As one of the five dolls emerged, it dashed towards John, brandishing a wooden sword. John swiftly raised his own sword to block the attack, then, with a fluid motion, sidestepped and delivered a slashing blow to the puppet's waist. "The speed and damage have both increased," John observed, turning to regard the doll he had bisected. He reflected on the blessing he had received at the end of the last school year:
[Knight: When wielding a sword with both hands, your power significantly increases, and it further amplifies when mounted.]
This particular blessing had cost him two large margins, but John felt it was well-earned, considering the risks he had taken to obtain it. In the previous semester, battling a puppet had nearly brought him to his knees, even without a direct hit. Despite being made of wood, the puppets' swords were incredibly hard and heavy, capable of puncturing the ground with a casual swing.
"Today, I'll conquer the difficult mode," John declared, his spirits high as the second puppet advanced. Its speed was remarkable, charging towards him. John steadied himself and then cast, "Reducto!" A beam of white light struck the doll, shattering it into pieces. Holding his wand in his left hand, John nodded in satisfaction at the spell's enhanced effect.
"With the growth of my magical experience, the potency of my spells has also increased," he mused, not just focusing on swordsmanship. However, his actions seemed to provoke the remaining puppets. In an instant, three puppets launched an attack simultaneously. One exhibited immense strength, another unmatched speed, and the third demonstrated agility and the occasional spellcasting.
John's expression darkened as he struggled to fend off the attacks while remaining vigilant against potential spells. The relentless assault quickly overwhelmed him, and a red light from one of the wizard puppets sent him flying out of the training area. He landed hard, feeling nauseous, and vomited—a slug slipping out in the process.
"Damn it!" The shock of the sight triggered another wave of nausea, and more slugs appeared. Frantically, John grabbed his wand to dispel the curse. He had removed his amulet for training, not anticipating a minor yet humiliating curse from the puppet.
"A mage, an assassin, and a warrior," John analyzed after clearing the spell and disposing of the slugs. The trio's synergy was impeccable: one engaged him head-on, another distracted him from the side, and the third delivered powerful attacks. This combination made John feel as though he was a boss character being overwhelmed by a coordinated team.
After several attempts and managing to dispel the effects that had enlarged his front teeth, John conceded, "Fighting these three is challenging. Perhaps it would be easier if I leveled up." He summoned his panel to review his stats:
[Magic Power: Level 3 (1085/1500)]
[Spells: Levitation Charm (Level 4), Transfiguration (Level 2, with dragon option), Disillusionment Charm (Level 4), Fiery Flames (Level 4), Bone Crushing Spell (Level 3), Fiery Blast (Level 3), Mind Blocking Spell (Level 4)...]
[Skills: Short Weapon Mastery (Level 7), Great Sword Mastery (Level 4), Firearms Mastery (Level 1), Runes Mastery (Level 2), Alchemy Mastery (Level 2)]
[Blessings: Physical Fitness, Quick Attack, Precision, Scholar 2.0, Pilot, Long-Distance Running, Sword Dance, Night Devil, Troll Buster, Knight, Fire Swallower, Deterrence, Hardening, Dragon Speech]
Although his great sword skill was at level 4, it seemed insufficient against the puppet trio. John contemplated upgrading but hesitated due to his limited random points. "Forget it, Hogwarts is safe for now," he reasoned, deciding to conserve his resources. The spirit of adventure and challenge within him remained undaunted, ready to face whatever the training field—or Hogwarts—had in store next. Refusing to admit defeat and still feeling the sting of disgust from earlier, John decided to dismantle the three dolls as a way to vent his frustration. With a light tap, he activated the mastery of the great sword, and instantly, his familiarity with the weapon intensified. Reflecting on his previous battles, John realized the folly in what he once considered a perfect defense. It was as if, through thousands of repetitions, he had reacquainted himself with the sword, now wielding it as naturally as one of his own limbs. "A weapon is an extension of a limb," he mused, focusing intently on the three dolls before him. As they advanced, their gaze collectively fixed on John. "Come on, I am the Fire Dragon," he whispered, reigniting the flames along Ironwick's blade.
