Chapter 119

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The collapsing rocks crashed into the sea, creating countless splashes, while at the top of the crumbling cliff lay crystallized earth glowing with a fierce red light. On the scarred ground, pungent black smoke was rising.

Although the magical world had enjoyed a long period of peace, wizards' magic ultimately served as tools for warfare. The extreme elitism within the wizard community was a common phenomenon, just as the extreme applications of magic were. There was a fundamental difference between combat-oriented magic and ordinary spells.

Cedric had utilized this spell, but the gap between it and Professor McGonagall's complete version was immeasurable.

Area-of-effect spells were ineffective against the demon race, as the dispersed power would be absorbed, enhancing their resistance against enemies.

But what if it were possible to eliminate the dispersion of power? Atmospheric deformation—the true nature of cloud explosion was that the wizard first constructed a closed cage, then, while shrinking the cage, triggered a superheated, high-pressure cloud explosion effect. The continuously contracting cage would compress and heighten the explosive power of the cloud until it shattered the demons' magical defenses, preventing any trace of magical energy from leaking out.

McGonagall's specialty, activated transformation, did not perform well on the abyss battlefield. Her Animagus form in its second stage leaned toward survival and stealth enhancement, lacking an increase in spellcasting power. Atmospheric deformation was an innovation she developed as a supplement, yet this spell still had flaws; it was unsuitable for the densely populated main battleground of the demons. The outer shell used for compression and confinement would have its magic absorbed by nearby demons, leading to the spell's collapse.

However, due to her feline Animagus form, her battlefield role had always been to infiltrate deep into enemy territory, seeking opportunities to deliver lethal strikes against high-level demons. This spell was a transformation technique tailored specifically for her.

Nevertheless, when such war-focused killing magic was deployed, it exhibited an overwhelming superiority over ordinary magic. This composite transformation technique concentrated all its power on enhancing destructive capabilities, a unique spell grouping exclusive to transformation magic.

"Great job, Ced!"

The enthusiastic embraces from a few rough men nearly knocked Cedric over, leaving him gasping for breath like a winded bellows. Just as he was about to berate those rascals, he noticed Qiuzhang's shining eyes nearby. Instantly calmed, Cedric straightened his back and flashed a bright, charming smile.

"This guy should be dead, right?"

A group flew toward the ruins of the castle, the ground still radiating intense heat, and the sculpted fire dragon had vanished. They couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Definitely dead! Even if it were a real fire dragon, I think it would just turn into a delicious dragon steak."

Cheers erupted among them, celebrating their ultimate victory.

"Congratulations! You all did well."

A familiar voice pierced their ears, and they realized Harry had appeared at the edge of the castle ruins.

"Aren't you burning your feet, Captain?"

Fred teased, as they hovered on their brooms about ten meters away from the ruins, yet the hot air still left their skin feeling dry. Meanwhile, Harry was less than a meter from the scorched earth.

"Although you fought well, remember that celebrating halfway through is unacceptable."

"Did you see any corpses? Have you checked up close? Are you sure they're dead?"

"Prototype reveal! Form reveal!"

The gun barrels of black ebony and white ivory released thin, translucent waves, as prototype reveal could detect magical fluctuations within a certain range, commonly used to check for traps and disguises. Form reveal, like human form reveal, could dispel certain levels of invisibility and camouflage effects, marking targets. These spells were not particularly difficult and belonged to practical, entry-level magic.

A ghostly blue light stood out vividly against the black-red ground. To be precise, it was a puddle of ghostly blue light.

The slime, which was a mud creature, had not died under Cedric's rudimentary atmospheric transformation—cloud explosion. As a fluid lifeform without a fixed shape, the slime was completely immune to blunt force, impact, and cutting damage. While physical attacks imbued with magical energy could still take effect, they did not cause full damage.

In contrast, the instantaneous magic flames, reaching thousands of degrees, inflicted effective harm on it. After being discovered, the slime, which had been lying on the ground pretending to be dead, suddenly sprang up, sprouting over a dozen snarling monster heads from a three-meter-wide mud ball, their rumbling sounds seemingly attempting to intimidate Harry.

"If you rashly approach, I shouldn't need to say what the result will be."

"Freeze with ice."

The white ivory gun barrel flickered with a flurry of magical light. In just a few seconds, the scorching ground had cooled completely, and the hardened earth made cracking sounds underfoot, while the crystallized soil and gravel were as fragile as glass.

"If you think about it, dealing with this guy isn't that troublesome."

"What does a slime fear?"

He posed this question, and the answer was evident.

"Dehydration and freezing."

The team members awkwardly spoke up, a bit embarrassed.

"Well, isn't that just right?"

"You can't penetrate its magical resistance, but you can create ice to freeze its body."

"Just like this—freeze with ice!"

