great-warnovel Chapter 166 An Encounter on the Other Side
Chapter 166 An Encounter on the Other Side
Chapter 166 An Encounter on the Other Side
On the cliff, Dumbledore focused most of his attention on the basilisk, putting immense pressure on it to make its biological instincts tremble and prevent it from shifting its focus in the slightest.
But Apparition appeared before him, and Amicus stood shakily on the edge of the cliff, watching the seemingly frail old man intently staring down the cliff, yet he dared not entertain the slightest thought of running away.
This old man could subdue him even with just one finger.
Soon, Hermione floated up and landed behind Amycus.
"Cough cough, hasn't Harry arrived yet?" she asked, coughing as she walked through the smoke.
Another portal key set up by Alecto leads to a cliff hundreds of meters away on the opposite side. Dumbledore placed a spell on this side to obscure the view, ensuring that the female Death Eaters would still think everything was normal.
Dumbledore shook his head, turned his gaze away, and stopped putting pressure on the Basilisk. The rest of the battle was Lockhart's responsibility.
He knew what Hermione had done; she had previously mentioned that Lockhart had two personalities, and clearly, this was bringing out the real personality.
In the instant he turned his head, Amycus seized the opportunity and suddenly pounced on Hermione.
From his perspective, this little witch wasn't that strong; if he could subdue her instantly, he could coerce Dumbledore into letting him leave.
However, instead of a look of panic, she was greeted by a rapidly spinning metal staff enveloped in pyroxene energy.
[Spinning and spinning]
A magical combat technique with a rather comical name, used by the princesses of Kalia for self-defense. It involves floating the weapon in front of the user and spinning it at high speed, causing anyone it touches to be hit and knocked back.
The blow to the head left Amicus somewhat dazed, followed by a series of spinning attacks. The powerful impact sent him flying, rolling back to Dumbledore's feet.
Immediately following, a purple bolt of lightning, carrying an invisible pressure, slammed him hard into the ground—it was gravity magic.
Hermione took a few steps forward unhurriedly, trampled the Death Eaters under her feet, and stood side by side with Dumbledore.
"Minerva is already waiting over there; Harry and the others won't be in any real danger," Dumbledore said.
Although it was a trial, the professors certainly couldn't let anything actually happen to the students; at most, it would just be a scare.
Hermione looked at Amycus at her feet: "Behave yourself. If you want to live, shut up and watch quietly."
Immediately afterward, although Hermione had only cast a Swiftness spell, and Amycus was fully capable of breaking free, he dared not do so now.
The little witch's fighting prowess doesn't seem as weak as one might imagine. She can even silently cast the Copper-Binding Spell the moment she steps on someone, and with Dumbledore right there, if he makes the slightest move, he'll probably be burned to ashes.
Even though his heart was filled with bitterness and he wanted to tell Alecto to run, there was nothing he could do. He could only watch the short, stout figure on the opposite cliff in the dim light.
Alecto was waiting for Hermione to be thrown over with the Portkey. Dark, swirling smoke and miasma floated above the canyon, appearing from the cliff edge like a black velvet blanket level with eye level. Below, the heavy thud of the Basilisk's body hitting the ground could be heard.
She knew Lockhart had been captured, Amycus had released the basilisk, and everything was going according to plan.
She grinned, revealing a disgusting smile.
Not long after, the open space in front of them suddenly twisted, and then four children tumbled out of the air in a chaotic mess.
"Four?" Like Amicus, she was also taken aback. Even if Draco was included, there should only be two people.
She looked closely and realized that apart from Draco, the other three were all boys, and Hermione Granger was obviously not among them.
"Draco! You failed again?" Alecto asked in a dangerous voice.
How come this kid can't even handle such a small task! What's the point of bringing three useless second-year boys along!
Draco scrambled to his feet, feeling dizzy and disoriented. He wasn't supposed to have come along; according to the task given to him by the Carol siblings, he only needed to lead someone to touch the door key.
