Chapter 713: Slaughter
Voldemort’s wand sliced through the air in a sharp arc, its tip erupting with dozens of Flame Lights. In an instant, they twisted and coiled into giant serpents, hissing as they lunged toward the Magic Puppet.
"Burn them!" Voldemort’s hoarse voice echoed across the night.
The Fire Snakes seemed to teleport—wrapping around the frontmost Crab and Mantis in a flash. The intense heat melted through Crab’s hardened shell, and black iron water dripped down its bent legs. Several Crabs lost their balance and collapsed, their shells unable to resist the onslaught.
The Mantis Magic Puppet was mostly constructed from non-flammable materials. It charged forward despite the flames, then slammed headfirst into an invisible barrier in midair. It paused—then broke through the obstacle, swinging its scythe-like blade at a Death Eater. The ground beneath the man’s feet suddenly softened.
Swamp Charm!
The Mantis’s six jointed limbs sank instantly into the mire. The more it struggled, the faster it sank. Just as it began to fight free, five beams of magical light struck it simultaneously.
Green fragments flew in all directions. The Mantis’s compound eyes flickered once, then dimmed for good.
The Death Eaters closed in around Voldemort, their wands slashing wildly in every direction, unleashing Dark Curses. They were seasoned wizards—far more powerful than any student at school.
"Stupefy!"
A cheetah that had just emerged was instantly knocked unconscious and fell to the ground.
"Disintegration Spell!"
Half of a Crab’s body exploded into dust, collapsing in a heap.
"Thunder Explosion!"
The roaring gorilla froze mid-roar, then vanished in a burst of flame and light.
Others were caught in Confusion Charms or Imperius Curses, turned against their own allies—some even swung at Wade. But the Giant Jellyfish Magic Puppet swept them all aside with a single, sweeping motion.
"That Jellyfish!" one Death Eater shouted, forgetting to mask his voice. "Control that Jellyfish—these Home troops will break!"
Imperius Curses rained down on the giant jellyfish, but were blocked by a dense swarm of Hornets. They abandoned their aerial advantage, pressing tightly against the jellyfish’s body, forming a writhing, living cloak that fluttered in the wind.
Any Hornet under Imperius control was instantly torn apart by its own kind—useless before it could act.
Stun Spells, Explosion Spells, Fire Spells—striking one or two Hornets might destroy them, but the effect on the swarm was negligible. Like plucking a single hair from a giant’s body.
New Hornets instantly filled the gaps, leaving no space unfilled.
Frustrated, the Death Eaters abandoned their attempt to control the jellyfish. One snarled, "That kid’s only in his teens—where does he even find the time to make so many Magic Puppets?"
"Where do you think?" Theo Nott replied grimly. "Didn’t you see during the Tournament? He can conjure them like magic—just a few minutes a day, and the numbers add up fast."
He didn’t finish the sentence. Instead, he glanced at Voldemort—watching as the Dark Lord directed the Fire Snakes to melt more Magic Puppets.
The reason Voldemort had taken such interest in Wade Gray, wanted to claim him for his own, was simple: the Magic Puppets Wade created could be transformed directly into an army.
But the truth was, the boy from the Peace School had never seen his Magic Puppets as mere toys or companions. His development of them far surpassed what most could imagine.
Theo Nott swung his wand, deflecting a Mantis that had surged forward. He was stunned by the sheer endlessness of the creations—still, new ones kept pouring out of the cabinet.
One boy, leading an army of his own—no guidance needed. A fourteen-year-old, already a force unto himself.
It made sense now. Otherwise, how could he have produced such powerful Magic Puppets during the Tournament using only the limited materials of the Forest?
Voldemort must have seen this too. That was why he hadn’t used a more devastating spell to kill Wade Gray—despite the killing rage that had long consumed him.
At this moment, Wade Gray appeared weak—but that was only because of Harry Potter’s proactive sacrifice, his influence still lingering.
Remove that memory. Raise Wade Gray under Voldemort’s own tutelage, and he would have only one allegiance.
Theo Nott thought this through, a smug satisfaction rising within him. He glanced at his former comrade, the one who had wanted to kill Wade Gray just moments ago. A quiet sense of superiority filled him.
…Where is he?
The space beside him was empty. The Death Eater who had been unleashing Dark Curses just moments ago—gone.
"Avery?" Theo Nott called out, his eyes scanning the area.
At that instant, a sharp sting pricked the back of his neck—like a needle’s light touch.
Instinctively, he reached back. His fingers brushed against something hard and cold—a tiny, smooth stone embedded in his skin.
Theo Nott yanked it out. The pain made him gasp. He stared at his fingertip.
A tiny ant.
More precisely, an Ant Magic Puppet.
His pupils contracted sharply.
"What the—"
In an instant, something moved in his sleeve. A small weight settled onto his wrist.
Theo Nott’s eyes widened in horror.
Unnoticed, countless Ant Magic Puppets had crawled onto his body. As soon as he realized it, they all reacted at once—driving their stingers deep into his flesh, injecting venom.
Sting!
A jolt of searing pain shot up his spine. The poison surged through his bloodstream, burning every inch of skin that had been bitten. His vision blurred. He tried to scream—but only a hoarse gasp escaped his throat.
Then he collapsed to his knees, his pupils dilating. The ringing in his ears drowned out all sound.
In the final moment before unconsciousness, he saw hundreds of ants swarming over him, covering him in a black, living cloak. Some crawled beneath his body, lifting him slightly off the ground. Then, in swift, coordinated motion, they carried him away—toward the church.
Now, Theo Nott understood how Avery had vanished.
The air on the battlefield warped with the density of spells, colored lights weaving into a deadly web. The large, imposing Magic Puppets were Voldemort’s primary targets—his focus, and the Death Eaters’ main focus.
But the ants—nearly invisible against the ground—proved to be the deadliest.
After Avery and Theo Nott, Crabbe’s massive frame suddenly stiffened. Then, with a scream of agony, it fell, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Useless!" Voldemort roared. He swung his wand, and a wall of black fire erupted from the Death Eaters’ ranks, rising in an instant to encircle them. The front-line Ant Magic Puppets were instantly incinerated. Others were forced to retreat beyond the fire.
"Wade Gray!" Voldemort’s wand pointed directly at the church entrance, guarded by the Jellyfish Magic Puppet. A faint green light flickered at the tip.
His face twisted into a terrifying smile. His voice, soft and chilling, whispered in every ear:
"The game is over, boy. Don’t think those little toys can stop anything. Keep resisting, and I’ll show you what real terror truly is..."
Before he could finish, the monastery’s heavy oak door exploded inward. Splinters flew like cannonballs as a tall, slender figure stepped through the smoke, walking calmly into the courtyard.
"Oh my…," came a voice, laced with amusement, echoing through the yard—drawing the attention of everyone inside.
"How fascinating… I’d love to see what you mean by real terror."
Moonlight cut through the dust, illuminating the newcomer.
Long brown hair was loosely tied into a messy ponytail. Pale skin, not sickly, but as if carved from marble and infused with life. A faint smile played on his lips, but his eyes—dangerous, lethal.
(End of Chapter)
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