Let's rewind time slightly. Back to the moment when Luna detonated the camp to lure away the ancient magic guardians.
At that exact moment, the goblin army hidden deep in the dense forest, meticulously preparing for their surprise attack, saw the flames shoot skyward and heard the deep war horn echoing through the camp. They stood completely dumbfounded.
A subordinate hesitated nervously, "Boss, do we... have an insider working for us this time?"
Even with an insider, this isn't how it's supposed to work! Weren't we launching a surprise attack?
The goblin leader of this force, named "Cook," was equally confused by the development. He wanted to order his troops to hide immediately. But the wizards who'd already raised the alarm soon discovered their hidden position in the trees.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!" Several spells instantly shot toward them through the darkness!
"Bang!" "Ahhhh!" Explosions erupted, and agonized screams filled the goblin ranks!
"Damn it!" Cook cursed under his breath, swinging his heavy battle-axe to deflect an incoming spell, wondering internally, Which idiot set off bombs in the camp, exposing us instead of them... Could this be pure coincidence?
This disastrous start darkened Leader Cook's mood considerably. But looking back at his goblin army already organizing their defensive magic formations, he regained his battle-hardened confidence. Ha, this time we've deployed our entire force, abandoning other battlefields to transfer everyone here—all to seize that precious ancient magic!
This battle absolutely couldn't go wrong, couldn't end in failure. Otherwise, the goblin tribe would suffer devastating losses and be severely weakened for generations. But Cook never seriously doubted they'd lose. After all, their combat power far exceeded those wizard fools in the camp by countless times! Barring catastrophic accidents, this would undoubtedly be a victorious battle!
Cook grinned viciously, raising his axe high overhead and roaring, "Kill all wizards, reclaim ancient magic! Offer our loyalty to Lord Ranrok! For the goblin tribe!"
"CHARGE!"
Like a bursting dam releasing its fury, countless goblins poured from the forest! Charging across the cleared warning perimeter, their axes glowed menacingly red as they spun toward the camp's shimmering protective barrier!
Seeing this massive assault, the guards manning the walls changed expression dramatically. Once news leaked that ancient magic was hidden in the camp, goblin attacks came immediately! And reinforcements from Hogwarts lost contact halfway here. Didn't expect them so soon...
"Crack, crack!" Under the relentless barrage of countless magical axes and alchemical bombs, the protective barrier made sounds of unbearable strain, visibly spiderwebbing with deep fissures!
"Quick—quick, cast reinforcement spells! Absolutely can't let the goblins break through!"
"No good! Can't hold it anymore!"
Just as everyone panicked, suddenly a deep rumbling sounded from outside the walls!
"RUMBLE!" The clearing outside the fortifications suddenly rolled like ocean waves! Flipping large swaths of goblins violently to the ground!
"What are you all standing there gaping for?!" A cold rebuke rang out like thunder, making the stunned guards jump to attention!
They whirled around to see the camp's supreme commander, Miss Eve Black, her sharp gaze shooting toward them like blades. She gripped her wand tightly, slightly breathless—clearly, she'd just cast that large-scale land transformation spell.
Eve looked at the goblins swarming like locusts, her eyes darkening with grim determination. If not for that explosion alerting the camp and discovering the goblins hidden in the forest, the situation would definitely be far worse.
Eve wasn't afraid of death—she feared for the innocent children's lives sheltering in the camp. And this realization only strengthened her iron resolve.
Eve raised her wand high, her voice carrying across the walls, "Just because the protective barrier breaks, should we surrender?! No! We'll fight to the last moment! We are this camp's strongest barrier! Until these walls fall!"
Her powerful shout echoed through the night, anchoring the guards' wavering determination like dropping an anchor.
"Fight!" "Let those goblins see our true strength!"
They raised wands one after another, firing spells in coordinated volleys at the dense goblin masses. Instantly—frost filled the sky, sand and stones flew like shrapnel, and lightning and thunder crashed with deafening force!
Behind the main gate, two massive stone-earth giants waited in silent menace—ready to smash any goblins breaking through into bloody pulp!
Inside the camp, Professor Lupin moved with the evacuating crowds, guards leading them quickly toward the back gate. Silent and orderly—even terrified children kept their mouths tightly shut, well-behaved in a way that made Lupin's heart ache with sorrow.
However, Lupin knew this goblin attack's predestined ending. When he first arrived at the camp after traveling through time, he hadn't immediately realized it. But after half a day of careful observation and comparison, Professor Lupin was certain: This was the historically infamous "Fire Eater Battle"!
And this battle's recorded outcome: no survivors. Neither goblins nor humans in the camp. All dead, not one soul left alive.
The reason: wizards ultimately couldn't resist the overwhelming goblin attacks—everyone, including women and children, was brutally slaughtered. In grief and rage, the camp's leader dripped her own blood into the ancient well containing ancient magic, exchanging her life for a devastating curse. Ultimately summoning a terrifying existence from beyond.
A great fire swept across and swallowed the entire camp. When the flames finally receded, houses, vegetation, and even bones had become scorched black powder, thickly covering the earth—as if the entire camp had been placed in a massive crucible. This blood sacrifice caused devastating losses to the goblin forces.
Due to special circumstances, historical records had deliberately omitted this leader's name. But now Professor Lupin knew with certainty: She was called Eve Black.
A guard called out urgently, "Quick! The back gate's just ahead! After you get outside, run desperately into the forest—don't look back! Understood?!"
The children nodded vigorously, eyes wide with fear and hope.
But as that "gate of hope" drew nearer, Lupin's footsteps grew progressively heavier with each step. Because according to historical records, another small goblin squad lay in a carefully planned ambush outside the back gate—currently invisible, patiently waiting for their prey.
Thinking about what would happen next made Lupin's heart clench painfully. But history can't be changed. Moreover, even protecting these children and people here wouldn't win this battle. Goblins take no prisoners. The ending was already determined centuries ago.
Lupin watched the guards reach the back gate, first casting a revealing charm but failing to detect the goblins using special shielding alchemical devices. They gestured "all clear" to those behind, then laboriously moved the heavy gate bolt, slowly pushing open the door inch by inch.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl. Lupin held his breath, his pupils constricting sharply, watching the door open inch by agonizing inch—glimpsing blade-light flashing menacingly through the widening crack.
History cannot be changed. I can't single-handedly reverse this battle's outcome. We're just observers—once Ethan gets what he wants, we'll leave. Struggling will only make things worse... He'd learned this painful lesson through decades of hardship.
Just then, a small cold hand grasped Lupin's finger tightly. Looking down, he met little Amy's worried eyes staring up at him.
"It's—it's okay! Uncle!" little Amy said softly, her voice trembling but brave. "Sister Eve will protect us! Don't be afraid!"
Lupin's eyes widened slightly in surprise. This child, still very frightened herself, was trying to comfort him anyway.
Suddenly Ethan's confident words echoed clearly in his mind: [Everything is possible. Because I am the miracle.]
"Ha," Lupin suddenly laughed, shaking his head and murmuring with newfound conviction, "Really regressing with age—actually needing students to teach me about courage."
If I didn't believe in the near-zero possibility of "curing werewolves," why would I follow Ethan to this danger-filled ancient era?
And if I cower and do nothing, wouldn't that betray the opportunity Ethan gave me?! Betray Ethan's trust in leaving the rear defense to me?!
Under little Amy's surprised gaze, Lupin sharply raised his wand, his eyes showing fierce determination absent for ages. Aiming directly at the opening door, he growled with unleashed power, "CONFRINGO!"
To hell with history. I believe Ethan can completely reverse this tragedy!