The black ebony emitted a dull roar, and despite the freezing spell on the outer layer of magical resistance, ice crystals rapidly spread within the mud slime's body. The once fluid form gradually solidified into hard frozen earth, and within seconds, the frozen mud slime was completely immobilized before it could even fully extend its newly formed wings.

"And then we just need to land a light punch—"

The instant the frozen earth ball shattered under Harry's straightforward strike, fragments of dirt flew everywhere, stinging those hit. The unfortunate ones who caught a few hits could only grumble under their breath, realizing how foolish their previous actions had been. While they couldn't shatter rocks like Harry with a single punch, the fact that they could freeze this creature meant they could slowly whittle it down. Given enough time, dealing with a solidified slime was a straightforward task.

"While it looked like you had some teamwork once you were in the air, with each of you finding your positions to contribute, your coordination on the ground was a mess. This isn't entirely your fault; Hogwarts does lack relevant training in teamwork. However, as members of this combat team, you should learn to put aside your silly house distinctions."

"You should all remember the Triwizard Tournament from last year, where Professor Grindelwald's assessment was spot on. Since Hogwarts can't teach you teamwork, forget about house divisions from now on."

"You just experienced the flaws of cooperation among the four houses and felt the camaraderie of soaring in the sky. In my combat team, there's no need for so-called factions or house distinctions. Those unnecessary burdens will only hold us back. Did you join the team just to win a measly House Cup?"

"In three years! We're going to storm the Quidditch World Cup!"

"How can a disorganized bunch compete against professional teams from other countries?"

"Marcus!"

Harry turned to Marcus and the other bulky Slytherin students. "Tell me, what did you do before takeoff?"

Marcus, called out by Harry, froze for a moment. Suddenly, this burly man blushed bright red. He stammered, unsure of what to say, as if words eluded him.

"What about once you were on your Firebolt 2000, after you and your teammates took to the skies?"

"I'm a Beater!" he almost shouted. "No matter what's in front of me, I'll smash it! I'll clear a path!"

"So, as a member of the combat team and not just a Slytherin, what did you actually do tonight? Instead of standing around confused on the ground?"

"Y-yes."

Marcus nodded. Before they took off, he indeed didn't know what he could or should do, but once he mounted the Firebolt 2000, he instinctively understood where he belonged and what he excelled at.

"And what about you all?"

Harry glanced at the other Slytherin students, who had been largely inactive. The big guys exchanged glances, then silently nodded, perhaps in agreement with Harry's words.

"See, once you set aside those house distinctions, each of you can find your proper place. Isn't the satisfaction of a well-coordinated battle far better than squabbling with Gryffindor?"

There had always been a small conflict within the team. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff got along well, but Slytherin felt out of place. They had the fewest members and were the least welcomed; excluding them seemed like a quick fix, but it only addressed the symptoms, not the root of the issue.

The team would eventually include more than just Hogwarts students. If the so-called "factions" weren't resolved, future management would be fraught with difficulties. What Harry needed was not a hodgepodge of groups but a cohesive team.

Everyone who joined the combat team would come with their own distinct labels, and his task was to tear off those labels and replace them with one that belonged solely to the combat team.

Team building, after all, is just about building a team. The deliberately arranged battle tonight was meant to help them see the internal discord clearly. Harry never underestimated people's intelligence; after experiencing this straightforward truth, they would understand.

"I hope each of you takes the time to think seriously about this when you have a moment. The combat team isn't just my team; it's a home for all of us. One person's strength is limited, but to achieve our goals, we need more and stronger forces coming together, united as one."

"Now go rest. Rejuvenate yourselves for tomorrow when we will rebuild our castle. I'll handle the watch; you can sleep soundly."

Though the temporary houses created by transformation magic weren't suitable for long-term stay, they sufficiently blocked the howling wind and the damp chill of the night.

The crackling campfire illuminated Harry's broad silhouette, offering a sense of security more comforting than any defensive alarm.

After everyone settled down to sleep, Harry sat by the fire, staring at the starry sky, and raised his hand.

"Time to work."

The tireless and dedicated Mo Ming was released. The black mist transformed into a humanoid shape, swiftly darting through the night. The magical creatures they had captured earlier and the few Five-Legged Beasts Harry had taken down were gathered together, beginning the process of skinning and bone recycling.

The reconstruction of the castle took them most of the day. Harry, who didn't participate in the building, was busy gathering materials to set up a cauldron, transforming the bloody materials into a thick potion.

Not everywhere has a complete set of potion-making equipment readily available. In the war potions class taught by Snape, there was a specific chapter dedicated to teaching potion-makers how to use the most basic tools to brew high-quality potions without compromising their effectiveness. While this might sacrifice some taste, the benefits far outweigh the minor side effects.

Moreover, unlike Snape, who had an indescribable talent boost, Harry's potions, at worst, would only be unpleasantly bitter. They would never result in the kind of bizarre circumstances where a person took the right antidote only to end up dead with no signs of poisoning, which was a rarity reserved solely for Snape.

