the sword and create some distance from the Basilisk.
"That's amazing, but isn't that a bit too exaggerated?" Roncouldn't help but say.
Harry nodded blankly, and Hermione's eyes sparkled.
Just then, a hissing sound appeared behind them. Hermioneimmediately stood in front of Harry and Ron, nervously raising her wand. "Would the esteemed Dark Lord really go back on his word?"
"He didn't go back on his word," Harry said, on the verge of tears. "He's making the Basilisk deal with us first."
"What?"
"Isn't it normal to clear the trash from the chessboard first?" Riddle said with a sinister laugh. "Gaius is worthy of being my opponent, but you lot are really an eyesore."
Gulp!
Ron swallowed, looking at Harry as if in a desperate attempt to find a solution. "Say something!
Aren't you a Parselmouth? You should be able to control the Basilisk, right?"
"Hahaha..." Riddle burst into maniacal laughter, his expression becoming particularly grotesque. "Parseltongue can't help you; it only obeys me, obeys the heir of Slytherinwith Salazar's blood."
The Basilisk abandoned Aaron, its greenish body swooping down.
"Impedimenta!"
Hermione cast several Impediment Jinxes in a row, but the pale golden light hit the Basilisk and bounced off.
Even when she conjured some raised stones on the floor, they couldn't stop the rampaging Basilisk; they only slowed its movements a little.
"You have some talent, but a Basilisk is a top-tier magical creature. With your current magic, you're only delaying your deaths by a few seconds." Riddle explained gleefully. Having finally escaped the diary, watching these low-year Wizards struggle in despair was a form of entertainment.
"What do we do?" Ron stammered. "We don't have Aaron's exaggerated close-combat abilities."
"First, take Ginny and get past this round," Hermione said, but looking at the increasingly close green snake head, she had no confidence either.
Harry wanted to say something else, but at that moment, the inside of the Sorting Hat twinkled with points of light. He instinctively reached his right hand in and pulled out a gleaming silver sword. On its hilt was an egg-sized red gem.
Unlike the longsword in Aaron's hand, the sword in Harry's hand was slightly thinner. Although sharp, it appeared more luxurious, more like it was made for dueling.
"Alright!" Harry composed himself. Thinking of Aaron's performance just now, a huge surge of courage welled up within him.
Hermione and Aaron's performance had already proven that with their current magical power, they couldn't deal with this giant snake that had lived for over a thousand years, but cold weapons could still harm it.
And the Basilisk was definitely heavily wounded now. With a bit of a gamble, they might even be able to kill it.
"Let me try; you all hide far away in a bit."
"Are you crazy?" Ron asked in astonishment.
Harry didn't answer, merely assumed a stance, looking directly at the gaping maw mixed with venom and blood.
"Abei!"
Aaron shouted, and the heavenly sound of a dragon's roar filled everyone's ears.
The three-meter-tall Holy Dragon radiated white holy light, pressing a claw onto the Basilisk's head, forcing it to stop a few meters in front of Harry.
Harry stared at the giant dragon so close to him, momentarily stunned.
Hermione and Ron were also dumbfounded. They had seen Abei transform last year, but then it was only a meter tall, incomparable to its current size.
Roar!
Abei roared, its two dragon claws pressing against the Basilisk's upper and lower jaws. A white magic circle appeared in front of it, about to unleash a dragon's breath into the Basilisk's body.
Abei was confident; although the Basilisk was several times larger than him, this attack would definitely roast it.
However, the next moment, Aaron's mouth emitted a low voice: "Don't kill it yet. If you kill it, I'll have to face a young Lord Voldemort directly.
I can't beat him right now, even with you, Fawkes, and the others in the Chamber of Secrets, it would probably be tough.
I need time to prepare. Also, go find Riddle's diary, but don't act rashly; this concerns our lives."
Abei paused slightly, swallowed the flames that were at its mouth, and then flapped its wings, using its sharp claws to cut a long gash across the Basilisk's body.
A pained hiss rang out as the Basilisk writhed in agony, and Harry and the others narrowly escaped its jaws.
"What are you standing around for? Get away now!" Aaron reminded them impatiently.
Harry nodded frantically, following Ron and Hermione, taking the cold Ginny, and hiding behind a snake pillar at the entrance.
"Was that Dragon speech just now?" Riddle said, somewhat surprised. "You truly are exceptionally gifted, and you even have a mystical dragon by your side."
"You flatter me. After all, it's a Wizard family with thousands of years of heritage; there's bound to be some foundation." Aaron waved his hand, pretending not to care as he looked at the two glowing black magic crystals on the sword hilt, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes.
"I'm very curious, that dragon could have killed the Basiliskjust now, but why did you stop it?"
"Because... it's fair." Aaron spoke nonsense with a straight face. "You said that I, like you, would stop at nothing to achieve my goals, but some bottom lines still need to be upheld.
Just now, you could have easily killed Harry and the others, but you didn't. Even when the Basilisk was at a huge disadvantage, you managed to hold back.
If you can keep your promise, then I naturally have to make this duel seem a bit fairer."
"Hmph!" Riddle's lips curled slightly as he chuckled, "You are worthy of your noble bloodline; I truly didn't misjudge you.
Aaron Gaius, if you can defeat the Basilisk, I won't kill you today. It would be too regrettable for someone like you to die.
Just wait! When I rule the Wizarding world, I will definitely pay you a visit. I hope your choice will be a wise one then."
Aaron:...I'm inexplicably flattered!
Indeed, arrogant people are easier to deceive.