Hogwarts' Real-Life Challenge Game

Chapter 168: Hogwarts' Real-Life Obstacle Course

"I don't think 'Ultimate Challenge' is a very good name," Wade said to Michael. "An ultimate challenge shouldn't have an 'ultimate' end."

"What if your final boss is defeated?" Michael asked.

"Then we tell the challengers it's just a Bronze-tier boss, and after Bronze comes Silver, Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Master, Grandmaster, and King. And then one-star King, two-star King, three-star King… up to nine-star King, and then there's the God-tier level. Isn't that great?"

"Have mercy on everyone!" Michael rolled his eyes. "At this rate, they'd never finish the obstacle course in a lifetime."

"Why should they finish it?" Wade countered. "An obstacle course with an ending quickly becomes residue in memory. Only an unending one makes people reluctant to give it up."

"I actually think… this memory will never become residue…"

Michael said, "Tell me the truth, is it because everyone disliked your version of the survival game that you came up with this whole setup?"

"…How could that be?" Wade retorted with a hint of guilt. "Of course, I thought about it for a long time, considering how to make these games more interesting and more useful for everyone… This wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment idea."

"Stop trying to explain yourself. Your hesitation says it all," Michael scoffed.

Wade: "…"

The professors nearby, while observing the students' progress in the course, chuckled as they watched the two bicker, smiling with great tolerance. Even Snape said nothing.

And over the past day or so, Wade had truly come to appreciate the capabilities of the school's professors.

His memory went back to yesterday noon.

…

Padma, pulling a few other girls along, drew up new blueprints in just one afternoon.

It was a vast space, divided into seven different areas, each containing an intricate maze. From the outer layer to the inner layer, the area progressively shrank, ultimately converging at a single point.

Players had to choose one of the seven entrances, navigate through seven levels, and only then could they face the final boss.

Failure or giving up meant starting the challenge from the beginning.

Michael and the rest of the SSC borrowed the complete set of Fantastic Beasts from the library, from which they compiled thirty-seven types of magical creatures suitable for students.

Wade, on the other hand, contacted Professor Murray through the Book of Friends and consulted with Mr. Scamander, eventually designing a new alchemical creation.

Its common name was the "Real-time Scorer."

But the inscription Wade carved on it was—[Hero Leaderboard]!

While he worked tirelessly to complete his alchemical creation, Professor Flitwick had rallied all the school staff to help—from Dumbledore to Filch, from the nearly retired Professor Kettleburn to the Thestral that pulled the school carriages, not one was left out.

Most of the staff participated enthusiastically, with only Filch muttering complaints, worried that the mischievous students would take advantage of the situation.

First, several professors from Herbology, along with advanced students, took action. Overnight, they made countless bushes grow out of nowhere, completely encompassing the previous Game Arena and forming its basic framework.

Though the thorny bushes weren't as dangerous as Devil's Snare, being pricked by them was still incredibly painful. They grew densely, with gaps so small that only tiny insects like ants could pass through.

Then, Professor Flitwick and his advanced Charms Class students set up various terrains in the areas between the bushes.

There were alleyways, like those in the previous Game Arena, as well as swamps, forests, flower fields, or small hills, and even seemingly flat grasslands that concealed hidden traps.

Professor Flitwick enchanted some keys or paper airplanes, allowing them to fly freely within the area, and students would need to catch them to gain clues.

Professor Flitwick also invited Lockhart to help. Lockhart happily waved his Wand, declaring that he would create a peculiar spectacle. However, the Spell he cast accidentally rebounded on him, knocking him flying and landing him in a trap Professor Flitwick had just set.

Professor Flitwick had no choice but to have the students send Lockhart to the Hospital Wing first.

Next were Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and their students, adept at Transfiguration. They freely cast Transfiguration spells, making the maze area even more bewildering and bizarre.

Branches turned into archways, a withered leaf became a drooping piece of tattered cloth, and rotten apples on the ground transformed into carriages emitting a putrid smell.

Dumbledore also set up a few small mechanisms; those who fell into a trap would temporarily turn into goats or boars. He clearly looked forward to the moment the traps would activate.

