Blake's sudden step out of the protective magic startled Luna. The poachers outside looked vicious and dangerous—anyone could tell they weren't good people. Fortunately, Blake had set up camp quickly and cast protective magic in time, keeping them safe for the moment. Luna just wanted these dangerous men to leave, to stop searching the area.
But what she never expected was for Blake to step out of the protective magic now, of all times!
Protective magic wasn't invincible. It worked best when the enemy was unaware of it, and once someone inside stepped out, they could no longer use it to hide if they reentered. Luna had heard Blake explain this before, which was why his reckless action shocked her. Staying inside ensured safety, but stepping out was unpredictable.
Nagini, on the other hand, remained within the protective barrier, but she moved closer to the edge, watching attentively. She understood the power of a surprise attack and refused to give up this advantage. Still, she gestured for Luna to take cover inside the tent.
Luna hesitated but obeyed, ducking behind the fabric. Even though she hid, she couldn't stop herself from peeking out anxiously to watch.
Luna wasn't the only one startled by Blake's appearance. The poachers, who had been meticulously searching for traces of movement, froze in shock. To them, he had appeared out of thin air!
The leader, a man with a pimple-covered face, stiffened before his shock turned into rage. But when he got a clear look at Blake—a boy no older than twelve or thirteen—his embarrassment flared. He had been caught off guard by a mere child!
"Who are you?! What are you doing here?" Pimple-Face snapped.
Blake remained calm, his hands clasped behind his back. "Does this mountain belong to you?"
Pimple-Face hesitated before shaking his head.
"Then did you rent this mountain?"
Again, the answer was no.
Blake's expression remained unchanged. "Then who I am and what I'm doing is none of your business, is it?"
"You little bastard!" Pimple-Face's face twisted in fury. "You think you can talk back to me?!"
Despite his aggressive tone, he didn't attack immediately. An eleven or twelve-year-old boy appearing alone in the forest was odd. Was he really alone? Or were there others hidden nearby? The experienced poacher hesitated, scanning his surroundings warily. His men followed suit.
Blake, however, remained unimpressed. "First of all, what I do is none of your concern. Secondly… you're extremely ugly, so could you please stop standing so close? You're hurting my eyes."
That was the last straw.
"You brat!" Pimple-Face lunged at Blake, reaching for his collar, his patience completely gone.
Luna stifled a gasp, her heart pounding. Blake had barely drawn his wand! How could he possibly defend himself now?
But Nagini remained unfazed, watching with a small smirk, as if she had absolute confidence in him.
Then, in a movement too fast for the poachers to process, Blake gripped his wand with both hands and swung it upwards—like a baseball bat.
The thin, black wand suddenly elongated and thickened, transforming into a sturdy staff in midair.
Pimple-Face's eyes widened in horror. He had expected a spell, not a physical attack. He barely had time to process the change before Blake's staff connected with his chin.
CRACK!
A sickening sound echoed through the forest as Pimple-Face's head snapped back. Blood and teeth scattered into the air as his body lifted off the ground.
With a dull thud, he crashed onto the ground—completely unconscious.
His men froze in disbelief. Their leader had been taken out in a single hit.
Blake sighed, twirling his now-enlarged wand. "That's it? I didn't even hit you that hard."
The remaining poachers finally snapped out of their stupor. Their eyes burned with fury as they charged toward him.
One of the quicker men raised his wand.
But Blake was faster. He slammed his staff into the ground.
A blinding flash erupted from the tip.
It was an enhanced Lumos spell. Ordinarily, Lumos was a simple lighting charm, but Blake had infused it with power, turning it into something stronger than a flashbang.
Nagini and Luna, safely positioned behind him, were unaffected. But the poachers, facing directly toward the light, weren't as lucky.
"AHHH!" they screamed, covering their eyes in agony.
Blake wasted no time.
With fluid movements, he swung his oversized wand like a weapon, striking down each poacher one by one. They barely had time to react before being knocked unconscious.
Even the hounds weren't spared.
When Luna and Nagini finally emerged, the clearing was littered with unconscious bodies and whimpering dogs.
Blake casually tapped his wand, shrinking it back to its original size. He gave it a light shake, sending droplets of blood flying.
"That should do it."
Luna gawked at the scene before her. Moments ago, Blake had been a polite, well-spoken young wizard. Now, he looked like a warrior who had just taken out an entire squad of enemies single-handedly.
[Ding! Shocked emotion detected.]
Blake smirked as his system rewarded him with a golden treasure chest. He returned his wand to his pocket and turned toward Luna, who was still staring at him in awe.
"When traveling in unpredictable environments, carrying a wand that can grow and shrink seems reasonable, don't you think?" he asked with a grin.
Luna, still slightly numb from the scene, nodded slowly. "That… actually makes sense."
Blake chuckled and rummaged through his pocket.
A small potted plant slipped from his grasp and landed on the ground.
Luna squinted at it. "Is that… a Devil's Snare?"
"Yep." Blake picked it up and held it proudly. "A good adventurer always carries the right tools. And what better tool for setting up camp than a portable, self-growing plant that entangles enemies?"
Nagini nodded approvingly. "That's very reasonable."
Luna looked at the plant skeptically but ultimately sighed. Maybe she was the one who was thinking too much.
Blake placed the Devil's Snare on the ground, and it immediately expanded, tendrils shooting out and wrapping around the unconscious poachers and their dogs. Within seconds, they were bound tightly and lifted into the air like hanging prey.
Satisfied, Blake pulled out his wand again. He needed information about the Colosseum these poachers were connected to.
He approached Pimple-Face and, with a flick of his wand, muttered, "Legilimens."
A second later, he pulled away, now equipped with key details. He turned to Nagini and Luna.
"We can't camp here tonight."
"Because of them?" Luna asked.
"Partly. I'll send you two somewhere safe first, then come back and deal with these guys. Once I finish, we'll continue our journey."
Luna hesitated. "What if they escape?"
Blake smirked. "A wizard without a wand, tied up in my Devil's Snare? There's no escaping."
The bound poachers began screaming threats, but Blake silenced them with a wave of his hand. The Devil's Snare wrapped around their mouths, muffling them completely.
Blake then stretched out his hand and drew a circle in the air. A shimmering portal appeared before Luna and Nagini.
Luna's eyes widened. "So, we could have traveled instantly this whole time?"
Blake chuckled. "Do you prefer to skip the journey or enjoy the adventure?"
Luna smiled. "The adventure, of course."
With that, she stepped through the portal, followed by Nagini. Blake turned back to the poachers, rubbing his chin.
Then, with a mischievous grin, he opened a small dimensional gate and called out:
"Mr. Scamander, are you home? Want some magical creatures?"
=============
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