https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-603-Leaving-Some-Dignity-for-the-Ministry-of-Magic/13685778/
Chapter 602: Annihilation of the Entire Force
In the dimly lit TunnelCorner, the shadows of the five figures stretched long and thin under the flickering light of the torches, swaying with the dance of the flames like spectral hands grasping at nothing.
"Wade Gray dares to challenge us from within? He must have already set traps behind us. We can't let him lead us by the nose," Ganish said calmly. "We must stay alert—either him or his Magic Puppet could strike at any moment."
Zahid nodded. "I know a spell—Flame Shield. If I place a fire barrier in front of us, Gray’s Magic Puppet won’t be able to break through!"
"Fire shield?" Natasha’s brow twitched. She eyed Zahid skeptically. "What kind of fire shield?"
Outside the Streaming Mirror, the students watched with bated breath, but many of the headmasters sat upright instantly, their eyes locked on the screen—on the boy with wild curls, Zahid.
Older wizards, who had lived through the war, remembered well: Gellert Grindelwald had once wielded a spell known as Fire Shield Defense, a devastating incantation capable of reducing opponents to ash in an instant—nearly his signature move.
Adeso glanced at Dumbledore, who remained silent. Taking initiative, he asked, "Professor Usha, is this child connected to the Wizard Purity Party?"
Usha of Akatim frowned slightly, shaking her head under the weight of many stares. "No, not likely. Akatim doesn’t teach this spell. It must have been taught to him by his parents’ elders."
Zahid, unaware of the sudden focus on him, scratched his head in confusion. "It’s just… this kind of spell!"
He raised his wand toward the tunnel ahead and declared clearly, "Flame Shield!"
Boom—
A surge of golden-red flame erupted from his wand tip, spreading abruptly at about four feet, forming a wide, circular shield. The edges of the fire roared and spat sparks, scorching black marks into the vines beneath.
Natasha exhaled in relief, her grip on her wand loosening slightly. "So this is what the fire shield looks like."
Zahid dispelled the magic, breathing heavily. "Save it for pivotal moments. I can't maintain it for long."
"I have an idea," Ganish said, pointing at the thick vines lining the walls. "Why not use these vines to build shields? Set them on fire—then not only will we burn Gray’s Magic Puppet, but we’ll also block his spells."
The others’ eyes lit up instantly.
Each of them had been selected as champions from their respective schools, and regardless of their academic strengths, they all excelled in spellwork, Transfiguration, and Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Working together, they quickly constructed several shields large enough to cover all directions. With a Hovering Charm, they lifted them into position, then ignited the flames. The temperature in the tunnel rose sharply, and the group’s unease began to settle.
Just as they finished assembling the barriers, Harry had quietly caught up. He paused mid-step, listening to the crackling of burning vines and the voices of the others. Cautious, he stopped, peering from a distance.
A tiny sand rat had scurried behind him, hiding beneath a cluster of leaves, its dark eyes peeking out.
Abby and the others didn’t notice Harry. Harry didn’t notice the sand rat, only two feet away.
As the four moved forward, the one human and one rodent followed closely, keeping their movements stealthy. Scattered through the tunnel, blue birds flitted about—everyone knew they were part of the Streaming Mirror’s equipment, so they all pretended they weren’t there.
"Stay in formation! Don’t panic!" Abby hissed, gritting her teeth as she and her companions turned back-to-back, advancing carefully.
The flame shields rotated slowly around them, forming an impenetrable barrier that turned the damp, cold underground tunnel into a furnace.
"Front chamber—Chamber of Secrets!" Olga called from the front. "Stay sharp. Wade Gray could be inside."
"The shields are ours!" Ganish said. "Olga, Zahid, Abby—prepare your spells!"
They had already agreed on strategy: gain the upper hand in the first moment, survive the initial trap assault. Once they broke the Magic Puppet’s numerical advantage and faced Wade Gray directly, none of them doubted they could defeat a fourteen-year-old boy.
Ganish, Samuel, and Natasha each controlled two shields, guarding against surprise attacks. The other three gripped their wands tightly—some even held them without reciting incantations, ready to unleash their most familiar spells the instant they saw a target.
Just as they neared the Chamber of Secrets, the sand rat behind Harry froze. It tilted its head upward, staring at the tunnel’s pitch-black ceiling.
Scratching… rustling…
A faint whisper drifted down from above.
Samuel’s ears twitched. A cold dread shot through him.
He turned to Abby. "Did you hear—?"
In that instant, countless Scorpion Puppets poured down like a black storm, falling from the ceiling in a torrent. Though made of weeds and vines, their bodies shimmered unnaturally under the torchlight—glistening with a metallic sheen.
Zahid’s eyes widened in horror. He whipped his wand upward and roared, "Flame Shield!"
Fire erupted above them, forming a shield—but the next moment, dozens of Magic Puppets, blazing with fire, tore through the barrier and crashed onto the group!
Though aflame, the fire wasn’t hot enough to destroy them instantly. Worse, their bodies weren’t made entirely of plant matter.
The flames only amplified their strength.
Zahid, being the tallest, was the first hit. His dark curls burst into flames. He screamed in agony, flailing wildly, trying to tear the puppet off his head.
The flame shield vanished. More puppets rained down, piling onto the group like a swarm of burning insects.
"Armor—!" Abby began chanting, but before she could finish, several scorpions landed on her simultaneously. Their stingers pierced her skin. A wave of numbness surged through her body, like icy water flooding her veins.
She staggered, collapsing to her knees. Her vision blurred.
She saw the Scorpion Puppets marching over the burning vine shields, unafraid of the flames—advancing relentlessly toward the remaining fighters.
She saw Samuel struggling to fend off the puppets before him, only to feel four more clinging to his back.
Natalia's wand was wrenched from her grasp.
Ganish seemed paralyzed.
Zahid was the worst—falling to the ground still burning, while several puppets leapt onto him, putting out the flames with their own bodies.
Olga, however, acted decisively. He slammed both hands over his face and charged forward into the Chamber of Secrets, shoving aside every puppet in his path. Even when his cloak caught fire, he didn’t stop.
In that moment, Abby saw a flicker of hope—until she watched Olga crash into the chamber, only to be instantly caught by a chain that appeared from nowhere, snapping around his ankle. A choked scream tore from his throat as he was yanked upward, hanging upside down.
Clack.
A wand fell to the ground, rolling twice before being snatched up by a passing Scorpion Puppet.
Abby: "..."
She should have been despairing. But Olga’s final scream—so high-pitched, so absurdly like a little girl screaming at a cockroach—made her want to laugh instead.
"Good… at least Hope took the Golden Egg and left…"
The thought flashed through her mind—then darkness swallowed her whole.
(End of Chapter)
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