Chapter 88: A New World (Part 1)

The world of Harry Potter is home to many different species of dragons, such as the Chinese Fireball, Swedish Short-Snout, and Peruvian Vipertooth. Despite the variety, they are collectively known as fire-breathing dragons.

Among them, the Ukrainian Ironbelly is the largest and arguably the most formidable. It is no wonder the goblins use it to guard Gringotts. Only wizards of exceptional power, like Dumbledore with the Elder Wand or Grindelwald, might stand a chance against it. Voldemort could potentially be included in this list, but now, Daniel Davis must be added as well.

Dragons are a treasure trove of valuable components: blood, meat, heart, tendons, scales, horns, and bones. While dragon liver might be cheap for Daniel, it is extraordinarily expensive in this world, prompting dark wizards to risk their lives hunting these magnificent creatures. Even with Aurors monitoring dragon habitats worldwide, the vastness of the oceans and remote islands means dragons can still emerge unexpectedly. Dark wizards, unbound by legal constraints, frequently pursue dragons for their materials, particularly for making wands, given the Ministry's stringent regulations on wand ownership.

For a wizard, having a wand is vastly different from not having one. Although wandless magic exists, and even noiseless magic (which is like a silenced gun), both are incredibly challenging. Noiseless spells are difficult enough that only a few skilled Aurors can master them, while wandless magic is even rarer and more difficult, often limited to top-tier wizards like Dumbledore or Grindelwald. Moreover, wandless magic typically lacks the power of spells cast with a wand, making it a skill few pursue.

A wand acts as a lever, amplifying a wizard's magical capabilities. While a person can easily lift a bottle of water, lifting a crate is far more difficult without assistance. A wand, however, enables a wizard to lift multiple crates effortlessly. Without it, their magic is significantly weaker, unable to match even an average Auror. Though formidable wizards like Dumbledore and Grindelwald might struggle without their wands, escaping from any confrontation would be child's play for them, given their superior skills.

"This is a dragon," Daniel murmured, silently appearing next to the Ukrainian Ironbelly chained in Gringotts. The massive grey dragon, over twenty meters long, failed to impress him. In Daniel's view, the dragons in Harry Potter's world resembled oversized, winged lizards more than the legendary creatures of myth. If they had been true mythical dragons, Daniel would have been much more cautious.

Similarly, phoenixes, despite their association with rebirth through fire, didn't match up to the legends. Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes, could indeed rise from its ashes, but in other aspects, it fell short of the mythical bird's grandeur.

"Finite Incantatem."

"Relashio."

"Confringo."

Daniel analyzed the chains binding the Ukrainian Ironbelly and cast three spells in quick succession. The dragon, sensing its chains weakening, roared loudly. Its massive wings beat powerfully, and its tail smashed into the surrounding structures. The goblins, caught off guard, scattered in fear.

Gringotts might claim to employ the Ukrainian Ironbelly as a guardian, but in truth, they enslaved it. Dragons in this world lacked the intelligence to be truly formidable allies. Newt Scamander, the renowned magizoologist, had been the only one to cooperate with dragons, and even he had struggled immensely.

As the dragon's chains shattered, alarms rang throughout Gringotts. Goblins, unsure of what was happening, rushed towards the commotion only to be met by the dragon's fiery breath. In a mere moment, the surrounding goblins were incinerated into charcoal.

"Impressive. The temperature of dragon fire far surpasses that of ordinary magical flames," Daniel observed from his perch above the dragon, admiring how quickly it had turned goblins to ashes. Anticipating the dragon's breath, he had already moved to a safe vantage point and disposed of Griphook, the goblin who had assisted him, by throwing him into the flames to cover his tracks and frame the betrayal on the goblins.

The Ukrainian Ironbelly unfurled its wings and began to ascend, smashing through the iron rails and columns of Gringotts' vault. Its enormous size allowed it to force its way up through the spacious underground.

The Ukrainian Ironbelly is the most powerful dragon species, capable of lifting an entire cargo ship. Since one of them had performed such a feat, they have been under tight surveillance. In a modern world where sea traffic has increased exponentially, the unmonitored actions of dragons could expose the magical community.

