Chapter 403: Enhanced Magic Puppet Creatures
It turned out to be a truly terrible idea to challenge a Danger-level Magic Creature without a Mastery-level Spell to back it up. Especially these Magic Puppets Wade had crafted—endowed with the immense strength and power of a true Magic Creature, yet stripped of their inherent weaknesses: the stupidity of a Giant, the uncontrollable rage of a Werewolf, and the Vampire’s aversion and fear of sunlight.
Michael had bravely stepped forward to face the Werewolf—but before he could even cast a single spell, a razor-sharp claw was already resting against his throat.
He blinked in confusion, stunned. After a few seconds, he finally managed to croak out, “…That fast?”
The Werewolf withdrew its claw and vanished into the forest as if it had only stretched its limbs. The immediate threat to his life faded, and Michael felt his frozen mind begin to thaw.
A few more seconds passed before he cautiously flexed his fingers and arms, forcing a casual smile. “Whew… that Home fellow jumping down from the tree really startled me.” He turned to Wade. “I thought you’d announce ‘begin’ or something?”
Wade leaned casually against a tree root, smirking. “Sorry, but these simulations are meant to be as realistic as possible. A real Werewolf doesn’t greet you before attacking, does it?”
Michael paused, then nodded slowly. “Yeah… point taken.”
He’d been about to restart—until he instinctively touched his throat. “I’ve seen enough of Werewolves,” he said. “I want to take on a Giant now.”
His memory of Giants was still rooted in the clumsy, easily defeated creature they’d bested as first-years.
Wade’s expression turned oddly serious. “You’re sure?”
“Absolutely!” Michael declared with confidence. “I’ve mastered Swarm of Birds, Slippery Surface, and Hovering Charm—those spells that saved us back then. Now I can handle a Strange Creature alone that used to take all of us!”
Most importantly, Giants were massive and heavy—far too slow to match the speed of a Werewolf.
“Alright,” Wade said, raising his hand. A cloak shimmered into existence—its fabric woven with interlacing silver and gold threads—then drifted down and transformed into a camouflage pattern that blended perfectly with the forest.
“Whoa,” Michael said, lifting the edge of the cloak in wonder. “This looks like an Invisibility Cloak.” He grinned. “But I kind of liked it the way it was before.”
The cloak swayed gently in his hands, and for no reason he could explain, Michael felt a strange sense of agreement from it.
He pulled the hood up, eyes sharp and focused. “Alright. Let’s go. Giant!”
The boy, cloaked and wand in hand, radiating quiet intensity, looked more formidable than ever.
The four Giant Magic Puppets exchanged glances. Then, the tallest and most muscular one rose to its feet, crouched low, and let out a thunderous, intimidating roar. With a powerful thrust of its legs, it charged forward—dragging a massive wooden club behind it.
Michael raised his wand and shouted, “Swarm of Birds!”
A dozen birds burst from the tip of his wand, diving at the Giant.
Michael expected chaos—confusion, disorientation. He was already planning his next spell.
But the scene unfolded differently.
The Giant raised its arm, shielding its eyes, and charged forward like a freight train—completely undeterred by the birds pecking at it. The distance between them closed in an instant.
Panic flared. Michael frantically cast Slippery Surface at the ground, then bellowed, “Obstacle Course! Obstacle Course!”
But the smooth stone floor of the castle was perfect for Slippery Surface—even the stairs turned into slick slides. The forest floor, however, was littered with dead branches and rotting leaves—perfectly stable, and utterly unslippery.
Michael didn’t notice the spell taking effect—instead, the Obstacle Course charm barely slowed the Giant. Seizing the moment, Michael stumbled backward, then spun around and screamed, “Stupefy!”
A red beam shot from his wand—but it grazed the Giant’s ear and struck the tree behind it with a thud.
The creature’s grotesque face twisted into a faint, mocking smirk.
Michael’s expression crumpled. How is it dodging?
The Giant raised its club high above its head, ready to crush him.
But Michael didn’t give up. With lightning speed, he cast another Disarming Charm.
“Expelliarmus!”
The spell struck the Giant’s wrist—its club flew into the air. Michael barely had time to react before the creature’s other hand slammed down like a sledgehammer.
“Unfair! This Home fellow’s supposed to be slow and dumb—how can it react so fast?!”
Michael hovered in midair, not screaming in pain—but shouting in outrage.
Just before he crashed into a tree, the cloak wrapped around him like a spiral, pulling him back to safety.
The Giant retrieved its club and returned to its companions. It held up its hands, shook its head, and let out a low, mocking rumble.
The other three Giants joined in, laughing heartily. Michael’s face burned red.
No words. No communication. Just silence.
He turned to Wade, eyes full of disbelief. “This isn’t a Giant… Giants don’t do this!”
Wade clapped him on the shoulder. “This is an enhanced version. Every race has its unique individuals, right?”
Michael stared blankly. “I see. So you built a Giant… the Dumbledore of Giants.”
Wade: “….”
The cloak gently patted Michael’s arm—silent, comforting sympathy.
In the past few days, Wade had quietly added more magic to the cloak. It had protected Michael from injury—aside from a bruised confidence.
Wade glanced sideways. “Want to try the Vampire next?”
Michael stared at him. “You didn’t… enhance the Vampire too, did you?”
“Hmm… well…” Wade rubbed his chin. “These puppets are meant for the Defensive Magic Against the Dark Arts class. One might face twenty students at once. If I don’t make them strong enough, the whole class could be wrecked—then I’d have to fix it myself…”
His voice trailed off. Michael looked at him with the kind of knowing gaze that said he’d seen through everything.
