pertwk Chapter 274, Section 273: The Bronze Gate! The Ancient Dragon!
Chapter 274, Section 273: The Bronze Gate! The Ancient Dragon!
Chapter 274, Section 273: The Bronze Gate! The Ancient Dragon!
Moonlight streamed through the distorted shadows of the trees.
The fir trees looked like toys squeezed flat by an invisible hand, the patterns on their bark as regular as printed designs. The place felt lifeless, as if it were a world built from Lego bricks.
Under the moonlight, the silver-haired old man held the old magic wand that represented power in his hand. The hem of his robe swept across the ground, and the seemingly real decaying leaves disappeared like pixelated fragments.
"Headmaster Dumbledore!"
Hermione only then belatedly exclaimed in surprise. Her wand nearly slipped from her grasp, and the dry twigs she stepped on as she retreated made a crisp, cracking sound, like breaking plastic.
but.
soon.
The crushed matter was completely repaired, unlike the decaying leaves under Dumbledore's feet which simply disappeared. Neither she nor Snape could shake anything that existed in this space.
Perhaps it's related to one's social status.
after all.
Albus Dumbledore didn't cast any spells as he walked around.
"What are you doing here?" Snape looked at Albus Dumbledore with a hint of wariness in his eyes, his wand never lowered from his hand.
Perhaps it was Albus Dumbledore's words that overturned his understanding of Albus Dumbledore, or perhaps it was his own sensitivity as a double agent that made him unusually vigilant.
In short.
After the initial shock subsided, Snape didn't completely trust Albus Dumbledore, since there were many ways to transform into someone else in this world.
For example, compound decoctions.
This is the most common method of transforming into someone else. It is a potion made from lacewings, leeches, sapwort, two-eared grass, powdered two-horned beast horn, fragments of African tree snake skin, and a small amount of the person one wishes to become. After drinking it, one can transform into the appearance of another person.
For example, Snape knew very well about Animagus Transfiguration Charms, since there was a descendant of Animagus in the school who could also transform into an Animagus.
God knows how many shapeshifting wizards there are in the world—for Snape, the sudden appearance of Albus Dumbledore in the Forbidden Forest was truly too bizarre.
Even Hermione knew Albus Dumbledore's habits, so how could Snape not know? Even if he heard the dragon's roar, it shouldn't have been such a coincidence that they met each other after he rushed over, right?
Therefore.
Snape, who was overthinking things, harbored suspicions about Albus Dumbledore in front of him.
And regarding this point...
Albus Dumbledore, of course, could clearly sense it.
"Severus, do you remember our agreement?" He didn't care at all; after all, he had other ways to verify his identity and gain Snape's trust.
"Of course I remember."
Snape's eyes flickered.
"Very good. I hope you've been keeping your promise to me." Albus Dumbledore became the riddle-maker again, leaving Hermione bewildered, not knowing what the two were talking about.
but.
Snape breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this.
"What are you doing here?" He had thus verified the other party's identity. After all, only he and Dumbledore knew about this agreement. If others wanted to know, they would either have to use Legilimency on him or on Dumbledore.
"I'm ashamed to admit it."
Dumbledore raised his half-moon spectacles to wipe them, his blue eyes behind the lenses gleaming with curiosity: "Like you, I was drawn here by the unusual tremors in this Forbidden Forest."
His voice was as mellow as mead, yet it made Snape feel inexplicably uneasy—Snape gripped his wand tightly in his hand, his eyes flashing with suspicion and uncertainty.
"You just said that even you are trapped here. Does that mean even you can't break this kind of magic?" It has to be said that this was something that made Snape extremely uneasy.
To know.
In his understanding.
Albus Dumbledore is already the most powerful wizard in the world. If even Albus Dumbledore says it cannot be broken, then who in the world can break such magic?
Such a magic.
What kind of terrifying life form could have unleashed this power?
The more you think.
Snape became increasingly terrified.
In contrast to his emotional shift, Hermione was simply shocked—after all, she was just a young witch who had just entered the magical world.
My understanding of Albus Dumbledore was limited to the descriptions I read in books, much like a student reading an article about how powerful and capable a national leader is.
Ultimately, she had never personally experienced or come into contact with him. Hermione knew that Albus Dumbledore was very strong, the most powerful wizard in the world.
but.
