Chapter 98 - The Death of Voldemort (2) And end of the first volume.

After the explosion from the collision of domain expansions, what followed was the purest brutality tearing through the fabric of reality. The sky changed completely in color, becoming a mix of darkness and redness. Black sparks like somber snow fell across the battlefield.

Within the domain expansion, Asterion and Voldemort faced each other. While Asterion maintained a calm expression, Voldemort stared back with a crazed and fearful look. He felt his domain expansion losing in the battle, not due to a difference in techniques, but because of the amount of magical energy used.

The opposing side had poured an incalculable amount of magical energy, and he had not done so.

In less than a blink of an eye, Voldemort's domain expansion shattered before his widened eyes. He saw it fragment like shards of glass passing before him, and before he could articulate any word, Asterion's expansion enveloped him.

Voldemort found himself in a pit of pure malevolence, where all the resentment, hatred, and rage of humanity converged in one place. Millions, billions, trillions of voices overlapped, creating an infernal angelic choir echoing in his mind.

His deepest fear was infinitely amplified, a sensory experience no human had ever witnessed. The avalanche of sensations flooding his brain was so overwhelming that he couldn't move or speak; only his eyes widened in indescribable horror.

A thick, black liquid akin to tar began to cover Voldemort's body, starting from his feet and slowly creeping up his legs. The liquid seemed to have a life of its own, pulling him down into a steaming, viscous sea.

As the black liquid enveloped him, Voldemort's expression became increasingly terrified. He raised his hand in a desperate plea for help, but it was futile. Only his head remained above the tar, his eyes reflecting the absolute terror of an inevitable fate.

When the domain expansion dissipated, Asterion observed the Dark Lord, who had terrorized England, kneeling on the ground, gazing silently and madly at the sky. Saliva dribbled from Voldemort's mouth as he could no longer express any emotion on his face.

Taking a step towards Voldemort, Asterion materialized a long black sword in his hand, adorned with several red eyes. The sword measured two meters in length and five centimeters in width.

Approaching the kneeling man, Asterion shifted the sword's position, holding it point-down, with the blade's tip just inches from Voldemort's eye. Asterion's red eyes gazed calmly and serenely at the man. Not at all relieved to have defeated Voldemort.

After all, if he hadn't managed to win even after awakening his second innate technique, Asterion might as well kill himself in shame.

The soldiers of the Clock Tower and the Death Eaters appeared on the battlefield as silence fell over the scene, everyone watching Voldemort kneeling before a thirteen-year-old boy, about to be killed by him.

The battlefield went completely quiet, interrupted only by the rapid breaths of all present.

"It's been a displeasure knowing you, Tom Marvolo Riddle," Asterion said coldly, devoid of any mockery or disdain, perhaps granting the minimum respect a monster like Voldemort might deserve at the end of his life.

Without hesitation, Asterion fortified his body with magical energy and swung down his sword with force.

The blade pierced Voldemort's right eye and continued downward, cutting through him from top to bottom.

The man, who had become deranged after Asterion's Domain Expansion, did not react even as the sword passed through his body. Until the end, his gaze remained fixed on the sky, as if imagining something that no one else would ever know.

A barrage of applause erupted from the Clock Tower soldiers. No one was happier than they were to see Voldemort finally dead, the same monster who had killed their loved ones and friends.

Asterion retrieved the sword from Voldemort's body, splattering blood on his face and clothes. Despite the applause, his face showed little emotion. His red eyes reflected a surprising calm.

Perhaps what he truly felt was boredom; even the satisfaction he thought he would feel upon killing Voldemort did not come, as if he had done something mundane.

Asterion's gaze focused on the lifeless body lost in thought.

Meanwhile, in the Death Eaters' camp, all Death Eaters fled without a second thought, abandoning the cause they had fought for. The witches and wizards from Germany and France who had been involved in the civil war also retreated after Voldemort's death.

Bellatrix was sitting in the main tent with a large snake in her hands.

Not far from her, lying on the ground, was the body of her ex-husband, Rodolphus Lestrange, the Patriarch of the House of Lestrange. His eyes had been gouged out and his tongue cut, numerous torture wounds covering his body.

Nagini's gaze in Bellatrix's arms at that moment was entirely different from the look the snake had before; this was a cold and somber gaze.

