Floating in the air before Ciel were Harry, Hermione, and Ron's heads. After a moment of surprise, he realised what it was: the Invisibility Cloak.
Previously, he had been somewhat puzzled. Harry's group had fallen into the same underground Forbidden Forest area as him, but he'd never sensed their movements. It turned out they were using the Invisibility Cloak.
It seemed Dumbledore's worries about Harry's trio were unnecessary. With their current size, the Invisibility Cloak could easily cover all three. With the Deathly Hallow's concealment, few beings in the magical world could catch them.
But what were these three doing here?
At this moment, Hermione's voice trembled, as if she hadn't recovered from suddenly falling into the underground forest. "Ciel, we followed your spell to find you. What's happening? This is completely different from what Dumbledore said the exam would be!"
Harry, by the light of his Lumos, saw the corpse in front of Ciel and shuddered violently. "Merlin's beard! When we first fell, something was moving toward us. Good thing we put on the Invisibility Cloak in time."
"That thing – is this what it was? What kind of monster is this?!"
Harry had seen fierce magical creatures before. Previously, he'd thought Fluffy behind the third-floor trapdoor was the most vicious monster in the magical world. But he never dreamed such deformed, evil beings existed.
Just looking at those human limbs made him feel waves of horror.
Ron fell silent, staring at the modified Quintaped corpse on the ground, especially its dried appearance. Clearly, the blood had been drained. Then nameless fury churned in his heart.
He looked at Ciel like a thief. "You're behind this!" Ron roared. "What trick are you playing?!"
Then, to Harry and Hermione's shocked, stunned gazes, Ron seemed possessed, drawing his wand and casting a spell at Ciel. "Stupefy!"
Brilliant red light cut through the darkness, making Ron's hair especially vivid red and his face showing a kind of satisfaction. It seemed all his accumulated dissatisfaction with Ciel exploded under this inexplicable anger.
He couldn't wait to see Ciel knocked unconscious on the ground. Ron had secretly tested it. The Stunning Spell's power exceeded his imagination. Truly worthy of the advanced spell he'd obtained from the temple!
But the next moment, Ron's satisfied smile froze. Because Ciel seemed prepared, even prophetic. The instant he fired the Stunning Spell, Ciel stepped aside, easily avoiding it.
Simultaneously, with a wand wave, wandless Mage Hand instantly struck, seizing Ron's wand and gripping his throat, lifting him up. Ron's face visibly turned blue-purple as he seemed unable to breathe.
This series of changes left Harry and Hermione completely unable to react. What was happening? Why was Ron attacking Ciel at a time like this? And Ciel, did he really want to kill Ron?
Now Ciel's gaze was ice-cold, not just toward Ron, but toward Harry and Hermione as well, cold light flickering. Though Dumbledore had made a deal for him to protect Harry's trio, actively attacking him changed everything.
He looked at Harry and Hermione coldly: "Why did you really come find me?"
This seemed to awaken Harry and Hermione. Hermione said tearfully: "This isn't the time for this. Ciel, please put Ron down first. Monsters, monsters are coming. We saw your spell and wanted to rescue you."
Harry nodded repeatedly, gesturing at his Invisibility Cloak: "We can squeeze together, barely fit one more person. Ciel, hide with us!"
Ciel frowned slightly. Looking at Harry and Hermione, the coldness in his eyes slightly dissipated. He could tell whether they spoke truth or lies. At least these two truly wanted to shelter him with the Invisibility Cloak.
His expression softened somewhat. Mage Hand loosened, dropping the nearly unconscious Ron to the ground and tossing his wand to Hermione.
But facing Harry and Hermione's invitation to hide under the cloak, Ciel shook his head. "I can't leave. Harry, these monsters hate me most. If I stay here, before they kill me, others are relatively safe. But if they can't find me, they'll probably go on a killing spree."
Harry and Hermione froze. "How could… Why do these monsters want to kill you so badly? Ciel, from before until now, what's really happening?"
Ciel sighed. "Haven't you figured it out, Harry? Do you still think Snape wants the Philosopher's Stone? From beginning to end, it's been Quirrell plotting for the Stone."
