Chapter 251 "Crouch Jr. Appearance"

Although Skyler appears to have effortlessly conquered this level, it's essential to recognize that his strength far surpasses that of most individuals in the wizarding world. Even the most skilled and elite Aurors at the Ministry of Magic would struggle to match Skyler's abilities.

The creator of this challenge likely didn't anticipate that a fourth-year student like Skyler would possess such formidable strength.

Considering the protagonist of the original series, Harry Potter, as an example, if he were in Skyler's position, his approach would likely differ. In a similar scenario, Harry would typically rely on more straightforward spells or direct approaches.

For instance, when faced with the challenge of the golden mist in the original series, Harry initially attempted a Crushing Spell. However, upon realizing its ineffectiveness, he might impulsively charge ahead without much consideration.

Fortunately, the golden mist in the original series merely served as a test of courage, and advancing bravely would automatically dispel its magic.

If Harry were to recklessly charge into the attack range of the sword-leaf palm tree in a similar foggy scenario -

As Skyler progressed through the maze, his journey became remarkably smooth after overcoming the previous challenge.

Employing a group of magical voles to scout ahead, he relied on their innate intuition to navigate the maze's twists and turns, ensuring he took the most efficient route at every fork in the path.

"The path behind seems clear," Skyler noted, his expression stoic yet harboring a chilling resolve in his gray eyes. "Those individuals likely didn't anticipate my success with the sword-leaf palm level..."

Swiftly dispatching a forest monster in record time, Skyler noticed a faint glow emanating from the end of the path ahead. Pressing on, he finally reached his destination - an irregular octagonal space encircled by multi-faceted hedges.

Dark and foreboding intersections dotted the landscape, hinting at multiple paths converging at this point. However, Skyler's chosen route proved to be the most optimized and time-efficient.

It's worth noting that Skyler's field mouse pathfinding tactic proved supremely effective, surpassing even the "Four-Point Spell" technique utilized by Harry in the original series and many other fanfiction protagonists.

The Four-Point spell, akin to a compass, merely points the wand northward, aiding the user in orienting themselves and selecting the most probable path towards the maze's conclusion.

For instance, if Harry entered the maze from the southeast entrance and the endpoint lay northwest of his position, discerning north would assist him in deducing which branch held greater promise.

Yet, anyone acquainted with maze navigation understands that linear distance does not equate to traversal distance. The maze's design can cunningly lead one on a circuitous route, ultimately culminating in a dead end, nullifying prior progress and necessitating a frustrating backtrack to recommence the journey.

Moreover, as per Skyler's observations, this magical maze is sentient, with its hedges perpetually in flux, further complicating navigation.

If a normal compass were brought here, then the arrow would probably spin at a high speed all over the place due to the perpetual flux of magnetism.

In the original narrative, sans covert assistance, relying solely on the directional spell and magic to navigate to the maze's conclusion would prove wishful thinking.

As the first contender to enter the maze, Skyler was poised to lead the pack had he not expended considerable time at the sword-leaf palm level. Despite this setback, his confidence in prevailing remained unwavering.

He couldn't afford to be overly confident.

After all, if Harry had clandestine assistance, he would likely reach the finish line ahead of him. Let's not forget that Harry's journey may have been smoother than what's depicted in the original book, but he still had to evade the Blast-Ended Skrewt and rescue Cedric from Krum.

With the Blast-Ended Skrewt vanquished by his hand and the premature exit of the two female contenders, these subplots presumably didn't unfold in this dimension.

A hundred meters ahead, the Triwizard Trophy gleamed on a pedestal, beckoning with irresistible allure.

The Goblet of Fire remained, but Harry was nowhere in sight.

Victory seemed within grasp.

Yet, as Skyler prepared to advance, he paused, rooted to the spot.

Drawing from the countless narratives he'd witnessed in his previous existence, he knew that as the climax approached, the likelihood of catastrophe loomed larger. For in those moments nearest triumph, people often lowered their guard, unwittingly inviting tragedy to commence.

