Seeing this information in his vision, Ciel's expression grew increasingly horrified. A Legendary-level magical plant—moreover, Legendary-level with secondary sublimation.
Besides World Tree roots and Fire God seeds, this was the highest reward-tier plant he had ever encountered. Not only was it far superior to Whomping Willows, but even the Patronus tree seeds affected by the Patronus Charm and mutated to the maximum Legendary tier still fell short by two full sublimations compared to this Blood Soul Thorn branch before him.
He had personally experienced how vast this gap was. More critically, this Blood Soul Thorn causing the entire Knockturn Alley to be shrouded in pollen was merely a branch. Its main body had definitely reached full maturity at Legendary-level secondary sublimation—perhaps even tertiary sublimation, standing at the same level as Dumbledore and Voldemort!
His expression became extremely grave, instantly abandoning thoughts of direct intervention. The risk was too great! He did owe Ed Robinson a small favour and genuinely wanted to obtain the method for using dark magic transfiguration to enhance plant seed tiers from her. But not enough to take such risks for forceful intervention.
Standing in Borgin and Burkes, he watched the scene outside while his mind raced. Blood Soul Thorns, unlike ordinary low-intelligence plants, could devour souls and obtain wisdom—its intelligence and knowledge exceeded ninety-nine percent of this world's wizards.
But regardless of intelligence, feeding was its survival instinct. After maturity, each Blood Soul Thorn feeding required considerable scale. According to ancient herbology records, each feeding required devouring at least hundreds of people. Such large-scale disappearances couldn't be hidden in the current magical world, yet there were no related reports.
He even noticed the Blood Soul Thorn's pollen seemed deliberately controlled within Knockturn Alley's vicinity without causing disturbances elsewhere—seemingly unwilling to be discovered. It must be wary of something.
Then his mind flashed like lightning. Dumbledore? Was Blood Soul Thorn afraid of Dumbledore, so it dared not make too much commotion—even only sending a branch while the main body didn't come?
If so—his gravity lessened somewhat, his mind clearing. When encountering such large-scale malicious incidents, why play hero himself? He wasn't a Gryffindor lion cub—he was a little badger! Hufflepuffs weren't so keen on heroics. Moreover, fighting such dark forces wasn't a second-year student's responsibility. Problems should be reported to the Ministry's Aurors, who would request Dumbledore if unable to handle it.
Thinking this, he immediately returned to Borgin and Burkes' fireplace. Through Floo Network, he could message the Ministry. But currently, these controlled dark wizards would soon find Ed Robinson, and pollen could control her anytime. Slow Ministry response would be useless—they needed to hurry.
After pondering, he had Borgin create a Howler, then quickly scattered Floo powder and threw it in. The next moment, in the Ministry's reception hall, green flames erupted from the fireplace. The receiving clerk, wearing a coldly official expression, was about to speak when his expression changed drastically upon seeing the red envelope emerge from the flames.
Before he could react, the Howler suddenly exploded, then a voice a hundred times louder than the explosion began echoing through the Ministry, "Rebellion! Knockturn Alley has large numbers of dark wizards gathering! They're marching! Saying things about restoring dark wizard glory, overthrowing Fudge, killing Scrimgeour! They're talking about launching the Second Wizarding War!"
Currently, accompanied by the Howler's voice, the Ministry exploded into chaos. This sudden explosive news threw the entire Ministry into disorder. Within seconds, Fudge's office was burst open by Scrimgeour and Amelia, their faces identically horrified.
Seeing each other's expressions, their hearts sank—understanding neither had orchestrated this meant the worst-case scenario: Knockturn Alley really had trouble. Had recent pressure on these dark wizards been too tight, causing them to retaliate? Or had some ambitious person seized the opportunity to incite these dark wizards, imitating the former Dark Lord?
Thinking this, everyone felt wary—now wasn't the time for internal conflict. Fudge hurriedly said, "Immediately dispatch all available Aurors to check Knockturn Alley's situation. And—I'm going to Hogwarts right now to request Dumbledore!"
As the Ministry exploded and Aurors began emergency assembly, Ciel still felt uncertain. Though Aurors possessed powerful magic, facing such ancient, ferocious plants, they might not initially be effective. Better add insurance.
His gaze fell on Gringotts conspicuous dome in the distant night sky. Gringotts goblins possessed an independent guard force—he needed to involve them too. Then he squinted, not entering the Blood Soul Thorn pollen-shrouded alley but donning his Invisibility Cloak, changing direction, transforming into shadows and circling toward Gringotts.
