"Merlin above! What on earth is that thing?!" The judge screamed, stumbling backward and falling flat on his bottom, looking up in terror and disbelief at that thing that could hardly be called a "creature."
A full five to six meters tall, with a pitch-black mane flowing without wind, as if covered in shapeless shadows. Flames ignited across its surface, while it was also burned by the flames, revealing scorched bright red flesh, continuously dripping viscous blood, emanating a nauseating rusty smell.
More terrifyingly, Merlin help them! This creature actually had three heads!
Each head was massive, shaking furiously, with orange-red pupils containing only endless bloodlust. Saliva dripped in strings from those fangs, like several sticky ropes hanging down. The three heads stared hungrily at them, claws impatiently scratching the ground, leaving trails of charred marks.
If a massive troll was enough to inspire fear and dread, then a troll would be just a one-bite kill in front of this monster.
Extreme panic created a deathly silence that permeated the wasteland.
Ludo Bagman was completely stunned. He sat frozen on the lounge chair, mouth agape in an "O," staring blankly at that thing that seemed like someone had opened the gates of hell. His mind was blank. Only one absurd thought: If the dignified Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports died in his own event, he'd probably be hung on a pillar of shame.
But... why hadn't this monster pounced yet?
The question hadn't been answered when it was interrupted by a piercing shout.
"Quick! Quickly protect the student!"
The professional Aurors finally snapped to their senses, raising their wands and shooting various colored spells from all directions. "Stupefy," "Petrificus Totalus," "Incarcerous"...
Can't say they were useless. They had visual effects at least.
"ROAR!"
The three-headed dog was enraged, its entire body blazing red! It leaped up directly, instantly rushing before the Aurors, opening its crimson maw to bite down!
"Stop."
A clear voice rang out. In the chaos, this voice seemed insignificant. Yet it was this insignificant voice that made the three-headed dog suddenly halt its movement.
"..."
Those Aurors froze in place, staring in terror at the massive maw so close to them. The heat of flames mixed with a strong rusty smell hit them in the face. The fangs were just one second away from biting their bodies in half.
"Don't eat them. You've got the wrong targets."
Ethan walked over slowly. Under everyone's shocked and stunned gazes, he approached the monster's side. As if treating a small pet, he smiled lovingly:
"Our targets are in the forest."
"Grr..."
The three-headed dog pulled back its heads. Suppressing its violent impulses, it panted while waiting.
"..."
Everyone was dumbfounded. This defied all logic, their brains couldn't process the scene before their eyes!
This child was the master of this monster? This... how was this possible?!
At this moment, Ludo Bagman belatedly understood. Why the monster's first instinct upon appearing wasn't to immediately pounce and tear them to shreds. Because its master, the very target the Aurors thought needed protection and rescue, hadn't given the command.
Cold wind howled. In the deathly silence, Ethan bowed to the stunned crowd. Like an opening performer, he said politely:
"Well then, gentlemen. I'm off."
With that, Ethan raised his hand and snapped his fingers. The massive three-headed monster excitedly roared to the sky, its body suddenly crouching low, muscles bulging.
The next second...
"BANG!"
Like a spring, it leaped up! With a few bounds, it disappeared among the trees.
How to win the championship? Ethan's idea was simple. Just eliminate all the other competitors while guaranteeing his own victory. Wouldn't that naturally make him first place?
On the middle head of the three-headed dog, a round eyeball opened with a "squish" from its forehead. The painting "Gate in the Pupil"!
Ethan closed his left eye, sharing vision with the three-headed dog, watching the surrounding trees rapidly retreat. He grinned with pleasure.
Here I come, prey...
...
Ilvermorny competition team.
They hadn't split into small groups but stayed together as all twelve members. Consulting a compass pointing north, they advanced cautiously but quickly. Even when occasionally attacked by wild beasts, large aquatic mosquitoes, or white apes, the perimeter members could sound alerts immediately.
"We'll definitely make the top ten this year! Maybe even be the school with the most rankings!" A youth named Genie said, excitedly and alertly scanning the surroundings.
"Although our generation doesn't have standout students like Viktor Krum, we're all excellent overall! Plus we're using new tactics... no splitting up, advancing as a group! Maybe the top three won't have our names, but of the remaining seven spots, we should get at least half!"
"Alright darling... stop speechifying, watch your step..." The girl beside him said sweetly.
Surrounding classmates started booing: "Show-offs die fast! Watch out for a beast to jump out and eat you!"
"What's to fear!" Genie proudly swished his wand, saying confidently: "Even if there are monsters, my Flame Torrent can easily burn them to ash!"
After showing off, the surroundings fell silent. No one responded.
Genie turned his head puzzledly, seeing his teammates staring at him in terror. For some reason, he felt inexplicably nervous.
Genie swallowed and joked: "What's wrong? Scared by my mighty prowess?"
"..."
His girlfriend's face was like whitewashed lime, gray and pale. Her eyes were wide to the extreme, as if seeing some horror beyond reason. Several seconds later, she tremblingly raised her hand, pointing behind Genie.
"Hey, this isn't funny at all..."
Genie swallowed and slowly, slowly turned his head. What met his eyes was an enormously large skull. Orange-red pupils stared at him intently, and in the center of the forehead was an extremely bizarre eyeball, rolling around. Saliva dripped from the fangs.
Then, in the shadows, two more skulls appeared on the left and right. This was actually a monster with three heads.
"Ah... ah..."
Genie's heart nearly stopped as he staggered backward, only to be pushed by his girlfriend behind him.
"Fl-Flame Torrent!"
He raised his wand and instinctively shouted. "Whoosh!" A pillar of fire shot from his wand, instantly engulfing the monster's head!
"ROAR!"
Hearing the monster's pained howl, Genie's heart leaped: It's working!
However...
"ROAR!"
The furious roar shook the very air around them, Genie's ears buzzed and went deaf for a moment. The flames were indeed effective. The three heads that reappeared all had large burn wounds, like worn carpet, revealing bright red underneath.
But it was more enraged. Not frightened away at all, instead becoming more violent from the pain of injury.
Genie's heart sank to the bottom. Holy shit, I'm about to die.
"AHHHHHHH!"
A chorus of screams echoed through the quiet swamp forest, startling large flocks of birds.
Ilvermorny team, total annihilation.
Not far away, two Slytherin students looked up in the direction of the screams and exclaimed, "What happened?!"
[Chapter Complete]
***
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