Chapter 271 " No Fly Charm"

"Very well," a shadow of disappointment flickered in Morgan's eyes, but she maintained a sweet smile. "As expected of the chosen one, I'm hardly surprised by your response."

Skyler's assessment was accurate. Despite her descendant's strong will, her physical prowess was lacking. Over time, she gradually seized control of 90% of Meredith's being, effectively sidelining her memories. This dominance allowed her to orchestrate Skyler's arrival at the cemetery.

Having never met Skyler, she relied on Meredith's memories to gauge his character, thus exploiting his weaknesses.

Expecting her to redirect her focus to Voldemort after his rejection, the others were caught off guard by her next move.

"So, what about you?" Morgan addressed the eight remaining Death Eaters. "It's clear you stand little chance tonight—Selwyn's choice speaks volumes. Now, I offer you the opportunity to reconsider. Selwyn, any words for your former comrades?"

"While this is the start for our journey, I am generous enough to offer the chance for you to join my ranks," Morgan teased with a smile.

At this pivotal moment, Selwyn, having narrowly escaped Voldemort's killing curse, regained his composure. Observing the prowess of the two newcomers, it was evident they could rival Voldemort, especially in a two-on-one scenario.

Despite being brought into the Shadow Dragon through his wife's connections, Selwyn remained a newcomer. This presented a prime opportunity for him to make his mark.

With urgency, he beckoned, "Corban! Claude! Join me swiftly, along with our affiliated families. Our organization is none other than the Shadow Demonic Dragon—rumored to be the Avalon School, dating back to the Middle Ages. It rivals even the legendary Merlin. Our pure-blooded lineage demands leadership with such heritage!"

He hesitated, wary of Voldemort's presence, opting not to voice his complete thoughts about the Dark Lord. "It's time we severed ties with those of mixed descent," he concluded instead.

The Death Eaters murmured among themselves, clearly stirred by Selwyn's words. Soon, Yaxley took the initiative.

It wasn't a difficult decision. Apart from a handful of fanatics like Antonin and Bellatrix, most Death Eaters didn't harbor much loyalty to Voldemort. Otherwise, they wouldn't still be there when Voldemort was presumed dead. In a heartbeat, they chose betrayal, drawing a clear line with Voldemort.

Ultimately, siding with Voldemort was about preserving the monopoly of pure-blooded families—it was all about self-interest! Put plainly, their allegiance hinged on whether Voldemort's ideology aligned with their interests and whether he possessed the strength to enforce it.

But the current scenario painted a different picture. Voldemort struggled even against a young Malfoy, hinting at his waning power. Yaxley, as the head of a prominent pure-blooded family, couldn't afford to be naive. It was evident to anyone with clear sight that Voldemort's reign was over. Meanwhile, two enigmatic figures suspected to be magisters stood opposed, accompanied by a hundred dark wizards whose might rival Voldemort's own.

In this moment, with the enemy extending an olive branch, failing to seize this rare opportunity would mean sinking with Voldemort's sinking ship.

As Yaxley safely approached Selwyn, the other seven Death Eaters followed suit, even Pettigrew tremblingly making his way to Selwyn. The only companion left with Voldemort was the lifeless body of Avery sprawled on the ground.

In the dim moonlight, Voldemort stood alone, his expression impassive against the chilly wind. The night breeze swept over his face and black robes, emitting an eerie sound. The scene held a haunting desolation.

"Lord Voldemort," Morgan's eyes shimmered as she smiled beguilingly, "Behold, you stand alone now. Even with Skyler by your side, you cannot match our strength. Moreover, he may not even emerge from hiding, and if he does, he's wounded and unable to defend himself..."

"For individuals of your caliber, our organization always extends a welcoming hand. As I mentioned earlier," Morgan spoke lightly, "We could have intervened after you faced each other in a fight to the death. But, truth be told, the outcome would have favored us even more. We chose to appear just before that moment because we value your exceptional talents. I hope you won't be unappreciative..."

"Moreover," Morgan's smile took on a cunning edge, akin to a sly fox, "With the anti-Apparition Formation in place, you stand no chance—"

"Hmph," Voldemort cut in, his tone icy, "You think to confine me with anti-Apparition measures? You underestimate me."

"Haha, I haven't finished," Morgan's smile widened. "Compared to the enigmatic Skyler Malfoy, your intelligence is commendable in gathering information—are you planning to rely on Unsupported Flight to escape the formation's reach? But since we're aware of your capabilities, do you truly believe we'd be foolish enough to grant you that chance?"

Voldemort's brow furrowed. Tonight had been rife with bizarre magic, and he couldn't discern if the threat was genuine or a bluff.

Unexpectedly, it was Skyler who interjected first—

"There's no denying her words..." Skyler's gaze bore into Morgan's, his tone icy, "It's a No-Fly Charm. When we first attempted to escape, we were both ensnared without a sound. Such a curse—not only would wandless flight be impossible, we'd likely struggle to cast even the most basic levitation charm..."

The No-Fly Charm, an incantation unnamed in canonical lore, should have been within Voldemort's realm of expertise.

This form of magic operates without the need for a wand, lacking the telltale stream of light typical of spellcasting. Instead, it demands the recitation of a lengthy incantation in a near-silent bass.

The sole stipulation lies in the unwavering gaze of the spellcaster fixed upon the intended target throughout the casting process.

During Harry's first year at Hogwarts, it was Quirrell—possessed by Voldemort—who employed this curse.

Harry nearly plummeted from his broomstick during a Quidditch match, saved only by Hermione's quick thinking that inadvertently set Snape's robes ablaze. The ensuing chaos disrupted Quirrell's focus, halting the curse and preventing Harry from sustaining serious injury.

While this magic remains veiled and its execution elusive, it falls within the realm of comprehension for the likes of the Harry, Ron, and Hermione trio.

Skyler and Voldemort, perched at the apex of the wizarding world's hierarchy, are among the select few at this pinnacle. Even if the no-fly charm were covertly planted upon them, the mere initiation of its incantation by Morgan would likely trigger their senses, eliciting their vigilance.

Morgan's timing in casting the spell proved astute beyond measure.

At that pivotal moment, when Skyler and Voldemort poised for their decisive strike, their focus was singularly fixed on each other. They were engrossed in the spellcasting duel without any external distractions, and they remained wholly oblivious to the opportunistic intervention of a third party.

Voldemort took a brief pause, digesting the truth of Skyler's revelation. His countenance underwent a rapid and drastic transformation—stripped of the two trump cards of Apparition and Weaponless Flight, his odds of overpowering his adversary plummeted to a dismal fraction, less than 10%.

"Now..." Morgan's expression swelled with pride as she addressed Voldemort, "How do you plan to proceed, Lord Voldemort?"

Voldemort could only lament the situation; no matter how hard he tried to think, there was no way there was a great outcome of this situation that would benefit him.