Under ancient shadow magic's speed, he soon approached magnificent Gringotts. He leaped from shadows, wand pointing directly at Gringotts' entrance. Goblin guards at the door were stunned by this sudden scene—where did this hooded wizard come from? What did pointing his wand at Gringotts mean?
The next moment, his mouth transmitted a perfectly enunciated shout, "Don't move! Robbery! If you're smart, hand over all the gold coins!"
Door goblin guards looked at each other, eyes widening, momentarily suspecting hallucinations. They'd seen many thieves attempting to break into Gringotts over the years, but a robber with a wand demanding to rob Gringotts? Were they hallucinating?
Before they could react to this absurd emotion, his wand moved, Mage Hand emerging to catch a goblin guard unprepared, using it as a weapon to violently crash into other guards. Instantly, several guards tumbled like bowling pins into Gringotts' hall. Armour collision noise silenced the dense abacus sounds.
He wildly waved his wand, shooting sparks inside, "Robbery!!!" The next moment, piercing alarms resounded throughout Gringotts. Dense goblin guards swarmed from surrounding areas, looking furiously at this robber daring to challenge Gringotts.
He clicked his tongue—did Gringotts have so many goblin guards? Scanning them, many wore what appeared to be alchemical armour—equipment far superior to Aurors'. He didn't know how the Ministry allowed Gringotts to maintain such powerful armed forces. But now—perfect!
He took a deep breath, running toward Knockturn Alley without looking back. Goblin guards naturally wouldn't let this robber easily escape—they were furious. Less than a year ago, Gringotts' underground vaults had been burgled, tarnishing Gringotts' reputation. Now something worse happened—someone actually dared attempt armed robbery with a wand this year!
If this criminal wasn't severely punished, would next year see organised raids on Gringotts? For goblins who valued treasure like life, this was completely intolerable. "Catch him! Don't let him escape!"
Behind him came dense footsteps and armour friction sounds, plus repeated Apparition cracks. Fortunately, his current physical condition was extremely strong with extreme speed. Combined with dark night, he was never caught by goblin guards.
Seeing the narrow Knockturn Alley entrance approaching, his eyes flashed strangely as he shouted, "Brothers! I went to rob Gringotts, but those goblins wouldn't obediently hand over money—they actually dared resist! Now they've even chased to our doorstep! Grab weapons and fight them!"
After shouting, he again sank into shadows, rapidly leaving the scene. Pursuing goblin guards heard this and truly burnt with rage—what do you mean we wouldn't obediently hand over money and dared resist?
Outrageous! How could such outrageous robbers exist in the magical world? More accomplices? This time, all would be thrown into Azkaban, letting everyone know the consequences of attempting Gringotts robbery!
They unhesitatingly charged toward Knockturn Alley's entrance. Upon entering and discovering red pollen drifting inside with countless dark wizards surging like tides, these goblin guards were greatly shocked, then furious. An ambush? These Knockturn Alley scum—petty theft usually—now really want to rob Gringotts? Protective magic! Call reinforcements—today we're throwing all these thieves into Azkaban!
Just then, dense Apparition sounds came from the entrance—Ministry Aurors had also arrived. Seeing Knockturn Alley's scene, cold sweat streamed down their foreheads. Dark wizards really were gathering—what were they doing? Trying to rob Gringotts? If they succeeded, the Ministry couldn't even pay salaries, and the magical world would descend into complete chaos.
"Arrest them! Arrest them all!" Instantly, Knockturn Alley's entrance became chaotic. Powerful spells flew through the air, mercilessly shooting toward gathered dark wizards.
Seeing this, he sighed with relief. With these Aurors plus goblin guards, they could at least buy some time. And Dumbledore should arrive soon. Once Dumbledore came, no matter how dangerous Blood Soul Thorns were, they couldn't cause any trouble before him.
Currently, on a Knockturn Alley rooftop, a figure with blood-coloured thorns piercing eyes, ears, mouth and nose—like being hollowed out by thorns—emitted a hoarse, venomous voice, "Why did Aurors come? Why did Gringotts goblins also come? When did they ever care about Knockturn Alley's affairs? Damn it, still haven't found them? Clearly received news that Knockturn Alley showed magic's characteristics—Robinson family members are here. Give me a little more time and I'll find them!"
His anxiety obviously affected controlled dark wizards. They no longer cared about goblin and Auror spells, frantically crashing through various Knockturn Alley doors, trying to find the Robinson family member Blood Soul Thorns wanted them to locate.
