Boom!
An immense surge of magical power burst forth, wild and uncontrollable like a stormy sea. Towering waves of energy crashed violently in all directions, knocking Devro heavily to the ground.
The moment the stone knight shattered into pieces, countless jagged shards exploded outward like deadly daggers. They shot from every direction, mercilessly piercing Devro's body. Each fragment carried enough force to penetrate heavy armor, slicing into him and drawing blood in dozens of places. His clothes were quickly stained red.
Devro struggled to rise, pain surging through every inch of his body. His muscles trembled, twitching from the impact. Blood trickled down from the cuts, following the trails carved by the stone fragments. He pressed a trembling hand to his left side, feeling the hot flow of dark red blood leaking through his fingers.
"Damn... so that's how it is…" he muttered through gritted teeth, clutching his ribs as he stared at the scattered remains of the stone knight.
Not far away, Marcus stood shrouded in shadow. A devilish grin curled on his face as he slowly raised his hand, pointing it directly at Devro.
"What do you understand? Heh heh. Never mind. Now—die."
With a low incantation, the tip of Marcus's wand glowed with a sinister green light.
"Avada Kedavra!"
At that critical moment, the small foal—blown away during the blast—rushed back in desperation. With a final, mournful whinny, it threw itself in front of Devro, shielding him from the curse.
"Die together!" Marcus roared with manic laughter as the green light surged like lightning.
Bang!
A deafening explosion rocked the room. Smoke, dust, and stone fragments erupted in a hurricane of destruction. The air reeked of scorched magic and gunpowder. As the smoke gradually cleared, a wall of solid earth came into view—standing tall between Devro and the deadly curse.
"What?!" Marcus's eyes widened in disbelief. His grin vanished, replaced by a frown and a flicker of cold intent.
But before he could react, a powerful force slammed into his back. Two stone-gray arms burst from the floor, seizing his shoulders like steel shackles. Massive hands gripped his wrists tightly, rendering him completely immobile.
The earthen wall crumbled, revealing Devro standing unharmed. A cold smile played on his lips. His injuries had vanished—he had healed completely.
"What is this?!" Marcus screamed, struggling with all his might. Even with the power Voldemort had given him, it was no match for the overwhelming strength of the stone knight.
That's right.
Devro had just comprehended an advanced application of his Shapeshifting Spirit Body. He had merged his animated construct with the surrounding environment—using the shattered remains of the stone knight to blend into the walls of the bathroom, transforming the environment itself into a weapon.
"If you hadn't reminded me," Devro said coldly, "I wouldn't have realized my transfiguration could use existing transformed objects like this. Also…"
He gently patted the loyal foal that had shielded him. His gaze locked onto Marcus with a glint of cruelty.
"Turns out you can take a beating. Let's see how much more you can handle."
He slowly raised his wand and pointed it at the restrained Marcus. A flicker of fear lit up in Marcus's eyes. He was completely helpless.
"Stupefy!"
Bang!
A violent surge of energy blasted from Devro's wand, striking Marcus square in the chest. The impact shattered the stone restraints. The bathroom wall exploded outward, leaving a gaping hole. Marcus's body flew through the air and plummeted toward the dark abyss of the fourth floor.
On his chest, the illusory scales covering his body cracked open, revealing his bloodied torso. If one looked closely, deep beneath his flesh, two hearts could be seen—one normal and red, the other black and pulsing erratically. It beat frantically, struggling to keep him alive.
Marcus's face twisted in pain. His consciousness wavered. He flailed his arm, casting a Levitation Charm to slow his fall.
But suddenly, an invisible force seized him—pulling him violently back toward the bathroom.
Accio.
He didn't even have time to react before the spell yanked him back. In the smoky ruin of the bathroom, Devro stood calmly at the entrance, wand raised, a cold smile on his face.
"Expelliarmus!"
Marcus's wand flew from his hand.
"Stupefy!"
A blinding red blast followed. The force slammed into Marcus and hurled him out of the bathroom once again.
Bang!
He soared through the air like a ragdoll, landing hard on the stairwell. He had no wand. No strength left. He was defenseless.
And then—again—the Accio spell pulled him back.
Marcus was dragged back into the bathroom like a toy. He felt utterly powerless, tossed around without resistance.
Was he always able to do this? Has he been holding back this entire time?
His body was a ruin. A third explosion would destroy him.
Yet once more, he was pulled into the smoke-filled chamber.
But this time, unexpectedly, Devro did not blast him again. Instead, he slammed him into the corridor outside the Prefects' Bathroom.
Bang!
His body hit the ground with a sickening crack. The floor fractured beneath him.
It was a miracle Marcus was even alive. His condition was horrifying—his right leg nearly gone, right arm charred and useless, his chest cavity exposed. His beating heart was visible through his wounds. His once proud hair had been burned away, leaving patches of exposed, scorched scalp.
He gasped for air, pain clouding his thoughts. Even so, he was shocked by his own survival. Something unnatural was keeping him alive.
But without his wand, he was finished.
He slumped like a broken insect, unable to fight.
Devro approached, eyes cold and cruel. He stood over Marcus like a cat watching a wounded mouse.
Marcus feebly dragged himself along the floor, propping his shattered body against the wall with his remaining left arm.
He looked up at Devro, trembling.
"Don't worry," Devro said softly, his voice like ice. "It's just a minor injury—you won't die."
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