Seeing Luna seated on the stone throne, Asterion, Rose, and Cedric acted according to the plan previously established, with a few adjustments due to the unexpected environment of the second phase of the Kings' Game. Each took a corner around the stone throne, positioning themselves to form a triangle that protected Luna in the center.
Cedric drew his wand and began altering the terrain through transfiguration, focusing primarily on the top of the mountain, where sharp spikes jutted out from the peak. If anyone looked at the mountain's summit at that moment, they would see gigantic spikes encircling the entire top.
Rose also used her transfiguration skills to change the environment, making the mountain's peak particularly resistant by modifying its molecular structure with her Six Eyes. This not only prevented the peak from being easily destroyed but also ensured that no one could tunnel through the rocks from below to attack Luna while they were focused on fighting.
Asterion simply spread small cursed spirits around to keep watch over the entire mountain with a 360-degree view. They would see the attacks coming.
The three of them turned the terrain to their advantage, despite being the strongest in the tournament. Being powerful didn't mean they would just stand around, waiting to be attacked with their arms crossed. Especially knowing they would have to deal with dozens of opponents simultaneously, each team would have a cunning plan to take them down.
Rose sat on the ground and waited in silence. She wasn't in a hurry to get into a good fight; she wouldn't underestimate these "ants" again like she did before.
The battle against Hans Weiss had taught her that even an ant could cause her some damage if she wasn't cautious enough. Although her Limitless was not activated at that time, Hans had still managed to hurt her.
Asterion was also calmly waiting for the attacks to come, but unlike Rose, he wasn't as eager as the white-haired girl. He sat on the ground and closed his eyes, in no rush to start the fight.
Luna lay on the stone throne, her body comfortably sprawled on the cushioned seat. She appeared completely relaxed and unconcerned about being the target of the entire competition.
Cedric was different from the other three members of his team; he seemed the most nervous and cautious. His green eyes scanned the surroundings with vigilance, ready to strike at any moment.
Everyone remained silent, but the atmosphere grew heavier as time passed, like a volcano gathering enough lava to create an eruption never seen before.
This silence lasted for an hour before it was finally broken.
Suddenly, Asterion opened his eyes and spoke calmly.
"They're at the base of the mountain right now."
Hearing this, Rose stood up and walked to the edge of the mountain peak, looking out between the sharp spikes.
Her beautiful eyes focused on the small figures gathered at the base of the mountain. Her lips curved into an amused smile at the scene; from her perspective, it looked like tiny ants gathering to fight.
However, something made Rose raise an eyebrow in surprise.
"There are at least six teams, strangely, almost all men," Rose commented with a slightly puzzled expression. As far as she remembered, nearly all the teams had a balance of two male and two female members, so seeing so many men together was at least odd.
Where were the women from the teams?
"It doesn't matter. When they start climbing, begin attacking." Unlike Rose, Asterion didn't care whether men or women attacked him; they would all be defeated equally under the fist of strength.
Rose nodded and picked up some stones, ready to play with them for a moment.
"I have to gauge my strength well; I don't want to blow their heads off and get disqualified," she murmured to herself while playing with a stone the size of a golf ball.
Cedric took a deep breath and drew his wand, ready to fight at the slightest disturbance.
Luna, on the other hand, took some jerky from her supply kit and ate while looking up at the sky with her blue, almost silver eyes. If someone looked into them, they would see something akin to a silver river reflecting in her eyes.
-
At the base of the mountain, Fleur looked at her enslaved followers with a cold gaze—twelve wizards of Grade 2 and semi-Grade 1. If she had more time, that number would be higher, but time waits for no one.
Her gaze shifted to the massive mountain peak, where she could see terrifying spikes and small black dots flying around the mountain.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're scary?" Ana Rodriguez, captain of the Spanish team, remarked, looking at the twelve men who only had eyes for Fleur Delacour. A shiver ran down her spine as she saw the eyes filled with obsession and sickly love in those men.
She really admired Fleur; to stand in front of those eyes without changing her expression meant that Fleur had already gone through a lot to get to this moment.
"Many times," Fleur replied casually, her beautiful and exquisite face indifferent to the men's stares.
"What can you tell us about Asterion?" she asked, looking at one of the four Grade 1 wizards in this competition, being one herself.
Previously, there were only three Grade 1 wizards: the captain of the Russian team, the captain of the American team, and herself, the captain of the French team. With Ana's arrival, they became four.
