In the next second, an astonishing scene unfolded.
Professor Flitwick's figure suddenly blurred, and then three more of him appeared in different directions, as if he had cloned himself.
"What kind of magic is this?!" Bagman's eyes bulged in disbelief.
The four Flitwicks raised their wands in unison.
"Sectum Quadra!"
Four silver beams shot out simultaneously, each aimed at a different goblin.
Two goblins weren't fast enough, one had both legs severed, blood gushing everywhere; the other was hit square in the chest and was literally torn into four.
The remaining two were lucky, they'd been standing further back and managed to cast shielding spells in time.
"Bard! Bucky!" Bagman roared, eyes already bloodshot, now practically bleeding red.
Professor Flitwick was breathing hard, sweat forming on his forehead.
This was his old signature move, the very spell that had made him undefeated in his youth at the Dueling Championships.
But now that he was older, he could clearly feel the toll it took on his body.
Bagman finally realized the terrifying truth, this little wizard wasn't someone to underestimate.
They had gotten cocky, thinking numbers meant an easy win.
"Be careful! He's a real dueling master!"
He shouted a warning to his comrades and flicked his wand toward a nearby table.
The table flew through the air, hurtling at Flitwick.
Flitwick calmly pointed his wand.
The table transformed into a charging bull midair, slamming into the ground and immediately rushing back toward Bagman.
"Bloody!" Bagman cursed as he narrowly dodged.
Spells erupted in all directions, multicolored beams crisscrossed the small cottage, a full-on magical brawl unfolding.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Gripp slapped a section of the wall. A hidden passage quietly opened up.
"Charlie! Go!" he shouted, urgently tugging Charlie's sleeve.
To Gripp, Charlie was just a first-year student, staying here would only get him hurt. He had to escape.
But Charlie didn't move. His eyes remained locked on the battlefield.
"Don't just stand there! You can't help! Your spells would barely tickle them!" Gripp cried, desperate.
At that moment, the remaining goblins were fully focused on battling Flitwick. None of them noticed the small boy and unarmed goblin in the corner.
To them, Charlie was no threat. Just a child.
Charlie smirked.
He quietly raised his wand and aimed at the nearest goblin.
"Stupefy"
A beam of red light shot out, before the goblin even knew what hit him, he collapsed, unconscious.
Bagman whipped around at the noise, eyes blazing. "You little brat!"
But Charlie had already aimed again.
"Stupefy!"
"Stupefy!"
Two more goblins dropped to the floor before anyone could react.
"That kid!" the remaining goblins finally realized their mistake.
But it was too late.
Charlie's attacks came down like a hailstorm.
"Stupefy!"
"Stupefy!"
"Stupefy!"
His wand didn't stop for a second, he'd transformed into a one-man magic turret.
Gripp stood frozen beside him, mouth agape.
When did first-year students become this overpowered?
Three adult goblins, dropped in seconds, was he the weakest one here?
The remaining three goblins scrambled to cast protective barriers.
Red beams slammed against the shields, sending ripples across their surfaces.
But the goblins were forced to channel magic continuously to maintain the shields, and Charlie couldn't break through them just yet.
"Damn kid!" one of them shouted, furious. He aimed at Charlie and fired a flash of green light.
But Charlie was ready. He ducked and waved his wand.
The chairs and tables around him instantly transformed into sturdy shields, forming a protective ring around him.
Then, from inside the barricade, Charlie called out.
"Protego Maxima!"
A glowing dome enveloped him, physical and magical defenses in one.
You ever heard of layered defense, buddy?
If I had time, I'd slap on the troll-hide vest too.
Spells slammed into the wooden shields with thuds, sparks flying, but none could penetrate.
"This damn kid's tough!" Bagman growled, still hurling curses.
This was exactly why Charlie didn't act from the start.
Sure, his spells were as strong as any adult wizard's, but he lacked experience. He only had a few powerful spells in his arsenal.
In a head-on fight, he'd run out of cards after one or two moves.
So instead, he'd waited. Let Flitwick take the aggro, then strike from the shadows.
This is why wizards need brains!
If all you know is yelling "Avada Kedavra" over and over, you're no better than a troll.
Now, the tide of battle had turned.
Flitwick had taken out two goblins. Charlie had stunned three.
Only three enemies remained.
Realizing the situation was spiraling, Bagman began backing up, shielding his remaining underlings with his body.
"You two, stall the brat. I'll take the old man."
The two goblins immediately charged toward Charlie.
Charlie's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't panic.
Because he knew he had someone reliable watching his back.
Sure enough, Flitwick seized the moment and once again used that extraordinary spell.
"Apparate!"
Four Flitwicks materialized once more, surrounding the two goblins.
"Sectum Quadra!"
Silver light flared. The two goblins collapsed instantly, dead or unconscious, no one could say.
As for Bagman?
The moment Flitwick attacked, he bolted from the house.
Hurling rocks to slow pursuit, he vanished with a crack of Apparition.
Flitwick didn't chase, his priority was Charlie's safety.
He rushed over to the shield fortress, peering in, uncertain how to approach.
"Charlie! Are you alright? Are you hurt?!"
"I'm fine, Professor."
Charlie poked his head out from behind the defenses. Seeing the battle was over, he finally stepped out.
Real combat like this was something else entirely, far more thrilling than fighting a troll.
That troll was just a dumb, lumbering target. Sure, it was tough, but it wasn't clever.
Fighting intelligent enemies? That was a whole different level of risk.
Charlie made a firm decision, he'd start grinding more Tyrant Points and draw even stronger spells.
"Thank Merlin you're okay. Charlie, you saved the day," Flitwick said warmly, climbing the mound of shields and patting his shoulder.
"Don't say that, Professor. If you hadn't drawn their attention, my ambush wouldn't have worked."
"I still don't know enough spells."
Gripp, meanwhile, was practically in shock.
A first-year just flattened three adult goblins and still thinks he's not strong enough?
What's the point anymore? Just give the kid the trophy.
Wizards are terrifying, I'm retiring. RETIRING.
"Charlie, you were brilliant today," Flitwick said with pride.
"If we were at school, I'd award you a hundred points on the spot!"
"No need for that, Professor."
Charlie looked at him with hopeful eyes.
"Teach me that split-body spell!"
Flitwick laughed.
"That wasn't a clone spell. It was Apparition, just performed three times in rapid succession with synchronized spellcasting."
"It only looks like clones because of how fast it's done. It's a visual illusion, not actual duplication."
"That kind of magic needs extreme magical control and real combat experience. You're not quite ready."
Charlie screamed internally: System, I want to pull that skill!
[Didn't you say you were blocking me?]
"Don't care. Shut up and roll."
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