"Let's go, Bellatrix," a cold male voice came from the snake's mouth, which was utterly shocking. Each Horcrux had its own life, so what happened to Voldemort was not transferred to this Horcrux.

But Bellatrix didn't move a muscle despite the order from her apparent master; instead, she looked at the snake with a mixture of anger and disgust.

"You've ruined my master's plan," she said, continuing unabated by the snake's shocked gaze. "I was supposed to redeem myself in the eyes of the people and rise as a heroine who killed the dreaded Dark Lord. But none of that came to pass as my master intended, all because of you. But it doesn't matter anymore at this moment; my master will become a hero in the eyes of the people."

At that moment, Voldemort didn't need to hear any more; he knew Bellatrix was a traitor, and her betrayal came at a terrible time when he had no means to protect himself. Before Voldemort could say anything, he saw Bellatrix stand up and walk over to his diary, his other Horcrux!

With calm eyes, he watched her take a vial from her bag and carefully drop a drop onto the diary. He was confident in the durability of his Horcruxes; mere liquid wouldn't destroy them. But he couldn't maintain his calm demeanor as he saw the diary emit green smoke and a mournful scream echoed in the tent, accompanied by a face resembling Voldemort's own.

"IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!!"

"IMPOSSIBLE-"

Before he could finish his hysterical shout, he felt Nagini's body begin to stiffen; he knew what was happening. This Horcrux too had been poisoned by Bellatrix's strange liquid, and he was about to die. The most feared and powerful Dark Lord to ever set foot on the British Isles would die from mere poisoning.

"Basilisk venom," Bellatrix spoke, shaking the vial containing the poison. "My master gave it to me to destroy all your Horcruxes at the right moment."

Voldemort widened his eyes and realized that all his other Horcruxes would be in Asterion Black's hands! Even at the end of his life, he still couldn't understand how his Horcruxes were discovered, especially by Asterion Black.

Full of resentment and hatred, Voldemort's eyes closed for the last time.

The Dark Lord, Voldemort, was dead.

Hogwarts - Headmaster's Office.

Watching Rose writhing in bed, her face showing a pained expression, Dumbledore's face grew dark; he knew Tom was struggling to take over Rose's body through the Horcrux.

If Rose lost the battle and Voldemort won, Dumbledore couldn't imagine what Voldemort could do using Rose Potter's body.

Though the chance was minimal, Albus Dumbledore firmly held the Elder Wand, ready to end Rose's life the moment she showed signs of losing the battle.

Suddenly, Dumbledore noticed Rose's face relaxing, and the girl soon opened her eyes to his surprise. The most powerful man in the world hadn't noticed, but Rose's eyes seemed different, reflecting the universe itself. From the girl's body emerged green smoke that took on the face resembling Tom Riddle. This face roared reluctantly before disappearing completely.

"How are you, Rose?" Dumbledore discreetly stowed away his wand and asked with a concerned tone.

"Finally free and enlightened," Rose whispered, still looking directly at the ceiling, her pupils glimpsing the vastness of emptiness and a cold, boundless universe. A crazed smile outlining her lips.

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Author's thoughts: Voldemort was completely defeated, and at the end of the chapter, Rose achieves enlightenment, thus concluding the first arc of the fanfic. I hope you enjoyed it, as I'm preparing interesting things for the second year at Hogwarts. I sincerely appreciate all your support; each of you contributed to me continuing this fanfic, something I never imagined achieving.

Support me to write more and read chapters ahead of all regular readers! 

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Next Chapter Second Volume: Chapter 99 – Decision (1), Chapter 100 – Decision (2), Chapter 101 – Decision (3), Chapter 102 - The Black Sisters (1), Chapter 103 - The Black Sisters (2), Chapter 104 - Rose's Past (1), Chapter 105 - Arrival of Country Representatives (1), Chapter 106 - Arrival of Country Representatives (2), Chapter 107 - Arrival of Country Representatives (3), Chapter 108 – Party (1), Chapter 109 – Party (2), Chapter 110 - Back To Hogwarts (1), Chapter 111 - Back To Hogwarts (2), Chapter 112 – New Students (1), Chapter 113 – New Students (2), Chapter 114 – Ophelia (1), Chapter 115 – Ophelia (2), Chapter 116 – Doubts (1), Chapter 117 – Humbug (1) .