**Chapter 73: Take This Avada Kedavra!**

"Should I go in the opposite direction?"

As Dylan was still pondering the results of his divination, a sudden, pungent stench filled the air above him, followed by a sharp, whistling sound.

Instinctively, Dylan looked up. A massive Acromantula was descending upon him, its eight eyes glowing with a sinister green light under the dim moonlight. Its bristly hairs were clearly visible, and its sharp fangs were bared, ready to tear into him.

"Holy—! So the arrow was pointing to what's above me?!"

In that life-or-death moment, Dylan didn't hesitate. He cast a spell without even using his wand.

"Avis!" *(Bird-Conjuring Charm)*

Suddenly, a flock of black birds surrounded him, multiplying exponentially and forming a protective barrier. The swarm collided violently with the Acromantula's massive body.

"Boom!"

The Acromantula was sent flying by the sheer number of birds, landing on the ground with a dazed expression in its eight eyes.

Seizing the brief moment of distraction, Dylan waved his hand. The birds swirled around him rapidly, creating a gust of wind that carried him several meters away.

"You dare ambush me? Alright, if you're going to play dirty, don't blame me for fighting back!"

As soon as he landed, Dylan's wand was already in hand, pointed directly at the Acromantula.

"Crucio!" *(Cruciatus Curse)*

A soft pink light shot out with incredible speed, striking the Acromantula.

"Hiss!"

The Acromantula let out a piercing screech that was almost deafening. But Dylan simply waved his wand, expanding the range of his silencing spell.

"Quietus!"

Pink stardust particles enveloped the Acromantula, instantly muting its screams and even the sound of its thrashing on the ground.

"Hmph." Dylan let out a light scoff, feeling somewhat relieved.

The Forbidden Forest was truly dangerous. If he hadn't mastered several high-level spells, he might not have been able to react in time to such an ambush.

The Acromantula continued to writhe in pain, its eight thick legs clawing at the ground, sending dirt flying everywhere. Dylan noticed that its body was convulsing violently, and cracks were beginning to form on its once-hardened exoskeleton.

"Huh? I didn't cast the Severing Charm. Why is its shell breaking?"

Or was this the effect of the Cruciatus Curse?

Dylan blinked. Being kind-hearted and merciful, he didn't want to see a creature suffer in front of him. So, he raised his wand again.

"Imperio!" *(Imperius Curse)*

Another burst of beautiful stardust particles shot out, enveloping the Acromantula. Its movements froze, and it slowly rose into the air, suspended mid-flight.

Then, a faint, translucent soul began to emerge from the Acromantula's head.

"This is my first time using the Imperius Curse. It feels... strange."

Dylan closed his eyes and gently tapped the soul with his wand.

In an instant, a flood of images rushed into his mind.

The struggles and futile cries of prey.

A bloody hunting ground.

Countless tiny spiders crawling everywhere.

A damp, dark cave.

"I've found the nest!"

Dylan's eyes snapped open, and he released the Imperius Curse. It was as if he had become an Acromantula himself, now intimately familiar with how to locate their nest.

"Maybe I should start the advanced training for the Imperius Curse too."

Looking at the Acromantula, which was now twitching on the ground and seemingly on the verge of death, Dylan hesitated. He decided not to start the advanced training for the Unforgivable Curses just yet.

Instead, he pulled out a special potion vial and approached the Acromantula.

After a moment of hesitation, he worried that the creature might suddenly leap up and bite him, so...

"Imperio!" *(Imperius Curse)*

Once again, he took control of the Acromantula's soul, rendering it completely immobile and unable to resist. To be extra cautious, Dylan even extracted its soul and set it aside.

Then, he bent down and began carefully collecting the Acromantula's venom. Its fangs were enormous, and the venom was highly toxic. It took him a while to collect every last drop.

Next, he pulled out a pair of specially crafted tweezers from his inventory and moved to the Acromantula's head.

"For such a hideous creature, its eyes are surprisingly beautiful."

The eight glowing green eyes, now motionless, looked like gemstones arranged on either side of its head. This was Dylan's first time dissecting an Acromantula, so he took a deep breath to steady himself.

With precise control, he positioned the tweezers around one of the eyes, gently wiggled it, and pulled it free. He placed the eye into a specially prepared wooden box, which would preserve its freshness and integrity.

One by one, Dylan removed all eight eyes. Then, he pulled out a pair of magical shears he had purchased in Diagon Alley. They were incredibly sharp, capable of cutting through even enchanted steel—and they were large enough that Dylan needed both hands to wield them.

Positioning himself beneath the Acromantula's abdomen, he made a swift, decisive cut.

"Squelch!"

The shears sliced through the Acromantula's body, and Dylan began sorting through its innards and silk.

"There's not much silk here. Next time, I should use the Cruciatus Curse to torture it a bit longer. That might make it produce more silk."

After collecting most of the valuable materials from the Acromantula, Dylan looked at its mangled body and then at its floating soul.

"Uh, would it be inappropriate to put you back now?"

The Acromantula's soul hovered in the air, its eyes vacant.

"Wait, it's already so late."

Dylan checked the time and realized it was past 3 a.m., almost 4.

"No, no, I need to get back and catch a little more sleep."

He turned back to the Acromantula and pointed his wand.

The soul re-entered the body, and the battered corpse twitched slightly.

Dylan quickly added, "Wait, don't die yet! Take this Avada Kedavra first!"

He raised his wand again.

"Avada Kedavra!" *(Killing Curse)*

—x10!

"Avada Kedavra!" *(Killing Curse)*

—x10!

"..."

"Avada Kedavra!" *(Killing Curse)*

Dylan cast the final Killing Curse at the already-dead Acromantula, eagerly glancing at his system panel. Even though the creature had died from the first Killing Curse, the advanced training task didn't specify that he couldn't cast forty-three more Avada Kedavras at its lifeless body!

(End of Chapter)