Compared to children born into pure-blood families, she didn't yet have much understanding of this kind of power, so the impression of Albus Dumbledore as "omnipotent" hadn't yet formed. This can actually be seen from Hermione's views on Albus Dumbledore in the original timeline's first year and later.
"What exactly is our situation now, professors?" Hermione just wanted to figure out their current predicament, but Albus Dumbledore's words reassured her somewhat.
after all.
The book says that Albus Dumbledore is the most powerful and reliable.
"This place is like a...secret realm? In any case, this is probably not the magic we are familiar with." Dumbledore's words made the air freeze instantly.
"What do you mean?" Snape's voice carried a rare hint of urgency.
"Look."
Albus Dumbledore glanced at his Potions professor and pointed to a group of trees in the distance, whose trunks had strange, almost copy-pasted patterns.
"Some force created this place, but it is not powerful enough to simulate our reality more accurately; it can only make such a crude and rudimentary copy of reality."
"Whatever it is, it must have just awakened." Dumbledore didn't answer directly, but instead said something that made Snape feel inexplicably uneasy.
"What has been revived?"
He hurriedly asked.
Hermione's breathing also became rapid.
"You mean this might be some kind of supernatural phenomenon?"
Before this little witch entered Hogwarts, she must have enjoyed reading books like "Unsolved Mysteries of the World," so she took what the old headmaster said as a supernatural phenomenon.
of course.
Wizards are themselves representatives of the supernatural.
"This is the puzzle I was talking about, the one we need to solve." Dumbledore's smile was enigmatic as he turned and gently stroked the trunk of a tree beside him.
"Isn't it interesting precisely because we don't know?"
The old headmaster's tone was neither anxious nor serious; rather, it conveyed a sense of wonder at discovering the unknown, perhaps even knowing something that Snape and Hermione didn't.
Otherwise.
There's a little wizard here.
He certainly wouldn't be as relaxed and natural as he is now. I just don't know why he didn't choose to tell the two of them; perhaps there's some reason he can't say.
of course.
It's also possible that this Albus Dumbledore is just a figment of imagination.
It originated from Snape's brain.
That's how I learned about the agreement that Snape knew.
Who can say for sure?
Hermione nodded thoughtfully, but Snape's expression shifted even more rapidly: "This might be related to Ian. He went to challenge the creature that made the noise."
have to say.
It's really touching that the old man still cares about Ian.
Unfortunately, Ian wasn't here either.
It is an ineffective way to evoke emotion.
"We have absolutely no need to worry about Ian," Dumbledore suddenly chuckled. "Your junior is no weakling; he possesses a vitality and strength far beyond your imagination."
"I believe that even if we die here, he will live well." The old headmaster clearly knew more than the two of them, so his words were a heartfelt sentiment.
after all.
In terms of strength...
Even the old headmaster wasn't sure if he could stand up to Ian now.
"this……"
Snape's expression changed even more drastically. Dumbledore's words shocked Snape, who did not know that this meant Albus Dumbledore did not care about Ian's life or death.
Or do they truly have such strong faith in Ian?
If it is the latter.
That really made him suspicious and uncertain.
"Um, can we not die?" Hermione asked weakly. After all, she was still a child, and she had an innate and intense fear of death.
Dumbledore turned to her, his eyes twinkling with delight. "Of course, my dear. Death only comes when you are ready; it is a special privilege reserved for you young wizards."
The latest novel is first published here!
His words had a deeper meaning.
Hermione, however, felt somewhat confused.
I can't figure it out.
Snape's lips twitched.
"Now is not the time for lame jokes, Albus."
The Potions professor also thought that Headmaster Dumbledore was making a humorous joke.
"All right."
Dumbledore pulled a pocket watch from his robe. The hands on the dial spun in reverse, each mark engraved with a different map of the Forbidden Forest. The moment the watch cover popped open, countless golden rays of light shot out in all directions.
It's like they're conducting an investigation.
"To unravel the mystery here, we need to understand its purpose—after all, it didn't deliberately trap the three of us together just to listen to my bedtime stories."
This is true dry humor.
Hermione stared wide-eyed.
Snape, with a stern face, had a twitching eye.