John launched the first attack, charging forward with the ferocity of a wild horse. The warrior doll moved to intercept, its wooden sword slashing downwards. Instead of retreating, John met the attack head-on, holding his sword with both hands. He narrowly avoided the wooden blade, his body brushing dangerously close as he swung his great sword, cutting through the air to strike the warrior doll. Suddenly, a red light darted towards John. With a swift stomp of his right foot, he dodged, allowing the light to miss his blade by inches. Almost immediately, he sensed an attack from behind—an assassin puppet's strike. John's sword swung out in a reflexive block, using the back of his sword to deflect the blow.
The warrior doll, seizing the moment, attacked once more. John, with a quick flick of his wrists, repelled the assassin and brought his sword down in a powerful arc, severing the sword-holding hand of the warrior doll. As the mage puppet launched another attack, John seized the opportunity to draw his wand, casting the Iron Armor Curse to block the spell. Simultaneously, he pivoted on his left foot, hurling the great sword with his right hand. The sword's hilt slid through his palm, extending the blade as if by magic, just in time to impale the assassin puppet sneaking up from behind.
With one doll disabled and another impaled, only the mage puppet continued its barrage of spells. John, persisting with the Iron Armor Curse for defense, countered with a spell of his own, striking the one-armed warrior doll and rendering it incapacitated. Advancing towards the mage doll, John noted the significant difference in mobility between the mage and the assassin. With a flick of his wand, he launched a ball of white light that struck the mage, sending it flying. Seizing the moment, John's sword, ablaze with the fire of Iron Wick, pierced through the mage doll, the flames consuming it instantly.
The challenge was finally over. A sense of relief washed over John as the weight of his frustration lifted. He sat down, feeling rejuvenated. "If this is only level 5, what does the master level entail?" he pondered, his curiosity about the higher levels piqued. The thought of facing challenges of this magnitude made him wonder if one would have to confront Voldemort alone. It seemed unlikely.
As John rested, the wooden sword in the corner began to transform. The once crude, oversized sword shrank, shedding excess material that fell to the ground and took on a human-like form.
Meanwhile, in the principal's office, Dumbledore had just returned from attending to some matters. He noticed the Sword of Gryffindor trembling slightly. Approaching it with a look of astonishment, he was interrupted by the Sorting Hat. "Albus," it said, prompting Dumbledore to turn, a realization dawning on him. "Is he back?"
"It wasn't him; it was his secret chamber that was opened," the Sorting Hat clarified. As the keeper of Hogwarts' secrets, the Sorting Hat was privy to the deepest mysteries of the school. Dumbledore, intrigued, stepped closer to the Sorting Hat and inquired, "Who is it?" "The founder of the Fourth Academy has always been enigmatic," Dumbledore mused, his thoughts drifting to the legacies left behind by the founders of Hogwarts. Each of the four houses had its own unique inheritance, much like the Chamber of Secrets of Slytherin that had once been revealed. The man mentioned by the Sorting Hat was undoubtedly Gryffindor. "Gryffindor's Chamber of Secrets... could it be you, Harry?" Dumbledore pondered. He believed that such a chamber would only open for a worthy successor, and who better than the prophesied savior, Harry Potter?
The Sword of Gryffindor ceased its trembling, prompting Dumbledore to delve deeper into his thoughts. "Could it be sensing the impending danger as well?" he wondered.
Meanwhile, John had taken enough time to rest and decided it was time to return. Rising to his feet, he turned to retrieve the sword he had plunged into the dummy. The flames that once danced along its blade were now extinguished, and the spell's red glow had faded. As he turned to leave, he paused, sensing a presence. Standing before him was a young man adorned with a wizard's hat, his gaze fixed on John. In that moment, John felt as though he was the prey under the watchful eye of a lion.
The atmosphere was charged with an unspoken tension, a silent acknowledgment of the challenges that lay ahead. John, aware of the gravity of the situation, knew that the path forward was fraught with danger and mystery. The legacy of Gryffindor, the impending peril, and the role he was to play in the unfolding events were all pieces of a puzzle he was yet to fully understand.
_________
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