BOOM!
Dazzling lightning struck down in the Forbidden Forest. Even though it was just for an instant, incomparable to the sky-covering thunderstorm Ciel had witnessed when receiving Ancient Weather Magic insights, this feeling still made his heart race uncontrollably.
To wield lightning as a mortal being was an experience that perhaps only a handful of wizards throughout magical history had ever known. And the tremendous power that erupted in this instant was truly shocking. The Serpensortia that had been rampaging among the Acromantulas seemed to pale in comparison before this lightning striking from heaven.
Ancient magic utilising natural will, this power was indeed incomparable to modern magic. At this time, the Acromantulas in the Forbidden Forest were trembling. Their previously greedy, bloodthirsty gazes had now become clear. The sight of him before their eyes filled them with instinctual fear.
A wizard commanding lightning who was only eleven years old?! Even Dumbledore or the Dark Lord definitely weren't this abnormal when they first entered school!
Acromantula leader Aragog's voice trembled as he pleaded to him: "Please! Withdraw your magic! What exactly do you want to do?"
He also came to his senses at this time. Looking at the trembling Acromantulas, he felt quite emotional. How long ago was it that he had to calculate just to kill one Acromantula? But now, he could make these 5X level magical creatures tremble with fear, unable to resist.
Though Acromantulas were among the weakest of 5X level magical creatures, his strength improvement was still evident. After a moment, a strange glint flashed in his eyes.
This Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts had existed since the Four Founders' era. The forest held many secrets and numerous precious herbs. Some weren't even included in Professor Sprout's collection. But because the Forbidden Forest was too dangerous, attempting to gather herbs there would be a death trap.
So he hadn't dared target the Forbidden Forest before. But now, with his strength improved, even the Acromantula colony trembled and prostrated before him. He felt this matter could begin.
As the ancient wisdom held true: ascending from poverty to wealth was easy, but the reverse was agony. Having experienced Diamond-class magic's intoxicating strength, Platinum-level abilities seemed almost pathetic by comparison. However, pushing Platinum-tier abilities to Diamond rank would demand countless harvests from his current greenhouse collection.
After all, most plants in the small greenhouse were around the Silver level. Starting from the Platinum level, their reward orb effectiveness would gradually diminish. Completing the leap from Platinum to Diamond level wasn't so easy.
But if he could find several higher level plants in the Forbidden Forest that could be mass-produced, it would greatly benefit him. Possibly one or two harvests could pile up a Diamond-level ability.
With this thought flashing through his mind, he looked at the prostrate, fearful Acromantula colony. He couldn't waste all his time in the vast Forbidden Forest, but these creatures could serve as his eyes and ears, searching throughout the forest.
His magic had just intimidated them, but to make these cunning, sinister dark creatures obey commands required not just powerful force but tangible benefits. Then he cut his palm, slowly squeezing out drops of fresh blood. A rich life aura spread through the air again.
Instinctual desire surged within the Acromantulas, but remembering his lightning summoning, they shuddered, not daring to show any abnormality.
Just then, he said quietly: "Now you have two choices before you. One is to drink my blood and work for me in the Forbidden Forest. The other..."
His voice carried no fluctuation, but the Acromantulas felt chilled. Their hearts cried out in suffering. One terrifying guy had just left; why was another one coming? They were also 5X level dangerous magical creatures, after all. Could they get some respect instead of being constantly treated like livestock?
Remembering their previous suffering days of being farmed and bled, the Acromantulas' eyes flickered. After a moment of silence, Aragog carefully enquired, "What would you have us do?"
He said expressionlessly: "Search for some herbs in the Forbidden Forest for me."
When this request was made, Aragog was stunned. The tribesmen who had been hesitating whether to scatter and flee, "Acromantulas never enslaved," were also dumbfounded. "Herbs? That's, that's all?"
He surveyed the Acromantulas with some disdain: "What else are you good for? You can't fly and breathe fire like dragons or have a group killing ability like Nundu leopards. As for Quintapeds and millennia-old basilisks, don't even mention them. Which one wouldn't beat you up? Apart from speech and intimidating appearance, your 5X classification is practically meaningless. Don't you realise how inflated that rating really is? Will you do it or not? Hurry up and say, such good treatment, if you won't do it, plenty of magical creatures want to!"
Hearing his mocking words, the Acromantulas shamefully lowered their heads, feeling quite humiliated. Then Aragog exchanged glances with his tribesmen. Gritting his teeth, he nodded: "We'll do it! We'll do it!"
Hearing this, his stern expression softened slightly. Aragog steeled himself, rubbing his hands together, eyes fixed on the blood drops on his palm, speaking somewhat humbly and ingratiatingly: "Then, sir, could you advance us a little payment? The colony hasn't had food for a long time..."
He raised an eyebrow: "Hmm?"
Just as Aragog's heart skipped, thinking he had angered him, he saw a scene that left him speechless. He decisively cut the artery on his arm and squeezed hard. Blood immediately fountained into Aragog's opening pincers.
Gulp. Gulp.
An extremely rich life force spread throughout Aragog's body instantly, making the aged creature feel several years younger. Previous weakness and fatigue were swept away!
He looked at Aragog and asked: "Had enough?"
Aragog's eyes were full of shock as he hurriedly nodded. Then he saw him frown: "Paying wages like this is troublesome. Never mind, I'll make the opening bigger."
The next moment, he made the wound on his arm wider, squeezing blood toward the Acromantula tribesmen behind Aragog while waving his wand. The crimson liquid instantly separated into dozens of ribbons, each stream flowing steadily into the waiting mouths of the Acromantulas.
Witnessing this display, Aragog stood frozen in disbelief. What was happening here?! He had initially expected that serving this wizard might earn his colony perhaps a small vial of blood, enough to keep them alive for a few days. Yet he had never anticipated such extraordinary generosity. Blood was gushing forth like a fountain under pressure!
Instantly, in Aragog's mind, his image was even more towering and magnificent than Hagrid's. Those well-fed Acromantulas felt satisfaction they had never experienced in their lives. Looking at him with reverent eyes.
There was no second sun in heaven; he was the sun in their hearts. Loyalty! Devotion!
Noticing the Acromantulas' expressions, he also showed satisfaction. Though Acromantulas were brutal and bloodthirsty, in the original story they surprisingly showed little ferocity toward Hagrid, who had raised them.
Even in the final battle when Hagrid fell into the surging Acromantula swarm and Harry cried out in grief, Hagrid wasn't eaten but was thrown onto their backs and carried out. This showed that gratitude, something many humans might not remember, was remembered quite clearly by Acromantulas.
His combination of kindness and authority might be useless on humans but should be effective for subduing these Acromantulas.
Just then, Aragog hesitated before suddenly saying to him: "Sir, you want to collect some unique herbs found only in the Forbidden Forest? I happen to know of one kind."
Aragog's eyes flickered as he revealed something even he hadn't expected: "Speaking of which, my ability to live so long, longer than any Acromantula, is inseparably related to this herb."
He paused, a brilliant flash suddenly crossing his eyes. An herb with life extension effects?!