Chapter 243: Pettigrew, Judgment Begins
[Name: "The Insatiable Durasole"]
[Type: Living Painting]
[Tier: Second Tier · Gold Legend]
[Description: "Fawning deer calls forth the wild apple"—wait, is this deer perhaps a bit off?]
[Effect: The deer's insatiable hunger compels it to consume all things endlessly; wherever it passes, grass does not grow]
[Flesh is certainly a delicious meal]
[But the boundless hunger lurking within a creature's heart is far more of a feast]
[The consumed lives transform into rolling golden tears, becoming mimetic beings]
[Rating: Fashioned from the essence of a sacred guardian's spirit, a horrifying monster crawling forth from the gates of hell. Bearing endless hunger for life and consuming endlessly, yet forever unable to be satisfied, thus wailing constantly]
[That day, humanity recalled the terror of being dominated by the colossal deer...]
Ethan curved his lips upward.
Using the severed head as inspiration.
Surely that guardian who cannot leave its original place, whatever its name was, must have greatly hoped to appear in the mortal world in this peculiar manner.
Just then, pale blue text continued to float upward.
[Congratulations! You have collected four of the Seven Deadly Sins!]
[Gluttony "The Insatiable Durasole," Wrath "Corrupted Hell Hound Cerberus," Sloth "The Land of Eternal Sleep Jörmungandr," Envy "The Splitting Wolf"!]
[Obtained: Intermediate Gift Box x1!]
[When living paintings collect all Seven Sins, they will summon an incomparably high-tier creation]
[You may enter the gallery and view the completed series of paintings]
Intermediate Gift Box?
Ethan raised his eyebrows slightly. He hadn't expected that the living paintings created from the inspirations within his heart could actually form a complete series.
"Indeed, my artistic sensibilities are unmatched by anyone," Ethan murmured, his eyes gleaming brilliantly.
I wonder what sort of magnificent creation will manifest when I collect all of these Seven Sins.
"Ah, I'm truly looking forward to it."
Intermediate Gift Box, gallery viewing. After this incident concludes, I'll study them thoroughly!
Ethan turned his head, looking toward the bewildered students. He smiled gently, raised his hand, and shouted, "Everyone, take your positions! Ready, run!"
In that instant, the deer's head let out a sharp, high-pitched cry. It opened its bloody maw and lunged forward madly to devour them.
"Ahhhhhhhh!"
"Ethan, no!"
"Is this also part of Hogwarts' talent training program?!"
Like plowing the earth, the ground trembled beneath the deer's constantly writhing movements. Everywhere it passed left deep crevasses behind.
Ron ran with tears streaming from his eyes, shrieking, "This is too much! Are you actually feeding people to the creatures?! And Ethan is actually Sirius Black's accomplice! He's not even pretending anymore, just outright trying to destroy the school!"
Hermione shook her head, gasping as she shouted, "But Ethan defeated the Dark Lord directly in the first year! How could he possibly collude with evil?!"
Ron rolled his eyes. "Yes, so he could become the only Dark Lord in the world. Ethan doesn't need to collude with evil. He IS the EVIL itself!"
"That's ridiculous!" Hermione glared fiercely. "Ethan simply loves art! He never intended to become the next Dark Lord!"
However, every other student's face showed utter shock and fear. Clearly, they agreed with Ron. The evidence was too conclusive, after all.
Hermione twisted around, looking toward the black-haired youth standing on the frozen earth. His silhouette seemed so mysterious and unfathomable, completely beyond her comprehension. It only made him more charming.
Hermione's cheeks flushed.
The next second, a massive deer head dripping with saliva appeared in her vision.
Deer King: Hello.
Hermione: Actually, I'm not entirely opposed to betrayal. Ethan, just give me a chance! Ahhhhhh!
On the other side, Hagrid stared in wonder at the frozen earth churning like waves beneath the deer head. His eyes filled with longing. "How adorable, what a cute little deer!"
Sirius Black: Old friend, we haven't seen each other in years. You've certainly developed.
Ethan: "Hagrid, stop fighting. I thought you really liked Sirius Black? Don't you remember that loyal and clever 'Spotted Dog'?"
Hagrid: "?!"
Hagrid's pupils shook violently. "That was Sirius?! I've even slept hugging him!"
Sirius Black: ....
Ethan raised his eyebrows with amusement. "How interesting."
Sirius Black buried his face in his hands deeply. It was more painful than Hagrid's fists.
Just then, Ethan sensed something. He turned his head, looking toward the wand pointing straight at him through the rolling dust.
It was Harry Potter.
The young Savior stared intensely at Ethan, his face filled with betrayal, anguish, and disbelief.
Harry: "So you really are Sirius Black's master, Ethan. Why did you do this? Sirius killed my parents!"
The veins on his temple pulsed, as if he were experiencing unbearable pain. His voice shook everything.
Sirius Black's heart was breaking, yet he also felt Harry was truly James's son. Daring to challenge an evil spirit alone. How brave.
Sirius Black: "Harry, let me explain—"
Ethan: "Powerless weak humans, do you truly believe you possess the strength to oppose me?"
Sirius Black: "??"
What's with that villainous boss tone?!
In the stiff atmosphere, despite having a wand pointed at him, Ethan's expression remained completely unchanged. He walked forward slowly and calmly spoke.
"Harry, do you remember the prophecy that Professor Trelawney made during our opening feast?"
Harry froze.
Ethan: "I opened the sealed Black Family manor and obtained ancient magic hidden behind its paintings. This fulfills the first condition: 'Opening the dust-covered dwelling.' We won the goblin rebellion of 1612. This fulfills the second condition: 'A war that should never have occurred.' And to pursue Sirius, we went to the Shrieking Shack with you. There, I obtained a tool to elevate my painting skills: 'A branch brought by birds.'"
Ethan stopped walking. He turned, fixing his gaze on the stunned Harry. His lips curved into a smile, and his cobalt-blue eyes reflected metallic, inorganic light.
"So, Harry, do you remember what the remaining prophecy stated?"
Silence stretched for several seconds.
Harry's hoarse voice finally emerged. "Judgment shall commence. The evil spirit will slay the hero in the world's eyes."
They had been led by the nose all along. Supposedly to change the prophecy, yet they personally pushed its fulfillment forward! Ethan, what exactly are you?!
In Harry's vision, Ethan's features twisted into the visage of a demon.
Sirius Black, witnessing everything: Wait, am I truly standing on the side of justice?
Sirius suddenly, belatedly recognized the severity of the situation.
Harry: "What are you doing?!"
He held his wand raised, yet never cast a spell. His heart kept telling him: Wait. Believe in your own instincts. After all, if Ethan wanted, he could simply ride Sirius to school. There was no need for all this complexity.
Ethan: "Harry, the prophecy told you what I'm doing. Isn't it all explained there?"
Ethan's eyes were filled with Ravenclaw's pity, as if looking at a troll baby.
Just then, shadows pressed down from above. Hundreds of Dementors flew overhead in a dark cloud, blocking out the sun. Aurors raced frantically forward, unleashing spell after spell.
The audience has arrived.
Ethan's lips curved upward. He yanked open a cabinet, seizing the limp rat—Peter Pettigrew, Wormtail!
In Sirius Black's suddenly constricted vision, Ethan spread his arms wide, eyes gleaming with delight.
"The judgment of heroes begins now!"
As his words fell, "BOOM!"
A massive maw, nearly stretching one hundred eighty degrees, erupted violently from the ground!