The bright moonlight struggled against dark clouds, casting mottled shadows of trees swaying gently in the cold wind.
The Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts was unquestionably one of the school's most perilous areas, teeming with a variety of magical creatures. There were unicorns, only approachable by pure-hearted maidens, centaurs who read fortunes in the stars, and cunning eight-eyed spiders...
The deeper one ventured into the forest, the more treacherous it became, shrouded in unknown darkness.
Even Hagrid, during his nighttime patrols, tended to stick to the forest's periphery, rarely venturing into its heart, except to check on his pet giant spider.
The last time Luke had been here was during the battle with Voldemort, when Quirrell was possessed—an encounter that left him marking coordinates in his mind.
Emerging slowly from the vortex's center, Luke's scarlet eyes scanned his surroundings. The once-huge crater caused by Fang Tian's "Six Seven Seven" halberds had been filled in and adorned with newly planted trees.
It was likely Dumbledore's doing.
After all, Dumbledore and Hagrid had mapped the terrain and handled the aftermath of unicorn carcasses.
"The scent of blood..."
Luke gently twitched the tip of his nose, detecting a faint scent of blood emanating from the depths of the Forbidden Forest.
"Not very strong... should have expired long ago."
"Fluorescent Flare!"
With a wave of his wand, a bright point of light illuminated the dark surroundings, causing the leaves to rustle in the wind.
It felt as if something lurked within, perhaps even a timid Miss Hermione to take on a date, Luke mused mischievously. However, after surveying the area, he decided to venture deeper. This area was still within Hagrid's patrol range, minimizing potential complications.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Luke's gaze fixed on a tree trunk nearby.
There, a spider the size of a broom head crawled, its four pairs of jet-black eyes fixed on him.
"Have I stumbled into the domain of the Eight-Eyed Spiders?" Luke muttered softly to himself.
A golden magic circle materialized in his hand, from which he conjured a spear crackling with thunder and lightning. With precise aim, he thrust the spear into the tree, causing greenish liquid to ooze down its surface, emitting a foul odor.
It was just a small spider, and even if the giant Eight-Eyed Spider appeared, Luke felt confident he could handle it.
Continuing deeper into the forest, he eventually halted at a vast clearing overgrown with weeds, surrounding a clear pool nestled amidst towering trees.
"This should suffice."
Luke withdrew his wand from his sleeve and cast a transformation spell on the tall trees surrounding the area. Soon, the spell took effect, creating a towering and smooth prism barrier encircling the pool.
"Perfect... now for the finishing touch."
With everything set, Luke's eyes glinted with determination.
"Now, let's see if the basilisk succumbs to its own gaze or if my kaleidoscope illusion can control it first!"
"Commence psychic techniques."
Closing his eyes slowly, Luke began to perform intricate hand seals.
Completing the seal, Luke struck the ground with his palm.
Strange patterns resembling spider webs began to weave across the ground, forming a complex circular design.
Simultaneously, he concealed himself within the Shenwei space to avoid potential basilisk attacks.
Boom—
A burst of white smoke suddenly filled the air, almost engulfing the entire open space.
"Hiss—"
A raspy roar echoed from within the fog, accompanied by billowing dust.
Here it comes...
Luke turned calmly as the summoned basilisk emerged, his wand dispersing the mist.
Through a magnifying glass, a pair of rapidly spinning sickles projected onto the prism as the fog cleared.
In an instant, kaleidoscopic patterns adorned the surrounding surfaces.
"..."
The basilisk, originally charging aggressively, slowed to a stop.
Success?
Luke sensed the silence behind him and turned to see the controlled basilisk standing obediently.
Its massive head, scales shimmering emerald in the moonlight, bore traces of a sticky, transparent fluid. Notably, its original lethal vertical pupils had been replaced by three sickles.
"It seems the lethal and petrifying effects are gone," Luke mused.
Still, the creature's nearly thousand-year lifespan made it incredibly valuable, with its venom and fangs alone being highly prized materials...
And who said it needed lethal eyes to pose a threat? With its formidable size, the basilisk commanded respect in the Forbidden Forest.
But... where to house it? Perhaps a suitcase akin to Newt's?
"Hiss—"
Just as Luke pondered the basilisk's future, it emitted a soft hiss.
Turning, Luke noticed a swarm of Acromantula spiders had silently encircled them.
Pairs of black eyes fixed on Luke.
They detected a familiar scent of blood emanating from the human before them.
Despite their numbers, the spiders hesitated to approach the basilisk.
Luke shivered slightly, averse to the hairy creatures.
"The spiders fear the basilisk and won't come any closer," he remarked, glancing at the dense cluster of arachnids.
Checking his watch, it was already one in the morning.
"Almost done."
Instead of commanding the basilisk to attack, Luke decided to deal with the bothersome spiders himself.
"Thunder Dragon's—"
Taking a deep breath, golden arcs crackled at the corners of his mouth and around his hair.
"Roar!"
A torrent of golden lightning surged from Luke's mouth in a sweeping arc, unleashing unstoppable power towards the spiders.
Boom after boom, mighty trees were blasted aside and charred remnants fell to the scorched ground.
The air filled with the acrid scent of burnt wood, and the ground crackled with residual lightning, illuminating the area like a forbidden zone of thunderous seas.
"That ought to clear the air."
Luke wiped remnants of golden thunder from his mouth, surveying the scorched earth with a satisfied grin.
Time to depart.
At that moment, Hagrid, patrolling nearby, was startled by the thunderous uproar echoing from the Forbidden Forest.
Looking up, he witnessed a spectacular display of lightning splitting the night sky, casting an awe-inspiring spectacle over half of the horizon.
"It's over—"
Hagrid's oil lamp slipped from his grasp, his mouth agape in disbelief.
"Headmaster Dumbledore!!"
.....
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