"First of all, attacking Asterion Black by surprise is impossible," Ana responded without any hesitation.
"The senses of a special-grade wizard are something beyond the human category; they are monsters in human skin. He would know even if you looked at him from hundreds of kilometers away; any disturbance in magic would catch his attention immediately."
"Strength, defense, speed, perception, and endurance—he possesses all of them. There are no weaknesses in these areas. His experience in fighting wizards and witches might be limited, but he compensates with monstrous reflexes and inhuman physical attributes."
"As for his innate technique..." Ana's face showed a helpless expression when mentioning Asterion's innate technique. "He's a one-man army. If he weren't limited to Grade 2 strength, just his cursed spirits alone could finish us off."
It was already stressful to fight against a limited special-grade wizard, but it was even more stressful knowing that this special-grade wizard carried dozens of special-grade cursed spirits with him!
Fleur wasn't surprised by the information Ana provided; if special-grade wizards were so easy to defeat, they wouldn't be the pinnacle that every wizard or witch aspired to.
In the eyes of all wizards and witches, the special grade was something they all longed for; these wizards and witches had already transcended the human category and become something superior.
"Besides Asterion, we have to fight against Rose Potter," Ana commented in an even more despairing tone. The girl killed a Dark Lord when she was just a baby; even if there was more to the story, it didn't change the fact that a baby was responsible for killing one of the most violent and malevolent dark wizards.
At the mention of Rose, Fleur's eyes changed slightly. Although Rose wasn't as famous as Asterion, who had recently killed a special-grade wizard, the reports of her fighting against three special-grade wizards in the Seven Powers War were a record more than frightening, etched in the annals of wizarding history.
Fortunately, like Asterion, Rose would be limited and couldn't use much power; otherwise, dealing with her Limitless would be something to worry about. After all, if you can't even touch your opponent, how can you defeat them?
"You seem to be waiting for someone else." Noticing that Fleur remained still, showing no signs of attacking the mountain, Ana asked with a confused expression.
"Send my men to find the other two teams. I'm waiting for two more Grade 1 wizards to arrive," Fleur looked at the mountain with a calm gaze. "We will attack together."
Ana nodded, feeling much more confident with the next plan. Four Grade 1 wizards—the chances of making the Hogwarts team lose the first trial of the Tournament were high.
"They've arrived." Ana and Fleur looked simultaneously in a certain direction and saw two teams emerging from the forest.
Two young men in particular caught both girls' attention.
One had blonde hair and blue eyes, tall and muscular; he looked like a stereotypical school bully. However, he had a warm smile on his face and an especially shrewd look in his eyes.
Michael Thorne, son of the President of MACUSA.
The other young man was equally large, even bigger than Michael, with black hair and green eyes. He seemed calm and composed, like an experienced soldier, especially his green eyes, filled with a penetrating and sharp gaze.
Alexei Ivanov, son of the Russian Minister of Magic.
"Sorry for the delay; we had to fight off a few teams we encountered on the way," the first to apologize was unexpectedly Michael, who seemed the more prideful of the two.
Alexei merely nodded, indicating that he had encountered a similar problem but apparently didn't like to talk much.
"Let's begin," Fleur spoke in a tone that was almost a command, causing Ana, Michael, and Alexei to look at her with dissatisfied expressions.
Fleur clearly noticed this but didn't seem to care; she had the advantage in this fight, and it was only natural that she would be the one to lead the attack—at least in her eyes.
---
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Next Chapter Second Volume: Chapter 151 - Second Phase of the King's Game (6), 152 - Second Phase of the King's Game (7), 153 - Second Phase of the King's Game (8), 154 - Second Phase of the King's Game (9), 155 - Second Phase of the King's Game (10), 156 - Second Phase of the King's Game (11), 157 - Second Phase of the King's Game (12), 158 - Second Phase of the King's Game (13 e And), 159 - Death of Arcturus (1), 160 - Death of Arcturus (2), Chapter 161 - First Phase of God's Creation Plan (1), Chapter 162 - First Phase of God's Creation Plan (2), Chapter 163 - First Phase of God's Creation Plan (3), Chapter 164 - First Phase of God's Creation Plan (4), Chapter 165 - Vellory of Arcuturus Black (1), Chapter 166 - Vellory of Arcuturus Black (2).