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Having already witnessed Harry's magical prowess, Voldemort was well aware that Harry's current magical power far surpassed that of an ordinary wizard. The typical low-level demons would be as easily dispatched under that dense barrage as chickens; the powerful spell capable of shattering his silver shield in two hits possessed at least +5 penetration and a base damage of at least 10. This was no less formidable than a fifth-year wizard who had completed their O.W.L.s.
Unfortunately, however, the demons that could traverse the shattered passage to arrive here were not mere cannon fodder; each of them possessed the strength of at least a centurion.
After eleven heavy black shadows landed, a giant that was nearly one and a half times larger than the other shadows crashed to the ground. This hulking figure stood at least 2.2 meters tall, looking nothing like the small creatures under 1.5 meters; yet this was indeed a centurion of the demon race, having undergone its second advancement.
With three layers of petrified skin and three magical cores activated, this centurion was not a foe that an average wizard could defeat. To combat such an adversary, one would need to deploy a well-coordinated elite team. After pinpointing the locations of the three magical cores, they would need to unleash a barrage of spells capable of breaching the surface defenses and shattering all the internal magical cores within a short time to take down this formidable being.
Wizards lacking mastery of explosive spell combinations would never be able to defeat it through slow, gradual methods. Although Harry had an unusual ability to cast spells rapidly, his accuracy fell short of the precise critical strikes delivered by a coordinated spell group.
With each advancement, the demons absorbed magical energy at an increasing rate, and correspondingly, their ability to repair their exoskeletons also accelerated. This was manageable on the abyssal battlefield, where the concentration of magic was inherently low. However, in areas rich in magical energy, such as the Forbidden Forest and the surrounding Hogwarts grounds influenced by it, the dense magical environment would allow the demons to thrive.
A centurion demon bound with powerful regeneration was ten times harder to kill than those on the abyssal battlefield. This was why the wizards of the magical world strived with all their might to prevent the demons from entering their outer world. If a large-scale invasion were to occur, and if a centurion-level demon lord were to arrive in the magical realm, the price to pay would be an unbearable burden for the people.
Once the centurion-level demon appeared, the black-red magical array forcibly penetrating the passage began to crumble. Voldemort, unwilling to release demons of a higher rank, found it impossible to open a passage wide enough for a centurion standing at least five meters tall. In his extremely weakened state, Voldemort was completely confident in eliminating the centurion-level demon, as the sustainable output of the Killing Curse was a highly effective spell he had once researched on the battlefield.
Without the need for a spell group, Voldemort's Death Finger could penetrate multiple layers of anti-magic exoskeletons with a single incantation, ensuring the spell's power remained stable and unaffected by the multiple layers of armor. However, having kept this research to himself, he had no intention of sharing it publicly. Should he succeed in this endeavor, it was possible that the originator of the magical ray spells in the wizarding world would bear his name.
As they squeezed through the narrow tunnel, many cracks had already appeared in the skin of the demon, which was composed of magical ores. Notably, the centurion had completely lost its left leg; however, these injuries began to heal rapidly the moment they emerged from the passage. As the surrounding magical energy was absorbed in large quantities, the severe wounds were nearly healed in less than a few seconds. The severed leg had regrown nearly two feet in length, and within another ten seconds, the centurion demon would be fully restored.
The dark blades formed from the **God's Sharpness** struck instantly as they landed, slicing through the centurion's outermost layer of anti-magic skin with ease. The massive wounds seemed ready to eviscerate the centurion. However, if the second attack from **God's Sharpness** did not hit the existing wound immediately, the deep, slender cuts would nearly heal within less than a second. For the demons, such thin and deep wounds proved ineffective.
As long as the **God's Sharpness** did not directly slice through their bodies to kill them, the time needed to heal such non-fatal wounds was minimal.
Harry quickly realized this and, taking advantage of his initial assault, chose not to scatter his spells. Instead, he focused his energy and unleashed twenty consecutive dark blades, completely shredding the chest and head of the nearest centurion. The two egg-sized magical cores exploded into fragments.
A strange, sweet-smelling crimson liquid sprayed everywhere as the magical cores shattered. The demon's body was filled with valuable magical materials. From the ore-like exoskeleton to the most precious magical cores, even the bright red blood was excellent for magical use. The rocky exterior could be refined into magical metal, the eyeballs were flawless magical crystals, and the blood was an excellent conduit for magical energy. The most valuable magical cores were essentially solidified forms of raw magical power.
Harry had no time to worry about the materials scattered on the ground after slaying an elite monster; he aimed his attack at the second centurion before the group could fully awaken.
Breath came in slight gasps. Although the chaotic, malevolent dark magic provided him with a portable power source, the absorption speed of his magical lungs still had its limits.
"1V10?"
Harry grinned. "Maybe I still have a chance to take this thing down?"
Cursing Voldemort was of no use; the only thing Harry could do was eliminate the demons in front of him and then deal with Voldemort. He felt fortunate that Voldemort seemed to have expended too much energy summoning this group of demons. The previously dense black mist had thinned considerably, and his body was no longer in a solid state, appearing more like a humanoid figure made of smoke with defined facial features.
The initial assault lasted no more than three or four seconds. The centurion, having shaken off the effects of teleportation, now illuminated its eyes. The faint blue glow revealed it witnessing Harry shatter the centurion. However, it paid no attention to Harry. Even though the enemy before it showed signs of fatigue, it turned away without hesitation, its gaze fixed on the **Mirror of Erised** at the end of the room. The overwhelming greed that motivated its actions was perceived by Harry.
Even Voldemort was momentarily stunned, completely unprepared for the summoned demons to react this way. He had concealed his magical fluctuations with special techniques; to the demons, Harry appeared as a bright 100-watt bulb—impossible to overlook. The stone-headed creatures should have immediately lunged to tear him apart.
Why were they looking at the **Mirror of Erised**?
"Philosopher's Stone!" (X2)
In that instant, both Harry and Voldemort thought of the name. Voldemort had arrived here much earlier than Harry. He hadn't obtained the Philosopher's Stone simply because he didn't know how it had been hidden inside. The magical world was filled with too many mysteries, and Voldemort knew he wasn't omniscient, but that didn't stop him from guessing the correct answer.
"Tom! Riddle! Your mother's pure pond!"
"My Philosopher's Stone!"
(End of Chapter)