Wayne didn't bring many people for this confrontation. Halfway there, he left the main group alone with Newt and Tina, arriving at a cliff edge.
The valley below stood empty. None of the three were Durmstrang students, and with magical protections in place, they could only stare helplessly from outside, even knowing the location.
Just as Newt was about to speak, Wayne had already drawn his wand, soaring high into the air.
Mere enchantments couldn't conceal the collective magical power of over a thousand people. Soon, he located the key nodes and fired several bursts of magic.
With a flash of red sparks, Durmstrang's true form gradually revealed itself before the three.
The dark castle appeared less grand than Hogwarts but carried more gloom and severity. Beyond the main structure stood several auxiliary buildings resembling watchtowers or barbicans.
Wayne's gaze fell upon the large clearing before the castle where Grindelwald stood with his professors, also looking upward. Though separated by kilometres, their eyes met through enhanced vision.
Snap!
Grindelwald snapped his fingers, and the recently destroyed defensive barrier shimmered back into existence.
His reasoning was simple.
Since I fought my way in back then, you shouldn't be an exception.
"Such ceremony?" Wayne smirked, understanding Grindelwald's meaning but considering it entirely unnecessary.
He spread his fingers, multicoloured light gathering in his palm for several seconds before erupting violently.
Countless wizards observing secretly saw only a blinding flash—as if the sun had fallen from the sky—before the newly repaired barrier shattered once more.
Boom!
The clearing before Grindelwald exploded into a massive crater, his followers instinctively retreating two steps, terrified by the Final Spark's power.
"What terrifying magical power..."
The hidden observers couldn't help but murmur in awe.
Energy of this magnitude would likely vaporise anyone struck directly.
This clash, worthy of being called the century's ultimate duel, had drawn the wizarding world's attention. Numerous countries had dispatched Aurors to ascertain Lawrence and Grindelwald's true capabilities.
Even Voldemort had sent a 'clean' Death Eater, considering both Lawrence and Grindelwald his enemies in the strictest sense.
He most hoped for mutual destruction or even direct fatalities.
Wayne landed gently, telling Tina and Newt casually, "Let's go."
The two then felt themselves lifted effortlessly, flying directly down into the valley with Wayne.
"Such convenient magic," Tina marvelled, Newt nodding involuntarily beside her.
"There's a simplified version," Wayne said with a smile. "Not as fast as this, but much better than Flying Potion. You could try learning it later."
Meanwhile, Durmstrang's students huddled in the Great Hall, watching the trio through the windows.
Many felt deeply conflicted.
Having spent last year at Hogwarts, they'd been regular customers at Lawrence's Ceria Store, spending considerable gold there.
None expected they'd become enemies just six months later.
Yes, the students of Durmstrang had largely come to view Wayne and his companions as enemies.
In just a few short days, Grindelwald had conquered the entire student body through his charisma and actions.
Even those students whose ancestors had died by his hand couldn't deny that this Dark Lord was genuinely fighting for the future of the wizarding world.
Everything he did wasn't for personal gain, making it impossible to truly hate him.
Therefore, when they learned Wayne was coming to challenge their school, most felt resistant.
"Scamander..."
When the three landed on the ground, Grindelwald didn't look at Wayne but stared fixedly at Newt, a cold smile curling his lips. "How physically and mentally pleasing to see an old friend from decades past..."
"Grindelwald!"
Newt's expression immediately grew tense as he strode forward, positioning Wayne in front of him as a shield.
The young man's eye twitched violently.
'So this is how it is, you thick-browed senior! I always thought you were an honest man, never expected you'd learned to play dirty too!'
Wayne's fingers lightly brushed his pocket as the Niffler Jerry jumped out, climbing expertly onto Newt's shoulder just as the boy and Niffler had previously arranged.
The perfectly recreated cosplay performed by the original instantly stirred some unpleasant memories in Grindelwald, making his gaze grow more dangerous.
"Lawrence, let's make a deal..."
Grindelwald narrowed his eyes at the young man serving as a human shield. "Durmstrang happens to lack an experienced Magical Creatures professor.
"Mr Scamander would be the most suitable candidate. If you surrender him to me, I'll halt my expansion efforts."
Grindelwald added, "I can make an Unbreakable Vow to guarantee this promise."
"Senior, I never realised you were so valuable."
Wayne actually appeared to be considering it.
Newt's expression immediately turned complicated.
'After all these years, Grindelwald still hates me this much.'
'Sacrificing just me could bring peace to all of Europe. If I were still alone in the world, even I might be tempted.'
But unfortunately, while he had no elderly dependants above him, he now had many young ones below him.
"Grindelwald, your ambition won't stop because of me," Newt said softly.
"Tch." Grindelwald gave a contemptuous laugh. "Scamander, I never thought you'd grow more timid with age. What happened to that reckless youth you once were?"
"You haven't changed at all," Newt observed, studying the first Dark Lord who used transfiguration to maintain his youthful appearance, his gaze finally settling on those heterochromatic eyes.
"I could never forget this eye that can see through the future, as beautiful as a gemstone."
Tina, who had remained silent until now, instantly flew into a rage!
'You've never praised me like that!'
Remembering how Newt had once compared her eyes to a Salamander's, yet now used gemstones to describe Grindelwald's, the woman's jealousy reached its peak.
