247: Eternal Gubraithian Fire and Duel

A cave.

Beneath the Black Lake, Inferi clawed their way up the rocks.

Their withered hands gripped the slippery stone, hollow, misty eyes fixed on Tommy. Their waterlogged, tattered robes dragged behind them.

On their sunken faces, an expression of disdain—directed at the thief.

Tommy kept attacking—he had once been an experienced Auror.

He immediately cast a Fire-Making Spell, igniting flames all around.

But there were too many Inferi—an endless swarm.

Fatigue crept over Tommy.

The rat clutching the golden locket no longer felt so triumphant.

At this moment, an overwhelming fear seized his body.

His breathing became labored, and his plump frame rolled back toward the stone basin.

"No—it's you—it's you!"

The rat let out a sharp scream and his body shifted back into human form.

A hand—missing one finger.

It was Peter Pettigrew.

The sheer terror gripping him was so intense that he had to fumble several times before he could even draw his wand.

In his eyes, John had turned into a massive black mist, swallowing him whole.

The scene shifted back to that pitch-dark dungeon.

Under the watchful gaze of the silver mask, he was forced to drink bottle after bottle of Veritaserum.

"Demon, demon—!"

His scream caught Tommy's attention. The moment Tommy turned his head, an Inferius broke through the defenses and rushed in.

Just as it was about to reach him, the Inferius was sent flying backward.

John, still lying on the ground, had finally regained some strength. He staggered to his feet, his face blank and numb.

"My lord!" Tommy was overjoyed, tears welling in his eyes.

John fought to reclaim control over his body. The effects of the potion had left him sluggish.

He pulled a magic crystal from his small pouch. The crystal shattered, releasing a misty energy that finally cleared his mind.

Using Dragon's gaze, he completely engulfed Peter Pettigrew. Then, with a flick of his hand, the fallen wand flew back into his grasp.

He stepped forward. Under Pettigrew's trembling, horrified gaze, he picked up the golden locket and slipped it into his pocket.

"Please... I beg you..."

Peter Pettigrew sobbed miserably.

John looked at him with cold indifference. "I'll deal with you once I'm out of here."

With that, he cast Disarming, Cruciatus, and Stunning.

Two to the body, one to the head.

Peter Pettigrew passed out instantly.

Meanwhile, Tommy was struggling to hold his ground.

John glanced at the countless Inferi swarming in. He clenched a Philosopher's Stone along with three magic crystals in his hand.

Magic surged through him. At the tip of his wand, golden flames ignited.

That single spark seemed eternal, its radiance piercing the darkness.

"Roar—!"

The flames expanded in an instant, transforming into a massive golden fire dragon.

The blazing dragon soared around the lake, incinerating every Inferius in its path into ashes.

"Gubraithian fire dragon!"

John raised his wand high, his robes billowing as magic burned through him at an incredible speed.

The eternal Gubraithian fire had transformed into a blazing dragon, turning the entire lake's surface into shimmering gold.

"Go!"

With a single command, a pair of wings sprouted from John's back.

Seizing Peter Pettigrew, he beat his wings and soared forward, flying alongside the fire dragon.

Tommy quickly jumped into the boat. Any Inferius that dared to emerge from the water was immediately devoured by the flames.

Upon reaching the shore, before John could even speak, Tommy had already rushed to the sealed stone wall, slicing open his arm and smearing his fresh blood onto the surface.

The archway reappeared. Without hesitation, John tossed Peter Pettigrew over to Tommy.

Glaring at the Inferi still trying to climb out, he suddenly condensed the fire dragon into a single burning point.

The Philosopher's Stone seared against his palm. He could feel the last bits of magic crystal energy depleting.

Using his final reserves of strength, John ignited the Gubraithian fire in a massive explosion.

Flames surged into the black lake, consuming every Inferius within.

At the very last second before the blast, John stepped through the doorway.

The stone door slammed shut behind him, just as a tremendous shockwave shook the entire cavern.

John staggered, nearly losing his balance.

Tommy quickly stepped forward to support him.

John shook his head, signaling that he was fine.

"We need to get out of here, fast."

The moment he laid eyes on Peter Pettigrew, the unease in his heart intensified.

He could smell a conspiracy brewing.

Leaving the stone wall behind, John's badge suddenly flickered.

Hmm?

His expression changed.

He quickly tapped the badge, and a holographic projection appeared—it was an emergency signal.

John immediately asked, "What happened?!"

Daphne: "It's Cedric."

Fleur: "In the maze, I was attacked by Krum. Cedric and Harry Potter were in the final showdown. But the winner should have poped by now!"

