great-warnovel Chapter 383 Silent Clash
Chapter 383 Silent Clash
Chapter 383 Silent Clash
The hall was pitch black, as if there was nothing else besides Grindelwald under the beam of light.
The closer Hermione got to the Dark Lord, the more mental pressure she felt.
Although there has been no exchange yet, and although the invitation was given, it seems that the old man does not intend to begin the first meeting with conventional politeness and small talk.
The witch's footsteps touched the smooth, cold marble floor with a quiet, steady, and faint sound. Yet, these footsteps echoed and swirled in the rotunda, seemingly growing louder and louder until they became deafening.
As she drew closer, Grindelwald's figure became increasingly clear and imposing. He sat quietly, his posture unchanged, but just as Mrs. Sinta had done to Hermione, Grindelwald now appeared taller and more imposing in her eyes.
It was as if black magic was spreading from his body, like creeping mist or malicious tentacles, seeping out from the blazing fire and spreading into the darkness of the hall.
Hermione was enveloped in this shadow, while Grindelwald was like a towering mountain. Even though he hadn't looked up yet, the slight undulations caused by his slow breathing were like a subtle sign of an impending collapse.
Although it was a fiery orb overhead, like a sun, providing light and heat downwards, Hermione saw it clearly as Grindelwald's own rising dark magic, which, through the skylight, formed that invincible dark sun.
Just like looking directly at the sun, the more I stared at it, the more my eyes stung and ached.
Even though the glow of darkness was not dazzling, it still instilled fear in people.
Doubt, awe, fear, tyranny—all sorts of emotions flashed through her mind. The iron throne beneath the Dark Lord seemed to come alive, transforming into a writhing iron gate that grabbed her and tore her apart.
But Hermione remained steadfast, her own body radiating a brilliant golden light, her eyes fixed on him, as she marched step by step, head held high, toward his throne.
Perhaps sensing Hermione's powerful will, Grindelwald finally raised his head.
At this moment, the little witch also saw his eyes. They were heterochromatic eyes, one blue and one gray, like a deep lake, while the other was black with a hint of red, as if burning with fierce fire and the image of the whole world.
Her steps suddenly faltered, then she continued forward. Grindelwald's gaze brought an even stronger sense of pressure, but this only made Hermione more vigilant, not break her spirit.
But then, a powerful will surged into Hermione's mind as their gazes met.
"Intercourse on the mind!" she suddenly realized.
Dumbledore was also a powerful Legilimency user, but he never used his power recklessly, nor did he ever pry into Hermione's secrets.
But Grindelwald was different; he didn't waste any words and, after the initial probing, seamlessly transitioned into his first offense.
Magic is the outward manifestation of the mind, and the ability to grasp thoughts is never confined to wands and spells. He only needs to raise his eyes and look, and the inner world of a wizard will be like an open book, which he can read at will.
But Hermione is also a great wizard, and it's impossible for her to be unaware of Grindelwald's actions; it would only anger her and make the situation worse.
Her spirit surged and coalesced like a raging torrent as she stood step by step before Grindelwald's throne, gazing up at him. Their powerful wills clashed, and the greyish-white beams of light cast from the ceiling distorted and warped at the point where their eyes met.
Sparks of electricity crackled and flickered in the air.
Although Hermione is only 14 years old, she has lived two lives. The soul of the Finger Witch in her previous life has merged with the soul of her current self. Her profound foundation has become even stronger after her ascension, and she is not afraid to compete with mature archmages in terms of will.
Grindelwald is simply stronger. He is undoubtedly the king standing at the top of the world. In this era, no one can surpass him in individual strength unless Dumbledore is resurrected and possesses the complete Great Rune.
In the clash of minds, Hermione was wrestling with a red-hot iron, her burning will causing pain and sting with just a touch.
Not to mention ordinary wizards, even Voldemort would probably be burned and jump up just by touching him, and his soul would be weakened for a long time.
But Hermione gritted her teeth and gathered the will she had cultivated devoutly as the Finger Witch in her previous life.
While staring into those heterochromatic eyes, he tried to banish that domineering will from his mind.
As if sensing the battle of minds on this side, Hilmi, far away in the Scottish Highlands, also realized that his spirit had been invaded. He immediately put down what he was doing and merged his will with Hermione's. Although the two were thousands of miles apart, their connection was never broken.
The moonlight, like water, suddenly seeped into her mind. Hermione felt a cool sensation in her brain, and the burning pain immediately subsided. It was as if a pair of hands had grasped hers, and the spiritual forces of the same origin but different genders merged perfectly into one, colliding fiercely with Grindelwald's.
A silent, deafening crash echoed in their minds. Hermione was forced back several steps by the shock, and the violent impact made her dizzy.
Grindelwald's will was driven from his mind. He tilted his head back, surprised that the girl in front of him had such a strong will, which was rare even among great wizards.
"Interesting—" His competitive spirit was aroused, so he changed his posture and prepared to invade again with an even stronger will.
But then he noticed the girl's appearance and saw the dazzling, warm, golden-red feather shawl draped over her shoulders.
"Albus—" His expression softened suddenly, and he silently murmured the name, all his competitiveness and violent emotions vanishing.
"Did he leave this for you?" Hermione was a little taken aback by the sudden gentle voice. Was this old man schizophrenic?
First, he was tyrannical and unreasonable, directly reading minds; then suddenly he asked questions with concern, like a kind old grandfather.
"I'm sorry, I should have kept it. He never wanted to see you, not even in his death," Hermione said coldly.
But Grindelwald just smiled and said, "Your temper is just like his when he was young, stubborn and grumpy."
"If you had even a little bit of manners, you probably wouldn't have come to this conclusion," Hermione continued, returning to the top of the screen.
From the clash of wills just now, she could clearly sense that even if she and Hilmi joined forces, they could only barely protect themselves. If it really came down to a fight, she would definitely not be a match for this Dark Lord. However, relying on the Phoenix Feather Cloak and the existence of her half-body, escaping would not be a problem. The Anti-Apparition technique could not contain her.
"Where is Dark Moon?" The Dark Lord chuckled, his aged face appearing even more profound against the backdrop of white hair and blazing fire.
"That prophecy, the moon really was pointing at you, wasn't it? My third eye was right." He said confidently.
Hermione had a sour face. Although she had expelled Grindelwald's mind, the brief connection between their consciousnesses still allowed the highly skilled Dark Lord to catch a fleeting glimpse of something unusual. He might not know what the Dark Moon was, but he could definitely sense something unusual.
"I am also a possessor of the Heavenly Eye, and your prophecy cannot interfere with my destiny," she said coldly.