Throughout two millennia in which he wandered this world, Herpo understood an unwavering truth: in the face of the omnipotence and omniscience of magic, the fragility of the human body was undeniable. On his quest for truth, he witnessed the devastating power of magic, capable of reducing physical existence to nothing.
Confronted with a Special Grade Sorcerer's Domain Expansion—a force so brutal it disfigured reality, tearing apart the very fabric of reality—he knew, with a cold and cruel certainty, that in the face of such power, even the most resilient of bodies would be erased from existence itself.
However, Herpo, forged in the wisdom of two millennia, recognized a truth: only a Domain Expansion could oppose another.
With the imminent danger looming over him, he reacted as quickly as a mere blink of an eye, discarding without hesitation the threats of the cursed spirits that surrounded him, his total attention and being focused on Asterion.
Forming a seal with his hands, he murmured calmly.
"Domain Expansion – Workshop of the God of Creation!"
"Domain Expansion – Dark Side of the Primordial Universe!"
Both, unwavering, unflinching, materialized their innate techniques, their souls laying bare within the barriers forming around both of them.
Asterion's expansion emerged as a dark vortex, an abyssal expanse cold and lifeless, swallowing all the malice and sins accumulated by humanity, a pit of all conceivable evil.
In parallel, Herpo's expansion unfolded like a desolate desert, under a sky dominated by titanic gears, spinning tirelessly in a mechanical symphony, a clock marking the end of times.
And then, like two ancient gods in battle, their domains collided, a dark universe against a desert, the primordial darkness against a clock of the end times.
In an instant — no longer than a blink of an eye, a mere millisecond — a blinding glow marked the clash of worlds.
And, despite the chaos, both Asterion and Herpo felt a profound tremor, a dizzying sensation that the heavens and the earth were inverting under the overwhelming impact.
Yet, both stood immovable as mountains in the face of the magical fury that was the collision between two Domain Expansions; they persisted, their domains continuing to collide, a dance of destruction and creation.
Suddenly, everything disintegrated, the walls of Asterion's Domain Expansion broke!
With no more impediments, Harpo's domain expansion advanced!
But before it could touch Asterion, a huge serpent with two silver heads emerged from the space, with grace and beauty, it appeared and swallowed Asterion, then emerged back into space.
Looking out over the vast, lifeless desert, for the first time in many centuries, Herpo was confused; he was about to envelop Asterion with the Domain Expansion, then, by Zeus, how had he disappeared!
Upon dispelling his own expansion, an insatiable curiosity made him look up towards the sky. And there, in the depths of the sky darkened by the veil, an unusual sight surprised him, bringing a smile to his lips — A huge two-headed serpent. In one of the serpent's mouths, was Asterion!
"Space..." Herpo murmured, looking at the Cursed Spirit in the form of a two-headed serpent.
Seated in the jaw of Al-Meissa Mercury, the Dimension-Devouring Serpent, Asterion cast a cold glance at the mysterious man.
He never expected that in such a short span of time, the man would be capable of executing a Domain Expansion. What he despised the most was losing in a competition of Domain Expansions, revealing an abysmal gap in experience and technique between him and the mysterious man.
"I must confess, it has been ages since I resorted to my own Domain Expansion." The man's voice resonated, joyful and carefree. His eyes sparkled as he fixed Asterion in the skies, as if witnessing something extraordinary.
He continued speaking, his voice tinged with sincere admiration: "I thought your domain expansion would be similar to that of Corvinus, who creates a sea of colossal monsters, but unexpectedly, you used negative magical energy as a base and created a domain expansion focused on negative emotions. Any other mage would have gone mad if they fell into your Domain Expansion. Honestly, you are a genius, Asterion."
Glancing suddenly towards the North, Herpo showed a look of disappointment and spoke looking towards Asterion in the sky. "Unfortunately, we have company. I hope to meet another time for a cup of tea."
Taking what was left of the Cursed Spirit that represented the pollution of the world, Herpo apparated away.
Asterion did not stop him; he did not have enough magical energy at the moment. He had to reevaluate the consumption of their summonings and domain expansions, both of which used up vast amounts of magical energy.
As Asterion analyzed the combat, reflecting on the mistakes made, the veil that shrouded Nottingham dissipated, and the temperature in the region experienced an abrupt increase.
Turning his gaze towards the arrival of the man, Asterion spotted Albus Dumbledore, enveloped in white flames. Even from that distance, it was possible to feel the searing heat emanating from the flaming white flames that surrounded the man.
Dumbledore looked at a third of the city destroyed and focused his gaze on Asterion, in the mouth of a two-headed serpent.
He appeared instantly in the same mouth of the serpent where Asterion was, looked at the thirteen-year-old boy with a serious gaze, and asked, "What in the name of Merlin happened in this city?"
Asterion did not hesitate to respond, at this moment, given the current concerns, they were not enemies. "I was about to exorcise a Special Grade Curse when I was attacked by a man I presumed to be Mustafa Al-Husseini, but it wasn't him, it was someone using his appearance, or his body. We fought, and I lost. By his words, he knew my ancestor Corvinus, though I do not know if his words were true."
Dumbledore remained silent for a brief moment, before responding in a cold tone, "I will communicate with Israel personally. If it is confirmed that Lord Al-Husseini attacked, we will declare war."
Asterion looked at Dumbledore surprised, but was relieved; anyone would be furious with their home attacked.
"If you need my presence to press Israel, you can call me." Asterion spoke before gathering all his cursed spirits and apparating away.
Looking at the destruction in the city, Dumbledore knelt down to the ground level and looked at the remnants of magical energy. His face turned grim observing the familiar magical particles in his hands.
"Horcrux." Dumbledore murmured, feeling the same dark magic he once sensed in Voldemort.
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Author's Thoughts: Making Asterion lose left a bitter taste in my mouth, but it was necessary. A thirteen-year-old boy winning against a wizard over two thousand years old was too unrealistic. If anyone is wondering how Herpo has survived for over two thousand years, he is my version of Kenjaku. Before his current body dies, he kills another wizard and takes over their body using a Horcrux. As the creator of the Horcrux, I felt it was quite fitting for a villain. Let me know what you think, your comments help me a lot. :D
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Next Chapter: Chapter 64 - Mission (4), Chapter 65 - Mission (5), Chapter 66 - Consequences of the Attack (1), Chapter 67 - Aftermath of the Attack (2), Chapter 68 - Invasion of Hogwarts (1), Chapter 69 - Invasion of Hogwarts (2), Chapter 70 - Invasion of Hogwarts (3), Chapter 71 - Invasion of Hogwarts (4), Chapter 72 - Invasion of Hogwarts (5), Chapter 73 - Invasion of Hogwarts (6), Chapter 74 - Invasion of Hogwarts (7), Chapter 75 - Invasion of Hogwarts (8), Chapter 76 - Invasion of Hogwarts (9), Chapter 77 - Invasion of Hogwarts (10), Chapter 78 - Invasion of Hogwarts (11), Chapter 79 - Post-War (1), Chapter 80 - Heir of Salazar Slytherin (1), Chapter 81 - Heir of Salazar Slytherin (2), Chapter 82 - Heir of Salazar Slytherin (3), Chapter 83 - Salazar's Heir Slytherin (4), Chapter 84 - Sequels, Chapter 85 - Civil War (1), 86 - Civil War (2), 87 - Civil War (3), 88 - Civil War (4), 89 - Civil War (5).