Ciel, now wearing the Invisibility Cloak, saw this and relaxed slightly. The behind-the-scenes Blood Soul Thorn truly feared Dumbledore—this was just final madness. Just delaying one more minute, even half a minute, and it might voluntarily retreat.
But just then, as several dark wizards crashed through a door, a panicked clear scream immediately came from inside, "Don't come near!" The next moment, plant branches appeared from nowhere, pushing these controlled dark wizards out the window.
At that instant, his heart sank. In his vision, he could clearly see that Legendary-lustre reward information was rapidly moving toward where plant branches appeared. Obviously, Blood Soul Thorns had found its target. What remained was obtaining the person before Dumbledore arrived—or simply devouring them directly!
His expression became extremely grave. But moments later, his invisible form still stepped toward that location, thoughts racing. With the Invisibility Cloak, he wouldn't be discovered first. The first strike was safe—just one strike. If unsuccessful, immediately leave using the Invisibility Cloak and ancient shadow magic without any entanglement.
As for how much time this strike could buy Ed Robinson and whether she could wait for Dumbledore's arrival—that wasn't his concern.
Currently, inside this room, Ed Robinson covered her mouth and nose, doing her utmost to suppress rapid breathing, avoiding inhaling those deadly pollen particles. She heard outside's noisy combat sounds, relaxing slightly—Dumbledore was coming. Everything would end soon.
But the next second, that figure with blood-coloured thorns emerging from eyes, ears, mouth and nose—like its skin had been occupied by Blood Soul Thorns—crashed through the ceiling, looking down at Ed Robinson. Meeting its gaze, Ed saw that bizarre face split into an ecstatic smile as a hoarse voice sounded, "Robinson family remnant—finally found you."
Then, before Ed could speak, this figure leaped down from the ceiling. Those thorns writhed, seemingly impatient to drill from this figure's eyes, ears, mouth and nose, surging into Ed's body.
But just then, a figure suddenly materialised. Accompanying it was an incomparably sharp greatsword, swinging snowflake-like cold light!
The striker was naturally Ciel. He didn't even plan to use magic—ordinary magic couldn't possibly deal with Blood Soul Thorns. What he could use to affect the situation was only Legendary Strength combined with Grønir's Blade. One sword strike—he'd only make one strike, then immediately turn and leave regardless of results!
He had already resolved to do this. But what he never expected happened next. Seeing his swinging greatsword and cold sword light, the Blood Soul Thorn actually emitted a fearful, venomous, hysterical voice: "This is Inquisition swordsmanship?! The Church? Damn Church! How many years has it been—I just besieged one city, and you've chased me for so many years! I haven't fed heavily in so long—isn't that enough? Why won't you leave me alone! Damn it all, damn it all, damn it all—you forced me to this!"
The next moment, Blood Soul Thorns about to surge out suddenly lost power and abruptly withered. Along with the body it occupied and numerous controlled dark wizards outside, all collapsed to the ground. "I've severed this avatar's connection. You'll never find my main body—"
Ciel, who'd planned to flee, was truly stunned seeing this. No—after completing this sword strike, he'd really planned to run. How was Blood Soul Thorns even more afraid than himself? It directly had this separated branch commit suicide just because it feared leaving clues to discover its main body? Did the Church, Inquisition, and White Eagle swordsmanship have such powerful deterrent effect?
But immediately after, he looked at the nearly lifeless Blood Soul Thorn branch on the ground, his heartbeat suddenly accelerating. This thing—Legendary reward tier plant, with secondary sublimation! Just abandoned like this?
Moments later, a loud noise came from Knockturn Alley's entrance, followed by powerful magical power emanating. His heart pounded—Dumbledore had arrived! No time to think further. He grabbed this Blood Soul Thorn branch with only final traces of vitality, then sank into shadows, rapidly leaving the scene.
Just as he left, Dumbledore appeared. His expression was extremely grave, "Such evil magic power—something like this appeared in British magical territory?" Then his gaze fell on Ed Robinson, "Child, tell me what exactly happened."
Facing this legendary White Wizard, Ed dared not conceal anything, telling Dumbledore everything that had just occurred. When Dumbledore heard words like "Inquisition" and "Church", his expression dramatically changed—ten times graver than when sensing Blood Soul Thorn's residual magic. "Inquisition knights appeared again? Is the thousand-year-old war coming again?"
Currently, Ciel didn't know his use of White Eagle swordsmanship left such ripples, even making Dumbledore so worried. Far from Knockturn Alley's scene, all his attention focused on that Blood Soul Thorn branch. His gaze fell into conflict. This thing—how should I handle it?