The countdown had begun: 2 hours until the apocalypse.
Over the course of three months, Asmodeus had been accumulating points like a madman.
Now, his balance was nearing 30,000, allowing him to retain 20,000 after world improvement.
Two days ago, he visited the nearly completed Elysium Academy of Magic and was immensely pleased; he now had a place comparable, if not superior, to that of the druids.
Yesterday marked the end of the academic year at Hogwarts, and Asmodeus assigned special undercover agents to all Muggle-born wizards and their families to ensure their safety during the impending apocalypse. Wizards would disrupt Muggle families' access to transportation for the next two days.
Asmodeus strolled through London, gazing at the skyscrapers, cars, and people hurrying somewhere. He understood that these people's lives were on the verge of change, perhaps for the better or worse. However, he knew he had to carry out his plan. Asmodeus, a wizard, needed the support of the highest-ranking Muggles to conceal magical world movements, finance construction, and more.
In return, he granted them magical rings and bestowed them with powers in advance. Yet, Asmodeus was wary of the bureaucratic influx from Muggle world, not wanting these individuals to disrupt the magical world's harmony.
In his reflections, Asmodeus sensed a crisis after fully understanding the system's workings. He believed in swift and instantaneous pain over a slow, chronic ailment. Hence, he opted for such a radical approach.
Lost in thoughts, Asmodeus felt a collision. It was a little girl, around 10-11 years old, emanating magic. She hadn't received her acceptance letter to the magic school yet. "Ouch! That hurt!" The girl held her head, seated on the ground.
"You know, you should look around more often," Asmodeus said, extending a helping hand. "Um, yeah. Sorry," the girl replied, looking up at a 16-year-old boy with European features, dark as the night hair, brown eyes occasionally flashing a red glow. Dressed in a dark burgundy English suit with a white handkerchief in the pocket.
"Apologies, Amelia often has her head in the clouds!" a voice came from the side. It was Mia, her mother—a very beautiful young woman in her 20s, dressed in a business suit.
"No problem. Take this. If the world goes haywire, you can reach out to this address," Asmodeus said, pulling out a piece of paper and a pen, scribbling a few words, and handing it to the girl.
"Thank you!"
The address "The Leaky Cauldron" in London is written on the note.
"Um, thanks, I guess..."
The woman didn't understand what Asmodeus was talking about, but Amelia rarely smiles so warmly with strangers after her father's death, so she left everything as it was.
"Elder, are you... like me?"
"Oh, little one, you have great potential if you can sense it. But I won't say anything for now; this isn't the place. Just wait for your letter... Well, I must be going. Wish you a good day. Hopefully, we'll meet again."
Asmodeus bid farewell and headed towards the London Bridge. He wanted to see the city in this state one last time in this era.
"Um, goodbye," Amelia and Mia said in response.
"Amelia, what did you mean when you said this boy is like you?"
"Hmm, you still don't believe me. I won't tell you!"
After Amelia's words, Mia understood what she was talking about—those peculiarities she always mentions, like a flying cup, a bus speeding through London, and so on.
Mia took Amelia's hand and waited for their taxi, entertaining herself by calling it. Meanwhile, Amelia looked at the note Asmodeus gave her.
7 Charing Cross Road, The Leaky Cauldron.
For some reason, Amelia felt that she and her mom needed to go there soon, though she couldn't understand why.
The taxi arrived by then.
"Good afternoon, madam. Where to?"
"Copenhagen Street 3, thank you."
Amelia stared out the window, feeling the urgency to go to the address Asmodeus provided.
"Mom, mom!"
"Yes, dear?"
"Let's go to the address the senior gave us?"
"Why?"
"I don't know... just a feeling that something is about to happen to the world..."
Although Mia considered Amelia's stories of a flying cup foolish and childish, she always listened to her intuition. A year ago, Amelia prevented her from going to a work site, and five minutes later, Mia received a message that the house she was supposed to visit had a gas leak and exploded. Since then, Mia tries to listen to her daughter. Now, in Amelia's eyes, she saw the same fear and uncertainty as a year ago. As if she knew something would happen but didn't know what.
"Okay, let's go there. Taxi! Let's change the address."
"Alright, where do you want to go?"
"7 Charing Cross Road."
"Hmm, do you know where you're going?"
The driver turned around and looked at Mia with an assessing gaze. But then he saw Amelia, and as if understanding something, he nodded to himself.
"Alright, 7 Charing Cross Road, let's go."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. I was heading there anyway. Though I was planning to go in the evening..."
"What's there?"
"Oh, just a bar... You'll see when we get there."
Mia didn't quite understand why the teenager gave a child the address of a bar he frequents as a taxi driver, but decided to go anyway. In any case, she had a stun gun in her purse just in case.
Asmodeus stood on the bridge, gazing at the city. He checked his watch.
13:00
One more hour...
Asmodeus sadly looked at London in its modern state for the last time and vanished on the spot. He appeared at the Hog's Head Inn, where Nicolas and Grindelwald were currently drinking, and Aberforth was laughing over 20-year old Albus.
Asmodeus patted his cheeks and prepared himself. It was time to stage the play he had prepared. From his storage bag, he took out a specially modified mana density meter in space. It was altered to display the desired value using the remote control in his hand. He had prepared two such sensors, and last night, he secretly took Nicolas's personal sensor.
