It wasn't surprising that Ambrosius was knowledgeable about Horcruxes. The vile concept of Horcruxes predated even the founding of Hogwarts. As a former student of Hogwarts, Ambrosius's journey to the Dragon Field was not without purpose. Everything seemed to have been anticipated by Merlin, the legendary archmage, who had imparted a prophecy to Heimdall. This prophecy was believed to pertain to Ambrosius, but a misinterpretation led them to associate it with John instead.
"Do these ancient wizards enjoy leaving puzzles behind?" John mused, looking at the youthful Ambrosius with a mix of disbelief and curiosity. Ambrosius had been preserved in a state of suspended animation in Dragon Field for nearly a millennium, living a life shrouded in secrecy.
"As you see, I am essentially dead. To be more precise, my soul is on the verge of dissipation," Ambrosius explained with a calmness that belied the gravity of his situation, as if discussing something as mundane as the next day's meal. His acceptance of death was evident in his serene demeanor. "My recklessness has left me with nothing but a fragment of my soul, insufficient to reseal the Ice Box."
Rising to his feet, Ambrosius dusted himself off and gestured for John to follow. As they walked, he shared, "I attempted to use time itself to contain the Ice Box, but as you've witnessed, not even time can withstand eternal frost."
"Due to my actions, any dragon that enters this place becomes frozen, unable to manipulate time or halt the Ice Box's effects." Before them, a blue box materialized, its chilling aura palpable even from a distance, causing John to shiver.
"However, I've discovered a definitive solution," Ambrosius declared, his eyes gleaming with a cunning light. Pointing towards the Ice Box, he continued, "Neither I nor Merlin can manage this task. Only you are capable."
"Me?" John asked, pointing to himself in disbelief.
Ambrosius's voice took on an ethereal, otherworldly quality. "Only a taboo can counteract another taboo."
A realization dawned on John as he contemplated his hands, understanding the implication. Ambrosius's smile widened. "It appears you've grasped that the only way to deal with this anomaly is to exile it from this world."
Considering the concept of exiling the artifact, John realized that it involved another taboo. However, he quickly dismissed the idea. "I'm afraid that's impossible. Time, soul, and immense magical power are required, and I possess none of these."
John lacked the three essential elements needed for the task. His previous venture through the Gate of Things had relied on a massive explosion fueled by a time-turner, the soul of a dementor, and a powerful magic crystal. Now, he barely had access to the magic crystal, with only half of the time sand left and insufficient soul power.
Ambrosius, undeterred by John's skepticism, expressed admiration for John's perspective. "You're cautious and question the established norms, much like myself," he said, clapping in approval. "Indeed, with your current capabilities, it seems impossible. But..."
Ambrosius gestured towards the exterior, the illusion mirroring the golden room. "But what about souls?" he suggested with a knowing smile.
John followed Ambrosius's gaze and immediately understood. The souls of the numerous dragons buried in Dragon Field represented a vast reservoir of power. However, harnessing such immense soul energy would require equivalent temporal power.
"It's been a pleasure meeting you. If you're willing, please fulfill this task on my behalf and accept this modest gift of power," Ambrosius said, grasping John's hand. His soul began to glow with a golden light as he spoke with a serene smile, "I entrust this to you."
With those final words, Ambrosius vanished completely. The scenery around John faded, and as his consciousness returned to his body, a crack formed on the surface of the ice crystal. Soon, a network of web-like fissures spread across the crystal. With a concerted effort from John, the The entire ice crystal shattered, revealing a flaw in the Frozen Box—a gap opened by Ambrosius using his soul, marking the only imperfection on its surface. Freed from the eternal freeze, John's left hand glowed brightly as the time lock, previously dissipated, reappeared in his palm. The Mobius ring, symbolizing eternal reincarnation, broke apart and transformed into gold, encircling his arm.
[Ding, task completed, receive +2 any points, blessing: Oak Mage]
[Oak Mage: Enhanced magical perception, increased magic extraction, and amplified magic damage]
Clutching his wand in his left hand, the red oak wand seemed to become one with him. As he raised his right hand, black silk threads unfurled, spreading outwards. The golden room collapsed, and the souls in Longchang stood out starkly against the destruction. The black threads reached out, ensnaring the souls and drawing them towards John. As Fiendfire threatened to freeze over, the threads extended across the entire Dragon Field, engulfing the land in a dark tide.
Heimdall, with his gray eyes, watched the scene unfold, his gaze never wavering even as the Dragon Field trembled. He knew it was his time to act, his voice echoing throughout Longchang, "Souls of the dragon, in your final act of protection for our homeland, lend your strength."
The souls lingering on the dragon corpses ascended, converging into a mass of light that dove into the dark tide, each soul distinctly visible. John absorbed the dragon souls, and with a gesture, the Silver Wick sword materialized in his right hand. The dragon souls infused the blade, causing it to emit a brilliant light. The power of time in his left hand flowed into the wand, causing the red oak to shine intensely, like a miniature sun.
With time in his left hand and souls in his right, wings sprouted from John's back, drawing together golden and dark energies. The two forces collided, creating a terrifying power that warped the space around John. The five super magic power crystals, strained to their limits within the gloves, were on the brink of shattering, while the philosopher's stone amplified the magical power a hundredfold. The formidable magic clashed with the forces of time and soul.
A vast circle, centered on John, enclosed the Frozen Box. He aimed at the small gap, wielding both wand and sword. Gold, silver, black, and purple energies twisted together, striking the ice box with immense force. The burden was immense, and John felt the presence of dozens of souls within him. He roared, his body sprouting golden scales, "I need something that can eternally guard the Ice Box."
His consciousness blurred as the souls within him surged into the Ice Box. Yet, it wasn't enough; the box could breach even time itself. Time would erode, and souls would fade. He needed eternity! The absence of eternity saw John's power waning. At that moment, a voice spoke from behind, "As your senior, I believe it's time I taught you something."
A withered hand clasped John's left hand, and the golden light of time grew increasingly bright until it transformed into a dazzling flame. "This is the Eternal Fire, the Ancient Blaine Immortal Fire."
The arrival of the Gublai Immortal Fire pushed the four forces to a critical point, and then... a breaking point was reached. Time around John halted, the torrent of impact ceased. His vision cleared, and turning around, he found the source of the voice had vanished. In place of where the Ice Box once stood, there was now a crack—a familiar sensation, the doorway to realms beyond.
John's hands were covered in hideous scars, and the delayed agony began to set in. The super magic crystal in the limited glove had exploded, and he was enveloped in purple magic power, slowly being absorbed into his body. Stepping into the crack, a place he knew all too well, the mirror that once was had disappeared, replaced by endless burning flames.
"Gublai Immortal Fire," known as the Eternal Flame, was As unquenchable as Fiendfyre, yet distinct in its nature, the Gublai Immortal Fire perpetually blazes without spreading its destruction. Amidst these flames, a box encased in ice radiated a cold aura, hinting at something trapped within, struggling to escape. An oak staff was placed nearby, and it began to grow rapidly, eventually transforming into a towering oak tree. This was the staff of Ambrosius, renowned for its resilience. The relentless flames seemed to have no effect on the grand tree, which now enveloped the icy box, securing it in a tight embrace, preventing its escape.
"You've returned, I see." The voice of an old man emerged from the shadows, carrying a tone of familiarity and a hint of amusement. A smile tugged at the corner of John's mouth in response.
_________
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