allendalepharm Chapter 345 Crushing
Chapter 345 Crushing
Chapter 345 Crushing
"Ron Weasley's battle marks these young wizards as the future."
Rita, the editor-in-chief of The Daily Prophet, excitedly pulled aside the editors of other newspapers and magazines to tell them about this, hoping to unite everyone to promote this hot topic.
"They are not called the future simply because they are young students."
"That's an outdated notion!" she exclaimed, waving one hand vigorously. "It's because of power! Incredibly powerful!"
Rita vaguely knew something about the plans of the three leaders: Dumbledore, Grindelwald, and Lockhart.
Of course, she was unaware that the joint promotion of the Triwizard Tournament was to advance the magic school-centered system, and none of the three giants would reveal even a whisper about this to the outside world.
But she was able to keenly sense some undercurrents. She dared not ask or think too much, but she knew how to help Lockhart and thus get on this giant ship to the future.
It can be said that, in order to forcibly implement the Law of Secrecy in the wizarding world, the Auror organizations, a violent institution established by the magic ministries of various countries under the guidance of the International Wizarding Federation, officially took over the reins of society from the Order of Merlin during the Wizarding Council era.
Now, the Aurors are no longer enough!
The most powerful group of fighters is located within the magic school!
Among the three great wizards (and Voldemort), among the professors of various schools, and even more so among this group of students whose strength is beginning to grow exponentially stronger!
What Ron and George displayed was undoubtedly an overwhelming presence to the outside world!
Without a doubt!
The British Ministry of Magic is alright; they have a few notable figures, such as Scrimgeour, Kingsley, the Longbottoms, and the retired Mad-Eye Moody. The other Aurors in the Ministry are really not up to par. (In her personal opinion)
The current Auror members of the French Ministry of Magic, who once proudly challenged the British Ministry of Magic, are practically none capable of defeating Ron in this arena.
Werewolf-level high magic resistance, the colossus-like physique granted by the harpy, and the beastly attack instincts so agile that even a werewolf can't react—
There is no doubt that Ron Weasley in this state could kill a powerful fire dragon with a single slap!
It might even be paired with that spell that summons a pack of gray wolves—
What do those Aurors have to compare with?
Rita excitedly gathered her thoughts, looked at her colleagues, and lowered her voice with a mysterious expression, "I'm asking you this: if Ron Weasley is a dark wizard who has done something wrong, who can catch him?"
Xenophilius, the editor-in-chief of *The Quibbler*, thought for a moment, "The Aurors might not be able to help; perhaps we can only try contacting professors at magic schools?"
His voice grew softer and softer as he spoke, until finally he froze, a chilling thought that sent shivers down his spine.
"Then I'll ask again!"
Rita looked at the other editors, "What if there are many more kids like Ron? Like George, who just fought him, right? He didn't seem weak either."
One Ron may not mean much.
But a bunch of junior wizards at this level of strength would be terrifying!
Everyone gasped in surprise.
We're all smart people, so there's no need to spell things out. Everyone knows what Rita means.
"The future lies in magic schools!" Rita exclaimed excitedly. "Gentlemen, it's a philosophy of survival! We promote things that benefit magic schools, enhance their reputation, and grow alongside them. They will then provide even more help for our future!"
Not everyone was moved by her words.
Elrian Greengrass, the editor-in-chief of The Wizarding Weekly, sat quietly to the side without saying a word, but he didn't leave.
He was naturally aware of the "magic school-centered system" strategy, and this nearly 100-year-old loyal saint had long been deeply involved in this grand scheme.
After his in-depth conversation with Grindelwald, The Wizarding Weekly quickly changed its strategy, no longer focusing on criticizing Dumbledore, but instead turning its attention to the Ministries of Magic in various countries, publishing articles specifically to attack and weaken their authority.
It couldn't be easier to do this; almost none of the officials in the magic ministries of various countries are clean.
Those born into pure-blood families must plan for the benefit of their families; those born into Muggle races must desperately seek upward mobility for themselves and fiercely confront pure-bloods while upholding the banner of political correctness; and those born into mixed races are even more complicated, with some having families, some relying on themselves, and some struggling to survive in the cracks, all having to fight for their own survival space.
The only thing that is beneficial to society is that while there are some things, they are better than nothing.
Throughout the entire game of power, everyone is covered in filth.
In contrast, the professors at the magic school seemed remarkably clean. Their undeniable contributions to society, the purity of their teaching and living environment, and their exceptional magical abilities allowed them to focus most of their attention on magic itself.
If you deliberately put the two in front of the same camera, the contrast will be extremely strong.
