With the bulk of the demonstrations complete, Alex decided it was time to introduce something that could reshape how the wizarding world viewed magical strength itself. Walking to the center of the practice hall, he summoned a humanoid target, a magically reinforced mannequin designed for spell impact tests. "Now, before we conclude, I'd like to introduce something that I believe will be of great interest to the Ministry, my Magic Power Standardization System."
"Magic Power?" Bagnold, Amelia, and the other Ministry officials looked at him with mild confusion.
"That's right," Alex confirmed. "This is a standardized unit of measurement I've developed to assess the true strength of spells. It incorporates a complex set of calculations, factoring in impact force, sustained damage, and secondary effects." He gestured toward the humanoid target. "Of course, the full equations are complicated. But for simplicity's sake, all you need to understand is this, the higher the number, the more powerful the spell."
There was a brief silence before someone asked the inevitable question. "You expect us to just take your word for it?"
Alex smirked. "Of course not. Try it yourself. This target is designed to withstand extreme magical force. Feel free to cast spells at will, the numbers displayed will tell you exactly how strong each one is."
A murmur of interest spread through the room. For years, magical power had been viewed as subjective. While it was possible to gauge a wizard's general skill level, there had never been a precise way to quantify a spell's strength. Until now. Minister Bagnold and Amelia Bones exchanged thoughtful looks before Bagnold nodded. "Very well," she said. "Let's put your system to the test." And just like that, Alex's next big innovation was about to begin.
Alex stood before the assembled Ministry officials, explaining with a confident smile. "The true value of the Humanoid Target lies not just in its ability to withstand spells, but in the complex rune structure embedded within it. While it can't yet be mass-produced with my Magic Arcana shaper, each one must be personally crafted, meaning production is slow. However, the material costs are similar to those of my tactical vests." His smile deepened as he added, "Which means every time I sell one, the profits are substantial." Though he spoke casually, his message was clear, he wanted to sell as many of these as possible.
Bagnold narrowed her eyes slightly, intrigued by the implications. "So, if I understand correctly, casting a spell at this target can measure the caster's mastery over that particular spell?"
"Exactly," Alex confirmed. "For instance, the Stunning Spell typically registers at around 40 unit when cast by an average adult wizard." To demonstrate, he raised his wand, aimed at the humanoid target, and cast Stupefy.
"Boom!"
The spell struck the target, causing a faint ripple across its surface before the number 40 appeared clearly on its chest. "Of course," Alex continued, "Aurors and Strike Team members, who undergo extensive combat training, tend to wield stronger Stunning Spells." He flicked his wand again, casting another Stupefy with more refined control. This time, the number 60 appeared.
Bagnold nodded in understanding, but her expression held skepticism. "Every spell results in a clean, round number?" She wasn't convinced of the precision. "Azalea," she said, looking toward the striking blonde witch nearby. "You test it."
Azalea Rowle blinked in mild surprise, pointing to herself as if unsure she'd heard correctly. "Me?" Bagnold gave a small nod of confirmation. Realizing she had no choice, Azalea stepped forward and withdrew her wand, a pristine, ivory-colored piece of wood that stood out starkly against her dark attire.
Alex's eyebrows lifted slightly. 'Aspen?' Aspen wands were famously associated with powerful spellcasters, particularly duelists. Yet, as he watched her hesitate slightly before casting, he wondered, was she truly skilled, or was she hiding something? Taking a deep breath, Azalea focused on the humanoid target and cast Stupefy. The spell struck, and the number 42 appeared.
Alex's lips twitched. 'Forty-two?' That was… underwhelming for someone wielding an aspen wand. Had she held back? Or was she really not much of a combatant? His eyes flickered with amusement as he caught a brief, almost imperceptible flash of discomfort on Azalea's face. Bagnold, however, was more focused on the numbers. "Try a different spell," she instructed. "Use the Fire-Making Charm and the Freezing Charm."
Azalea nodded stiffly, then turned back to the target. She took a moment to steady herself before casting Incendio. This time, when the flames struck the target, the displayed number was much higher. 61.
Alex's smirk deepened. 'Ah, there it is.' So, she was holding back before. Unlike Stupefy, which was a control-based spell, Incendio was an elemental spell, one that relied heavily on the caster's affinity with elemental magic. If someone had low affinity, they'd have a hard time converting magical energy into raw firepower. Conversely, if they had high affinity, the results would be dramatically stronger. Azalea's 61-point Incendio confirmed it, she had a strong elemental affinity, which meant her earlier performance with Stupefy had been deliberately weakened. Her expression stiffened slightly as she saw the number displayed.
Bagnold, unaware of Alex's private deductions, furrowed her brow. "Why did Incendio produce a much higher score than Stupefy?"
Alex folded his arms, his gaze flicking briefly to Azalea before answering. "As I mentioned earlier, the Power Score isn't based solely on impact force. Some spells deal more sustained or elemental damage, meaning their numbers will naturally be higher. Fire spells, for example, can burn long after the initial impact, increasing their overall strength. Additionally," he added, his tone lighter, "some wizards simply have a stronger affinity for elemental magic."
Azalea pursed her lips but said nothing.
Bagnold nodded slowly. "I see… That would explain the difference." She glanced back at Azalea. "You can step back now. I'd like to see more tests. Moody," she said.
Moody let out a raspy chuckle, stepping forward with a dangerous glint in his one natural eye. "Oh, I've been waitin' for this," he muttered. Rubbing his hands together like an excited child, he cracked his neck and leveled his wand at the humanoid target. "Reducto!"
A bright blast of energy shot forward, striking the target with a resounding boom! The number 115 appeared. There was a collective murmur in the hall. "Not bad," Alex remarked, though he was hardly surprised. Moody had spent decades in combat situations, his mastery of destructive magic was evident.
Moody, however, wasn't done. With a wicked grin, he aimed his wand again. "Let's try somethin' stronger. Moody leaned heavily on his crutches, striding forward with a noticeable limp. His scarred face twisted into a grin as he yanked out his wand with a sharp motion. Without chanting a single word, he raised his arm, and a powerful spell erupted from the tip.
Boom!
The blast slammed into the humanoid target, sending it flying backward like a toppled tumbler. It hit the ground with a sharp crack, bounced violently to the right, then jerked wildly before finally coming to a shuddering stop. As the dust settled, a bright red number flickered into view on the target's display. 358!