As the words fell, the air became deathly silent.
Quirrell struggled to open his eyes, glaring at Ethan, who seemed to be toying with his prey, and felt his mind go blank.
Ethan Vincent was on their side too?
You're also an undercover agent?!
Lord Voldemort was also stunned.
He had thought this kid was Dumbledore's secret weapon, but he immediately forced Harry Potter to take the Philosopher's Stone?
When did he recruit this kid?
Under several gazes, Harry looked stunned, slowly nodded, and said, "...Oh, okay."
With that, Harry lifted his foot and walked towards the Mirror of Erised.
Quirrell & Lord Voldemort: ?!!
"You, you just agreed like that?!" Quirrell roared hoarsely, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Where's your backbone as the Savior? Where's your Gryffindor courage? You just succumbed to the darkness like that?!"
"Damn it, you must have been hit by Confundo—Ethan Vincent, you're simply too despicable! You'll stop at nothing!"
Are those words a villain like you should say?
Ethan felt that Quirrell had no self-awareness at all.
He waved his wand, firmly sealing Quirrell's mouth, shook his head, and said,
"Villains just talk too much, you disgrace to Ravenclaw."
"Mmm mmm mmm!"
Quirrell was so angry his eyes almost burst.
He had never seen such a shameless person!
The challenge of the bizarre painting, the tormented ancient city, the snatching of the Philosopher's Stone—Hogwarts was not far from ruin.
Quirrell suddenly shivered, a sense of dread rising from the bottom of his heart.
He looked at Ethan's pleasant and calm expression, not knowing when his every move had fallen under the gaze of this young boy.
Perhaps from the very beginning, he had never successfully disguised himself.
Under those cobalt blue eyes, everything had nowhere to hide.
While he was gloating over his plans and conspiracies, little did he know that he had long become a chess piece on the board.
Every move was within Ethan Vincent's plan.
It was too terrifying.
What kind of existence was Ethan Vincent?
What on earth did he want to do?!
Dumbledore, you're about to be raided, hurry and stop this kid!!
Quirrell earnestly hoped.
On the other side, Ethan didn't care about Quirrell's complex mental journey, which had already begun to pray to Dumbledore.
He walked to the Mirror of Erised, intimately draped his arm over Harry's shoulder, and asked, "How is it? What did you see?"
Harry replied blankly and obediently:
"I saw myself putting the Philosopher's Stone into my pocket—"
As he spoke, Harry felt his trousers sink, and something appeared in his pocket.
He lowered his head to take it out, pulling out a red gem as clear as a pebble, radiating a magical glow.
Immediately, Quirrell and Lord Voldemort behind his head held their breath.
Their eyes greedily stared at the red stone.
The Philosopher's Stone, which could turn lead into gold, grant eternal life, and revive a wisp of a ghost!
"Wow, it's really beautiful."
Ethan murmured, as if he had already seen it ground into powder, or smashed into fragments, merging with his painting.
All the effort was worth it.
He painstakingly learned Goblin craftsmanship, captured adult Dragons, and painted that ancient city mural, making indelible contributions to protect Hogwarts' safety.
He deserved the Philosopher's Stone.
"Alright, quickly give it to me, Harry. Don't make me wait any longer."
Ethan held out his hand to Harry.
Quirrell sprang up, grunting and roaring with all his might, as if trying to use his shouts to make Harry sober up.
Don't listen to that devil!
Hold firm to your beliefs, Savior Harry Potter!
You must not give up, you must protect the Philosopher's Stone!
However, Quirrell's inner encouragement did not reach Harry.
The "miracle of love" did not happen between them.
Harry nodded, slowly raised his hand, and handed the Philosopher's Stone, which Quirrell and Lord Voldemort had plotted for an entire semester, to Ethan.
Instantly, Quirrell's eyes turned dim.
He collapsed in despair.
It was over.
The world was going to be destroyed.
Justice, after all, still lost to evil—"Crack."
A crisp sound.
Ethan used his wand to split the Philosopher's Stone into two halves, one large and one small, and returned the smaller half to Harry.
Quirrell: ???
Huh?
W-why did he give it back?
Harry: "You only want half?"
Ethan nodded: "Yes, half is enough. Because Headmaster Dumbledore said that Nicolas Flamel still needs a part of the Philosopher's Stone, to give them time to deal with their affairs."
What's more, two-thirds of the Philosopher's Stone was enough.