These words struck like lightning, splitting open Harry's confused mind. Harry stared in disbelief: "Professor Quirrell, it's him?!"
Then everything connected in his mind. Of course. No wonder Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and others were so nervous about this final exam, because they knew Quirrell might play tricks.
And before, during the Quidditch match, when someone cursed the broomstick trying to kill Harry, they all thought it was Snape and that Quirrell was protecting Harry. But now, thinking about it, perhaps the order should be reversed.
During the holidays, Snape would often go to the third-floor corridor, and Quirrell always appeared there too. They thought Quirrell was trying to stop Snape. Now they realised Snape was trying to stop Quirrell!
Then Harry shuddered: "Wait. If Quirrell arranged this trap, where is he?" He'd figured it all out: "Right, he's definitely using us to hold back Dumbledore and the others. While he goes to the castle's fourth floor to leisurely take the Philosopher's Stone. After that, everything's finished. Hogwarts is doomed, and the magical world too."
Ciel showed some admiration. Harry's mind and instincts were quite sharp once he'd reversed his prejudice against Snape.
Now Harry took a deep breath, his gaze resolute as if making some decision: "I have to stop him. To prevent You-Know-Who's return, it has to be me."
Ciel's expression froze slightly. Well, consider his previous praise of Harry wasted. This child truly didn't know his limits.
But after a moment, he exhaled softly. Perhaps this was exactly why Harry was this world's protagonist. And the prophecy made sense. Harry Potter truly was Voldemort's nemesis.
However, though Harry was anxious, he couldn't figure out how to leave the underground forest. Ciel, after pondering briefly, took out something and handed it to them.
"What's this?" Harry asked, confused.
"A Portkey," Ciel explained. "It can take you away from here, transporting you to Sprout Island. There's a house-elf named Eugene who can Apparate you to Hogwarts. This is your only way to stop Quirrell now."
Harry looked at the Portkey, first with delight, then concern. "What about you? Ciel, if you give us the Portkey, how will you leave?"
Ciel shook his head, saying flatly, "As I said before, if I leave, others will suffer. Harry, we each have our mission. You don't have much time left."
Harry's eyes filled with tears as he looked at Ciel, sensing the calm resolve to sacrifice himself beneath those quiet words.
Then Harry bit his lip and clenched his fist. He had to stop Quirrell quickly; perhaps he could end all this before Ciel sacrificed himself!
He didn't refuse but gripped the Portkey firmly. But simultaneously, Harry removed the Invisibility Cloak and resolutely handed it to Ciel: "We won't need this next. But perhaps it can help you."
Ciel paused, showing a slight smile. He didn't refuse, accepting the cloak. With this, his actions would have more insurance. Moreover, in the original story, Harry's upcoming challenges indeed didn't need the Invisibility Cloak.
Only then did Harry breathe easier. As magic surged from the Portkey, he and Hermione grabbed the still-recovering Ron. In a whirl of dizziness, they left the dark underground forest, leaving Ciel gazing, full of blessing and admiration.
After seeing them leave, Ciel also breathed easier. If Harry's group hadn't left, he'd be quite constrained, unable to cast many spells.
After all, he hadn't forgotten that Harry's scar contained Voldemort's soul fragment. Years later, Voldemort would realise this connection and use it to set traps, leading to Sirius's death. During that process, Voldemort obtained considerable information from Harry's mind.
Though years from now his methods would far exceed the present, he still hoped to keep as many trump cards hidden as possible. Moreover, Ron seemed increasingly affected by Delia Island's temple. He didn't want to reveal too many methods before Ron either.
With Harry's group gone, he could act freely. As for how they'd fare in the Philosopher's Stone challenges, whether they could truly stop the much stronger two-faced man, he thought about it, feeling it shouldn't deviate much from the original.
After all, destiny and prophecy's power was indeed strong. Moreover, at Hogwarts, Harry had Hogwarts' blessing and love magic's protection. Voldemort would probably still suffer.
But exactly what would happen wasn't his concern.
Meanwhile, another commotion came from the forest, interrupting his thoughts. This time, three truly grotesque heads emerged from the woods, followed by pale, twisted human limbs and strange red hair.
Three wizards transformed into Quintapeds entered his view.