For example, the latest issue of Wizarding Weekly features an article on page three about Pomona Sprout, Head of Hufflepuff House and Professor of Herbalism at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, who has successfully cultivated a non-toxic variety of Moonblight Fungus.
This magical herb emits a unique fragrance under moonlight, attracting animals with dark powers to roost there, and releases highly toxic mycelium to absorb the dark power from the animals while they sleep.
After Professor Sprout successfully detoxifies the mycelium, humans can rely on it to treat stubborn curses and magical damage imbued with dark power.
—"Just lie down on it!"
The effect is remarkable.
The Wizarding Weekly even featured a photo of Professor Sprout, his optimistic yet gentle smile, his patched hat, and his clothes covered in mud from his work—
This contrasts sharply with Dolores Umbridge, the Ministry of Magic official on the next page, who is dressed in exquisite luxury but has a cold and acerbic expression.
It's almost as if they just added a caption between the two photos: "Magic schools are the future!"
As for the front page headlines...
Hey, it's the usual tradition of The Witcher Weekly—Giddro Lockhart wins the newspaper's eighth annual Most Charming Smile Award!
No surprises!
Lockhart's smile was radiant. With one arm around Ron and the other around George, he faced the magical camera in the hands of Fred Weasley, a temporary reporter for the Duelist Club, and looked very proud.
"They're all great!" Lockhart told Fred to write down this interview comment.
"Do you have any further comments or encouragement for them?" Fred picked up his notebook and took notes, hoping to get more information out of them.
In fact, they were all eager to receive Lockhart's evaluation and advice after their performance in this game.
George and Ron both watched the professor nervously.
Words of encouragement —
Lockhart looked intently at the two men before him, whose eyes held a hint of wavering and confusion. "Strengthen your own beliefs!"
""
"When exploring the mysteries of magic, please always remember, I am me!"
"The power emanating from the depths of the soul is the most intense, the best driving force for magic, and the most direct manifestation of the true self, but it is only 'me,' not 'me' in the world."
"When we explore ourselves, we must look inward, but we must also remember to look outward. Blindly pursuing the self will only make you lose sight of the world."
Snape is the best example.
"Spirituality is the self in the world, filled with the self nurtured by our current environment, but it is too mysterious and detached from life."
"Blindly pursuing spiritual power will cause us to lose ourselves."
Sirius Black is the best example.
He smiled as he looked at the two children, whose thoughts were beginning to emerge. "Fairytale adventures, magical lives..."
The wizarding life, all its concepts, ultimately must be grounded in real life, in our own lives.
"Pursue authenticity, your true self!"
All right.
That concludes the sophisticated remarks.
Lockhart asked Fred to put away his notebook and then spoke to him about some more private matters.
He first looked at Ron, "Of course we can choose to use dark power. In fact, it is the oldest and most primal power of wizards, mysterious, ominous, and eerie."
"But that doesn't mean we have to become bad people. When you aspire to be an upright person, a respected and courageous warrior, you will naturally embark on the path of how to better utilize dark forces."
The reasoning is actually not complicated.
Lockhart was always good at guiding the young wizards with the simplest words, and Ron understood immediately.
He said that Ron was right to be increasingly exploring the magical path of dark powers, and affirmed this.
He added that this wouldn't turn you into a dark wizard unless you intended to become one. As long as you remain steadfast in your belief in justice, you will move towards the light, even if you use dark powers.
Ron's confused expression gradually hardened, and he looked at Lockhart with deep gratitude, his voice slightly choked, "Professor, thank you!"
Thank you for your continued support!
Thank you for recognizing me as a warrior yearning for justice, a true Gryffindor!
Professor Lockhart knew he was a good person!
That's enough!
Ron relaxed his tense expression after coming off the stage.
Lockhart then looked at George and Fred, "Don't be discouraged. Ron has embarked on his own magical path, but haven't you two started to find your own direction as well?"
George nodded. "Freedom to create and invent, to unleash our spirit without restraint."
Fred added, "A level of creation on a whole new level than prank toys!"
"Yes!" Lockhart laughed heartily. "Magic is not just about fighting. Every field is full of wonders. You must never lose your way on the path of magic because of a defeat in battle."
"Professor, don't worry," George thumped his chest, "My heart is still beating hot!"
"Never stop!" Fred laughed, putting a hand on George's shoulder.
Magic is never just about fighting.
Like Professor Sybil Trelawney, who is considered one of the most powerful prophets and diviners of our time, she constantly strives for excellence in her field.
You can't give up on your path just because the magic field you're in isn't good for fighting.
That would be incredibly foolish.
The important thing is to participate.
