"The music box that Neville gave me is still in use," John remarked, admiring the beautiful melody emanating from the gift he received from Neville at Christmas. Aware of Lu Wei's fondness for music, John had made a special trip back to the dormitory to retrieve it. As he entered the trap, John utilized the Flying Charm to recover the music box. It was a present from Neville, and John was determined not to let it be ruined by Lu Wei upon awakening.
Upon entering the room, John triggered a challenge quest: [Ding, trigger the challenge task, clear the secret room where the magic stone is located, receive any point +2, blessing: knight].
Freefalling through the hatch, John noticed something wriggling beneath him, resembling tentacles. "Reducto!" he exclaimed, as a burst of white light shot through the tentacles. Casting a Levitation Charm on himself, John gently descended, observing the shattered tentacles attempting to close the gap above. He recognized the obstacle as a devil's snare, a plant that thrives in damp and dark conditions. "Is this set up to prevent people from falling to their deaths?" John mused, touching his chin thoughtfully. He surmised that the kind Professor Sprout, who likely hadn't anticipated such a forceful approach to bypassing the obstacle, had set this up.
Below the devil's snare lay a stone corridor, the only path forward. As John proceeded, he heard a rustling and tinkling sound, reminiscent of a swarm of insects flapping their wings. At the corridor's end, he entered a brightly lit room with a high vaulted ceiling, where countless birds, shimmering like jewels, fluttered about. These were actually winged keys. Across the room stood a heavy wooden door, featuring a keyhole.
John eyed the broomstick nearby and concluded, "This level seems to be about finding the matching key." Considering the dense swarm of keys, John decided to forgo the search. Approaching the wooden door, he attempted an unlocking spell, which proved ineffective. "In that case, let's just break it open," he resolved, wielding his greatsword with both hands. The sword, heavy and wielded with proficiency, sent wood chips flying with each strike. After the tenth blow, the door gave way, collapsing to the ground.
Stepping through the doorway, John entered a pitch-black room, momentarily disoriented by the abrupt transition from light to darkness. As his eyes adjusted, the room lit up, revealing a giant chessboard. Black and white chess pieces adorned the board, reminiscent of wizard chess, with another wooden door behind the white pieces.
"Ron?" John spotted a red-haired figure lying near the chessboard, his heart sinking with concern. After receiving no response to his calls, he attempted to approach, only to be blocked by the white pawns drawing their weapons.
With a grim expression, John issued a cold warning, "Move aside, or I'll smash you to pieces." The white pieces refused to yield, prompting John to attack directly with his wand. "Reducto!" The spell obliterated the front-line soldiers, inciting the rest of the white pieces to advance. John then cast an illusion spell, rendering himself invisible to the bewildered white pieces. Sparks flew as his greatsword clashed against another chess piece.
Wand in his left hand and greatsword in his right, John seamlessly blended into the battle, determined to overcome the obstacles and uncover the secrets of the room. In the darkness, John continued his relentless assault on the white chess pieces. Observing their attempts to reassemble, a cold expression crossed his face. "This impressive transformation must be one of Professor McGonagall's challenges," he deduced. "Reassemble? Let's see you try when I mix you all together." With a flick of his wand, the shattered pieces levitated, merging into a chaotic mass. His gaze fixed on the White King, identifying it as the pivotal piece. Leaping forward, he executed a powerful spin and delivered a crushing blow, effectively separating the king's crown from its base. The white pieces ceased their movements. Inspecting his slightly bent sword, John frowned, "This sword is hardly up to the task."
After neutralizing the chessboard threat, he turned his attention to Ron, who lay unconscious. Gently shaking him awake, John inquired, "Ron, are you okay?" Ron, groggy and disoriented, could only recall his sacrificial move to enable Harry's victory over the White King before losing consciousness. Startled by the absence of vision, Ron screamed in panic. "It's me, Ron. Are you alright?" John reassured, dispelling the illusion spell that had obscured his presence. "I'm okay, just a bit dizzy. But John, what brings you here?" Ron asked, sensing something amiss. John offered a casual shrug, "Hagrid was worried about you three, so he sent me to check in." The explanation seemed to suffice, though Ron's dizziness persisted, nearly causing him to stumble.
