All the young wizards watching from the "God's perspective" saw that the members of the Slytherin team were flying lower, using vegetation and other things to try and hide the glow emitted by their bodies.
Goyle and Bulstrode took the Top Lane—the high suspension bridge. The combined width of their bodies was almost the same as the bridge itself.
Since the United Houses Team didn't cover this route, they had an unimpeded flight, speeding towards the opponent's Respawn Point... They didn't even bother with the Nogtail under the blue flag blocking the middle of the high suspension bridge... instead, they just leaped over its head.
Pansy Parkinson, Daphne Greengrass, and Morag Bletchley, the three girls, took the Middle Lane—this path led to the "Turning Canyon" closer to the United Houses Team.
Predictably, these three girls encountered the Patil sisters on the clearing some distance from the canyon entrance.
The two groups spoke across an ochre-colored flag—
"You are here to kill the Nogtail here, right!"
Parvati spoke first. Riding her broomstick, she was half a body length ahead of her sister. Although her shout was stern, it revealed a lack of inner confidence.
This wasn't surprising; after all, there were only two sisters against three opponents.
"And what are your plans?"
Pansy Parkinson looked at the two sisters with interest, a mean smile on her face as if they had already won.
Must reach the opponent's Respawn Point as soon as possible and kill Malfoy.
This was the Patil sisters' primary goal.
"We're going to cause trouble for Malfoy."
With a thought, Parvati calmly said to the Slytherin trio sixty feet away.
"Then our goals align."
Daphne said coldly.
"None of the three of us know the Trip Jinx and can't kill this Nogtail... It seems you don't either. So, there is no conflict between us."
Hesitating, Parvati nodded.
The two groups slowly maneuvered their broomsticks past each other at a distance, only moving away after swapping directions.
"I feel something's not quite right, Parvati—"
Watching the trio speeding into the Turning Canyon they just left, Padma looked suspicious.
"They could have chosen to kill us here, couldn't they... They have one more person."
"Maybe because they didn't want to waste time on us—"
Parvati said, a sense of urgency rising in her heart.
"Let's speed up, Padma!"
Almost the same scene occurred with Ron's squad and Malfoy leading Zabini and Nott... but the outcome was completely different.
Both teams arrived at the Bottom Lane clearing at the same time, facing off across the green flag.
"You are also here to kill the Nogtail, right?"
Terry Boot raised his special wand halfway, his thumb on the red button. He looked at Malfoy with vigilance mixed with temptation.
After all, Malfoy was the captain. Killing him would directly win the match.
"Oh, even if so, what are you going to do?"
Malfoy smiled smugly.
"That approach is unwise."
Susan Bones said calmly.
"Although the captain can take more hits, once involved in a chaotic battle, it's easy to be killed directly."
"Oh, then why don't you come and try?"
Malfoy said, looking at them provocatively.
Ron and the others fell silent... Their primary goal was to kill the Nogtail. If they got entangled with Malfoy's trio... oh, they were already entangled.
Whether dealing with the Nogtail under harassment from the Slytherin trio or engaging in a direct duel to try and kill Malfoy, neither was simple.
Watching the hesitant United Houses Team, a sly look flashed across Draco Malfoy's pale face. He suddenly shouted,
"Do it! Kill the Nogtail first!"
Whoosh, whoosh!
Two streaks of cold crimson light flew towards Terry Boot like arrows leaving the bow string.
Why did Malfoy shout to kill the Nogtail, but the attack was aimed at me? —Terry Boot was confused for a moment... He had no time to think, just took a sharp breath and flattened his body against the broomstick.
This evasive action helped him dodge Zabini's curse, but it couldn't help him avoid Nott's... After being hit by the red curse light, a striking "Life -1" appeared on the red cloak behind him!
"They're here to snatch the Nogtail!"
Ron shouted in panic.
"Brocklehurst, don't let them beat us to it!"
Almost simultaneously, Susan, Ron, Terry, and Mandy rushed towards the Nogtail under the silver-green flag—that Nogtail seemed to have been out of its mother's womb for quite some years, as big as a young elephant!
