Chereads / Harry Potter : The Cardmaster Chronicles / Chapter 45 - Magic Cronicles : Change of Plans

Chapter 45 - Magic Cronicles : Change of Plans

Omni Pov

The mansion sat like a frozen giant on the outskirts of a dense Russian forest, its snow-covered spires piercing the black winter sky.

The structure, a relic of the Tsarist era, had been reclaimed by the underworld and now served as the nerve center for one of the most feared gangster organizations in Eastern Europe.

Its grand facade bore intricate carvings of eagles and wolves, but centuries of frost and neglect had given it a cracked, ominous beauty.

The surrounding grounds were silent, save for the crunch of boots on snow. Beyond the wrought iron gates, the barren landscape stretched into the dark, broken only by the faint flicker of enchanted wards—spells disguised as lanterns, their flames glowing an unnatural shade of green.

The air was sharp and biting, and even the magical creatures that occasionally crossed into this domain seemed subdued, as though they felt the menace radiating from within.

Inside, the mansion was a stark contrast to the cold wilderness outside. Ornate fireplaces roared in each room, their flames casting shadows over tapestries and faded portraits of aristocrats who had long since turned to dust.

The thick scent of cigars and vodka mixed with the faint aroma of spellcraft—ozone and burning herbs.

The gangsters lounged in the grand hall, a space dominated by a massive table of dark mahogany that bore maps, weapons, and an array of magical items.

A samovar hissed in the corner, untouched.

Several underlings cleaned pistols and Kalashnikovs while others sharpened blades that glinted with a faint, otherworldly light.

A few leaned against the walls, nervously fingering wands or magical amulets stolen from black-market deals.

The boss, known only as Viktor "The Frost," was a towering man in a tailored coat lined with fur, his grizzled beard flecked with gray.

He paced in front of a large window, his breath visible in the icy draft seeping through the cracks.

His boots thudded against the parquet floor, the sound echoing through the chamber.

His steel-gray eyes kept darting toward a mirror suspended by heavy chains on the far wall—a magical device used to monitor his men in the field.

The mirror's surface shimmered like liquid ice, but instead of showing the faces of his missing subordinates, it reflected only a swirling void. Viktor's jaw tightened as he turned toward his men.

"Sergei and Oleg have been silent for too long," he growled, his deep voice resonating with authority.

"Something has gone wrong."

A sharp bark interrupted the uneasy murmurs of the gangsters. A massive, three-headed dog lay by the hearth, its middle head snarling in the direction of the door. The flames in the fireplace flickered and dimmed, casting the room into an eerie twilight.

Above, a chandelier adorned with dangling icicles chimed softly, though there was no wind.

A small Niffler darted across the room, clutching a gold chain it had pilfered from a distracted thug.

It vanished into the shadows just as a distant thud echoed through the mansion. The men froze, their hands moving instinctively toward weapons—mundane and magical alike.

"The wards should hold," mumbled a young recruit, his voice trembling as he fumbled with a wand carved from birch.

"Do not speak of 'should,' boy!" Viktor snapped, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

He slammed a fist onto the table, causing a magical orb to roll across its surface.

The orb lit up briefly, revealing a swirling, ghostly image of the last known location of Sergei and Oleg: the frost-laden woods, shrouded in an unnatural fog.

A spectral wolf padded silently into the room, its icy breath misting the air.

Its glowing blue eyes locked on Viktor. The boss nodded grimly, as though understanding some unspoken message.

"Prepare for an attack," Viktor barked. "Wards or no wards, something is hunting us."

As the gang scrambled into action, casting spells to reinforce barriers and readying weapons, the air grew heavier.

Somewhere deep within the mansion, an unnatural, guttural hissing echoed. The sound reverberated through the walls, sending a shiver through even the bravest of the crew.

Viktor pulled a pistol from his coat—a relic engraved with runes that shimmered faintly—and cocked it.

He turned to his men, his expression colder than the Russian winter outside.

"Whatever is out there," he said, his voice low and deliberate, "it will not find us unprepared."

But what the boss "Viktor" doesn´t know is that the wards he so despertly relies on are flawed.

Of course , first we have to understand the concept of ward.

Wards are magical barriers or enchantments designed to protect specific locations, people, or objects from intrusion, detection, or harm.

They are complex and can have various functions, depending on the caster's intent and magical expertise.

In Viktor's mansion, for example, the wards could include:

- Detection spells keyed to recognize intruders 'magical signatures

- Repelling charms that disorient unwelcome guests ( Ex: Muggle reppelling charm) 

 - Shielding spells to block incoming magical attacks.

This wards are like a dome that bring confort and confidence to Viktor.