With a deafening crash, the dragon broke through the rock ceiling and emerged above Gringotts, its colossal form casting a shadow over the white building. It roared once more and soared into the sky.

"What's that? A dragon!" The sudden noise attracted the attention of wizards conducting their business in Gringotts and those wandering Diagon Alley. They gaped in astonishment at the dragon now perched atop Gringotts. Inside, debris from the shaking ceiling rained down, causing panic.

Fortunately, the wizards present were well-prepared, and injuries were minimal. However, they quickly fled the bank. Despite Daniel's low opinion of these dragons, in this world, they were seen as apex predators.

As the dragon flew away, Diagon Alley began to return to normal. Within minutes, a squad of Aurors Apparated into the scene, hurrying towards Gringotts. The appearance of a dragon was an urgent matter for the Ministry of Magic, while goblin elders arrived to initiate a joint investigation. None of this concerned Daniel anymore.

"Does this make me a Dragon Rider?" Daniel stood on the dragon's back, exhilarated by the wind rushing past. He had clung to the dragon's back as it flew out of Gringotts, cloaking himself with a Disillusionment Charm similar to the Weasley's flying car's invisibility system.

Realizing the presence on its back, the dragon tried to shake Daniel off with complex aerial maneuvers and increased speed, but Daniel held firm.

"Imperio!" he incanted, targeting the dragon's left wing with multiple spells. Ropes of light snaked around the wing, temporarily slowing the dragon's flight.

Despite underestimating the dragons of this world, Daniel recognized their power. He could easily defeat the Ukrainian Ironbelly using modern weaponry like grenades, C4, or even a surgical strike, but such methods would cause extensive damage.

Daniel aimed to subdue the dragon without causing harm. Such a feat would be impossible for even Dumbledore and Grindelwald combined, but Daniel had more than just magic at his disposal—he had the powers of the Ope-Ope Fruit.

However, to effectively use the Ope-Ope Fruit's powers, he needed the dragon to be stationary. The Room ability created a fixed space that didn't move with its user. At the current speed, the dragon would fly out of the space instantly.

This limitation of the Ope-Ope Fruit required a stable battlefield. The fruit's user, Law, often faced stamina issues due to this constraint.

As the dragon's flight slowed, Daniel stowed his wand and formed hand seals. The space ahead of him shimmered like glass, expanding outward in a radiant dome. He had activated the Mirror Dimension, pulling the Ukrainian Ironbelly into it.

Though Daniel could have fought the dragon outside, he preferred the control and safety of the Mirror Dimension.

"Room. Slaughterhouse." A golden sword materialized in Daniel's hand. Activating the Ope-Ope Fruit's ability, he swiftly severed the dragon's head.

"No magical defenses, huh? I was ready for more resistance," Daniel remarked as he separated the dragon's body parts, preventing it from dying immediately. Due to the Ope-Ope Fruit's nature, the dragon's parts could still function, albeit disconnected.

"Sorry," he muttered, forming a golden blade of energy—Gamma Knife—and thrusting it into the dragon's head. This attack, invisible on the outside, devastated the dragon's internal organs.

The Ope-Ope Fruit's abilities could kill if used correctly, without the typical limitations of its room field.

"Much easier this way," Daniel noted with satisfaction, watching the lifeless dragon. Using magic, the battle would have been prolonged, as dragon scales had high magical resistance. He could have also used modern weapons like missiles or Gatling guns, but these would have severely damaged the dragon's body. Now, he had a pristine dragon carcass.

This method preserved the dragon's valuable components, especially its meat, known for its potent life energy.

Not only the meat but the blood was rich in magical energy as well.

"I wonder how effective a dragon blood bath would be. It might be a bit wasteful, though," Daniel mused, considering the legendary power-enhancing properties of bathing in dragon blood. Even if it was wasteful, he decided to give it a try. If the blood ran out, he could always hunt another dragon. With his Mirror Dimension and the Ope-Ope Fruit, poaching dragons, even those under the Ministry's watch, would be straightforward.

Moreover, he now had a complete dragon skeleton, a treasure that would elevate the prestige of any home it adorned, sure to make Tony Stark envious. Stark had once mocked Daniel's lack of valuable art in his mansion, but Daniel had no interest in art. Now, with this dragon skeleton, he had something truly remarkable.

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