Professor Snape and Madam Pomfrey brought out their stock of Potions and hid them in the maze. Some could repel magical creatures, some could confuse enemies, some could heal, with various effects too numerous to list.

However, Professor Snape was unwilling for his Potions to be used for free by unappreciative students. Next to the useful Potions, he placed counteracting elixirs.

For example, Potions that caused vomiting or incessant hiccups, some that induced fainting, or made one irritable.

Then, the professor racked his brain to leave behind many different logic puzzles or Potions quizzes. Students who answered incorrectly would suffer the bitter consequences of not paying attention in class.

Finally, Professor Kettleburn and Hagrid released different magical creatures into different areas, based on the list Michael had provided.

Both were very eager for Norberta the Dragon to take on the role of the ultimate boss, but unfortunately, this was unanimously rejected by the other professors.

In the end, they adopted Wade's suggestion.

The boss of the final level was a ball python that had been affected by an Engorgement Charm.

This was a non-venomous, ordinary snake, but under the influence of magic, it could resist most Spells, moved agilely, and its body was so massive it resembled a prehistoric beast.

The giant snake slowly slithered in the final area, its scales gleaming with a metallic luster. Just a glimpse of its enormous body from afar was enough to make timid children cry.

Wade looked forward to the day it would be defeated by the students.

Of course, there were also some harmless ordinary animals, as well as harmless but terrifyingly enlarged insects.

Wade mischievously assigned higher scores to the most frightening-looking creatures. Challengers wanting to rack up points would have to confront them.

Hmph.

Fairies are cute, right? Can Fairies get you points?

Wade thought.

A giant earthworm burrowed into the ground, creating some underground passages for the maze. Professor Flitwick hid the entrances but left behind riddles full of hints.

Thestrals were also among them. They would guide students in distress out of the maze, occasionally creating a terrifying atmosphere.

Dumbledore even specifically allocated a group of House-elves to act as lifeguards.

They could Apparate freely within Hogwarts, their large ears could hear any movement throughout the maze, and their innate magic allowed them to sense people's most urgent needs, making them the most suitable lifeguards.

This was also the first time the House-elves appeared openly before the students.

When they first showed themselves, they scared some Muggle-born lower-year students who thought they were monsters from the maze, yelling, "Go away!"

But soon, students who had been rescued a few times began to affectionately call these elves "little saviors." Some even secretly slipped the House-elves candy or even Knuts, hoping they would help them skip class or defeat opponents, which was, of course, not allowed.

With everyone's concerted effort, the new Game Arena "grew" at a visible pace. After just a day and a half, the first "trial run" began.

This was a miracle in everyone's eyes.

When the trial run started, Wade and the professors were positioned in various areas, checking for any hidden dangers or areas that needed improvement.

Students queued in a long line in front of the entrance. Filch stood there, his face dark, watching the students to ensure they followed the rules and didn't cut the line.

Even if some were quickly sent out by the House-elves, they immediately ran to the back of the line to queue again, eager to try a second time.

The reason students were constantly motivated to challenge themselves wasn't just having such a large-scale real-person challenge game in their otherwise dull and boring academic lives. It was also because of the massive, constantly updating leaderboard near the entrance.

Daily Scoreboard

Single Challenge Scoreboard

Overall Scoreboard

The game had just begun, and competition for rankings on the leaderboard was fierce, with scores changing rapidly.

Different names scrolled continuously. Sometimes, the person who was just in first place would scroll to the bottom of the leaderboard within minutes.

Others would emerge unexpectedly, suddenly seizing the top spot.

Even just staying in first place for a few minutes was enough for many students to brag about.

One reason why score-based games are so captivating is the sense of accomplishment and excitement that comes from this instant feedback. Students could easily find satisfaction and happiness in it.

And unlike ordinary people addicted to mobile games, these students needed to work harder academically, master more magic, and delve deeper into the knowledge of various subjects to achieve higher scores in the maze. Therefore, the professors not only didn't stop them but encouraged their participation.

Next chapter update delayed until evening

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