But whether out of concern for Harry and his friends, or some other emotion, he inexplicably touched the door key as well.
Knowing full well how dangerous this place is, what if the Carlo siblings get carried away with their killing spree and unleash a deadly curse on him without distinguishing friend from foe?
But it's too late to regret it now; he's already caught up with us.
"Hermione and Lockhart went to the other side," he said, shaking his head.
"Those three are just for your amusement." Feigning indifference, he stood up and walked behind Alexios.
The feedback from the mind-capturing technique confirmed that this was the truth.
The female Death Eater smiled knowingly: "So that's how it is. That little girl was sticking really close to her professor."
At this moment, Harry and the others also got up.
"Draco! This is the Portkey that Dumbledore left behind? You lied to us?" Harry looked at the dark wizard in front of him and Malfoy, who was clearly on the other's side.
"You've joined the Death Eaters!" The mark on the man's arm was too obvious.
Ron and Neville immediately went on high alert. One raised his shield, and layers of light began to flash, while the other held his wand in its sheath, ready to strike.
Just now, Draco suddenly approached them and said that Dumbledore had suddenly appeared, taken Hermione away, and left a Portkey, asking Harry, Meghan, and Harry to go with him. The three boys didn't think much of it. Seeing the Gryffindor badge lying alone on the rock, they subconsciously assumed that it was left by Dumbledore and believed Draco's words without any suspicion.
Xiao Long said coldly, "Carol and the other two bullied me the most at school. I hope to get some interest back before I leave."
Still telling the truth, Alecto chuckled: "Good boy, you know I love doing this kind of thing for people."
"You've finally come to the right person."
Violent explosions and roars echoed from below the cliff, clearly indicating that a battle had begun on the other side.
But Alecto remained calm and composed, with everything under control. Even if Lockhart and Granger joined forces, they would be no match for Amicus and the Basilisk.
"Don't worry, I'll make them regret what they did to you." She walked slowly forward, deliberately putting pressure on the three children.
Harry looked surprised and frightened, taking a step back: "You—you are—Alecto Carroll of the Carroll siblings! I—I've heard your name before!" The fact that the Carroll siblings of this generation had joined Voldemort's side was news for a while.
"Oh? We siblings are already so famous?" The female Death Eater revealed an ugly smile.
"It's a bit late to say nice things now."
Because of her arrogance and perverse sense of humor, she didn't even use Legilimency on the three of them, since she could feel the pain she was going to inflict on them with Legilimency, and she had no masochistic tendencies.
Harry stopped his two friends from casting a spell. He took a deep breath and raised his hands like a Muggle in surrender: "My mother is Lily Potter. The value you create by not killing us is more worthwhile than killing us."
Alecto smiled and turned to Draco: "Is what he said true?"
Draco paused for a moment, seemingly thinking about how to continue Harry's role.
Then, looking reluctant, he said, "Yes, his name is Harry Potter, and his father is James Potter."
"Those three are all children of members of the Order of the Phoenix, your greatest enemies!"
Alecto's smile widened with satisfaction: "If we take the three of you back, I imagine our master would be very pleased, wouldn't he? The Order of the Phoenix would be utterly humiliated."
"In that case, it seems we really can't kill him now."
"But Lady Carol, you promised me you would torture me—" Draco said, looking anxious and unwilling.
But the next moment, a red light struck him.
"Go get some sleep. There's nothing for you to do here. Let me have a good chat with Master Potter's child." Alexios casually knocked Draco out with a Stunning Spell.
Harry seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, maintaining his raised hands, and slowly approached Alecto: "Madam, I didn't bring my wand. You see, I'm empty-handed—"
Although she didn't use Legilimency, Alexios could still sense Harry's nervousness, which made her even more pleased.
She stood still, waiting for the little boy to approach.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Harry slowly approached her.
"I want to tell you—go to hell!"
Harry swung his raised hand down sharply, and although there was nothing in his palm, Alecto seemed to hear the sound of a blunt object cutting through the air.