On the way, Ron and the others had discussed a rough plan. If they encountered enemies snatching the Nogtail, Ron, Terry, and Susan would spread out to form a human wall, creating space and time for Mandy.
They did act according to the plan, but while they moved, Malfoy's trio also launched their own action immediately!
The Slytherin trio didn't rush towards the flag. Instead, they circled around with the flag as the center, successfully seizing the space left by Ron and the others after they moved, and then—
"Ran away?!"
Ron was dumbfounded.
Malfoy, the Slytherin captain, gave them a sinister grin. Then, leaving Zabini and Nott behind, he accelerated madly towards the United Houses Team's Respawn Point along the path Ron and the others came from!
"It's over!"
Watching this scene from the octagon cage, Harry's face turned pale as he murmured.
"Definitely failed!"
"Not necessarily."
Hermione gripped the vine fence tightly with both hands, looking equally distressed.
"There's still a little hope... If Mandy can kill the Nogtail under the silver-green flag as soon as possible, everyone's broomstick speed will double... maybe there's still a chance to escape the encirclement..."
Hermione mumbled, but she knew the hope was slim.
Not because she didn't believe in Ravenclaw's Mandy Brocklehurst, but because she lacked confidence in Neville.
Hermione doubted whether Neville would just faint directly when he realized how many people were surrounding him!
The young wizards from Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor who weren't participating all looked ashen, foreseeing the likely defeat.
On the contrary, Ares watched the performance of the Slytherin team below with an expression of great interest.
Slytherin's tactics weren't brilliant, but they were indeed very cunning.
None of this team knew the Trip Jinx, so none of them could deal with the Nogtail. Given this situation, dragging out the match time would be very disadvantageous for them—the United Houses Team could even rely on Mandy Brocklehurst to consume all three status buffs before leisurely besieging them.
So, for Slytherin, there was only one way to win—ignore the Nogtail and hunt Neville Longbottom directly!
To achieve this, they had to split into three groups and block the Top, Middle, and Bottom Lanes to prevent Neville from just running away.
If they really encountered a situation where Neville ran away, it would be quite difficult for Slytherin. After all, everyone's broomstick speeds were similar, and they might chase Neville around Mist Valley for a few laps without catching him.
"Malfoy is coming!"
Ernie and Neville at the Respawn Point saw the faint captain's crown from a distance. They saw Malfoy meet Ron and the others... expecting a fierce battle, but there wasn't one.
Malfoy left his two teammates directly and ran towards them!
"Fits my impression of Slytherin perfectly!"
Ernie rotated his wrist, a smile of excitement on his lips.
"Then what should we do?!"
Neville panted heavily. Both his hands holding the broomstick and the special wand were trembling.
As Malfoy's figure became clearer, his flowing blond hair and flushed cheeks visible, Neville trembled even more violently. He spoke in panic, instinctively lowering his broomstick... so it wouldn't hurt as much if he fell later!
"Isn't the situation clear enough, Neville?"
The two sides were less than a hundred feet apart. Ernie's gaze was glued to the rapidly approaching Malfoy as he raised his wand excitedly.
"It's two against one now, Neville. We can definitely win... oh, we are helping the team win!"
Ernie grinned excitedly, ready to show off his skills... But—
Strange, why is Malfoy smiling so smugly... can't he see he's at a disadvantage?
Didn't realize he's about to face both me and Neville at the same time... Even so, not turning back to regroup with the two teammates on the same path?
Filled with confusion, Ernie stared hard at Malfoy, watching as Malfoy also raised his special wand...
"Get rid of the nuisance first!"
Malfoy suddenly shouted sharply.
Whoosh—whoosh whoosh—whoosh whoosh!
Ernie was sure the spell light he threw hit Malfoy... Of course, Malfoy hit him too, but—
A cold, high-pitched female voice unexpectedly resounded through Mist Valley, freezing Ernie's smile... and making Malfoy's face suddenly flush!
[Congratulations to Draco Malfoy from Slytherin for the final blow, successfully killing Ernie Macmillan from Hufflepuff!]