As soon as these words were spoken, the classroom erupted in an uproar!
Penelope stared at Ethan in astonishment, unable to believe what she had just heard!
Ethan was going to participate in the competition alone?! Without teaming up with anyone?
Was he mad!
No. Even the maddest person wouldn't joke about their own life!
Everyone's eyes widened, and Cedric's eyebrows shot up. Only Gemma Farley, who already knew Ethan's intentions, remained as placid as an iceberg.
"Do you know what you're saying, Mr. Vincent!"
Professor McGonagall snapped back to reality, speaking sternly.
"The Secret Realm Tracking is a very dangerous competition, not a child's game! Even in a team, your safety can't be guaranteed, let alone going alone!"
"I thought you understood the dangers of this competition. How could you make such a foolish statement?!"
Ethan quietly listened to Professor McGonagall's reprimand. When she paused, her throat dry, Ethan spoke: "You have a point."
"But I refuse."
Professor McGonagall almost couldn't catch her breath.
So you're just not going to listen to reason, kid!
She was both anxious and angry, her whole body trembling, wishing she could transform into a cat and give Ethan a few scratches.
"I must remind you, Mr. Vincent. Your goal is to win honor, which is good. But if you fail halfway, there's no honor to speak of. And as a first-year, it's almost impossible for you to pass the competition alone."
Ethan chuckled lightly: "So the probability isn't zero, then?"
Before Professor McGonagall could retort, Ethan spoke again: "And you were wrong about one thing, Professor McGonagall."
"I'm not here to win honor... I'm here to take first place!"
If you're going to do it, be number one!
As he spoke, two cold glints suddenly shot out from Ethan's usually calm and peaceful eyes! Like a cold blade being unsheathed, it made everyone present shudder!
Cedric looked at Ethan, clenching his fists excitedly. In this competition, he wasn't competing with those upper-year students. His only rival was Ethan Vincent! As long as he could beat Ethan, he would consider it a victory! Cedric thought to himself that as a third-year, a hero of Hufflepuff, even considering a first-year a rival showed how highly he regarded him.
On the other hand, listening to Ethan's calm and determined words and looking at his cobalt-blue eyes sparkling like starlight, Professor McGonagall dazedly realized Ethan wasn't bragging. He had seriously assessed his own strength.
And he genuinely believed he could be number one!
Winning as a team and winning alone were not on the same level. The shock they brought was also vastly different.
Professor McGonagall remembered what Dumbledore had said:
As long as this child's ideas don't harm others, we don't need to interfere too much. After a long time, there will always be one or two children who are different. I think Ethan knows what he's doing. You see, Minerva, the night is deep and quiet, yet above it, are there not stars burning brightly? Burning, emitting dazzling light that illuminates us from tens of thousands of light-years away... hehe, Muggle astronomy is quite interesting, isn't it?
Thinking of this, Professor McGonagall's mood gradually calmed down.
...Fine, just as Professor Dumbledore said. As long as Ethan didn't harm others, let him do as he pleased. There would be adult wizards following and protecting them in the competition, so generally, there shouldn't be any major danger. The official competition was completely different from the selection. In such a complex and dangerous situation, Ethan couldn't possibly bomb the exam venue again, right?
...Probably not.
Finally, Professor McGonagall sighed and said: "Then you can decide for yourself, Mr. Vincent. The Secret Realm Tracking Challenge indeed has no hard requirement for teaming up. On the registration, everyone participates individually."
Ethan raised the corners of his mouth and said politely, "Thank you for your understanding."
As his words fell, he heard a soft sneer. Ethan's eyes shifted and met the cold, resentful gazes from the Slytherin side.
Those two... they seemed to be the two Slytherins from his group in the selection.
Ethan understood. Slytherin as a whole was already very opposed to him. Plus, during the selection, these two unlucky fellows were knocked unconscious in the cave due to the chaos he created. No wonder they looked at him with such malice.
Ethan withdrew his gaze, paying them no mind. The results would speak for themselves in the official competition. After all, he was one versus everyone. Everyone present was his enemy.
Ethan licked his lips, an excited tide surging in his eyes.
The lunch break was limited, and after Professor McGonagall explained a few more points, the meeting was dismissed.
As they were leaving, a small conflict broke out between Gryffindor and Slytherin again. It started because a Slytherin said, "I'd rather team up with a troll than with a Gryffindor."
Gryffindor retorted, "You'd better watch out you're not killed by students from other schools who mistake you for Dark wizards."
"Then you'd better team up with your respected Mr. Vincent," a Slytherin sneered with a dark face. "That way you'll have an excuse for your failure!"
Before he finished speaking, a cold voice interjected: "Shut up. Bletchley, Higgs, have you fed your manners to the dogs?"
The speaker was none other than Slytherin's prefect, Gemma Farley. She stared at the two students coldly, saying word by word: "Apologize to Vincent, now."
To whom?! To Ethan Vincent?!
The two Slytherins stared at their prefect in disbelief. They couldn't understand why their prefect would suddenly side with Ethan! However, under Gemma's icy gaze, they could only turn their heads, mutter a half-hearted apology to Ethan, and then quickly walk away.
...Idiots.
Gemma watched the two walk away, thinking silently. Failing in the competition would result in death at worst. But offending Ethan meant a fate "worse than death." A great terror.
Gemma didn't know what strategy Ethan would use to secure his first place. But she had already paid up. No matter what, she would "survive."
Gemma Farley glanced at Ethan, then tilted her chin slightly, not even looking at the Gryffindor group, and strode away with her head held high.
"..."
Oliver Wood watched her haughty back and murmured in confusion: "Was she standing up for us, or was it just because those guys mentioned Ethan?"
The Ravenclaw students looked at Wood with pity. Of course it was because of Ethan, "Wood-for-brains." Even if you acted like the perfect gentleman in front of Miss Gemma, they guaranteed she wouldn't give you a second glance.
It was their Ethan who had wide connections!
On the other side, Cedric watched this scene and secretly clenched his fists. Even the Slytherins helped Ethan. Worthy of being his chosen rival!
Meeting the admiring and praising gazes, Ethan showed a well-behaved smile.
Ethan knows nothing~
...
That evening, Ethan had his first private lesson with Quirrell.
They were in an ordinary abandoned classroom. Although it had been cleaned, a faint musty smell still lingered in the air. Chairs and tables were piled crookedly to one side, looking very messy. But the good thing was that the central open space was large and could be arranged freely.
"I-it's very quiet here, no one will disturb us, haha!" Quirrell laughed nervously, rubbing his hands together in anticipation and nervousness, staring at Ethan. "So, Mr. Vincent, is there anything you'd like to learn now?"
Ethan nodded, meeting Quirrell's gaze, and smiled as he spoke:
"I want to learn the technique of splitting souls."
BOOM.
Quirrell was stunned to feel a huge jolt in the back of his head! A sudden pain shot through his brain, and it took all his strength not to scream and collapse.
Wh-what happened?! Was there something wrong with Ethan's words?
Quirrell was terrified. A sacrilegious thought appeared in his mind: It was as if the great Dark Lord had been frightened by a child's words...
But that was absolutely impossible.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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