Tina grabbed Newt by the ear. "Newt! Could you at least read the room before complimenting people!"
Grindelwald watched with an amused smile as the two moved aside.
"She's still so clever, no wonder she caused me considerable trouble back in the day."
Grindelwald saw through it immediately - Tina was afraid he might suddenly attack and had found an excuse to move Newt to a safer position.
"Then state your terms." Wayne spread his palms and said slowly, "Mr Grindelwald, your reckless actions have already caused significant harm to the world."
"If I win, you leave this school."
"If I lose, I naturally have no right to make demands."
"Unfair." Grindelwald shook his head gently, "Only I've put up stakes. You want to sit at the table without offering anything - that's not how it works."
"If I win... Scamander stays."
"No." Wayne's mouth twitched.
'Why aren't you obsessed with Dumbledore instead of constantly thinking about Newt?'
Wayne began to suspect that Grindelwald had transferred his affections.
"Very well, weren't you asking me for the Water of Life?" Wayne flipped his palm, revealing a crystal vial.
"This contains the amount you requested - two centuries' worth."
Watching the Saints behind Grindelwald begin breathing rapidly, Wayne put it away again. "Well? Does this qualify me to sit at the table?"
"Certainly." Grindelwald's eyes suddenly turned sharp.
He bore too many people's expectations. When he saw the Water of Life, Grindelwald understood he would need even greater fighting spirit than during his duel with Dumbledore to secure victory today!
Surging magical power stirred within him, the biting cold wind stilled, and the Saints instinctively retreated, leaving space for two of the world's most powerful wizards.
Crack!
Grindelwald struck first. His bone-like wand snapped crisply as the ground began to tremble. The snow covering the earth was struck by a tremendous impact, instantly thrown skyward to blot out the sun.
He vanished without warning, reappearing in the distance while murmuring incantations.
A wisp of blue flame appeared in his palm, hotter than any before. The fire shot out and rapidly expanded, covering the entire clearing in the blink of an eye. The snow first melted, then vaporised.
Seeing this familiar scene, both Newt and Tina's expressions changed.
Fire was Grindelwald's most skilled and frequently used method. The Fiendfyre that ordinary wizards couldn't control behaved like tame lambs in his hands. Whenever they saw these blue flames morph into giant beasts, wizards opposing Grindelwald would tremble with fear.
"This trick has grown stale, Grindelwald." Wayne's voice came through the sea of flames, somewhat dismissive. "Always the same opening - don't you find it tedious?"
The air grew scorched under the fire's burn, sticky like a layer of grease coating protective barriers.
A fiery, monstrous bird dove downward.
Clang!
A murderous tremor echoed between heaven and earth—a cold flash cut through, splitting the giant bird in two. The lingering sword energy performed a 'Fire God Clears The Way', carving a passage that allowed the two duelists to face each other again.
Through the firewall, Grindelwald frowned. "A sword? You're a wizard - why wield such a crude instrument?"
"No taste." Wayne swung the sword in flourishes, magical energy transforming into blade rays that shredded the fire wall.
"This is the Sword of Gryffindor. Though I'm but a humble student from Hufflepuff, I'm also a heir of Gryffindor."
Swish!
The sword point aimed directly at Grindelwald, cold light blooming. "Watch closely, old G - this is Gryffindor's ultimate technique!"
Before the words had faded, the young man's figure twisted and blurred. Though Grindelwald's vigilance was at its peak, he still hadn't anticipated Wayne appearing ghost-like at his right side.
His main purpose in releasing the Fiendfyre was to distort space, preventing Wayne's spatial magic from functioning properly.
That bizarre magic from their last encounter in Paris – Grindelwald still hadn't devised an effective countermeasure.
Yet he never imagined that despite all his preparations, they had failed to achieve the intended effect.
His gem-like heterochromatic eyes saw the next moment's scene, and Grindelwald didn't hesitate to channel his magical power, forming a solid shield before him.
Crack!
Wayne swung his sword single-handedly, and the shield shattered upon impact.
"Crucio!"
"You call that Crucio?"
Using the time bought by the shield, Grindelwald's figure shot backwards as he exclaimed in shock and fury.
"Aimed straight for your heart – what else would you call it?" Wayne chuckled lightly, swinging his sword again with force.
Hundreds of invisible blades erupted. Grindelwald clawed both hands through the air, all flames converging toward him, spinning into a blue fire tornado that enveloped him completely.
The ringing of metal clashed as the fire tornado continued to shrink, leaving spectators dumbfounded.
This damn...
Hogwarts Sword Saint!
"Lawrence!" Grindelwald roared. He felt Wayne wasn't taking this battle seriously at all, which infuriated him – 'No matter what, I'm one of the world's most powerful wizards. Who do you think you're fighting?'
Fire clouds circled the sky, gathering immense magical power that finally coalesced into a giant palm, pressing down from above.
The fire vortex shattered, all Fiendfyre dissipating at once as Grindelwald's wand glowed with an eerie green light.
"Avada Kedavra!!"
As the giant palm descended upon him, the wand tore through space, the curse arriving almost instantly after being cast.
Wayne finally uttered his first real incantation since the duel began.
"Expecto Patronum!"