Draco Malfoy didn't want to participate at all; he always carried too much on his mind, it was always heavy.
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He was arguably the first in the Duel Club to abandon the use of the Patronus Charm, determined to protect the beautiful memories in his mind instead of using them as weapons.
A descent into dark magic!
The path of dark magic is not difficult, at least not for the excellent Malfoy.
He had a different understanding than most people: the core of wielding black magic well was "style" and "noble aristocratic qualities".
For example, during his several fairytale adventures with Professor Lockhart, he effectively used the "Voodoo Substitute" spell twice. The core of that spell, which ripped off fingernails, was "sacrifice"!
For example, he quickly absorbed knowledge at Beauxbatons School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, learning those gorgeous and dazzling styles of magic. The complex crowd control magic "Brilliant Fireworks" that he easily used in his battle against the young Voldemort was essentially a "solo performance under the moonlight," a state of mind that was extremely lonely yet brilliant.
This unique understanding and unique spellcasting philosophy allowed him to cast summoning spells like "Dragon Emerges from Cave" and "Summoning the Serpent God for Protection" with great ease.
It's not harm.
It wasn't malicious.
Rather, it is the style of aristocratic romance and noble qualities within one's heart!
Draco discussed this in a Duel Club sharing session, giving this concept of casting dark magic a very unique name—"Count Vampire".
Dark yet brilliant, magnificent yet lonely, a noble self-blooming.
Just as Lockhart said that it is difficult for people to have Dumbledore's insights into life, and therefore difficult to reach the magical realm that belongs only to Dumbledore, even if it is shared and discussed, in the Duel Club, it is still a spellcasting philosophy that belongs only to Draco.
Draco, who naturally embraced this philosophy, stepped into the ring with a very unique mindset.
He was not roused, nor did he display the excitement of a duel.
He simply raised his noble head gracefully, as if walking towards a giant classical piano under the spotlight, preparing to begin a magnificent yet solitary solo.
His pride would not allow him to fail.
His pride also sustained him from failure.
so----
He was so dazzling in the eyes of others that every wizard in the stands could feel it.
"This is my son!" Lucius Malfoy said proudly to a wizard he didn't recognize from South America beside him. "He's my pride!"
Old Lu could truly feel that Draco, who followed Lord Lockhart, did not become Lord Lockhart's shadow, but instead became more and more like a perfect Malfoy.
In contrast, Viktor Krum looked terrible in this match.
The star captain from Durmstrang was radiating an air of anxiety and unease after watching Ron and George's outrageous match that morning.
He cannot fail.
Krum told himself.
He was the captain of the Durmstrang team, and he absolutely could not afford to lose to some unknown nobody from Hogwarts and be completely eliminated from the "Goblet of Fire" Champions Tournament. That would be an unacceptable and terrible defeat.
He needs more victories to gain a voice, whether against his family, the Ministry of Magic of his home country, or the school principal; he needs continuous victories to acquire the capital to fight back.
Bang~!
The fireworks were brilliant but short-lived.
"The match begins!"
After performing the standard dueling etiquette, Krum quickly brandished his wand, determined to launch a preemptive attack.
His most celebrated style in Quidditch is characterized by fierce, rapid, and relentless attacks, which remains effective in spellcasting duels.
"Disarm you!"
"They'll all be petrified!"
He collapsed to the ground, completely unconscious!
"Clothing Prison!" (A binding spell that twists the clothing of every part of the body together, like a restraint band, completely restricting any possibility of physical movement.)
"Yugardim ~ Slow Down" (A levitation and hovering spell, a minor combination of the levitation and hovering spells, designed to slow down the process of controlling someone's levitation to the extreme, achieving the unique effect of hovering in mid-air)
Five consecutive small moves!
Extensive targeted training resulted in the rapid and fluid execution of the five spellcasting gestures, and the ingenious combination of the required casting postures with footwork to continuously move and dodge enemy attacks.
excellent!
Krum had never been in such good form; every detail of his spellcasting was perfect, so perfect that even he himself couldn't help but marvel at it.
He should be proud of this.
Under other circumstances, he would have easily dealt with the enemy.
However, the results did not meet his expectations.
Draco Malfoy simply stood there, raising one hand and waving it gently, dispelling spell after spell he had cast.
His relaxed demeanor made it seem as if he were facing not a rapid combo, but merely a few gentle breezes.
"Excellent!" exclaimed Professor Flitwick, Headmaster of Ravenclaw School, turning to Professor Sprout beside him. "A perfect counterspellcasting; this requires a thorough grasp of every spell and counterspell!"
This scene can almost be considered the perfect template for a wizard duel!
"impossible!"
