Chapter 543: The Challenge
At the star-shaped plaza of Hogwarts, the speech continued.
Felix smiled, saying, "Many people romanticize that era, but if one day you woke up finding yourself in ancient tis, in less than two days, you'd regret it..."
A low chuckle rippled across the plaza.
Then Felix took so ti to explain the entire ancient magical language system, of course, in quite a broad context. Most of these things could be found in the magical language booklets sold at Diagon Alley, but with Felix personally demonstrating, those printed words on paper beca more convincing.
"Starting from individual ancient magical scripts, there are many branches: magical circuits related to ancient alchemy; sequences related to ancient magic, and combinations with modern spells... Though I've outlined the frawork of ancient magical scripts, delving into every detail is impossible. It's very likely that hidden within so obscure corner lies a great treasure, quietly waiting to be discovered... Just as I said, perfecting a subject is never the work of one or two individuals."
Many wizards nodded in agreent. Among them were Ministry officials from different countries, school heads, experts in ancient languages, and even staff from the International Confederation of Wizards. These were the individuals who determined the promotion of a magical discipline.
"Next, please welco the actual manager from the 'Future World' company, Romulus Lupin, to introduce the applications of ancient magical scripts. He knows more about this than I do." Felix yielded his place. "By the way, wizards preparing for the challenge segnt can now sign up."
Lupin adjusted his clothes, feeling a bit shaky. He silently encouraged himself and walked to one corner of the star pattern. When he looked up, he found thousands of eyes fixed on him.
"Ahem. I must clarify: we aren't just using ancient magical scripts; we're also attempting to summarize effective strategies in this process, in other words, the application of theory..."
By the ti Felix stood in the center of the plaza again, it was almost noon.
"As for the rumor about
possessing the Elder Wand, that's false, without a doubt. I ntion this now after laying the groundwork because with that, you'll understand my reasons better—The Elder Wand, even if it were real and in my possession, is not necessary for . On the contrary, I'm gradually shedding the limitations of a wand."
Felix's next appearance on stage was notably brief. He waved his hand, and a black ebony wand hovered in mid-air, capturing the careful scrutiny of the crowd.
"I can't let just anyone inspect the wand, so I've devised a way: strength will speak. If you can defeat , forget about inspecting it, I'll even give it to you."
Among the crowd, a cloaked wizard muttered, "The challenge stated you won't use the wand—"
"That's correct."
So wizards began to stir.
"I'll go first." A red-necked wizard shouted, tossing the challenge parchnt into the air. The parchnt burst into flas, forming magical symbols in the air.
"Contract established, life or death." Alia Bones solemnly declared.
Many enthusiastic wizards ready for the challenge seed cooled by her words.
"I'm David Ollivander," the red-necked wizard said, carefully drawing out his wand, pacing around the periter. But to his surprise, Felix stood motionless at the center. He muttered to himself and positioned himself opposite Felix.
"I'll start," he said irritably.
Felix smiled and nodded.
"Stupefy!"
A red light shot from the wand, but Felix extended his hand, and the spell grazed his fingers, sliding away.
The red-necked wizard looked bewildered, and the onlookers were in an uproar. They weren't aware of the human-armored spell. Only extrely perceptive wizards could catch a glimpse of the flashing spell.
"He's wrapping a defensive spell around his hand..."
The red-necked wizard tried several tis but couldn't breach Felix's defense. He reluctantly left the stage, rejoining his family.
After a brief quiet, another wizard stepped forward, entirely wrapped in bandages, revealing only a pair of furtive eyes.
"Who's that?" Bones whispered.
"No ti to confirm, perhaps concealed well before, only appearing today," Kingsley replied.
Without any exchange of words, Felix and the bandaged wizard faced off. The bandaged wizard raised his hand, and a black beam shot from the wand, expanding the human-armored spell on Felix into a sphere. The black light collided with a magical barrier, igniting into pitch-black flas.
Felix waved his hand, pushing the burning barrier aside, avoiding another swift spell. He extended his hand, conjuring a mass of black lightning at his fingertips, which suddenly appeared in front of the bandaged wizard and directly onto his face—
The black arcs sparkled.
Monts later, the bandaged wizard collapsed slowly.
The cheerful morning atmosphere disappeared.
"Soone get down there and help him," Mrs. Bones declared loudly, then quietly told Kingsley, "Check his identity—assuming he's still alive."
The red-necked wizard who just stepped offstage touched his face, "That hit, phew, must've hurt?"
Felix returned to the center of the stage, waiting for the next challenger. Under the magical contract, everyone who signed their na had to face him.
The third wizard approached tentatively, "We're just sparring, right?"
Felix grinned, "Of course."
The final wizard surrendered without using much magic, and Felix didn't trouble him.
Observers gradually deduced a pattern. If the duel adhered to the internationally recognized rules, challengers mostly left unscathed, at most knocked out by a stunning spell. The worst-looking individual sported a swelling nose, hit by a sting hex, swollen to the size of a tomato.
But those who didn't play by the rules or used deadly curses faced dire consequences. One who agreed to spar but used a curse had it rebounded, turning half his body into wood...
Felix stood a bit bored in the center of the arena. The next challenger seed to have lost courage, refusing adamantly to step up. Suddenly, he caught a strong sense of malice, and it wasn't from just one person. Felix squinted, surveying the surroundings.
Dozens of shadows materialized out of thin air, unified in appearance and synchronized in action, shooting deadly curses. They even deliberately sent one flying into the air, reaching for a hovering wand.
Gasps filled the crowd.
Curses attacked from all sides but eerily froze in mid-air. Heading towards the "Elder Wand," the dark wizard couldn't resist turning back to witness this astonishing sight.
Felix, surrounded, raised one hand, holding a liquid-like golden fla, coldly pouring it out.
The fla surged, filling the space of hundreds of feet in diater.
Once the fire died down, the dozen individuals vanished entirely, leaving only a black wand floating in the air, as if everything before was an illusion.
"Where did they go?" soone asked softly.
"Maybe sensing danger, they apparated away," soone unsure replied, harboring a more dreadful suspicion.
In a corner, Dumbledore looked solemn. He didn't approve of killing, especially in such aggressive ways, but he couldn't condemn it, much like he couldn't step forward to admit having the Elder Wand in his possession.
The repercussions would be much more severe.
The bloody trail
of the Elder Wand splattered across the entire history of magic. This phrase not only referred to its bloody legacy but also the countless ambitious individuals and dark wizards who died in the pursuit of the Elder Wand, surpassing the total count of all its previous owners.
The best solution was for the legend of the Elder Wand to vanish today, reverting to a re fairy tale.
And he just needed to take one step, potentially sacrificing thousands of innocent lives in the future.
Felix looked around, noticing the distrustful eyes looking away from him. His objective seed accomplished, but as he watched Dumbledore depart, he couldn't help but sigh.
He suppressed the frustration within, erasing bit by bit the knowledge about Horcruxes. Just then, he realized sothing: he could imdiately create the prototype of a Horcrux if he wished, his soul teetering on the edge, as if it could fragnt at any mont.
Did I make a mistake?
Felix gazed at the sky, the weather turning gloomy, clouds thickening, yet his thoughts beca clearer and more resolute.
I am Felix Harp, not soone else, not bound to anyone else's will.
I haven't erred.
He opened his hand, a milky-white light converged, forming a massive white column shooting high into the sky. Within the dark clouds, white light surged, followed by nurous smaller beams breaking through the clouds, casting a gentle white glow. Everyone looked up at this spectacle.
Felix breathed out slowly, withdrawing his gaze from afar, speaking calmly, "The challenge continues."
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