"Rip--!"
Amidst the sound of tearing clothes, several poachers underwent a frenzy transformation, turning into pitch-black wolves, giant bears, or peregrine falcons...
Compared to the batch of Armanigus that William battled a hundred years ago, these guys seemed to have had their size altered by potions. The wolves, originally about the size of an adult human, had grown to five meters long, their pale fangs dripping with foul-smelling saliva, and the creaking of their spines grated on one's nerves. The pale bony armor encased them like an exoskeleton.
The giant bear was even more exaggerated, almost reaching seven meters in height, like a mountain of flesh, causing the ground to tremble with every move.
"Screech--"
One of the wolves, upon finishing its transformation, turned and gave a fierce bite to Kabuda's rear, causing the pained Niffler to let out a howl. But the next moment, its body swelled again, pressing back with force.
"...I'd almost forgotten about your transformations."
William blinked, soothingly stroking Norbert's scales. The Fire Dragon seemed to sense a threat, lowering its head, worriedly watching the bizarre beasts before it, "Stand back, I've got these handled... you won't miss out on drumsticks."
Hearing the latter part, Norbert obediently retreated.
William reached into his chest and retrieved a small crystal-sealed bottle. The indigo magic potion looked like concentrated liquid lightning, with unsettling arcs shimmering within.
"You think you're the only ones who use potions?"
William shattered the stopper with magic power and tilted his head back, pouring the frenzy liquid that could shatter the souls of ordinary wizards into his mouth, "Wow, the special edition is really potent." With the potion in his belly, William burped, seeming somewhat tipsy.
"Boom--"
Around William, pitch-black clouds appeared from nowhere, fierce winds rising, kicking up debris and dust from the ground.
The sunlight, initially blazing, suddenly became dark, heavy, lead-gray clouds converging, swirling, piling up, and the clouds cover the entire sky and William, clouds, deep within as blue and white electric snakes darted wildly.
In the next moment, thunder struck, and the falcon in the sky bore the brunt, its tragic cry ceased abruptly, its form torn apart by the thunder in the blink of an eye, plummeting from the sky like a broken sack, landing as a charcoal cake on the ground.
William's form also floated up, transforming into a brilliant yellow Thunderbird in the sky.
Then, the electric light created by the Frenzy Potion (Special Edition) began to gather, wrapping around the Thunderbird soaring into the sky like an outer garment. With a thunderous roar, a gigantic bird's phantom nearly covered half the sky with its wingspan, appearing in the light.
It was entirely woven from dazzling, blinding pale lightning, each "feather" jumping with unsettling electric light, its massive body like a deity born from the thunderstorm, its radiant eagle head raised high, its sharp gaze locking onto all below... and the beasts.
"Chirp--"
Why, out of nowhere, did William feel the urge to shout "Ten Thousand Thunder Heaven Attraction"--and indeed, he did just that.
"Ten Thousand Thunder! Heaven Attraction!"
Immediately after, a bolt of blinding lightning the width of a barrel, carrying an aura of apocalypse, like a judgment spear, tore through the thick clouds, precisely piercing a frenzied giant bear that was about to charge at Norbert.
This time, there wasn't even a chance to scream; the beast, large enough to demolish ancient city walls, had its entire head along with half its body instantly vaporized, leaving only a smoldering charred pit, and such lightning strikes were not limited to one -
This time, the electric light was not green.
Thousands of Thunder Spears, each carrying pure, symbolic destructive power, guided precisely by William - "No-" A muscular giant who had just completed his transformation fearfully looked up, and the next second, he was pierced by three lightning spears at once, his entire body turning into a burst of electric plasma!
"Boom! Boom!! Boom! Boom!!!"
The continuous explosions sounded like the death god's drumbeats.
Attempted resistance with Iron Armor Spell? But those dim magic shields in front of almost liquefied lightning were as thin as paper, instantly tearing through the defense, turning into charcoal; hard resistance or dodging was laughable, even those flying into the sky hastily were slapped down by the already-prepared Fire Dragon.
...
The Thunderbird phantom William had become stood like a divine spirit in the clouds, coldly gazing at the scene below like Purgatory.
His sight was fixed on the armored figure on the ground - this one couldn't be killed, after all, it was one of the few elite monsters alive that might be of some use. Watching the figure struggling through the scorched earth and corpses, William's gaze turned to the cave entrance behind him.
"Roar--"
In an instant, Newt rode the smoky gray Ukrainian Ironbelly, breaking through the upper rock wall with a charm, followed closely by an Antipodean Opaleye, and behind them, more and more Fire Dragons.
The deafening dragon roars finally drowned out the thunder in the sky, merging into a destructive torrent. These Dragons, having regained their freedom, didn't need any other purpose, only their accumulated anger erupting in howls. They required no command, their target clear - only revenge.
Their scorching breath, like a bursting flood, sprayed towards the surviving poachers from multiple directions, fire and sky thunder intertwining, devouring those wizards' faltering resistance completely, massive dragon claws effortlessly tearing through hastily built defenses, dragon tails sweeping, screams echoed.
"...William?"
Riding Jacob, Newt, somewhat fatigued, gasped, releasing all those Fire Dragons from the "Dragon Nest" took quite a lot of effort, and for an old wizard close to a hundred years old, this was an extreme sport - not to mention, keeping those Dragons in line to prevent them from bickering before flying out.
At this moment, he looked at the Thunderbird shielded by Norbert in the sky, hesitantly asking.
"It's me."
William nodded, and as the thought crossed his mind, the clouds and fog dissipated in the sky, the rumbling temporarily halted, leaving only the burning of flames, the low growls of Fire Dragons, and a scream -
"No--"
The armored wizard looked at the hellish scene before him, veins bulging, his subordinates, his stronghold, his years of hard effort, dissolving into a wasteland at an alarming pace.
William gently floated to the ground, stepping on the searing hot scorched rocks - he glanced at the now-calmed battlefield, surviving poachers?
Only one remained before him.
"Well then,"
William's voice was quiet, "now we can sit down, quietly and have a chat, Mr. Leader." He raised his Magic Wand, and the man's bowed head slowly lifted.