Chapter 391: Rampage
Chapter 391: Rampage
"Ding-a-ling..."
The bell and key jingled, creating a crisp and pleasant sound.
But to Mabel, this sound meant that someone was about to be taken away.
She wasn't the oldest child in the dungeon, but she had been there the longest.
As a magical child, she was considered a valuable resource when she first arrived, and the researchers spared her from the more severe and physically damaging experiments.
However, as more magical children were brought in, Mabel's value decreased, and the experiments she endured became increasingly cruel.
Despite this, she never submitted to the organization.
Mabel was incredibly gifted, and if it weren't for her stubborn refusal to submit, even after losing all her memories and still hating the organization with a passion, even killing a significant figure, she would never have become a research subject.
During her years in the dungeon, Mabel witnessed countless children being thrown in, who would quickly go from crying to understanding their situation, becoming obedient and learning to comply within a few days.
The children always hoped that if they behaved well enough, they would be allowed to leave this place—to go home.
They fantasized about their parents and the police coming to rescue them.
It was this hope that kept them enduring.
But Mabel observed coldly, knowing that day would never come.
Once, a researcher was accidentally bitten by her, and he furiously grabbed her hair, dragging her from the third floor all the way to the fifth.
He dragged her to a place that resembled hell.
The researcher pointed at a disintegrated remains, smirking as he said to her, "See this, my dear Mabel?"
"If it weren't for your research value, this would be your fate!"
"Next month, two underage wizards will be sent here, and you won't be the only one with magic! How long do you think your special status will last?"
"Don't be so arrogant, Mabel! When you fall into my hands, I'll peel your skin off inch by inch... How about making a pair of shoes out of it? Your face would make a perfect sole."
Mabel could barely hear what he said as her ears rang, and her scalp throbbed as if it had separated from her skull.
She was forced to hold her head high, unable to close her eyes, and could only stare straight at the corpse.
Even though it was just remains, Mabel recognized the familiar curly hair—
It was the only person she considered a friend.
Mabel couldn't control herself and started vomiting violently, as if trying to expel her heart.
"Ding-a-ling..."
Yes, the researcher who wanted to peel her skin alive was this man who liked to wear bells on his body.
Just hearing this sound made Mabel tense up, tremble, and feel an instinctive sense of fear and hatred.
She slowly turned her head, looking in the direction of the ringing bell.
The researcher stumbled in, holding a box, his mask gone, and a large bloodstain on his chest.
Seeing Mabel, he was startled, "Mabel, you dared to escape!"
He quickly drew his gun and pointed it at Mabel, then seemed to realize, "Oh, the attackers are like you, devils. They let you out, right?"
Looking at the trembling girl lying on the ground and the conspicuous collar around her neck, the researcher felt he understood everything.
The collar was designed to restrict a wizard's magical abilities.
Some young wizards, even without learning spells, could suddenly unleash powerful magic, causing severe damage to the research facility.
So, when their magical power exceeded a certain threshold, the collar would activate, restraining the wizard's magic.
This method of restraint was naturally extremely painful.
The wizards who attacked the facility probably intended to rescue all the young wizards, but during the fight, Mabel's collar was activated, making her a burden, so they abandoned her, leaving her alone to die.
The researcher quickly scanned the area, seeing no one, and relaxed.
He walked up to Mabel, grabbed her by the collar, and pulled her up from the ground. Pushing Mabel in front of him, he said harshly, "Get up, witch! Don't pretend to be dead on the ground; I know you can move!"
"Haley..." Mabel asked weakly, "Where's Haley? You took her away... Where is she?"
"Haley?" The researcher sneered. "That girl is already dead! Her heart was removed ten minutes ago! You ask where she is? She's probably in the meat grinder! Stop dawdling! If you don't want to end up like her, get moving!"
The researcher scolded, prodding Mabel's head with his gun.
He calculated that if they encountered an attack, Mabel could serve as his shield.
If the enemy was a wizard, she would be a useful hostage.
If he could successfully escape with Mabel, this little witch would be the "valuable asset" he personally rescued.
The non-magical children, buildings, equipment, and soldiers on the island were insignificant to the higher-ups. These witches, even as test subjects, were still highly valued.
The organization might reward him for minimizing their losses and possibly assign him to a better-equipped base.
The responsibility for the base's downfall would naturally fall on Zack and Veronica. Why should he, a mere researcher, bear any blame?
Zack, confident in his plan, saw Mabel still dazed and kicked her without hesitation.
"Move faster! Do you want to die?!"
Mabel, subjected to his rough treatment, was unaware of what was happening. Initially, she was in so much pain that she couldn't even stand, but now she suddenly felt much lighter, as if some barrier had been broken.
She heard the sound of her own blood rushing, the flow of blood within her body, and even the sound of magic surging and swelling.
"Crack!"
She heard a faint sound... This sound came from very close...
From the collar around her neck.
Mabel reached for the collar and realized that it had completely cracked in half at some point, now barely maintaining a somewhat intact shape.
The researcher, seeing her immobility, suddenly felt a twinge of panic, followed by an even greater surge of anger!
He could tolerate adult wizards attacking the base, but this little mouse under his control dared to defy him?
His first instinct was to teach her a lesson, so he drew his oddly shaped gun without hesitation.
"Bang!"
The blue beam seemed to hit Mabel... but it also seemed to pass through her... striking the conveyor belt's connecting shaft.
