The denizens of Knockturn Alley didn't know who these people were.
But they had eyes.
The terrifying appearance of the man leading the group alone was enough to make anyone scream and run for their lives!
Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye.
Everyone within sight vanished completely.
Like rats in a sewer, they scurried into unknown corners.
"Why did they all run away...? I wanted to ask for directions."
Ethan touched the mask on his face and sighed.
"Is it because my face is too handsome? Hmph, usually they all claim to love the darkness, but when real darkness arrives, they suddenly don't like it anymore."
"Talk about fair-weather fans of the dark."
Everyone: "..."
They really didn't know where to begin retorting.
The group that had come this time consisted of a portion of the fifth-year students.
About a third of the class—mostly Slytherins—would rather forgo these "extracurricular activity points" than participate.
They refused to come, no matter what.
Specifically, the Malfoy family deserved to be named and shamed.
Faith not absolute?
That means absolutely disloyal!
After getting back, Ethan would have to pay their home a proper "visit."
Aside from the students.
For the sake of the wandless young wizards, Sirius, Professor Lupin, and two officials sent by the Ministry of Magic had come along.
Miss Connie and Mr. Yaxley.
At this moment, the former looked nervous and uneasy.
The latter, with his mostly healed face, maintained a meaningful smile.
It looked as if he were holding back a bellyful of bad water, ready to spill out at any moment.
Tap, tap, tap.
Ethan walked through the morning mist—if they finished early, they could make it back to Hogwarts for lunch.
The crisp sound of his footsteps echoed in the deadly silent street.
Like the Grim Reaper patrolling his territory.
Following behind Ethan.
Sirius clutched his wand, looking around excitedly.
He thought to himself: Thank goodness my name was cleared, allowing me to move freely in the sunlight like this.
Otherwise, Sirius couldn't imagine what state he would be in right now.
Perhaps he would be locked up somewhere against his will.
Going mad with depression.
"Thank you, Ethan." Sirius clenched his fist and said in a deep voice for the umpteenth time, "I will definitely use my strength properly. I won't let you down!"
Compared to Sirius's excitement.
Lupin was much more steady.
As a werewolf, his five senses were much sharper than those of the average wizard.
He had also discovered "Professor Vortex's" true identity early on.
At this moment.
Walking through this "quietness."
Lupin could feel the gazes hidden in the narrow alleys.
The stares of his werewolf kin.
So, he raised his hand slightly, suppressing their restlessness.
The students witnessed this scene.
Harry and Ron exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with surprise.
...They couldn't help but feel that, compared to when Lupin was their professor.
His posture was now more upright.
Every movement exuded a steady confidence.
"Maybe this is also Ethan's magic..."
Harry whispered emotionally, turning to look at the black-haired boy who had created such miracles.
The group took many twists and turns.
Before long.
Ethan felt himself pop through a barrier.
A tall red-roofed mansion came into view.
Seeing this.
Yaxley, trailing behind, twitched his brow.
...The protective barrier was over a decade old, but it should still have been effective.
It possessed concealing properties.
Protecting the mansion from being looted by these greedy dark wizards.
However.
This Professor Norn charged in like a crazed four-horse carriage.
He smashed the barrier directly.
"As expected of an otherworldly creature, he does have some strength," Yaxley muttered in the shadows, malice flashing in his eyes.
"But in the dragnet I've personally laid, what can you do?"
I guarantee you won't escape!
On the other side.
Ethan looked up at the old mansion.
The peeling red tiles were covered in a layer of dust, and vines crawled over the walls, blocking the door.
No matter how you looked at it, it was a dilapidated mansion lost to time.
No one would think it held secrets.
In Ethan's vision.
He could clearly perceive the aura of dark magic stored within.
Like a writhing tumor, sticky and coiled beneath the mansion.
Was this the speed bump Yaxley set up?
Pathetic.
Ethan huffed.
"Looks like this will be the training ground for these young wizards—hmm?"
Suddenly.
Ethan's eyes paused.
A different magical reaction appeared in his vision.
Very small, very faint.
However.
Like a black hole, it contained and compressed incredibly deep magic!
Far exceeding Yaxley's traps.
"Ancient Magic."
An ethereal voice rang out.
Ethan shifted his gaze, looking sideways.
He saw the calm yet trance-like expression on Luna's face.
Her clear blue eyes, like elven lakes, stared unblinkingly beneath the red house.
Staring in the same direction as him.
It actually was Ancient Magic!
Ethan's eyes lit up, and a surge of desire and excitement instantly rose within him.
He licked his lips and muttered:
"Finally, something interesting."
"My preparations weren't in vain!"
As the words fell.
A majestic power suddenly erupted from Ethan!
Like a flowing oil film, it wrapped around the surroundings.
Even the air seemed to be compressed.
In an instant.
Ethan flipped his wrist.
A brand-new card suddenly transformed into a mighty dark red war banner!
It stood fully three or four meters high.
The pitch-black, glossy wooden pole inserted into the stone ground with a click.
Like a flag condensed from countless vengeful spirits and soaked in blood, it unfurled in the wind with a whoosh!
Instantly.
[Ahhhhh—!]
Accompanied by shrill screams.
In a trance, it seemed countless pained faces struggled to emerge from the banner, yet they could never break free.
Rolling dark red liquid flowed down from the banner.
Running down the wooden pole.
Flowing into the ground.
Like writhing veins, it spread rapidly outwards.
The students dodged and screamed repeatedly, acting as if they had just encountered a giant flying cockroach:
"W-What is this?!"
"Merlin! Is no one going to control my 'Dark Arts Professor'..."
"Look! It's forming a wall!"
They watched as, on the periphery, the blood threads congealed.
Interweaving into a wall of flesh and blood that spread continuously upwards and outwards.
Ideally airtight, it enclosed the area, including the red house.
[Name: "The Wall of Lamentation"]
[Type: Terrain Painting]
[Rank: Tier 2 · Golden Legend]
[Description: "Return to the Matrix, return to the beginning of all things—fusion, chaos. We are with you."]
[Effect: Planting the war banner automatically forms a flesh barrier around it with the banner as the center. Anyone touching it from the inside or outside will be sucked into the wall and become nutrients.]
[If the War Banner is destroyed, the wall loses its restraint and enters a berserk state, devouring everything.]
[Evaluation: The population of Knockturn Alley has plummeted recently; do you have any clues?]
--
Support me & read more advance & fast update chapter on my pa-treon:
pat reon .c-om/windkaze