"Three of them?" His expression grew serious. He took a deep breath, as if returning to the system's Defence Against the Dark Arts insight illusion. That life-or-death combat feeling flowed through his blood as his magic's activity slowly climbed.
Next moment, without hesitation, all three Quintapeds simultaneously attacked him. Unlike the previous dark wizard apprentice-turned-Quintaped, these three were clearly transformed from capable wizards.
Their methods weren't just twisted limb attacks but cold, evil magic, distorted spells flying toward him. Each spell's power far exceeded their living strength, easily capable of blasting people to pieces.
Instantly, crater after crater was blasted open as soil flew everywhere. But he had already left his original position. Wand swaying like a blade, Sectumsempra flew toward one Quintaped.
Unexpectedly, another Quintaped had a wand embedded in its pale, twisted flesh, moving extremely fast to cast distorted protective magic in Sectumsempra's path.
Though Sectumsempra's property of ignoring protective charms worked, piercing the defence and leaving massive wounds, his pupils still contracted slightly. He looked at the Quintaped that had just cast the shield.
In that lightning-fast instant, he already sensed something. The other two Quintapeds had mediocre magical strength in life, stronger than the previous dark wizard apprentice but not by much. Roughly the level of years-working graduates who'd forgotten most school magic and grown rusty with magic use and training.
But the shield-casting Quintaped was completely different from the other two. At Sectumsempra's flight speed, even he probably couldn't react so quickly. Yet this Quintaped did, casting protective magic in such a short time. Its living magical strength was extraordinary.
His gaze swept over this Quintaped, finding identifying markers, a fragment of Ministry robes with Auror insignia. This was clearly a monster Voldemort had transformed from an Auror!
His expression grew more serious. Every Auror was a battle-hardened, powerful wizard. Though in the original story, Aurors never showed impressive records; especially before Dumbledore and Voldemort, they were casually dispatched.
But living in this real magical world, he had long realised one thing. Being casually dispatched by wizards like Dumbledore and Voldemort didn't mean weakness; it meant having qualifications to enter the battlefield.
However small their role, they were incomparable to ordinary people. In pure magic and combat experience, his magical strength couldn't match Aurors. Much less after dark magic transformation that greatly enhanced magical perception, strength, and spells, while seemingly retaining combat experience.
Even elite Aurors would find this Quintaped extremely difficult. Thoughts flashed through his mind, but he had no time to think more.
Seeing the protective magic fail, the Auror Quintaped seemed quite annoyed. Wands and limbs danced wildly as spell after spell fired like machine guns at him. He dodged repeatedly, his expression increasingly grave.
The Quintaped's limbs could function as degraded wands? This thing effectively wielded five wands simultaneously? Even wandless casting, this dark magic transformation combined with Auror strength was truly unreasonable.
If ordinary Aurors were like this, he remembered a missing elite Auror from the disappearance incidents. If also transformed into a Quintaped, who knew what level of power that would be!
While dodging continuously, he didn't target the Auror Quintaped, which was too difficult to handle. Unless he got close and used Legendary Strength to blast it apart, he couldn't resolve it quickly. Better to first eliminate the Quintaped already wounded by Sectumsempra.
With this thought, he weaved through machine-gun-like spells. Opportunities to cast were extremely rare. But wandless Mage Hand truly showed its value.
Seizing a fleeting gap, he waved his wand. The Quintaped's neck, already bearing massive wounds, seemed violently torn by invisible hands as wounds expanded. Its body was also lifted by Mage Hand.
Spine-chilling tearing sounds came from its neck. He seized this chance, first firing a laser spell at the Auror Quintaped. Even transformed Quintapeds couldn't react to laser speed.
But laser spell weaknesses also showed, with defensive penetration far weaker than Sectumsempra, leaving only minor wounds. Just cutting across the Auror Quintaped's face.
But the feeling of flesh being cut and laser light entering eyes made the Auror Quintaped instinctively cast protection, its offensive slowing. Gaining this opening, he immediately waved his wand, chanting ancient weather magic:
"Fehu. Thurisaz. Dagaz."
Though hastily constructed without complete runic structure, far from ancient weather magic's peak power, thick lightning still split the darkness, engulfing the repeatedly wounded Quintaped.