The researcher stared at Mabel in astonishment, unsure why the "clipping phenomenon" was occurring on a living person.
Black smoke emerged from the girl, and as she turned her head, her eyes had turned completely white. The place where the gun should have hit her was like smoke, transforming into strands of black, tentacle-like substances.
The researcher was stunned.
He opened his mouth in terror, his heart pounding with fear. When the black tentacles wrapped around him, he let out a shrill scream!
...
Vold was examining the little girl on the bed.
He couldn't understand how a child who appeared to have lost all her blood and had her organs removed could still be alive.
This didn't bring relief but rather a sense of horror.
As Vold approached, he waved his wand and cast several magical checks.
Concerned about the future, he had learned various types of magic, including healing spells and diagnostic charms he was very proficient in.
After a moment, Vold put down his wand, his face filled with astonishment.
She had indeed been eviscerated, but her organs were still there.
To be precise, her heart and kidneys seemed to have been removed at some point but were reinserted within a short time.
The fact that the extracted organs could be seamlessly reinserted like a USB drive was undoubtedly due to magic.
Although this girl lacked magical abilities, her body's organs had experienced magic.
Her blood had spilled all over the floor, yet she hadn't died from blood loss because she had consumed high-quality replenishing potions.
The reason for her deep slumber was the Elixir of Life and Death.
- Could it be Dumbledore?
Vold speculated in his mind but soon shook his head.
The explosions and rumbling outside hadn't stopped. When Vold flew up earlier, he had seen several machines flying in mid-air, colliding and scattering parts everywhere.
Dumbledore didn't have the time to save this girl.
Time...
Vold gradually realized something in his heart.
- It was him.
It was he who had saved this child.
- But why? There were too many deaths on this island, and while this girl was indeed a pity, why did he risk using the Time Converter outside the school?
Vold had once promised to use the Time-Turner solely for academic purposes. While he didn't always keep that promise within Hogwarts or its vicinity, using it outside the school grounds was a different matter. The Ministry of Magic monitored the use of Time-Turners, and any unauthorized use could result in the loss of access to the device and possible punishment for violating the ban.
Just then, a scream pierced the air.
Vold glanced at the girl lying unconscious on the bed, poured a potion to promote wound healing onto her injuries, and then rushed in the direction of the sound.
As he burst through the door, he witnessed a man being pulled into mid-air by a strange black substance and then violently torn apart.
Blood splattered everywhere.
Vold's pupils contracted in shock! That black, almost magical-looking substance immediately reminded him of a name—
The Silent One! When wizards suppress their magical abilities or endure physical and mental abuse, a dark power called the Silent One brews within them.
This force is uncontrollable, highly destructive, and can even burn the soul of its host.
But this... in the movies, only members of the Dumbledore family could bring it out... Ariana, Dumbledore's sister, and Credence, his nephew.
Vold never imagined he would witness this from an ordinary girl.
However, considering the conditions for the Silent One's birth—suppressed magic and physical and mental abuse...
Isn't this what Mabel experiences daily?
Not just Mabel, but every young wizard here endures this suffering... All potential hosts of the Silent One...
No wonder Dumbledore had said it would have terrible consequences.
The terrible consequences seemed to have already manifested, and Vold wondered if it would escalate further.
As Vold pondered, the Silent One had already crushed the man and then rampaged through the entire building, tearing conveyor belts, twisting and flattening machines, causing walls to bulge and then violently crack, sending bricks flying.
The space was filled with terrifying and frenzied magic, making it difficult for Vold to even breathe, let alone stop or counter it.
The Silent One moved at lightning speed, swiftly setting up Iron Armor and Obstacle Spells around itself, barely ensuring its own safety from the destructive force.
This was the power that even Grindelwald had coveted...
Even with a host as young and not yet fully developed in magic as a little girl, the Silent One exhibited such terrifying strength.
After a long while, Vold once again felt his own insignificance.
Unsure if Mabel still had her consciousness, the Silent One didn't attack Vold, who was within arm's reach. Instead, after wreaking havoc, it pierced through the floor and flew downstairs.
Vold heard the continuous sounds of instruments and buildings being destroyed, and the entire building seemed to tremble.
The Silent One was likely destroying the laboratory downstairs, where Mabel had endured so much suffering... So, would it head to the dungeons next? The children were still there!
Vold's pants tightened slightly as he lowered his head and saw the two small puppets he had left earlier.
"Sorry," one of them whispered. "We didn't complete our mission."
"We couldn't protect her because her magic was too terrifying. We couldn't move..."
The other puppet explained.
Then, the two little guys shamefully lowered their heads.
"It's not your fault... I can't control the Silent One either."
Vold smiled bitterly and shook his head, sending the two puppets to Haley's bedside.
"This time, protect her. I need to leave for a bit."
"Okay."
The two puppets responded in unison and obediently sat by Haley's side, watching as their master left through the door.
A second later, they saw someone enter through the window, and the two little guys were startled, their eyes wide and their tiny mouths forming perfect 'O's.
Vold smiled, gestured for them to be quiet, and then approached the bed, examining Haley's wounds once more.
He sighed.
"The healing speed is too slow... My potion-making skills are still far behind Professor Snape's..."
As he spoke, he removed the stopper from the crystal vial and poured a new potion onto the wounds.
The wounds healed at a visible rate.
(End of Chapter)
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