The potion emanated a clear blue glow, and as it was distributed, their anticipation grew. Compared to the potions Harry had prepared before, today's concoction was a significant upgrade in appearance.

To save costs and practice potion-making, the magical supplements used in their training had all been brewed by Harry. Those potions, while effective in relieving muscle pain and replenishing energy, tasted terrible—either bitter or a blend of bitterness and spiciness that was torturous, but the effects were undeniably good.

"The materials come from the magical core of the Five-Legged Beasts. Although my brewing was a bit rough, the efficacy is intact, enough to cover the enhancement needs of two fingers."

"Two fingers?"

"Is that all?"

The twins put on brave faces, but Harry just smiled without answering.

"Before we begin, take this and slowly channel your magic into it to light up the small bulb above." Harry handed out a small stick resembling a match. This was a magic meter he had concocted himself. The principle was simple: a small piece of magical wood embedded with a white crystal commonly used for illuminating spells. With just a small input of magic, the crystal would shine.

"The magic required to light this small crystal is defined as a 'thread.' If quantified, it's about 0.01. Since there's no energy storage, the crystal will stop shining once you stop channeling your magic, and the magic you use for body enhancement will only be one thread each time."

"Any more than that will be unbearable for you. This is the lowest threshold I've discovered. If it's any less, the magic won't provide any substantial enhancement to your body. Once you get used to it, the optimal amount of magic is around five threads, which is the upper limit of what a normal person can tolerate."

"About five threads of magic are needed to enhance the muscles of one finger. If you can successfully inject five times and fully integrate the magic with your muscles, you'll have taken the first step toward success."

"With enough willpower to endure the pain, in just six months, you could have a strong right hand capable of crushing a Quaffle."

"Give it a try. I've simplified all the processes needed for physical enhancement. What you need to master is measuring that tiny thread of magic and then integrating it into your skin and muscles."

Harry demonstrated first. He downed the potion without flinching and took out a thicker matchstick than the others. After lighting the tip of the white crystal, he pressed the glowing end against his collarbone. Having completed the enhancements for his arms and shoulders, he was now starting on the shoulder and neck muscle group.

The faint light from the stick flashed and vanished as the delicate magic pierced his skin like a needle. Muscle spasms occurred instantly, and Harry gritted his teeth, veins bulging as he endured the pain he had gradually become accustomed to. Otherwise, he wouldn't have appeared so calm while smashing rocks. Although his skin wouldn't break, his bones couldn't withstand the pressure, leading to fractures and breaks, but such pain never drew a significant reaction from him.

In just a few seconds, beads of cold sweat soaked his clothes. After stiffening for nearly half a minute, he managed to lower his trembling hand and spat out a mouthful of bloodied saliva.

"Just like that."

He flashed a bright smile, revealing a set of white teeth.

Though it was a warm smile, for some reason, it sent a chill down the spines of everyone before him.

"Give it a try. It's definitely painful, but it's bearable. Don't worry; if you accidentally injure yourselves, I have life potions brewed by Professor Snape. Even if you have only half a breath left, death won't take you away."

Those who nearly lost their footing were alarmed; Snape's potions were notorious as the ultimate punishment within Hogwarts—unmatched by any others!

Many began to have second thoughts. Compared to their initial eagerness, they felt a sudden sense of dread.

"Let's give it a shot!"

The twins, having received significant funding for Harry's research, bravely stepped forward. Maintaining the glow of the crystal required some sensitivity to magic, which wasn't a problem for them. After a brief exploration, they quickly found the trick.

They tilted their heads back, drank a mouthful of Harry's potion. The bitter taste didn't change much despite the potion's beautiful color. However, having become somewhat accustomed to the flavor, they could manage. As the potion took effect, the twins suddenly felt heightened sensitivity.

"Amplification potion?"

They instantly recognized a particular effect in Harry's potion.

"Yes, I added a drop. This is a sort of cheat I came up with. In the beginning, the integration of magic and body doesn't need to be overly precise, at least not when enhancing the fingers. So, we can take a slight shortcut to help you get used to the feeling of magic enhancement."

"That's awesome!"

The twins laughed cheerfully and, with a glance at each other, pressed the glowing tip of the crystal against their index fingers, allowing that thread of magic to pierce into the muscles of their fingertips.

As everyone watched with wide eyes for the effect, the twins froze mid-action, their mouths beginning to twitch, their bodies trembling. Suddenly, they collapsed to the ground, their eyes rolled back completely white, sending a shock through the others who almost jumped from their spots.

Just as they were about to check on them, the convulsing twins suddenly tensed up, lying on the ground as stiff as if hit by a petrification curse.

"Are they… dead?"

Fearful glances converged, and a strange atmosphere spread in that moment.

(End of Chapter)