After lightning faded, the Quintaped no longer moved, only crimson blood flowing from its charcoal-like body. Then he repeated the process. After some entanglement, he again used ancient weather magic. Lightning blasted the second Quintaped.
Now only the Auror-transformed Quintaped remained. But he felt no relief; his expression grew more grave. In this short time, he noticed the Quintaped's movements seemed increasingly fast. Each spell grew more cunning as dodging became harder.
Initially, it seemed unadapted to this body, but through combat with him, it adapted faster, its displayed strength rapidly climbing. Now he felt his performance exceeded his Defence Against the Dark Arts insight experiences, with magic activity still rising and reactions quickening.
But pressure kept intensifying. This Auror Quintaped's feeling approached Snape's during combat training. But much time had passed since his last training with Snape; he had improved tremendously.
Despite the Auror Quintaped's cunning spells and tidal pressure, he remained like a reef in the sea, standing firm and never submerged. This brought humanlike surprise to the Auror Quintaped's strange, bloodthirsty gaze.
Though transformed, it retained some memories, vaguely recalling first-year wizards' capabilities. Was this stubborn little badger really first-year level?
But soon this surprise vanished. However strong, it was still limited and couldn't last much longer. To it, he was like a fly caught in a web, struggling before death.
Indeed, its spells compressed his space further with each passing second, bringing danger. He sighed inwardly: "Purely relying on magical strength against Aurors is too difficult. After all, every Auror has excellent talent plus extensive combat experience. Much less after the Quintaped transformation."
"Without using Legendary Life and Legendary Strength, I'm nearly at my limit against it. But there are other methods."
Next moment, he donned the Invisibility Cloak Harry had left. Instantly, his form and magical aura completely disappeared from the Auror Quintaped's senses.
This sudden development caught the Auror Quintaped off guard. It had been brewing a killing spell; how did he suddenly vanish? The Auror Quintaped angrily fired spells, trying to force him out.
"But Ciel had calmly circled behind it. Watching the Quintaped's frantic searching, he showed a strange expression. This Auror Quintaped was indeed formidable, but before the Deathly Hallows Invisibility Cloak, its combat experience and magical perception were useless.
The battle situation instantly shifted—from Ciel nearing his limit to having complete control. Now it was fish on the cutting board, and he was the knife!
Ciel lightly waved his wand under the cloak. Mage Hand silently activated. The Auror Quintaped stumbled, then immediately counterattacked toward the spell's direction.
But with no visible target, its counterspells naturally hit empty air. Meanwhile, Ciel simply shifted position. His wand swayed like a blade, and razor-sharp magic struck the Auror Quintaped."
Its flesh-fused wand snapped, along with a pale arm. The following dozen seconds repeated this pattern. He easily used the cloak to avoid all counterattacks, repeatedly striking like hitting a living target.
Finally, he calmly chanted ancient weather magic runes: "Fehu. Thurisaz. Dagaz."
This time, lightning descended from above, thunderously striking the Auror Quintaped and ending its life completely. Only then did he exhale in relief.
His tense body had just begun relaxing when sudden needle-like pain shot through his mental eye. His sixth sense frantically warned as he paled, immediately moving far from his casting position.
Almost half a second after his movement, brilliant green light struck where he had stood. Killing Curse!
His pupils contracted sharply. He looked up to see cold, bloodthirsty eyes from high in the trees. From this Quintaped, he felt far greater pressure than the previous Auror Quintaped.
It also bore Auror insignia. His gaze flashed with realization, this was also an Auror-transformed creature. But not ordinary, an elite Auror!
The sole missing elite Auror from the disappearance incidents had indeed become this monster in Voldemort's hands! His vigilance peaked. This Quintaped had probably already arrived but, unable to detect him, waited for a killing opportunity.
Without his sixth sense warning, that Killing Curse might have hit! This creature retained extensive elite Auror combat experience and was too cunning. He dared not relax, tensing again.
But unexpectedly, after missing its chance, the elite Auror Quintaped didn't continue attacking. Its head showed malicious, crafty smiles. Then it departed with several arriving Quintapeds toward the distance.
