"An XXXXX-level basilisk—if we kill it, our battle record will have another magnificent achievement!"
Percy's voice echoed through the wide room, firing up the members present.
They didn't notice that a corner of the room had been blocked off by an impenetrable one-way barrier. Behind it, an old man and a young man leaned against the wall, gazes fixed through the barrier on the battle unfolding before them.
"A very imaginative approach." Dumbledore watched the basilisk with its head enveloped in dust and spoke softly.
"Weasley children have never lacked imagination." Evans paused, then continued. "Percy normally pushes himself too hard. He wants everything perfect, which makes him impatient. That robs him of the courage to use his imagination."
He'd noticed Percy's problem early on. That was precisely why he deliberately placed Percy in the commander position.
A team's brain couldn't possibly do everything perfectly in rapidly changing battles. After enough experience, Percy would naturally discover that grasping the present moment and doing his best with what he could was far more useful than chasing illusory perfection.
The facts proved it. After just over a month, Percy had transformed from that steady-to-the-point-of-rigid good student into a commander who was slightly more subdued than Bill but still very qualified.
However, if Mrs. Weasley knew he'd turned the Weasley family's only remaining steady, studious child into a pure Weasley, she probably wouldn't be so happy.
Dust scattered everywhere. Spell after spell flew toward the gap in the basilisk's tail, making its originally minor wound gradually life-threatening.
The facts proved Percy's thinking was entirely correct. As long as they could prevent the basilisk from using its bug-level eyes, solving it wouldn't require much effort with their abilities.
Explosive firelight constantly lit up at the basilisk's tail. Blood splattered. A faint aroma of meat drifted into everyone's nostrils. The basilisk's body grew increasingly weaker.
Several minutes later, accompanied by a miserable roar, the basilisk's body collapsed. It had lost too much blood. It no longer had the strength to support its body and could only lie powerlessly on the ground, looking toward the distance, at a certain seemingly empty place.
The young wizards present cheered. They didn't look at the basilisk's head, so they naturally didn't notice this final action. But Evans seemed to think of something and slightly lowered his head.
"I didn't expect they could actually defeat this basilisk." Dumbledore watched those cheering young wizards, a gratified smile crossing his face. "They're still somewhat inexperienced, but their combat coordination and action capabilities have already surpassed ordinary rookie Auror teams."
He looked at Evans beside him. "It seems your Magical Creatures Club isn't only teaching about magical creatures?"
"I really haven't taught them much formal combat technique. Their fundamentals are still based on what Professor Scamander taught them." Evans glanced up at the young wizards again, a smile crossing his face. "But I've given them countless opportunities for real combat experience."
From the initial poacher gangs to exploring uncharted territories, and clearing dark creatures from the Forbidden Forest's edge—he'd stayed on the sidelines for almost all of it. He let these young wizards handle things on their own.
Besides, the students he'd selected already had solid foundations. After more than a month of this intensive fieldwork, their practical combat experience likely rivaled that of Aurors who'd never seen actual battle.
That said, becoming an Auror required far more than just fighting prowess—there were countless other skills to master.
Take Tonks, for example. She'd spent years exploring the Forbidden Forest, following in the footsteps of Bill and the others after they graduated. She certainly didn't lack combat experience.
Yet even now, she still had so much to learn before she could truly call herself an Auror.
Dumbledore looked again at those young wizards who had finished cheering and were now gathered around the basilisk, studying it.
"You did tell them that basilisk blood and fangs are both lethal, right?"
Evans heard the concern in Dumbledore's tone. "Don't worry. Their theoretical knowledge is definitely the most comprehensive. Harry and Ron might be somewhat lacking in this regard, but the others will remind them."
As for Hermione, also a second-year, she could now help grade sixth and seventh-year assignments—no need to worry she'd make such a basic mistake.
"That's good." Dumbledore nodded and spoke softly. "Let's go back. The show over there is probably about to begin."
"Mm." Evans also nodded, just about to flash away with Dumbledore.
But just then, he suddenly seemed to remember something and withdrew his hand reaching toward Dumbledore's shoulder.
Evans lowered his head. He tried hard to recall the scene when the basilisk died, then raised his head again. A strange gleam flashed in his eyes.
"Wait for me. I thought of something."
He gripped his wand with his left hand and tapped his right wrist. An invisible ripple quickly spread at his wrist. Where the ripple passed, flesh and blood disappeared, revealing the floor color below. After a few seconds, Evans had completely vanished.
Then the side of the barrier before them opened a gap large enough for a person to pass through. A few seconds later, the gap closed again as if it had never appeared.
Without asking too many questions, Dumbledore leaned against the nearby wall, curiously watching the direction Evans had left.
About five minutes later, when the young wizards had already begun discussing how to dissect the basilisk and how to sell and divide it afterward, the barrier opened again. A few seconds later, Evans's form appeared, holding a giant egg with markings in his arms.
"This is—a basilisk egg?" Dumbledore observed the giant egg, surprise flashing in his eyes.
"Yes." Evans nodded. "I saw in the notes that when a basilisk feels it's facing a life-threatening situation, it will leave behind an egg."
"It represents the basilisk's rebirth and also represents a cycle."
He didn't know what made this basilisk feel its life was threatened, but a basilisk egg was a rare treasure.
He'd long wanted to research this creature but never found the opportunity. Wild basilisk breeding methods were also too difficult.
Any chicken egg hatched by a snake might produce a basilisk, but the probability was far too low—you could raise them for ten years and not necessarily get one.
A ready-made egg like this was much better.
Dumbledore looked at the giant egg in Evans's arms, his expression rarely serious. "This thing cannot be raised in the school."
He believed Evans wouldn't raise such a dangerous creature in school like Hagrid, but necessary reminders still had to be given.
"Of course. I'll find it a good living environment. The school is too cramped for a basilisk." Evans stuffed the giant egg into his pocket and clapped his hands.
"Let's go. Time to watch the next show."