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Chapter 697 I Don't Surrender!!
It wasn't just Moody who was worried.
In truth, many of them were uneasy about how Darren would return.
But Darren only swore to them that he would come back alive.
He never explained how he would do it.
So even now, they were anxious.
Afraid that something might happen to Darren.
After all, Darren was now the leader of the Order of the Phoenix.
Even if it was only temporary—because he had not yet come of age—
once he became an adult, the leadership would naturally fall to him.
During this mission to extract Harry, almost no one supported Darren coming along.
But he insisted.
He insisted on facing Voldemort himself, instead of letting Harry do it.
If Darren had not declared it an order, not even Moody would have agreed.
Unfortunately—or perhaps inevitably—
Darren was the current leader of the Order of the Phoenix.
And the Order had to obey him.
Darren knew their worries very well.
He smiled.
Then he said calmly,
"Don't worry. I have my own way to get back. You only need to do your part.
And if Snape appears—don't kill him."
"Why?"
Moody asked grimly.
"Have you softened toward him?"
Darren shook his head.
He laughed softly.
"I'll kill him myself."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…］
Moody and the others understood.
Darren already hated Snape.
That was only natural.
After all, Snape had killed Dumbledore right in front of him.
Although from Dumbledore's death until now, Darren had slept only two extra days and never openly wallowed in grief again—
it was obvious.
He was pretending.
He was numbing himself with constant action.
"All right," Darren said seriously.
"No more talking. Let's move.
One last reminder—once you get what you need, leave immediately.
Don't entangle yourselves.
Voldemort will come this time.
I don't think your lives need to be buried here."
Then he picked up Harry's luggage, grabbed Hedwig, and mounted a broomstick.
"I'll ride a broom," Darren said with a smile.
"My brother flies well. It'll look more convincing to the Death Eaters."
He kicked off the ground and shot upward.
Harry also rushed out of Number Twelve, Privet Drive.
From this moment on—
the house was completely exposed.
Moody and the others gathered around Darren.
They were riding flying motorcycles.
Darren glanced back, his eyes twitching.
These people really had no sense of aesthetics.
With his face, flying heroically with the wind slicking his hair back—
and these people were ruining the whole picture.
No matter how good-looking someone was, even they couldn't survive being dragged down by style like this.
Thankfully, no one was recording.
Otherwise, Darren would never have agreed to let them ruin his image like this.
They flew higher and higher.
Number Twelve, Privet Drive faded from sight.
Then—
nearly thirty Death Eaters suddenly surrounded them.
The group flew straight into the encirclement without realizing it.
"Hurry! Throw the potion! Catch Darren Potter!"
The Death Eaters laughed wildly.
But when they saw seven or eight identical Darrens, shock spread across their faces.
"Don't worry about it! Throw everything! One of them has to be the real Darren Potter!"
They shouted.
Bottles were hurled at the "Darrens" from every direction.
Only one figure remained untouched—
Harry.
No one bothered to throw potions at him.
No one thought he mattered.
A bottle shattered.
One "Darren" broke away and fled.
The real Darren launched into attack.
Harry barely had time to react.
A red curse struck him.
The Death Eaters erupted in cheers.
"We caught Potter! Kill the rest!"
The battle turned savage.
One by one, the "Darrens" vanished.
The Death Eaters dragged "Harry" forward.
At that moment—
Darren opened his eyes.
He raised his wand.
The Death Eaters were blasted apart.
"It's Darren Potter! We were tricked!"
"Master! Master! We caught the wrong one!"
"Master!"
Their screams echoed through the sky.
Then—
everything went silent.
Red eyes.
A pale face.
Snake-like pupils fixed on Darren.
"So, child," Voldemort said coldly,
"you've been hiding from me again."
Darren met his gaze.
Then he raised his wand.
"I heard you wanted to keep me alive," he said calmly.
"Why don't you try now?"
Voldemort sneered.
"You're not qualified—"
A jet of black magic shot toward his face.
Green and black light collided, erupting in a massive explosion.
"So?" Darren asked.
He flung another red curse.
Voldemort dodged.
Where he had stood, a crater several meters deep blasted open.
"Very good, Darren," Voldemort said, laughing softly.
"I must admit, you are extraordinarily talented.
Give it time—and you may become as strong as I am.
But now?
I think it's time you surrendered."
Voldemort hovered in midair.
A piercing scream rose from every direction.
Even Darren faltered for an instant.
The Death Eaters staggered under the sound.
Then Darren realized—
the screams weren't coming from nowhere.
Invisible creatures swarmed the air.
They screamed.
They devoured everything around them.
Darren swung his wand.
Many of the creatures were torn apart.
But more kept appearing.
Darren stared at Voldemort.
"What are they?"
Voldemort made no attempt to hide his satisfaction.
"My creations.
They devour everything around them and use it to reproduce.
They are born invisible.
I originally created them to kill Dumbledore.
I never expected their first true use would be on you.
Surrender, Darren Potter."
His voice suddenly turned sharp with rage.
"Stop.
You are mine!"
A green curse streaked toward Darren.
He dodged instantly.
Death Eaters had crept up on him.
Darren spun and unleashed a fierce fire spell.
The attacker disintegrated into ash almost instantly.
"Aren't you going to save your subordinates?" Darren asked coldly.
His flames spread.
Death Eaters fled in panic, chased by living fire.
Voldemort laughed.
"If you surrender," he said calmly,
"they can all die. I don't mind."
"No," Darren replied without hesitation.
"I will not surrender."
Voldemort's smile widened.
"I don't think you can hold on much longer.
Those little creatures—you can't destroy them completely, can you?
Haven't you noticed?
They can devour even the magic you release."