As John contemplated escorting Ron back for safety, Hermione emerged from another doorway. "Ron!" she exclaimed, her anxiety palpable. Noticing John, she paused, puzzled. "Hermione, where's Harry?" John asked. "He's headed to the final challenge. But why are you here?" Hermione inquired. John repeated his explanation, his attention drifting towards another door. Hermione followed his gaze, adding, "Harry's already moved on, and we've used up the antidote for the fifth challenge."
Realizing the antidote was depleted, Hermione knew worrying wouldn't help. She decided to seek Professor Dumbledore's assistance. Meanwhile, John, recalling the potions in his pocket, discovered he had a bottle of fireproof potion—fortuitously prepared with dragon's blood and just enough to tackle the upcoming challenge. "You two head back as planned. I'll assist Harry," John declared, stepping through the door behind the chessboard.
Upon entering, a pungent odor assaulted his senses, a smell he was all too familiar with from previous encounters. The stench was overwhelming, bringing tears to his eyes. Through blurred vision, he spotted a troll lying defeated on the ground, its size even more imposing than the last one he had faced. A significant lump on its head suggested it had been unconscious for some time. Just as John considered bypassing the troll, it inconveniently stirred awake.
[Ding, challenge completed: Defeat the second giant creature, reward: +1 to any attribute, blessing: Giant Slayer]
[Troll Buster: Enhanced damage against giant creatures and increased resilience to their intimidation]
A new objective materialized, and John, with narrowed eyes, prepared to confront the awakening troll. Noticing the lump indicating a vulnerability, he cast a phantom spell on himself and approached stealthily. Aiming for the head, he delivered a devastating blow. The troll, barely risen, was struck down once more, this time with a fatal wound that left a gaping hole. Blood pooled beneath it, forming a small stream on the ground. As the system confirmed the task's completion, John's straightforward approach to overcoming the challenge was something even Dumbledore might not have anticipated. John stood before the final door, extending his hand to push it open. As he did, a barrier of purple flames sprang up, obstructing his path. He instinctively reached for the fireproof potion he had prepared, uncapping it with the intention to drink. However, he paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. Instead of proceeding with his initial plan, he summoned his magical panel to review his capabilities.
The panel displayed his current status:
- **Magic Power: Level 3 (105/1500)**
- **Spells:**
- Alohomora (Level 3)
- Levitation Charm (Level 4)
- Transfiguration (Level 2)
- Disillusionment Charm (Level 3)
- Lumos Maxima (Level 2)
- Incendio (Level 3)
- Bone Crushing Spell (Level 3)
- Fiery Blast (Level 2)
- ...and more.
- **Skills:**
- Short Weapons Mastery (Level 7)
- Greatsword Mastery (Level 4)
- Firearms Mastery (Level 1)
- Runes Mastery (Level 1)
- Alchemy Mastery (Level 1)
- **Blessings:** Physical Fitness, Quick Attack, Precision, Academic Master, Pilot, Long-Distance Running, Sword Dance, Night Devil, Troll Buster.
Reflecting on a recent encounter where his Disillusionment Charm had failed in front of Dumbledore, John realized the importance of not underestimating his challenges. Determined not to make the same mistake, he focused on enhancing his Disillusionment Charm. With the points he had just acquired, he upgraded the charm, and it advanced to level 4.
This strategic decision underscored John's growth as a wizard, showcasing his ability to learn from past experiences and adapt. With his enhanced skills and a renewed sense of caution, he was better prepared to face whatever lay beyond the purple flames.
_________
If you are tired of reading I also have this converted to an audio novel on my youtube
https://www.youtube.com/@NovelAudioForge/featured
Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge