Chapter 783 - 784

Evan's gaze falls upon the energy stone before him in an eerie silence. It hovers calmly in midair, its black energy liquid gently swaying. Evan can sense its power, a fusion of Cyclops vitality and primal thunder strength. Though not abundant, it is still formidable, comparable to the energy stones used in Philosopher's Stone, albeit lacking the continuous magical power production. Once its inner strength is depleted, it will become an ordinary circular crystal devoid of value. However, as a disposable magical stage prop, this energy stone is extraordinarily luxurious.

Evan wonders about the purpose of such potent energy. What does the Calamity Emissary plan to summon with it? He estimates that amassing seven energy stones, brimming with accumulated power, could potentially summon a dark deity to this world. Moreover, the Calamity Emissary possesses numerous citrine crystals as magical auxiliaries. Evan gingerly wields his wand, swiftly approaching the airborne energy stone, and catches it in his hand. The dark liquid inside exudes a subtle warmth, as if a flame smolders within the stone.

While Evan holds the energy stone, he contemplates its potential uses. Although these energies are extracted from Cyclops by the dark wizards of Claw of the Raven, they might have other unexpected applications. Evan envisions a plan to aid the giant tribe embroiled in conflict by becoming an ally and unifying them. This would prevent the giants from pledging allegiance to Voldemort and might even enlist their support against the Death Eaters. Although it is a sound idea, its execution would be incredibly challenging.

The key lies in finding a giant with a strong affinity for Evan, possessing sufficient strength to convince other giants to follow suit. This individual must be formidable enough to resist assassination attempts and capable of defeating Death Eaters. Such a prospect seems nearly impossible, but with this energy stone, the task becomes feasible. Giants are descendants of Cyclops, and their strength shares a common origin, regardless of whether it's diluted. Evan can't help but imagine infusing the strengths contained in the energy stone into a select giant, instantly transforming them into a formidable warrior with enhanced physical prowess and lightning magic.

Grawp, Hagrid's brother, seems like an ideal candidate, as he is undoubtedly loyal to Evan's cause.

"Evan, be cautious. Something doesn't feel right!" Sirius suddenly warns, his eyes fixed on the dark wizards. "These individuals outside seem to be planning to use some dark magic, something I can't quite fathom."

Evan's gaze shifts to the giant stone door, where the dark wizards have turned their attention to the house elves, whom they relentlessly target with Killing Curses. The pitiful cries and pleas of the house elves fill the air. Under their masters' orders, they dare not flee.

In this moment, Evan can't help but think back to Hermione's campaign for house-elves rights and liberation. He hopes that her vision can come to fruition. His aim is not merely to change house elves' mindset regarding wages and holidays but, at the very least, to prevent them from being treated as inhumanely as these creatures are now, to inspire them to revolt rather than willingly accept their mistreatment.

The Best Defense, as Evan believes, is a proactive offense. With hundreds of powerful house elves outside, they possess the magical prowess to resist. However, what Evan witnesses is a one-sided massacre and feeble pleading. At this moment, he profoundly understands the subjugation ingrained in the house-elf race, their tragic inheritance manifesting in their subservience to wizards. Those pure-blood wizards who believe house elves are born to serve should witness this gruesome spectacle.

As Sirius had forewarned, this discomforting dark magic employed by Claw of the Raven's dark wizards is unsettling. Evan is left wondering about the true nature of their sinister plan. A strange tension fills the air, and Evan can't fathom what these madmen intend to do.

"No matter what they're planning, it can't be good. We must act quickly, Evan, and plunge the scabbard into Cyclops's eye!" Sirius urges, his voice urgent. "Destroy this body, and then let's get out of here."

Without further prompting, Evan Apparates below Cyclops's head, right on the platform. There, he beholds the complete visage of the Cyclops. Its terrifying head protrudes from the magma, tilted toward them. It possesses a nightmarish visage, with a mouth full of fangs nearly covering half its face, resembling a scarlet abyss dominated by the enormous single eye above. Its eyelid is sealed, obscuring the eye.

Even now, it stands atop the colossal eye, its eyelid as impenetrable as rock. A white energy shield naturally forms around him, created by his magical power to resist the intense heat emanating from the eye and its overwhelming presence.

Taking a deep breath, Evan grips the silver-white scabbard with both hands. His gaze locks onto the central eye, the one-eyed monster's focal point. A mysterious enchantment takes shape beneath him, rapidly weaving silver-white brilliance that creates intricate magical patterns. Before him, the Slytherin locket hovers; its lid opens, revealing the Philosopher's Stone emitting a gentle golden-red glow.

In response, an immense surge of magical power courses into Evan's body, streaming into his hands and the scabbard above them. He grips the scabbard firmly, feeling like he's holding a legendary Gryffindor's treasured sword.

