https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-448-New-Applications-of-Runic-Magic/13461201/
Chapter 447: Exchange
Chapter 447: Exchange
The Great Hall was bustling with noise.
The young wizards tiptoed and craned their necks, waiting for today's Duelling Class professor to arrive.
"Please don't let it be Professor Moody, he's too scary", a Ravenclaw girl said. "Especially when he comes over to correct you, it's like he's about to cast a nasty curse on you..."
"That's why he partners with Professor Flitwick", her friend beside her said.
At that moment, Felix appeared from the entrance hall and walked into the Great Hall. As he stood on the gilded platform, he noticed students from other schools.
"We have new guests today, welcome", Felix said softly, drawing out his wand and sending a few sparks from its tip. "We usually only see each other during meals or in the Library. This is a rare opportunity for you to learn about the magical techniques of different schools."
"Professor, are we going to have a challenge?"
"It's not out of the question", Felix said airily, "but I hope you'll focus on exchanging knowledge. Anyone brave enough to give it a try? Introduce your school?"
After a moment of silence, a tall figure stepped forward from the audience. It was Nona Lebert, who smoothed her hair, revealing her slender chocolate-colored neck. Her eyes looked fiercely wild.
"Nona Lebert", she pointed to herself, "from Wagadu, specializing in astronomy and transfiguration. Of course, since coming here, I've discovered that I also excel at gesture casting."
Nona waved her hand, and a stick-like object flew over and landed in her grasp. She swung it a couple of times, producing a heart-stopping "whoosh" sound. A few nearby students quickly ducked back, afraid of being hit.
"A wand is not indispensable for us, but it makes casting more fluid", Nona explained. "Of course, besides wands, we also practice independent gesture casting, which is convenient, quick, and discreet."
She raised her head, "If you want to dislocate someone's jaw, just wave your hand... provided you're skilled enough."
"Excellent, Miss Lebert. Do you want to perform a demonstration, or—"
"No, I heard we can request guidance from a professor. Is that correct?" she said with a burning gaze, "I'm very interested in dueling, especially against someone stronger... I challenged every older student on the Moon Mountain, including the young professors."
"Of course", Felix nodded, patting Niffler Valen's head, sending it to find a safe place.
"Over here—"
"Look here! Valen—"
Several students called out, and Valen, clearly popular, darted to Hermione's side. Hermione, who was tiptoeing to watch the platform, scooped it up, "Oh, we can take a closer look. Maybe the third task will be useful..."
"I don't want to face students from Wagadu or Ilvermorny", Ron grumbled, "whether it's animal transfiguration or combined spells, they're all tricky. Byers said they form teams in Defense Against the Dark Arts like Aurors."
"That's an advanced course for upper years, preparing them for the Auror program", Hermione reminded him.
On the platform, Felix and Nona Lebert bowed slightly. Then Nona waved her hand sharply, and a burst of sparks exploded near Felix's jaw. He had already cast a human-form armoring charm.
Felix's voice followed, "Gesture casting is fast. If you're unsure, prioritizing your protection is never wrong... You can use a Shield Charm, or prepare a protective amulet."
Nona waved her hand rhythmically, her fingertips moving with precision. The floor of the platform quickly became battered. Felix deflected the spells with ease, and so far, Nona hadn't shown enough strength.
Suddenly, the broken wooden boards on the ground twisted into six African hedgehogs. Felix jabbed his wand, and six magic ropes shot out, looking like a six-headed serpent. The ropes swiftly wrapped around the hedgehogs, interrupting their transfiguration.
The hedgehogs then burst into a thick cloud of smoke, and Nona's figure vanished.
Felix used the Magic Vision to lock onto her movements, turning slightly at the center of the arena. He watched as she elongated her body, transforming into a swift leopard. Using the thick smoke as cover, she approached silently. She twisted gracefully in mid-air like a big cat, ready to pounce, but the magic ropes that had been shattered earlier suddenly sprang up, forming layers of snake-like shadows to encircle her.
"Hissss~ hisss~ hisss~"
Nona, seeing three snakes staring at her and hearing the hissing from behind, decisively conceded.
As the smoke cleared, she had already returned to her original form. Nona asked Felix calmly, "What do you think I need to improve on?"
"You have your own tactics", Felix thought for a moment before saying, "but your attack intentions were too obvious. Also, you lacked protection during the transformation... That shouldn't happen, right?"
"It wasn't a mistake", Nona smiled. "We've been working on coordination. So, you weren't facing Nona Lebert, but one-third of the Vajadu Warrior Squad. Normally, when I transform into a leopard, I would be covered with various protective spells."
"I see", Felix nodded slightly. He mentally simulated the Vajadu transformation tactics. Even the three animal forms they had displayed—blue eagle, leopard, and elephant—were not particularly powerful individually. However, with teammates casting protective spells, the dynamics changed.
They could fully utilize their strengths and burst into action—using the blue eagle for observation and identifying weaknesses, the leopard for rapid advances and securing key positions, and the elephant for charging through traps and clearing paths. This combination would be effective even against an ordinary Dark Wizard.
Next, a warrior from Durmstrang stepped forward. The crowd curiously examined him, knowing little about this warrior, who was even less noticeable than the one surnamed Bulwick.
At least Bulwick had contributed a memorable moment—Professor Karkaroff descending from the Black Lake, grabbing him and stuffing him into a pocket, causing a section of the projection screen to go black for a few minutes.
"Uh, hello everyone", the person stammered, "My name is Ors Poliak, and I really enjoyed the wine at the Hogwarts feast..."
Laughter rippled through the Great Hall.
Poliak's face turned even redder, looking flustered. Once the laughter subsided, he continued, "I, um... I want to introduce dark magic..."
The Great Hall fell silent.
"Over the past few months, I've heard rumors that Durmstrang teaches students dark magic without any reservations... I think it's important to clarify, ahem! The rumors are not entirely true..." Poliak said, "It's necessary to introduce my school to avoid further misunderstandings."
"Since the second Headmaster, Durmstrang has placed a strong emphasis on dueling and war magic. Six hundred years later, we have taken this tradition to the extreme. Yes, Durmstrang does teach dark magic, but every spell is carefully selected to ensure it is safe... Otherwise, Durmstrang wouldn't be mentioned alongside Hogwarts and Beauxbatons..."
The young wizards in the audience murmured among themselves.
"What do you think, Harry?" Ron asked.
"It seems to make sense", Harry thought for a moment. "But I don't like Karkaroff." He had learned that Karkaroff had given the Durmstrang warrior squad full marks in the second task, while other teams barely managed scores of seven or eight.
This was after Karkaroff had been warned; otherwise, he would have given even lower scores to the others.
"No one likes Karkaroff", Ron muttered, glancing up at Poliak on the stage, who was explaining some of Durmstrang's rules to demonstrate the school's strict approach to dark magic.
Scattered applause echoed through the Great Hall.
"Our school rules also prohibit night wandering, entering the Forbidden Forest, and trading dungbombs!" Ron whispered.
Harry couldn't help but laugh.
"Next, I will demonstrate a few dark magic spells", Poliak, encouraged by the applause, said excitedly, "They are not as evil as you might think. You just need to use them in the right context, channeling negative emotions appropriately..."
(End of Chapter)
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