“Let’s be honest, Wade,” Michael said coolly. “You dragged me here today just to test the puppets’ strength, didn’t you?”
“Haha… me? Never!” Wade laughed nervously. Then, suddenly remembering something, he cleared his throat and coughed into his fist. “Wait—wasn’t it you who said you wanted to come to the Maze?”
Michael narrowed his eyes. “Even if I hadn’t said it… you’d have brought me here anyway. Probably with more people. Just… not today.”
He exhaled, squinting slightly. “Alright. But if you’re giving up, we’re heading back to class. It’s getting late.”
Michael hesitated for a moment—but still gripped his wand tightly. “I came this far… I want to see how strong your Vampire really is.”
Wade clapped his hands.
From behind a tree, the Vampire girl stepped forward—smiling brightly.
Michael: “….”
---
History of Magic Classroom
Professor Binns hadn’t yet emerged from the wall. Most students were already preparing for a nap. A few scribbled furiously on parchment, completing assignments.
Ravenclaw and Slytherin shared the class. Mileson was chatting with Pansy and Daphne when Michael walked in through the entrance—grinning like he’d just won a prize.
Despite past tensions between the Houses, Michael had a good rapport with most girls. So Mileson asked directly, “Michael, why are you grinning like you’ve just drunk Felix Felicis?”
A few girls turned to look.
“No, no,” Michael said, eyes sparkling. “I just had a little… contest.”
As he stepped into the classroom, Wade followed behind him.
Pansy couldn’t help but blurt, “Wait… did you beat Gray?”
If so, she could totally understand why Michael was so happy.
Now, nearly the entire classroom was watching them. Even a few sleeping students stirred.
Wade: “….”
He said nothing, but instantly became the center of attention. Several students weighed their own abilities against Michael’s—eagerly anticipating what kind of challenge Wade might be.
Wade scanned the room, ignored their speculation, and casually sat in an empty seat.
“Of course not!” Michael laughed, waving his hand. “I was… uh… testing myself against someone else.”
Daphne tilted her head. “Who did you beat?”
“Beat?” Michael chuckled. “No, I lost. Heh… I didn’t have a single chance.”
The room fell silent.
“Then why are you so happy?” someone asked.
“Why should I be upset? Failure is just as valuable as success,” Michael said calmly. “I accepted it—peacefully.”
“Peacefully?” Terry smirked. “More like you’re celebrating it.”
He turned to Wade. “Wade, did you accidentally kick his head? Turned him into a complete fool?”
Wade: “….”
It wasn’t me! Why is this on me?
Padma studied Michael’s face closely. She knew exactly what was going on. She snorted quietly, then turned away.
“Padma…” Lisha said, watching Michael casually open his History of Magic book while humming a tune. “He’s… off. Is he drinking Joy Elixir?”
“No,” Padma said flatly. “He probably met a really beautiful girl.”
Lisha: “…?”
She blinked, then cautiously glanced at Padma’s expression.
Padma pursed her lips. “What? I’m not interested. We broke up. We’re just… ordinary friends now.”
“Oh…” Lisha murmured. She closed her mouth, then opened her book.
The bell rang. Professor Binns, in his usual pale, translucent form, drifted through the wall and began his lecture.
A few minutes later, the ripple of Michael’s odd behavior faded. The classroom settled into the rhythm of steady breathing.
---
Percy Weasley was in his seventh year. He was preparing for N.E.W.T.s.
While most jobs only required Ordinary Wizarding Level (OWL) certifications, Percy wasn’t aiming for just a steady job. He wanted to rise higher—so he needed a stellar academic record.
While most of his peers spent their time in romance, parties, and games, Percy remained focused. He studied relentlessly, preparing for his exams for half a year.
He’d taken over an hour at noon to fulfill his duties as Student Council President, then spent the entire afternoon in the library—until the sun dipped below the horizon, and dinner time arrived.
As he stepped out, he noticed a younger student lingering by the door—face pale, expression dark. The usual spark in his eyes was gone.
Percy recognized him. The boy was always energetic, popular in the common room.
As he passed, Percy asked, “Kariel. What are you doing out here? It’s time for dinner.”
Kariel looked up. His eyes flickered with something unreadable.
“Mr. Weasley… President,” he said.
The title warmed Percy’s chest. He tried not to smile, maintaining the dignity of his position. “Yes? What’s on your mind?”
“The… the minor wizards who were tricked,” Kariel said carefully. “Their parents were given a Forgetting Charm—made to forget their children, right?”
“Of course,” Percy frowned. “It’s a vile, despicable tactic.”
Kariel hesitated. Then, barely above a whisper: “Then… does that organization… do they assign new parents to the young wizards?”
“Absolutely not,” Percy said firmly. “They wouldn’t be that kind. They want the children to see their parents forget them. To know that even if they escape, there’s no home waiting. That’s how they keep control.”
Kariel exhaled, relief washing over him. A faint smile tugged at his lips. “I… I knew it couldn’t be true. Thank you, President. Really… thank you.”
Percy watched him, puzzled. “Why are you so happy about that?”
He didn’t dwell on it. Glancing at his watch, he hurried toward the Great Hall.
On the way, he passed a group of younger students playfully throwing magic in the corridor. Percy stopped immediately, stepping forward with a stern voice.
“Stop that! I’m the male Student Council President! You’re breaking school rules—no magic in the corridors!”
He scolded them all thoroughly. Afterward, he completely forgot about Kariel’s strange behavior.
(End of Chapter)
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