Around the point where Evan holds the scabbard, a red radiance begins to shimmer, rapidly enveloping the entire scabbard. The red light intensifies, becoming a vivid scarlet as if the scabbard transforms into a lightning conduit. With the assistance of the Philosopher's Stone, Evan amplifies the magical power output, using it as a foundation to channel Gryffindor's essence into the scabbard.

Suddenly, Evan feels an overwhelming surge of energy, an influx of strength.

The scabbard transformed completely, becoming a crimson energy entity akin to lightning. Evan clutched this awe-inspiring force, and in that moment, he felt like a formidable god capable of destroying all opposing deities.

Meanwhile, on the stone platform, Sirius rapidly closed the massive stone door of the secret room using his wand. Then, he turned around, his eyes brimming with excitement yet filled with the immense power that seemed to radiate from Evan. This overwhelming strength made Sirius hesitant to approach; it was as if Evan had carved out his own domain.

As Evan's elder and former Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Sirius had observed Evan's growth step by step from his early days at Hogwarts. Each time he believed Evan had reached his limits, the young wizard would surprise him with an unexpected and delightful breakthrough. Over the past two years, Evan had shattered countless boundaries and continued to grow astonishingly. The power Evan held in his hand was beyond anything Sirius had ever conceived; perhaps only Dumbledore, a wizard of Dumbledore's caliber, could comprehend it. At this point, Sirius couldn't even imagine Evan's limits.

While Sirius had never imposed limitations on Evan, he had provided guidance, much like he had done for Harry and Ron. However, Evan's growth showed no signs of slowing down; it was accelerating. It was becoming increasingly clear that even Dumbledore had concerns about Evan's rapid development and believed in the necessity of guidance. Sirius was grateful for Dumbledore's insights, although he didn't fully agree with them. He couldn't help but worry about Evan, especially given his close relationship with Harry. The potential consequences of such immense power in a young wizard troubled him deeply.

Sirius had refrained from limiting Evan but had, instead, provided mentorship based on his experiences as an Auror. He addressed Evan's combat weaknesses, imparted knowledge on interpersonal skills, and even engineered some encounters to secretly test his abilities. Though he hadn't done much, Evan's progress had been impressive, satisfying Sirius and Dumbledore.

Before Sirius left Hogwarts to become an Auror, Dumbledore discussed Evan's future. This time, Dumbledore shifted his focus, hoping that Sirius would assist Evan in becoming a wizard capable of taking on significant responsibilities. Thus, Sirius had sought Evan's input extensively, placing himself in a secondary, supportive role and following Evan's lead.

Evan remained oblivious to Sirius's thoughts. At this moment, with the assistance of the Philosopher's Stone, he channeled all the available strength into the scabbard, including the might of the Cyclops, merging it with the surrounding space into a unified whole. The scabbard in his grasp seemed intangible, an embodiment of pure energy. It appeared as lightning, invisible to the naked eye, transforming into essence and surging.

With each passing moment, Evan felt his arms grow heavier as though the energy possessed mass—an unexpected revelation. The scabbard drew closer to the Cyclops's eyelid, intensifying its potent force.

In this moment, Evan, in his complete energy form, became akin to a god, with dominion over the very core of existence and even the entire world. He envisioned himself creating new worlds, plucking stars from space, and arranging them according to his desires. He felt invincible, boundless.

In the next instant, Evan saw the apparition of Godric Gryffindor at the age of 17. Godric wore a familiar smile and approached Evan, gripping the scabbard with him. The energy surged, growing even more formidable. Face to face, Evan and Gryffindor stood together, transcending time as their forms converged. In that moment, Evan stood shoulder to shoulder with a legendary wizard, one of the founders of Hogwarts.

As the energy dissipated, Evan and Gryffindor jointly wielded the scabbard, thrusting the scarlet-red lightning into the Cyclops's eye. The energy and its enormous single eye pierced through the Cyclops's tough skin effortlessly. A crimson light flashed, and golden-yellow blood gushed out like a fountain with the scabbard's insertion. Alongside the blood came an overpowering surge of strength; the Cyclops reached its zenith of power.

A deafening roar erupted from the Cyclops beneath Evan. Although its soul and consciousness had dissipated, the intense pain triggered instinctive reactions in its body. It swayed and rocked violently, resembling a colossal beast about to topple. The earth trembled, and Evan was engulfed in the turmoil, clutching the scabbard with unwavering determination. The molten magma churned violently, akin to a daunting tempest assaulting the Cyclops's form. The entire space reverberated with immense power.

The strength of the Cyclops was rapidly drained into Gryffindor's sword scabbard. Despite the dissipation of some residual energy, the pressure in the core persisted, causing violent seismic shifts. Magma erupted, and thunderous explosions echoed through the lava pond, creating deafening sounds.

The ancient stone door was forcefully thrown open, crashing backward, and the evil ceremony of the Claw of the Raven's dark wizards was disrupted.