Monty Meng's footsteps boomed like thunder across the battlefield, each one shaking the ground beneath him with preternatural force.
Rivers prepared to sprint forward aggressively, but Charlotte's hand shot out, gripping his arm with iron strength.
"Don't rush!" she hissed urgently. "Do you not see that Monty Meng hasn't moved from his position yet? The Master specifically said Chief Delacour and I will assist you. Our target is Monty Meng himself. Even if we lose the main battle, we have to take him down!"
Rivers nodded sharply, his expression hardening with understanding. "Understood."
He glanced toward Monty Meng, who was casually deflecting five simultaneous Killing Curses with mere flicks of his spear. The legendary general moved with practiced ease, as though swatting away bothersome insects.
Rivers froze in absolute shock.
"He... he's deflecting Killing Curses? Is he really capable of that?"
Rivers stood speechless at the absurdity. It shouldn't be possible—the Killing Curse was unblockable by conventional means.
Charlotte's expression hardened with grim determination.
"We can't beat him in direct combat, but we have to try. Let's go—take the initiative and find an opening!"
She vanished in a brilliant flash of purple mist, charging directly toward Monty Meng with reckless courage.
Rivers gritted his teeth and followed immediately. Chief Delacour stared after them, utterly bewildered—he hadn't agreed to this suicidal plan—but seeing them close the distance so rapidly, he had no choice but to charge in after them.
They arrived in front of Monty Meng in mere seconds. Concentrated spells flew from their wands in coordinated assault, but Monty Meng swept his legendary spear horizontally with casual strength, deflecting most of the magical attacks.
Only a few stray curses managed to strike his chest armor, causing him to stumble backward two measured steps.
He looked down at the fresh scorch marks marring his armor with analytical interest. "Fascinating. I've never encountered this particular magic before. It's nothing like traditional Qi Refining techniques, yet there are fundamental similarities."
He raised his eyes, a predatory gleam igniting in them. "Show me what you're truly capable of."
Monty Meng stomped the ground with devastating force and launched himself at them like a human cannonball. His spear whistled through the air with terrifying momentum, carving a deep trench into the earth as the trio scrambled desperately backward.
The power was absolutely terrifying.
The two main battlefields had already violently collided.
Dumbledore and Grindelwald exchanged a meaningful glance as the enemy generals approached their position with obvious hostile intent.
"These warriors are genuinely terrifying," Grindelwald muttered with obvious concern. "Their physical bodies possess incredible innate strength, and they've developed effective methods for countering wizards. Most importantly, they can fight magical spells with pure physical force. It's utterly inconceivable."
Dumbledore nodded grimly. "Indeed. This ability fundamentally defies our understanding of magical combat. Erwin has truly stirred the storm this time."
Grindelwald looked back at their assembled ranks—the Order of the Phoenix, Vinda's Acolytes, and representatives from various international ministries of magic had gathered in formidable force.
"In any case, we absolutely cannot stand idly by."
Dumbledore offered a thin, knowing smile. "Then, let us begin."
His gaze sharpened dramatically, focusing on the young-looking general approaching them with confident strides. The man had introduced himself formally as Lance Lee.
Lance Lee studied the two legendary Headmasters with obvious tactical assessment. "You are both strong," he stated slowly, his voice carrying across the battlefield. "Stronger than most Qi Refiners I have personally encountered. But I have killed those stronger than you. You will not escape."
Dumbledore and Grindelwald remained professionally silent. Their wands appeared in their hands as if summoned by pure thought. Their combined auras flared, coiled and ready.
Lance Lee didn't waste time waiting for a verbal reply. His purpose was slaughter, not conversation. He drew the longsword at his waist with practiced ease. Behind him, the spears of the Qin warriors leveled in perfect unison.
"Long live Great Qin!" Lance Lee roared, charging forward.
The two legends, combining over two hundred years of accumulated combat experience, dared not be careless for even a moment.
A streak of black light and a slash of red fire met Lance Lee's aggressive charge head-on.
A sharp cry echoed from above. Fawkes dove ahead of the two wizards, sharp talons aimed directly at Lance Lee's eyes with lethal precision.
Lance Lee's blade swept upward with blinding speed, knocking the phoenix aside. Fawkes hit the ground hard but rose instantly, completely unharmed by the impact.
Dumbledore and Grindelwald didn't relent for a moment. They unleashed a coordinated barrage of curses that struck Lance Lee directly.
He blocked with his sword, the concentrated spells deflecting off the enchanted steel with metallic clangs. He countered with a devastating horizontal slash; the two wizards dodged with practiced grace, robes fluttering.
In that brief initial exchange, neither side gained decisive advantage. The probing phase was over.
The three-way clash acted as a signal flare. The elite warriors of Qin, the Order of the Phoenix, Vinda's Acolytes, and the ministry wizards surged forward as one.
The great battle had officially begun.