When diving in the deep sea, Evan had once heard the whispers of Herpo the Foul.
He clearly rembered the words he’d said, words engraved in the depths of his soul.
“Through endless ages, I have witnessed the rise and fall of empires, the birth and extinction of species. Across infinite ti, only the allure of power and the folly of mortals remain unchanged. Your presence here confirms this truth!
“When I was still mortal, I saw the future with perfect clarity. The entire world will turn to nothingness… but you will not live to see that day….
“Death is not far from you!
“You think death is the end, but it is just the beginning of everything. After death, you will have the honor to enter the world I have created.
“Pathetic, pitiful, weak… you cannot comprehend it. But when you wander alone in the dark, you will understand.
“And when that ti cos, I will savor your souls; they are so… delicious.”
Like a montage flashing before his eyes, the scenes he had witnessed in the deep sea replayed one after another in Evan’s mind.
Previously, he had believed those were just aningless ravings, like the whispers of other evil gods, designed to break through one’s ntal defenses and invade the soul. They specialized in using such madness to tornt and weaken human reason.
But now, it seed that wasn’t entirely the case.
The words said by Herpo the Foul seed to be related to his own real experience, and there was a lot of useful information in them.
This evil Dark wizard seed to have been doing it on purpose.
Evan had a wild, absurd thought: Herpo the Foul was deliberately luring them into the world he had created … because the only way to enter it was through death!
“You think death is the end, but that is just the beginning of everything. After death, you will have the honor to enter the world I have created…” Evan repeated this sentence in a low voice.
“That’s right. Death is the only way into that world,” Dumbledore followed up, his voice rising slightly. “I can already feel the power that is calling to . It’s getting closer; that is the power of death. The god of death may co to greet at any mont!”
“What?!” Evan and Harry both looked at Dumbledore in shock.
“I will die. The mont I used the Twin Serpent Staff to destroy the brain of Herpo the Foul, that outco was sealed. When that power arrives, I will leave this world and go to the one created by Herpo.”
“Professor…”
Dumbledore, as always, spoke of terrifying things as if they were nothing at all.
He was going to die! Just like that?!
“Don’t worry, Evan, Harry!” Dumbledore looked at Evan and Harry who were in shock, and continued with a smile, “Death is not sothing to fear. Besides, this isn’t death in the truest sense; it is more like a journey across space! A rare kind of magic!”
Using death to cast magic … indeed, that was sothing rarely seen. …
Evan quickly sorted out his thoughts. As it stood, they had to enter the world created by Herpo the Foul, and the way to enter that world was the caduceus and death. Dumbledore seed to be determined to go there, or rather, he had to go, and had to take this journey through space into the boundless sea of stars. This was part of the magic of the Twin Serpent Staff, a fate sealed the mont he used it. Death was drawing closer to him, and it would soon take Dumbledore away.
“Professor, you will…” Evan paused before forcing out the difficult word, “die?!”
“Yes, die … but don’t worry. Once the journey is complete, I will return,” said Dumbledore, his voice as calm as usual. “My connection with the Twin Serpent Staff runs deep. Through that bond, its magic will carry into the world Herpo the Foul created, to search for that Dark wizard’s soul. This is part of the magic left behind by Salazar Slytherin. As the wielder of the Twin Serpent Staff, as the one guiding its power, I must follow it there. …”
“But…”
“Let finish, Evan. This is very important. If I return, it ans I have succeeded. I will co back with the key to Slytherin’s secret treasure and the secrets of the evil gods. But if I do not return within half a year, it ans I’ve failed — that I was unable to defeat Herpo the Foul’s soul. In that case, you and Harry must use the Twin Serpent Staff to enter that world and complete what I could not. Defeating the evil god and Voldemort is a challenge that must be faced, a trial left behind by Salazar Slytherin. And it’s a journey that can only move forward. There is no turning back.”
eting Dumbledore’s gaze, Evan hesitated for a mont, then slowly nodded.
“How much ti do you have left before you leave this world?”
“I should have left the mont I completed the magic with the Twin Serpent Staff, but your magic book helped , Evan. It gave a chance. I am now using my magic to resist the power of the caduceus. When all my magic is consud, I will leave,” said Dumbledore weakly. “There is no exact ti, but I believe it will not be too long, not until dawn. After all, no wizard’s power can truly stand against that of this legendary magic item.”
There was a silence. It seed that Dumbledore’s departure was inevitable.
“I still don’t quite understand, Professor!” Harry gasped at this ti, “Such a dangerous thing, you … we should go with you, we can’t let you go to that world alone.”
“No, Harry, there are more important things waiting for you to do,” said Dumbledore gently, turning his head to look at Harry. “You and Evan, you have a more important task on your shoulders. Now is not the ti for you to welco death, and you have not been invited. Ordinary death will not allow you to enter the world created by Herpo the Foul. You need to uncover the mysteries of death first. When you do, the invitation will co. Now, let’s go back to the school. Before I really leave this world, I need to see Severus. I have sothing important to tell him.”
Harry seed like he wanted to say more, but he didn’t know how to say it.
He looked at Evan, but Evan didn’t know what to say either.
Things were moving too quickly and beyond what anyone could have expected. This wasn’t sothing that could be resolved by persuading Dumbledore to give up.
The current situation was that Dumbledore was about to go to that world. He might return after so ti, or maybe he never would. Perhaps it would be his true death. But all of that was for later. For now, the most urgent matter was preparing for the world without Dumbledore in it.
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