Soon he realised: "That direction, where the other houses entered the forest? They abandoned me for other students?"
Now he felt heavy-hearted, increasingly sensing the Quintapeds' evil cunning. They lacked human emotions but retained this crafty, vicious thinking. Unable to break his invisibility cloak, they'd target those students?
Attack what the enemy must defend, forcing him to appear? What was this, Quintapeds playing military strategy?!
But he had to admit this tactic was effective. In Gryffindor, Neville had good relations with him. Hufflepuff students needn't be mentioned. At minimum, he couldn't watch them be devoured before his eyes.
He took a deep breath, cold sharpness flashing in his eyes as he looked into the distance. "Dumbledore, haven't you broken through Voldemort's traps yet? At this rate, it'll be too late."
Can't rely on Dumbledore. He shook his head, quickening toward Hufflepuff's forest entry direction. If necessary, he'd use the cloak to get close, then violently blast those Quintapeds; no more efficient methods seemed available.
So far, he hadn't found these transformed monsters' weaknesses. Previously with the Auror Quintaped, he'd wanted to delay, seeing if high-frequency magic use would disrupt its internal magical balance.
But apparently Voldemort's balance-adjusting methods far exceeded imagination. So many different magical sources truly coexisted in balance within these transformed Quintapeds.
Thoughts flashed continuously when he suddenly stopped. An idea struck him: "Wait. Six or more magical powers balancing, maintaining equilibrium even under high-frequency use – that's indeed impressive."
"But Voldemort's transformation time wasn't long. However masterful dark magic transfiguration is, transforming so many Quintapeds, could they really be as stable as naturally occurring magical creatures?"
"Moreover, even natural creatures experience genetic mutations. Could this forcibly combined magic truly remain rock-solid under any circumstances?"
His eyes brightened: "Perhaps there's a method worth trying."
Then he quickened his pace, pondering his idea while pursuing deeper into the forest.
Meanwhile, the previously hidden students had just sighed in relief as the Quintapeds were lured away, only to discover in horror that these monsters had returned!
Their hiding places seemed obvious to the Quintapeds. The students' traces were too clear. Moreover, several Auror Quintapeds had excelled at tracking in life. How could the students' clumsy concealment fool them?
The hidden students were found with alarming speed. The Quintapeds' eyes blazed with hunger and bloodlust, but restrained by the elite Auror Quintaped, they herded the captured students to the underground forest's central clearing.
Soon, students from all four houses were nearly all gathered there. Facing these chilling monsters, the young wizards had never experienced such terror. About half fainted outright. Most of those remaining were too frightened and desperate to resist. Even the brave Gryffindors felt the same paralysing fear.
But the Hufflepuff students, after capture, seemed to realise something. Ciel had previously used laser spells to attract these monsters away. But now the monsters had captured them. Could it mean...
Thinking of this possibility, the little badgers' eyes reddened. Hannah trembled all over. Susan Bones, who like Ciel had parents killed by Death Eaters and lived with her aunt, was also furious: "What did you do to Ciel?!"
The elite Auror Quintaped saw Susan and Hannah's reactions, malice flashing in its crimson eyes. Interrogation methods it had learnt as an Auror still remained in its memory—now all could become weapons against humans.
These two girls seemed devastated; they must have close relationships with Ciel. It could use them to make Ciel obediently appear. Dark wizards might not care about hostages, but students like these, especially the famously loyal Hufflepuffs, definitely wouldn't abandon their friends.
The elite Auror Quintaped gestured. An ordinary Quintaped laughed with joy, drool already dripping from its eager mouth as it slowly approached Hannah and Susan.
But the next moment: "Lumos-Acies!"
Two clear incantations rang out. Hannah and Susan's wand tips simultaneously fired bright lasers. Though far inferior to Ciel's laser spells, they had decent cutting ability.
Both girls, with unprecedented fury, struck the head from left and right with laser spells. This instant seemed to inspire nearby little badgers who shakily chanted: "Lumos-Acies!"
Laser after laser fired. The elite Auror Quintaped's eyes reflected this scene, feeling confused. Timid Hufflepuffs daring to act in this situation?
