Chapter 327: Herpo the Foul

"A map?!" Harry and Ron said together.

"Yes, although the specific location is still uncertain, it's definitely a map," Ivan said and then combined the stones, which simply outlined mountains, rivers, oceans and canyons.

Although much of the stone was missing, the key position was still there.

Above the map was an endless cloud. In the center was a temple altar. The emblem on it was the pattern on the plaque Ivan saw in the subway ruins.

The hideous monster hovered above the altar, and its disproportionate red eyes and tentacle head were the most striking.

Because of the cover of the altar, they could not see its entire body.

The exposed part was like an octopus that expanded countless times at the top.

Underneath were countless hideous, distorted human beings struggling and pleading in pain.

The souls separated from their bodies and were mercilessly swallowed by the monster above.

"Is this monster what you met underground?" asked Harry.

From this map, unprecedented evil was felt.

Ivan nodded. The shape of the temple altar was almost identical to what he had seen on the rock wall with the mysterious Dark wizard.

No wonder this was where Salazar had found the monster.

"The Temple above and this monster make me feel sick." Ron said in a shaky voice. "It's like meeting the Dementors, that feeling when all the happy memories are erased."

"I feel the same way. The monster's eyes seem to be looking at me all the time," Harry said. "But it's just a map, where exactly is it from?"

"It should be somewhere in ancient Greece, with the sea and the canyons, but there's no obvious reference around it." Ivan watched carefully and said, "When Hermione tells us the identity of the black wizard, maybe we can deduce it."

Harry nodded his head and continued to stare pale-eyed at the monster in the middle of the map.

"I don't understand. Even if we know the identity of the dark wizard and the specific location of the temple, what good does it do us?" said Ron suddenly, looking horrified at Harry and Ivan. "You two aren't planning on going on a crazy scouting trip to that place, are you?"

Ivan didn't know how to respond. Ron was right.

As it was, the Voldemort thing was enough to give him a headache, and there was no point in exploring such an ancient and dangerous unknown existence.

He didn't want to get caught up in any strange trouble, especially one that might be beyond his ability. Ivan couldn't rival the monster's eyes with what little power he had left, and that was only part of this creature.

He also imagined Ron giving up like that, but he didn't know why, he was almost certain it was related to the vampire girl named Elaine.

Maybe that was the problem his family faced. Ivan shook his head with a bitter smile at the thought of the confused, thin girl, with her loose, tattered wizard's robes and bright red eyes.

She already recognized the Slytherin locket on him, and said she would go back and find it.

What if he comes back for help?

It also seemed to have something to do with Slytherin's Secret Treasure Key.

If that were the case, then it wouldn't just be simple help, but collaboration. However, whether the powerful vampire family could accept Ivan's current strength was still a question.

In general, it was always the same; Salazar Slytherin was the most problematic.

"We should give up. It's beyond our capabilities." Ron continued persuasively, "Harry, that monster isn't you know who, you and that..."

"If that evil monster really exists, we should find a way to destroy it." Harry hesitated and said, "Whatever Slytherin's purpose is, perhaps the clues we have are the key to destroying it..."

There was no doubt that Harry always had extraordinary courage and responsibility in taking risks and fighting evil.

"Don't be stupid, Harry!" said Ron retreating. "We don't have to deal with this. It's not good for us."

"But we can't let it go. We should tell Dumbledore and Sirius." Harry said, "But first of all, we should look into it."

"But..." said Ron reluctantly.

"Harry's right, and I feel the same way. There's no harm in investigating. Maybe this is related to the Slytherin Treasure Key." Ivan continued, "And through this adventure, my magic grew very fast. We can do this; this is not bad for us."

Ron looked like he wanted to say something, but at that moment, Hermione came running into the room from the hallway outside with a huge old book in her arms.

"Look, I found it, this is the book. I must have seen the dark wizard in it," Hermione said and began flipping the pages quickly, as she read words in her mouth.

"Well, I should have guessed you three would be like this, let's verify who this dark wizard is and make a decision!" Ron sighed and said hopefully, "Maybe we don't have to do anything. The magic left by Salazar Slytherin has already erased him, so..."

"Quiet, Ron!" shouted Hermione.

Ron shut his mouth, watching Hermione flip through the old pages.

A few minutes later, Hermione said happily, "I got it, I got it!"

"Can we talk now?" Ron said annoyed.

Hermione ignored him, and pointed to the book in front of her. "Herpo the Foul, the ancient Greek black wizard, the most powerful and influential black wizard in the history of magic, one of the last ancient wizards and the first dark wizards known today. At the same time, he is also considered to be the first wizard to raise a Basilisk, and is therefore well known."

"The Basilisk?" Harry said in awe, thinking of the green snake, which entered the common room from the pipeline and wreaked havoc.

In the battle of the Chamber of Secrets, he was also bitten by its fangs and nearly died there.

"It's all tied together. We all know that Salazar had left a basilisk to his heir in the room in the Chamber of Secrets." Ivan said, "Remember what is written on the stone. He brought the monster and the harvest of that adventure back to Hogwarts. Obviously, the basilisk was one of the spoils of that adventure."

The dark wizard who created the horrible eyeball monster was only Herpo the Foul!