Quirrell: D-Dumbledore...?
Quirrell suddenly froze, an unbelievable thought popping into his mind.
[You have obtained extraordinary material—Philosopher's Stone!]
[Use now?]
Ethan held the crimson stone, like a gem condensed from blood, constantly transmitting warm and rich magic to his palm.
"Yes, use now."
The next second, the Philosopher's Stone suddenly burst into a brilliant red light!
Vast magic surged out from it, and was then enveloped by an invisible force.
Its hard surface began to flow, as if melted by intense heat, turning into a pool of vibrant, living pigment!
This rich red was like the summer sun, like the dancing flames of winter.
It was the power of endless life!
Like life-giving thunder and rain, falling from the sky like drumbeats!
Ethan's eyes were dyed red, and he couldn't help but hold his breath!
A bit of the pigment merged into his body.
[Soul fusion increased by 2%]
In an instant, it increased by 2%, giving Ethan surging power.
However, this was not the most important thing.
Ethan flicked his wrist, and the wand in his hand smoothly transformed into a paintbrush.
With his other hand, he took out the unfinished Dragon portrait.
At this moment, Ethan knew why he had never been able to successfully replicate a Dragon, and understood what he was lacking.
It was precisely this extraordinary pigment, as hot as the scorching sun.
The paintbrush dipped into the pigment, spreading large swaths of red onto the painting.
Immediately, an extreme heat swept out from it, making Quirrell tremble uncontrollably, recalling the terrifying memory of being scorched by Dragon flame.
Crack, crack.
The air began to twist, and tiny dust particles spontaneously combusted.
Harry watched this scene in astonishment, his glasses reflecting the crimson light.
This was the first time he had witnessed Ethan painting with his own eyes.
And now, he seemed to finally understand why only Ethan could create those magical and powerful paintings.
With the final stroke, Ethan put down his brush, and a majestic, high-pitched Dragon roar echoed from the canvas!
Soaring into the sky!
[Painting · King's Flame]
[Type: Conceptual Painting]
[Grade: Second Tier · golden legend]
[Description: A painting inspired by Dragon's breath, depicting the scorching heat and majesty of Dragon flame.]
[Effect: Using this painting consumes a large amount of magic, unleashing the Dragon's power · King's Flame, igniting the surroundings with oneself as the center, unquenchable by water, burning everything.]
[Evaluation: The world as kindling, recreating the power of a Dragon with a human body, truly a miraculous power.]
Ethan raised his hand, and as his thoughts changed, clusters of flames rose from his palm.
Like fireflies, they swirled around him, carrying supreme heat.
"Wow—" Harry couldn't help but gape, his vision blurred by the heat, "So beautiful, so amazing—"
"Hmph hmph~"
Ethan curved the corners of his mouth, his mood exceptionally calm at this moment, as if he had transformed into a giant Dragon as vast as a mountain, looking down upon the world.
Just then, "You, you weren't under Confundo?! Dumbledore knew all this?!"
Quirrell broke free from his restraints, crawling up like a zombie, his voice hoarse with accusation.
"Confundo? Who? Me?"
Harry was confused, and seeing Quirrell's terrifying appearance, he instinctively stepped behind Ethan.
"No, I volunteered to help Ethan get the Philosopher's Stone."
Harry glanced at Ethan, a little embarrassed, but also a little boastful and proud, saying,
"I believe Ethan wouldn't harm me!"
Whether he'd harm you or not is another matter.
Quirrell froze, shouting in disbelief:
"You fool! You don't even know you've been hit by Confundo! And he wouldn't harm you? I saw Ethan tapping your scar with his wand to threaten you!"
"Oh, that." Harry touched his cool scar, and grinned with a somewhat innocent smile:
"That was Ethan casting a healing spell on me. After he cast the magic, my scar stopped hurting."
Because of this, Harry didn't hesitate at all and did as Ethan said.
"What's more, didn't Ethan say that this Philosopher's Stone was originally given to Ethan after Headmaster Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel discussed it?"
Ethan nodded, looking at Quirrell with the eyes of someone looking at an idiot, feeling pity.
He couldn't help but comfort him:
"It's alright, you played a part too."
"Look!"
Ethan showed Quirrell the Dragon painting, smiling happily:
"As my outstanding contribution to Hogwarts, you helped me obtain the Philosopher's Stone, allowing me to successfully create a perfect painting!"
"Thank you, Professor Quirrell~"
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