Asmodeus needed to prepare his associates, but he couldn't reveal that he somehow instantly increased the mana density in the world. The system must remain undisclosed. It was his secret, and it would die with him. Thus, he had to play the spectacle.
"Nicolas, Gellert, Albus, Aberforth. Look."
Approaching their table, Asmodeus placed the sensor on the table, showing the number 0.85.
"And? What's the problem?" Nicolas didn't quite grasp the issue.
0.80 is considered normal in the wizarding world, so this figure is ideal.
"But here's the thing."
Asmodeus pulled out the second sensor, Which showed a mark.
"0.95."
"Um, is your sensor broken? One of the two?"
"Take a closer look at the sensor with a reading of 0.85."
"It's in memory mode..."
"Guess where I clocked that number?"
"Do you mean….."
"Yes."
"Where?"
"In the center of London"
"..."
"This is bad... Another 20 subpoints, and all the electronics in London..."
"I know, Albus, that's why I came. In the last hour while I was strolling through London, the density has risen from 0.45 to 0.80 and continues to grow."
"Squibs in large numbers doing something in London?"
"No, I checked. It's just that the magic density started increasing out of nowhere."
"Could it be that the number of wizards has reached a certain point for a widespread increase in magic density?"
"I thought about that too..."
"But why? Why now? Does the world have a timer?"
"I don't know, I only know that we need to prepare quietly to help the Muggles unnoticed."
"Why unnoticed? If you and Nicolas are right, it means that Muggles will soon lose the ability to use electronic devices. Isn't this the best time to reveal the magical world?"
"You are somewhat right, only we're not sure yet that electronics will completely shut down when the mana becomes dense enough, and I wouldn't want to start a war if we can slowly engulf the Muggle world thanks to magic rings," Asmodeus said, silently applauding Grindelwald.
"Okay, no time. Albus, take the sensor and fly to London. If Asmodeus and I are right, as soon as electricity disappears, it will mean Armageddon for Muggles. Take as many people as you can with you."
"Gellert, you're responsible for Germany. Take your followers and try to save as many Muggles as possible."
"Both of you, just act discreetly. We're not sure yet if this increase in mana is permanent or temporary. Don't expose the magical world to the public without necessity!"
"Asmodeus, we need to go to Hogwarts, we need to get as many sensors as possible to accurately track the situation. Alright, let's go!"
"Stop!"
"What, Albus?"
"Muggle wizards!"
At these words, the entire group held their breath.
"Asmodeus, quickly, inform your people to head to the addresses of Muggle wizards and protect them."
"No need, I did it 10 minutes ago as soon as I noticed the anomaly."
"Phew..." The old wizards forgot who was truly the fastest problem solver among them.
"Alright, then let's stick to the plan. Let's go, everyone to the Apparition Hall."
"Use the private one; it's faster."
"Aberforth is right, let's go."
As everyone stood up, Asmodeus quietly said to himself, "System, buy an upgrade for the world by one level."
"Ding, 10,000 points deducted, remaining balance 19,760 points. Thank you very much for your purchase. You have received the first enhancement gift set. Your gift set is in the system's storage; please open it within a week. World enhancement will begin in 3, 2, 1!"
All the wizards in the restaurant suddenly stood up. They felt as if something in the world had changed.
Nicolas also felt it and quickly grabbed the mana density sensor.
0.95
1
1.05
1.07
1.10
And so on.
The indicators rose in front of their eyes until they slowed down at 1.76 and began to rise slowly, very slowly.
"Darn it, a whole point in a minute. Guys, urgently to London!"
"Nicolas, wait, I can handle the measurements myself. You should go to France. Your people are there too!"
"You're right. Besides, Perenelle has Muggle friends. If she finds out they died because we didn't tell her..."
"Go, I'll take the sensors and go to London. I'll record all the parameters. In any case, I'm more of a combat mage than a rescuer. Go."
"Thank you, Asmodeus!"
Without stopping, Nicolas ran to the portal to France.
After sending everyone to their destinations, Asmodeus went to Hogwarts to pick up the sensors and record the data collected by measuring devices.
Arriving at Hogwarts and holding the instruments in his hands, Asmodeus wondered if he was doing the right thing.
He recalled the words of Uncle Iroh, whom he met only once when he was fleeing the Fire Nation. At that time, the legendary old man was already known as the killer of the last dragon.
Asmodeus was unsure whether he should follow the Fire Nation's order to burn the village of those who opposed the war. It prompted him to leave the Fire Nation. Uncle Iroh helped him escape and said on parting,
"Kid, you're a good person. And you're doing the right thing. I won't support the Fire Nation's further actions... And about your doubts, I have a saying."
"Do you know who's wiser? A fool or a sage?"
"A sage?"
"A fool is wiser. A sage doubts everything. So, are you a fool or a sage?"
"It's easier to be a fool....."
"Much wisdom brings much sorrow..."
"What should I know if we never meet again?"
"Don't love money – it deceives. Don't love women – they deceive. Of all kinds of wine, the most intoxicating is will. Rise early at dawn and remember that sunset comes when you least expect it! Live long, Asmodeus. And may your death come in time…"
The part about women Asmodeus didn't listen to, but he listened to everything else
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