https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-557-Quidditch-World-Cup-Final-Second-Update-/13461729/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-559-The-Weasley-Family-s-Bumper-Harvest-Second-Update-/13461734/
Chapter 558: Divine Operation (First Update)
Chapter 558: Divine Operation (First Update)
"It's still a bit off!"
Looking at Hermione and the others standing at the top, waving and shouting "Go for it", Jerry smiled and snapped his fingers lightly.
Instantly, countless beautiful petals appeared in the air above the stadium, drifting down to the audience below, filling the entire field with a pleasant floral fragrance.
As everyone was immersed in the beautiful petal shower, a red rose quietly landed in Hermione's hand as she reached out to catch the petals.
"The match is officially starting!"
Despite being surprised by the unexpected petal shower, Fudge still began the match according to the schedule.
The match progressed as Jerry had expected, with the England team clearly at a disadvantage. However, thanks to the home-field advantage and the team's hard training over the past period, the performance was slightly better than anticipated.
Just before the Golden Snitch was released, the score was 110 to 40 in favor of Ireland, a 70-point gap.
"Look, our referee today, the beloved chairman of the International Quidditch Federation, Hassan Mustafa, who flew all the way from Egypt, is about to release the Golden Snitch!"
As the balance of victory began to tip in Ireland's favor, the England fans finally saw the Golden Snitch and burst into loud cheers.
They knew that whether England could defeat Ireland would depend on whether the legendary Seeker Jerry could catch the Golden Snitch before the Irish Seeker.
And it couldn't be too slow, because if the score gap between Ireland and England exceeded 150 points, even if Jerry caught the Golden Snitch, they would still lose.
The Golden Snitch is worth 150 points, and catching it ends the match.
Smaller, more agile, and faster than the Quidditch balls used at Hogwarts, the Golden Snitch flew out of the referee's box and quickly disappeared from sight.
Jerry and the opposing Seeker scanned the area with wide eyes, searching for the Golden Snitch.
"Found it!"
In just two seconds, Jerry, with his extraordinary vision, locked onto the Golden Snitch's trajectory and accelerated his Firebolt, charging towards it at full speed.
The Irish Seeker, though he hadn't yet spotted the Golden Snitch, was smart enough to follow Jerry's direction and also sped off in the same direction.
With the same Firebolt broomstick and the same full speed, the Irish Seeker's movement was naturally as fast as Jerry's, but because of the slight delay, he was half a body length behind.
In the stands, the audience, using their Omnioculars, watched as Jerry and the Irish Seeker raced towards the Golden Snitch, and the atmosphere reached a fever pitch.
The stadium was filled with Shamrock and Red Cross flags, and the names of Jerry and the opposing Seeker echoed through the air.
Because the next one to catch the Golden Snitch would end the match.
Ten seconds after the Golden Snitch was released, Jerry, riding his broomstick, was already behind the Golden Snitch, with the Irish Seeker just half a meter behind him.
Seeing that a bit more speed would allow him to reach out and grab the Golden Snitch, suddenly, the Golden Snitch made a sharp turn and dove straight down.
This was actually quite normal, as the Golden Snitch is just a ball. Although it is fast, it is not as fast as a broomstick flying at full speed.
The Golden Snitch is so difficult to catch because it is incredibly small and can change direction at will.
Under normal circumstances, a Seeker would be unable to adapt to the Golden Snitch's high-speed, unpredictable movements. They would inevitably overshoot and then have to adjust their direction, only to start searching for the Snitch again.
Therefore, if a Seeker's skills are not top-notch, it could take days to catch the Golden Snitch, and the match would drag on for just as long.
Historically, such incidents have indeed occurred.
If it were a regular match, Jerry would probably follow the usual Seeker strategy and let the Golden Snitch have a head start, gradually closing in and catching it at the last moment.
However, today, Jerry had placed bets with everyone, and this was the final Quidditch match of the tournament. He couldn't afford to play it safe as he had done in the past.
Thus, for the first time, the hundred thousand Witches in the stadium witnessed a moment that could only be described as divine.
As the Irish player, due to excessive speed, failed to turn in time and overshot, Jerry actually jumped off his broomstick.
In the instant of his descent, he grabbed the tail of the broomstick and, using the force of his body weight, forced the broomstick to make a 270-degree mid-air spin.
Once the broomstick was aligned with the Golden Snitch, which was flying downward, he used his powerful arms to remount the broomstick.
The entire maneuver was fluid and smooth, not much slower than the Golden Snitch's erratic movements.
Seeing that Jerry was not shaken off, the Golden Snitch, now close to the ground, made another high-speed turn, changing direction from downward to forward in an attempt to escape Jerry once more.
However, Jerry had anticipated this. As the Snitch changed direction, he did not try to turn the broomstick.
Instead, he pushed off the broomstick with both feet, leaping forward and catching the Snitch in mid-air just as it changed direction. He then performed a mid-air somersault and landed gracefully.
"Jerry Carmen caught the Golden Snitch in fifteen seconds, and the match is over!
Ireland versus England, the score is 120 to 190. The England team wins this year's World Cup final!"
The Head of the Department of Magical Sports and Games, who was responsible for hosting and commentating, announced the result with great excitement.
The fans who supported the England team, or more accurately, those who supported Jerry, raised their flags and posters of Jerry and began to cheer wildly.
Some Witches even took out their wands, casting spells that produced flames or glowing lights. A few were preparing to cast Arrow Charms, but they were quickly and sternly stopped by the Aurors maintaining order around the stadium.
Catching the Golden Snitch in fifteen seconds, along with the incredible maneuvers, will undoubtedly be recorded in the history of the Quidditch World Cup.
This was not a matter of luck but a display of Jerry's true skill in capturing the Snitch.
In the future, many Seekers will need to train and emulate Jerry's technique for dealing with the Golden Snitch's high-speed, unpredictable movements.
Most of them will likely suffer serious injuries, such as broken arms, legs, and necks.
After all, without Jerry's exceptional physical abilities, it would be impossible to master such a high-difficulty technique without falling and getting injured numerous times.
(End of Chapter)
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