The flames engulfed Dumbledore, and even from several meters away, the intense heat was palpable, distorting the air around him. Yet, in the very center of the blaze, Dumbledore felt no discomfort whatsoever.
On the contrary, he only felt warmth, a pleasant heat that dispelled the chill that had clung to his robes from the earlier rain.
Dry, comfortable, and perfectly tailored to his skin, his robes hugged him with an unusual ease.
Unlike last time in his office, Dumbledore was now outdoors, where he could let loose and fully expand his domain without restraint.
With a loud "whoosh," the fireball swelled, expanding dozens of times over, and engulfed a nearby mass of flesh.
In the next moment, the mass ignited, emitting a foul stench as it burned.
Dumbledore watched everything unfold with a calm expression, intently sensing the nuances of this newly mastered magic.
This spell felt different from any spell he had learned before.
Typically, once a spell was cast, his connection to it was limited, and even if he could still control it, there was always a distinct separation between himself and the spell.
But this time, it felt as though he had become the spell itself.
His intuition told him that visually, he still appeared as the elderly figure at the center of the fireball, yet, in reality, he was the flame itself. The figure at the center was like a mere peanut shell—visible yet only a small part of the entire entity.
In his hundred years of life, Dumbledore had never encountered such a wondrous spell.
He didn't know its name—it could be a brand-new spell of his own invention, or perhaps an ancient, long-lost enchantment...
But that didn't matter. Now that the spell was fully unleashed and in action, Dumbledore had found the perfect name for it—
[Divine Fire Domain]
Unlike his previously most powerful fire spell, Firestorm, this Divine Fire Domain had lower energy consumption, a longer duration, and a higher ceiling of potential power.
The only downside was a slightly longer activation time compared to Firestorm. However, once initiated, the spell would expand autonomously, similar to Fiendfyre, though with the difference that Divine Fire Domain was much more controllable, giving Dumbledore a sense of complete mastery.
An ordinary Fiendfyre spell of similar magnitude would be far harder to command.
As he immersed himself in the experience of his Divine Fire Domain, Dumbledore allowed it to expand, encompassing every scattered piece of flesh around him, leaving none untouched.
The flesh masses twisted and burned in the flames, their volume shrinking rapidly.
Driven by a survival instinct, they began to scatter in all directions, attempting to escape the fire. But Dumbledore wouldn't allow it. The flames shifted continuously, following the flesh wherever it moved, enclosing each piece within. At the same time, he carefully restrained the domain's size, preventing it from becoming too conspicuous.
However, even with Dumbledore's utmost efforts to minimize the domain's visibility, it still drew considerable attention.
The rain had stopped, and Fudge emerged from the lounge with a large group of wizards. One bearded wizard was the first to notice the unusual phenomenon on the horizon.
"Why is there a red glow flickering in the sky over there?"
Fudge lifted his head and looked in the direction the wizard had indicated. He could see a faint red hue flickering in the night sky above Hogwarts Castle.
More and more wizards noticed the shift in the night's colors, and eventually, an experienced wizard pinpointed the cause.
"It's a fire! Could it be that the forest is burning?"
The Forbidden Forest on fire?!
The thought alone startled Fudge.
Hogwarts' Forbidden Forest was a treasure of the British magical world.
It was home not only to various rare magical creatures but also to numerous rare and precious magical plants, many of which might only exist there. The Forbidden Forest was invaluable.
He quickened his pace toward the dim red glow on the horizon, with the other wizards hurrying alongside him. Some were intent on helping put out the fire, but others held darker expressions, with different intentions brewing in their minds.
Some began connecting the fire with Dumbledore's recent departure.
If, just maybe... at a moment when Hogwarts was already overwhelmed with crises! Rumor had it that Hogwarts held treasures amassed over centuries, an endless library of books, and a Forbidden Forest filled with magical creatures like a living trove of riches...
A fiery red glint appeared in the eyes of more than a few of them.
If Fudge had been a capable leader, he would have escorted the group of wizards off the school grounds before addressing the fire. But, being of only average aptitude, he quickly lost his composure in the face of such chaos and failed to consider the hidden risks in his actions.
By the time the group with their concealed intentions reached the lawn outside the castle, everyone was stunned by the sight before them: Dumbledore, surrounded by flames, was controlling an enormous fireball large enough to cover the entire Quidditch pitch.
The fireball spun effortlessly around him, with about a dozen small "lumps" desperately struggling within it.
Those wizards with ulterior motives broke out in a cold sweat: could it be that… those things in the fire were… a person's flesh?
Noticing the wizards within the school drawn by the commotion he had caused, Dumbledore turned his head, a kind smile on his face. "I'm terribly sorry for disturbing everyone. No need to worry; it's just a dark wizard trying to fish in troubled waters."
A wave of polite responses arose from the crowd, with comments like "Haha," "Then we're relieved," and "Professor Dumbledore's fire magic has truly reached new heights."
"The hour is late. Would any of you care to stay the night in Hogwarts Castle?" Dumbledore's expression remained gentle, like a grandfather inviting his grandchildren to spend the night. But as his gaze swept over the wizards behind Fudge, not one dared to meet his eyes, not even Fudge, who was drenched in a cold sweat.
Dumbledore appeared so vigorous and youthful! Given his display tonight, who could believe he was over a hundred years old?
After hearing Dumbledore's implicit suggestion to leave, none of the wizards, except for a select few who were genuinely on good terms with him, dared to accept.
Stay overnight at the school?
No way, not after seeing that "dark wizard's flesh" trapped within that massive fireball!
So, the visiting wizards all took their leave, exchanging goodbyes with Dumbledore, who waved them off one by one. During these exchanges, Dumbledore's hands never stopped moving, and the terrifying fireball continued burning the meat-like lumps inside.
Some of the smaller ones had already turned to ash.
As Cornelius Fudge led the wizards away from Hogwarts, Dumbledore turned his full attention back to the lumps that had yet to be completely incinerated.
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