With his Illuminating Insight operating at full potency, not even a minuscule insect on the grass eluded his vigilant gaze within a few dozen feet.

Skyler slowly extended his wand towards a spot not far to the right.

Simultaneously, four peculiar black shadows materialized on the ground, each positioned in the cardinal directions surrounding Skyler. Humanoid in shape, the shadows bore fine, short spikes along their edges, resembling thorn-covered figures.

"Fascinating," Skyler murmured. "The Shadow Dragon?"

As Skyler gestured, the illusion crafted by the Disguise Spell gradually dissipated, revealing a slender figure with a wooden leg.

It was Mad-Eye Moody.

While this outcome fell within Skyler's expectations, it also held an element of surprise.

"Impressive," Moody's voice reverberated, chillingly cold. "With my Disguise Charm, even Dumbledore would struggle to pinpoint my location in such obscurity. It appears you've got quite the knack for trouble, kid... with secrets aplenty."

"Crouch Jr., it seems," Skyler remarked with a glint in his eye, though his smile remained feigned. "I must admit, your methods surpass my expectations. You're responsible for the Blast-Ended Skrewts, the arrow-wielding assailants, the sword-leaf palm trees, and more, aren't you?"

"It's quite remarkable," Crouch Jr. remarked, clicking his tongue twice with a hint of lingering significance. "Despite my best efforts to overestimate your capabilities, I never anticipated you'd break through the labyrinth of bloodthirsty creatures, magic-defying arrows, and divine swords meticulously orchestrated by the organization. It appears the master truly possesses foresight... Tell me, how did you hone your skills? Is your prowess nearly on par with a wizard's?"

Skyler remained nonchalant, posing a casual inquiry, "Where's Harry? Logically speaking, considering the delay I've caused, he should have arrived by now, correct? Surely you haven't dispatched him?"

"It's not entirely out of the question to share," Crouch Jr. replied with a sly grin. "You're quite astute. I'll be accompanying him shortly –" Even in his state of mind, Crouch Jr. couldn't contain his pride, adding, "Harry – he's gone where he's meant to be – My master will return soon... Hahaha..." With that, he erupted into maniacal laughter, madness gleaming in his eyes.

Observing Crouch Jr.'s self-satisfied expression, it appeared that Harry had indeed fallen into his clutches.

"Well, if the Goblet of Fire remains untouched, it suggests he's found alternative means to extricate Harry," Skyler mused.

To accomplish this feat under the vigilant gaze of the Ministry of Magic and Dumbledore required methods far beyond mere Apparating and Portkeys.

Cracking the Apparition ban would surely alert Dumbledore, while creating a new Portkey would inevitably trigger the Ministry of Magic's nationwide detection system.

Reflecting on the task of silently transporting Harry out of Hogwarts, Skyler pondered whether he could achieve it himself. The answer was clear – it was feasible. Countless magics exist in the world, many of which evade detection.

Take the vanishing cabinet, for instance; its creation method may be lost, but with adversaries like the Shadow Dragon, a dark witch from antiquity, discovering someone versed in its construction wouldn't be improbable.

Yet, a chilling question emerged: if Voldemort required Harry's blood for resurrection, why would the Shadow Dragon capture him? Unless...

A dreadful possibility dawned on Skyler. Every single possibility was racing in his head, trying to justify whether or not the meeting today with them would be beneficial for him or if they were just another existence that needed to be rooted out of the equation.

"Since your target is Harry, and you have succeeded..." Skyler shook his head, his expression tinged with confusion. "Then why are you still blocking me here? Just to show off to me?"

Skyler had a valid reason for asking.

According to the rules of the Triwizard Tournament, only the four participating champions are permitted inside the maze. For the sake of fairness and to prevent any suspicion of foul play, the four patrol members stationed outside the maze can only enter if they see red sparks, indicating a need for rescue.

Crouch Jr.'s presence here likely purported to rescue the two female champions, providing him with a legitimate reason for entry. However, lingering too long within the maze would inevitably raise suspicions. After all, Dumbledore was among the spectators, and he was not one to be easily deceived.