Its gaze turned vicious; it might as well eat them, or half-eat them. Screams should force out that designated target. Thinking this, its neck immediately extended. The bloodthirsty beast's nature overcame the remaining Auror experience as it eagerly bit toward Susan and Hannah, seemingly wanting to tear their wand-holding arms from their bodies to fill its long-starved belly!
But just then, invisible hands seemed to pull Susan and Hannah away from the elite Auror Quintaped's bite. Simultaneously, Sectumsempra struck the elite Auror Quintaped, leaving vicious wounds. Pained, it let out muffled roars.
But its head showed triumphant smiles. Human memory was correct; Ciel Sprout, that special little badger, had indeed come!
Originally wearing an invisibility cloak that Quintapeds couldn't find, but now that he'd come, he must die! The elite Auror Quintaped grinned, uttering garbled human speech: "Invisibility cloak. Remove. Otherwise. Devour all."
Surrounding Quintapeds, long unable to restrain their hunger, began approaching remaining students. Cries, shouts, and pleas erupted. But little badgers seemed to understand; these monsters couldn't handle Ciel, so they used them to force his appearance.
"Stay away! Ciel, run! Run quickly!" Trembling shouts echoed in the air.
Now, before everyone's eyes, he removed the Invisibility Cloak. The elite Auror Quintaped's grin grew more vicious, everything exactly as predicted.
But the next moment, he also smiled. Coldly. He raised his wand, thrusting forward. Smoke exploded, condensing into seven black serpents wreathed in powerful curse magic, roaring skyward!
Seven pairs of serpent eyes simultaneously fixed on the elite Auror Quintaped. Rich curse magic triggered, coiling around its body. Instantly, the elite Auror Quintaped's body seemed to have something writhing within. Its laughter ceased abruptly.
His smile grew brighter. Quintaped transformation's key was those magical powers' exquisite balance. Voldemort's superior transformation skills let Quintapeds maintain magical stability without external interference.
But what if external forces disrupted this balance? Coincidentally, he had an ability that could infiltrate all magic like maggots in bone: curses!
Now, Serpensortia's success verified his hypothesis. Just seven serpents' simultaneous gaze-attached curse magic already showed signs of magical imbalance in the elite Auror Quintaped. It began losing control of its body!
Then, at his wand wave, seven serpents became dozens of smaller curse-magic-bearing snakes, falling toward other Quintapeds. Fangs penetrated, injecting curse magic into their bodies. Quintaped after Quintaped showed similar magical imbalance symptoms. Cobbled-together bodies began losing control. Some even had human limbs rotting and falling off.
Now only the elite Auror Quintaped barely maintained magical balance and body control through originally formidable magical mastery. It roared in fury, looking at him as if to tear him to shreds.
Just then, a clear phoenix song rang from the sky. Everyone saw what it was – a phoenix! Phoenix Fawkes carried a dirty hat in its beak, dropping it toward him. The Sorting Hat.
In his view, bright light flickered within. Having read the original, he naturally knew what this was. No time to think further. He reached out, drawing a gleaming sword from the falling hat. Gryffindor's Sword!
Sword in hand, his expression was somewhat odd. Did he meet Gryffindor's standards? Originally he'd planned on using magic against this weakened elite Auror Quintaped. Now the sword had come. What to do?
"Forget it... the atmosphere's reached this point."
He slowly grinned. The next moment, he stomped, creating a shallow crater as he explosively approached the elite Auror Quintaped with unimaginable speed. Even this monster couldn't react to his movement.
Just then, he single-handedly gripped the sword, power flowing into the blade. One satisfying swing. Then he turned, sheathing the sword.
In the distance, Dumbledore and others were arriving. What met their eyes was this scene: behind him, the vicious monster split in half, powerlessly falling.
At this moment, everyone seemed to hold their breath. All gazes concentrated on him. A first-year wizard, one sword beheading, like an epic painting.
Just then, he had wanted to say something but suddenly sensed several especially rich faith power streams extending toward him. One thin golden line blazed more brilliantly than any faith power he'd ever received.
This line came from Dumbledore?!
The next second, on his system panel, Demeter's Ritual Magic, previously still short of Silver level, began flashing wildly. Like a rocket, rapidly ascending!