But what would happen if someone doesn´t attack from the outside , instead , they attack from the inside?

There is a reason why Domestic Elves despite their submission are one of the best assasins of the Magical world.

A mirror that was hung in one of the spare rooms was suddenly filled with the image of a youngster.

This youngster suddenly did something that was unordinary and jumped out of the mirror!!!

"Raymond... Do you copy?"

"Loud and clear"

"I am in the mansion..."

"I have already eliminated most of the underlings"

"But it appears that this "Waste" has some connections"

"Hoh"

Raymond sound surprise...

"How so?"

"There much more people here compared to the information"

"There wards Raymond"

"Fuc**** wards"

"There is also a magical wolf or a kind of spirit that i haven´t even seen in the books"

"I suspect that they have magical weapons too..."

Silence reing for a while....

"A plan generally go wrong"

"That is why there is the need of contingency plans... "

"Contingency basically is prepared for the unspected scenario..."

"So ... this is your mission"

"Proceed according to what i had taught you"

"So...Plan V?"

Before going to this assesment Raymond has taught Severus to always think the worst out of any situation.

Severus Thaught that Raymond was just being Paranoid...

Color him surprise that now he was the one who was surprised the most.

Raymond had learned his lesson the Hard way.

Severus thought about it and decided to do Plan C.

He grab an object that was in his pocket.

It was a deck.

Design: The Deck is a cardholder resembling a sleek, rectangular object with purple and gold accents, reflecting a Snake venomous and reptilian theme.

Insignia: The Deck prominently features a snake-themed emblem, symbolizing its connection to the Contract Monster Venosnaker.

The scene crackled with electricity as his body was bathed in a brilliant golden flame, symbolizing the embodiment of Ra's power.

A belt suddenly surged around Severus waist; it was mostly silver.

With a determined yet cold expression, Severus reached for V´s Advent Deck, a special device that holds the key to his transformation.

With a swift motion, he swiped the deck across the slot on his belt, activating the transformation process.

Suddenly in the house a sudden dread premonition comes.

It was like their were the prey and a hunter has appeared to hunt them.

The wizard's instincts were screaming at them to run in that instant.

A burst of fiery pruple energy erupted from the Advent Deck, tracing intricate patterns along Severus body, and a force field was created around him.

The energy formed a purple and black armor that materialized piece by piece, starting from his feet and gradually working its way up.

HelmetDesign: The helmet is shaped like the head of a cobra, complete with a flared hood that curves around the sides and back, mimicking a snake poised to strike.

Faceplate: The faceplate is sharp and angular, with two glowing yellow eyes resembling a snake's predatory gaze.

Crest: A metallic gold snake insignia sits at the center of the forehead, accentuating the reptilian motif.

Chest:

Armor Primary Color: The chest armor is a deep, glossy purple, symbolizing venom and danger.

Snake Motif: A coiled snake pattern runs across the chest, seamlessly blending into the armor's design.

Gold Accents: Golden lines outline the armor's edges, emphasizing the cobra theme and adding a regal, yet sinister touch.

Shoulder Pads :The shoulder pads are curved and resemble snake scales, providing a layered, flexible look that enhances the armor's reptilian aesthetic.The pads are edged in gold, matching the trim of the chest armor, with a subtle cobra hood design on each side

Arms and Gloves:

Arm Guards: The forearm armor extends slightly, shaped like a snake's fangs ready to bite.

Gloves: Black gloves with purple and gold accents cover the hands, allowing for dexterity in combat while maintaining the venomous theme.

Leg:

Armor Thigh Plates: The leg armor is sleek and segmented, resembling the scaly underbelly of a snake.

Boots: Black boots with gold trim and sharp, claw-like toes enhance the menacing appearance. The boots are designed for swift, snake-like movements.

Belt (V-Buckle)At the center of his waist is the V-Buckle, where the Advent Deck is inserted to transform into Kamen Rider Ouja.The buckle is adorned with a snake emblem and intricate golden details.

Back Design: A cape-like structure resembling snake scales flows from his back, emphasizing his serpentine theme and adding a dramatic flair to his movements.

Color Scheme:

Primary Colors: Deep purple and black dominate the armor, representing venom and darkness.

Secondary Colors: Metallic gold accents highlight the edges, giving a regal and striking contrast to the dark tones.

Each armor segment locked into place with a satisfying click, symbolizing the fusion of man and armor.

'I gotta to do this fast and clean'

"V"

Suddenly a Giant Snake that has a sleek and serpentine body with a long, coiled tail that adds to its menacing and dynamic silhouette.

It standed tall when rearing back but can also slither low to the ground.

'Time for Snacksss?' Asked The Snake called V by telepathy.

"Yes"