Krum's expression changed. Without thinking, he quickly unleashed his most powerful magical attack.
It's still the same smooth little combo.
"Flames are raging!"
"Thunderous explosion!"
This is Durmstrang's most famous "multicast" spell technique. Just as ancient wizard armies used the same spell to superimpose spells when fighting against alien races, the modern dueling field has also explored another unique achievement in supercast spells.
When an individual wizard casts multiple spells, certain combinations of spells can create synergistic effects, producing a wondrous chemical reaction. (Essentially, it's the multiple mobilizations of similar emotions by different spells.)
As he waved his wand, flames surged forth, like a dam bursting open, rushing forward from both sides behind him. Wherever the sea of fire passed, the ground was blasted apart and scattered like cannonballs.
The scene was absolutely stunning!
A gasp rippled through the stands as flames engulfed the arena, the intense heat surging towards the stands, making those nearby feel the burning sensation on their skin.
Every now and then, fragments of fire would fly out, which were dispersed by the Aurors called in by the Ministry of Magic who were guarding the area, but some still hit the stands, causing chaos.
Such powerful and fierce magic leaves no doubt that it can destroy a castle in an instant!
Even so.
Draco Malfoy remained standing in the same spot, merely tilting his chin up with a disdainful elegance, and gently raising his wand, pointing it into the air.
"Fire Prison Vortex!"
This is not conventional magic.
The prototype of this spell is the "Water Prison Whirlpool" (the spell Dumbledore used during his battle with Voldemort at the Ministry of Magic), which was used by Professor Lupin when he was teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts to young wizards about the "absorption and elimination" defense against the Dark Arts.
Later, it was analyzed by members of the Duel Club, and both Professor Lockhart and Professor Snape offered their own analyses.
It was eventually expanded by the Duel Club into a whole series of spells—"Radiance Vortex", "Airflow Vortex", and so on.
All the flames that were near Draco seemed to have found a place to pour out, flying along the direction above his body and rapidly converging in mid-air, swirling and tumbling in the direction indicated by the wand.
The surging flames coalesced into a swirling, writhing vortex.
Honestly, at this point, Draco had already won. If he pointed his wand at Krum, Krum would become the very center of the flames, personally experience the heat of the fire spell, and finally be reduced to the final brilliance of his life by the effect of the explosion spell.
But this is a ring match, and Draco knows the consequences of doing so.
No need.
He simply flicked his wand gracefully, and the fireball surged faster, drawing all the flames that filled the arena into it at an incredible speed.
The spectators in the stands watched in awe as the elegant young man seemed to be holding up a scorching, blinding sun. The entire ring was destroyed by the Explosion Curse, leaving only a two-meter radius around Draco intact. The visual impact was simply incredible.
Krum froze, swallowing hard as he looked up at the terrifying fireball. He could feel the heat of the flames on his skin, his throat was dry and uncomfortable, and he could feel the suppressed violence within the surging fireball.
Elegant tyranny.
It is called a verdict.
It stems from aristocratic arrogance.
But all of this was suppressed and not brought to fruition.
Draco waved his wand, changing the spell's effect, and a huge fire serpent snaked out from the giant fire sphere, its body a full two meters thick!
A dragon has emerged from its cave!
The giant serpent formed from flames twisted its body, quickly fixed its gaze on Krum, and suddenly swooped down, sweeping towards him.
"Ah~"
Krum gasped and instinctively backed away, but tripped over the broken ground and fell to the ground.
He could only watch in despair as the giant snake head, which had suddenly stopped in front of him, looked down at him with its mouth open in a threatening hissing motion.
"No----"
I can't give up!
I absolutely cannot admit defeat!
Krum groaned inwardly. He too had his pride. He felt so powerless at this moment, yet he still refused to admit defeat.
He closed his eyes in despair.
Kill me!
Let me die in the ring!
Let me die in battle!
At least, I won't admit defeat!
"Draco Malfoy wins!"
Professor McGonagall's voice rang out.
Krum sighed, collapsed to the ground, and wished he could just faint right then and there.
Crush them!
It's utterly despairing that he was so thoroughly crushed like that!
When he led the Durmstrang team to battle against the Beauxbatons team, this guy in front of him wasn't this strong!
The fiery serpent suddenly exploded, transforming into tiny, low-temperature flames that shone like fireworks.
Draco walked gracefully through the firelight.
"Show-off! Peacock!" Snape grumbled, turning to Lockhart. "Do you know who he's starting to resemble more and more?"
Lockhart simply smiled. "He has reason to be proud, reason to be arrogant, doesn't he?"
Yes.
Snape agreed.