……
Meanwhile, on the other side, deep within the Forbidden Forest, a strange rift valley abruptly stretched across the land, as if torn apart by some immense force. In the center of the rift valley, a massive bronze gate stood majestically, its doors half-open, from which flowed chaotic mist, sometimes transforming into distorted human figures, sometimes scattering into stardust.
It seemed to connect to some indescribable space-time.
Ian stood in front of the valley.
His eyes reflected the turbulent chaos within the doorway.
Beneath his feet lay an ancient dragon, lifeless and with a massive body like a small mountain. Even in death, its dark golden scales still shimmered with a metallic luster.
The colossal beast beneath their feet once possessed wings that blotted out the sky, but now it drooped like a rag between the cracks in the rocks. Its enormous body made the hybrid dragons look like little lambs to the slaughter.
Yes.
This is an ancient dragon.
The purest-blooded dragon.
"A portal to another dimension?" Ian murmured to himself, his wand twirling gently between his fingers. Beside him, dragon blood meandered into a river on the scorched earth, emitting a pungent smell of sulfur and rust.
It is clear.
Such an ancient dragon could not possibly exist in the present era, so it is reasonable for the young wizard to suspect that the bronze door leads to an ancient timeline; otherwise, there would be no explanation for why a dragon would emerge from inside.
"This isn't me disrupting history; history has come to me and wants me to accept it." Ian crouched down, preparing to use a disintegration spell to collect the dragon's precious materials—dragon crystal heart, ancient dragon marrow, immortal scales—all rare potion ingredients. However, just as his wand began to glow...
"roar!"
A deafening roar suddenly came from inside the bronze door!
Another dragon roar. Utterly enraged. The sound wave crashed down like a tangible force, causing the rubble on the ground to tremble and float in the air, while Ian's robes were whipped about by the gale, fluttering wildly.
He looked up sharply.
Countless distorted lights and shadows flickered in and out of the chaos, as if a million hands were clawing at the folds of time and space. Then, amidst the violent churning of the chaotic mist within the gate, an equally enormous ancient dragon flapped its wings and soared out!
It was a grand and imposing event, with an overwhelming sense of physical presence.
The dragon's eyes blazed like two burning suns, so intense it was almost impossible to look directly at it. It stared down at Ian, a crimson light emanating from deep within its throat—a sign that its dragon breath was about to be unleashed.
"Again?"
Ian raised an eyebrow.
They've clearly just had a similar experience recently.
"Then let me collect double the materials and win twice." Ian didn't seem tired at all. His magic power was vast and abyss-like, constantly resisting the dragon's pressure.
"roar!"
The dragon opened its blood-red maw, and blazing white flames erupted like a torrent! Ian, however, did not retreat but advanced, his wand drawing a perfect arc—he had seized control of the dragon's flames.
Grindelwald would certainly be very pleased to be here.
pity.
No one witnessed it.
There was no audience.
The dragon breath that should have burned him to ashes suddenly solidified in mid-air, then circled around Ian like a tamed beast. Then, Ian stirred the flames of his wand and pounced on the dragon.
not only that.
Ian also added his signature move, the Shadowless Storm, to this spell. Countless invisible blades condensed in the air; they had no physical form, yet were more deadly than the sharpest blades in the world. Within the flames, the intense heat distorted the air, and wherever the Shadowless Storm swept past, the dragon's body was torn apart by the unseen blades.
Ancient dragons have very high magic resistance.
but.
Who can blame me when Ian is a legend?
It roared in agony and struggled frantically, but could not break free of the cage of flames. In its desperate struggle, the dragon let out a final, mournful howl.
"Boom!"
Its massive body crashed to the ground, shaking the earth.
"The second one."
Ian had just put down his wand with satisfaction.
But when I turned around, I found...
The first dragon he had killed seemed to have vanished without a trace—not only that, before the young wizard could even realize that some thief had stolen his work.
Its massive body crashed to the ground, shaking the earth.
"roar--!!!"
Another dragon roar.
Another giant dragon flew out.
This time.
Ian's focus shifted.
and so.
He saw it—the dragon he had slain was slowly turning into nothingness. Looking again at the dragon that was pouncing out, Ian, with an expression of disbelief, discovered an astonishing fact.
perhaps.
He was only fighting the same dragon the whole time?
(End of this chapter)