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Beneath the winter night sky, deep within the Forbidden Forest—
"What an interesting boy. These little tricks... you seem pretty good at them. For someone your age to wield magic so effortlessly, to bend its many forms to your will, and shape it into your own unique system… I've gotta say, that kind of talent really surprises me."
A cool, slightly harsh voice echoed from the darkness. Overhead, sparks of red light bloomed in the sky—like fireworks scattered across the black night, bright and densely packed.
Malfoy slowly regained some feeling in his body. The glowing sparks floating nearby radiated a warm, gentle power. Even though they were still surrounded by heavy darkness, those sparks scattered across the night brought him a sudden sense of hope—like the first light of dawn might break through at any moment.
"The energy in you is… chaotic. Even among the darker paths of magic, it's rare to see such a messy blend of cold, conflicting powers. At your level, this really shouldn't be happening. I can't figure out what caused it, but if you keep going like this, your path in magic is basically a dead end," Augustus said calmly, his face unreadable as he analyzed the other person's condition.
The dark figure, who had stood still and composed all this time, twitched slightly—maybe that hit a nerve.
"Tch. Sharp eyes—you're pretty impressive. I don't know how you managed to see through my situation so clearly. Still… your understanding of magic is a little too one-dimensional and naive. The world of magic is full of endless possibilities. No matter how twisted the path, if you keep walking it, eventually the true nature of magic will reveal itself, clear as day."
Augustus gave a faint smile. Anyone who'd reached the level of a magical legend had to be completely devoted to their own path. If a few words from someone else were enough to shake their beliefs, they'd never have made it this far.
The word "legend" wasn't just about an unparalleled mastery of magic or reaching a higher magical realm. It meant being a lone traveler on a long, difficult journey through the magical world. The path was full of obstacles and thorns. Only those who pressed forward without distraction, chasing the light they believed in, could ever hope to reach the end of that road and see the faint glow of hope waiting there.
In this vast world full of ordinary people, running around clueless every day, finding someone else walking the same road—heading toward that same elusive goal—was a rare thing. Even if their beliefs and methods were different, Augustus couldn't help but feel a strange sense of connection.
"Come on then. Show me if the path you've chosen has really reached the level I've been hoping for."
Between two mages like them, there was no better way to communicate than with a direct magical duel. Sometimes, raw and simple was the best way to truly understand how far someone had come.
The dark figure paused for a beat, seemingly surprised by how eager Augustus was to fight. He hadn't attacked earlier because the moment Augustus noticed him, he had also sensed Augustus. At their level, magical presence was easy to detect. Augustus might seem like he had no magical energy leaking out at all—but there was a strange, constant sense of danger about him. The figure didn't want to take unnecessary risks in his current condition.
But now that the challenge had been issued so openly, his pride and status wouldn't allow him to back down.
The air grew tense, like something heavy was pressing down on them. Harry and Malfoy wisely took several steps back. Almost at the same moment, the shadowy figure and Augustus drew their wands.
"Confringo!"
A massive beam of red light burst from the darkness, its speed and power enough to make both Malfoy and Harry break out in cold sweat. That kind of force—moving so fast and with such overwhelming momentum—they knew they'd never be able to react to it in time. And that was just the first spell. This level of battle was in a whole different world from theirs.
But just as the beam shot forward, a wall of fire flared up in front of Augustus. The beam struck the blazing flames head-on and disappeared without a sound, not even a ripple. The fiery shield looked almost like a natural membrane, with countless flames shifting and flowing through it, absorbing the entire attack effortlessly.
Before his opponent could react, Augustus flicked his wand, and dozens of massive, crystal-clear ice pillars appeared in the sky. Their sharp tips glinted menacingly, each one giving off a misty, bone-chilling cold. They hovered silently above, and Harry could even see his reflection on their smooth surfaces.
Then, with a wave of Augustus's wand, the ice pillars shot down, slicing through the air with countless afterimages trailing behind them.
"Multus Obex."
A calm voice rang out as the ice pillars approached, and just a few meters away from the dark figure, the pillars suddenly slammed into an invisible wall, freezing mid-air. Augustus raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly. He pointed his silver wand at the suspended pillars, and they instantly began to dissolve into shards—countless ice spikes forming in their place.
Those spikes surged forward in all directions, surrounding the shadowy figure in a deadly net. Malfoy's eyes widened in shock. With such a wide-spread, no-blind-spot assault, how could anyone possibly defend against that?
A second later, he realized he was wrong.
Sometimes, the best defense is a good offense.
From the darkness, a massive black serpent burst onto the forest clearing. Its body glowed with a deep emerald light, like it was made entirely of pure magical energy. With a terrifying inhale, the snake sucked in the thousands of ice spikes from mid-air. Then it lifted its enormous head and stared directly at Augustus, golden eyes glowing with cold bloodlust.
Augustus smiled, clearly enjoying himself now. Things were finally getting interesting.
Just as he prepared to meet the serpent's attack, something strange happened—the figure in the shadows suddenly trembled, and the giant snake vanished on the spot.
"That's enough for today. If we keep going, it won't mean anything. I'm sure we'll meet again soon."
His voice was steady and cold, but this time, there was a trace of weariness in it. Nearby, the fallen unicorn floated toward him. Black flames erupted silently around the figure, and in the next moment, he and the unicorn were gone—swallowed up by the fire.
"....."