Percy: "I've already requested Mr. Crouch to suspend the competition. They're discussing it now."

John quickly pieced the situation together.

Something had gone wrong in the maze.

He took off the badge and placed it in his palm.

Through his perception, he sensed five stars grouped together in one direction—likely Hogwarts.

The other two, however, were in completely different locations.

"Sir?" Tommy tightened his grip on Peter Pettigrew.

John's expression was grim. "Call every security team member near the cave."

Without hesitation, Tommy tilted his head back and let out a wolf-like howl.

Seven or eight distant howls quickly responded in succession.

John focused on the two stars that were separated from the others. As his magic slightly recovered, he attempted to Apparate—"No way?"

He realized that Apparition to that location was impossible.

That could only mean one thing—someone had activated the Sovereign's Right he had granted.

"Damn it!"

Sensing the approximate location around the stars, John released his magic so Tommy could lock onto him, then immediately Apparated.

The security team members followed suit, Apparating after them.

...

"Mr. Crouch, we need to halt the competition immediately!"

Percy shouted anxiously beside old Barty.

Old Barty didn't know what had happened. He frowned deeply, but Percy gritted his teeth and whispered, "Something's wrong inside the maze."

Hearing this, old Barty couldn't sit still any longer.

He immediately stood up and went to Ludo, urging him to halt the competition.

Ludo looked troubled—this wasn't a decision he could make alone.

Old Barty turned back to Percy and asked again, "Are you sure, Percy?"

Percy nodded firmly.

Old Barty studied him for a moment before finally choosing to trust the young man he had high hopes for.

Without hesitation, he turned and went to find the three headmasters, demanding that the competition be paused.

Amelia noticed the commotion and frowned, watching old Barty hurriedly searching for the judges.

Daphne had just finished contacting John, her face filled with anxiety.

Malfoy couldn't sit still any longer. "We should go in directly."

"No, we'd be stopped," Daphne blocked him.

"Where did Heinrich go?" Neville asked.

Daphne replied, "He just left to somewhere."

Fleur ran up to the stands.

They saw Dumbledore listening to old Barty, then calling over the patrolling professors to investigate.

Professor Flitwick found nothing unusual, but Professor McGonagall noticed that Moody was missing.

A professor had disappeared.

Hagrid rushed back and reported, "The Goblet of Fire is gone. Someone took it."

If it was taken, that meant a champion had been chosen.

But no one had emerged from the maze yet.

Now, everyone realized something was wrong.

Dumbledore immediately decided to halt the competition—they had to go in and check.

They searched the maze thoroughly and finally found something.... Moody's prosthetic leg!

Dumbledore examined it carefully and said gravely, "A specialized Portkey."

Among the spectators, at some point, "Johnny Silverhand" had made his way down.

...

Graveyard.

The crimson stallion grew larger and larger.

The Fiendfyre grew harder and harder to control.

Cedric shouted, "Heinrich, you'll burn yourself out like this!"

"Leave, Cedric." Blood trickled from the corner of Heinrich's mouth.

His eyes locked onto the two people trapped within the fire, unable to escape. His wand burned in his grip.

Harry, now freed, ran over and was equally horrified by the sight.

Suddenly, beside the fiery stallion, a massive serpent of flame rose.

It lunged, nearly biting through the stallion's neck. Heinrich couldn't hold back a mouthful of blood.

In a hoarse voice, he yelled, "Get out of here, now!"

Cedric gripped his wand and roared, "I won't abandon my friends!"

Harry clenched his wand tighter. The fire serpent was terrifying beyond belief.

Heinrich poured more magic into his spell. The stallion lashed out, landing a solid kick on the serpent's body.

At that moment, the ground ahead suddenly caved in.

A figure emerged from the pit, face dark and sinister.

At the sight of that person, a distant wail echoed in Harry's ears—the cry of his mother.

Voldemort raised his wand, sending a streak of green light toward Harry.

Blinded by fury, Harry charged forward to meet the attack.

"Avada Kedavra!"

"Expelliarmus!"

Boom!

Green and red lightning clashed, the energy crackling violently.

Harry had never faced an opponent this powerful before.

At the point of impact, the energy pushed steadily backward—toward him.

Seeing this, Cedric reacted immediately, stepping in to help.

"Expelliarmus!"

Voldemort flicked his free hand, crushing the spell midair. In the next moment, Cedric was sent flying.

The duel had started!

The Dark Lord Vs the Boy Who Lived.

Edgar against Edgar.

__________

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