Chapter 43
Exiting the suitcase, Gray tapped it lightly, and the magical suitcase transformed into a sleek, intricate ring, which he slipped onto his finger. He adjusted his collar one last time and left the Leaky Cauldron. However, the moment he stepped out, he was immediately swarmed by paparazzi and excited fans, all clamoring for a statement. Flashbulbs went off as reporters shouted questions, trying to outdo one another for his attention.
"Gray! How do you feel about the success of your potion?" one reporter yelled. "Can you tell us about your future projects?" another called out.
Gray maintained his calm demeanor, flashing a professional smile. "I'm glad people are enjoying the potion. As for future projects, you'll just have to wait and see," he said smoothly, keeping his answers short and diplomatic.
As he finished the brief interview, his instincts suddenly kicked in, a sharp warning tingling at the back of his mind. "Looks like these guys can't rest," Gray thought as he politely excused himself, stepping away from the crowd. As he walked down the cobbled streets of Diagon Alley, he couldn't shake the feeling that someone was following him. He kept his pace steady, not wanting to alert his pursuer, and soon turned into a secluded alleyway.
Once there, Gray quickly consumed an Invisibility Potion. Moments later, the man who had been following him—a man in his late twenties—turned the corner, glancing around in confusion as he saw no sign of Gray. Pressing a finger to his ear, the man seemed about to speak when his body suddenly froze. Immobilized by magic, the man's eyes darted around in panic, only to widen further as Gray reappeared, his wand in hand and his expression sharp.
Gray walked toward the man, his voice sharp as he said, "You Merlin fanatic, why are you so obsessed with killing me?" He tapped his wand on the ground, causing the man to kneel. Without hesitation, Gray fed him both a truth potion and a paralysis potion, rendering the man incapable of movement but leaving him able to speak. Yes, Gray was prepared for all contingencies. "Answer me," he demanded, his tone leaving no room for defiance. The man sneered before speaking. "Kill you? Hah! Please, if the Heads wanted you dead, they wouldn't have sent an affiliate like me. No, they'd have sent an official member."
The revelation shocked Gray, but he quickly pressed on, his wand at the ready. "Who are the Heads?" he demanded, narrowing his eyes. The man, compelled by the truth potion, had no choice but to answer. "There are five head—" he began, but before he could finish, his body began to swell grotesquely. Recognizing the signs, Gray swiftly retreated, darting out of the alleyway just in time. A deafening explosion followed, painting the narrow passage in a gruesome red. Gray clenched his teeth as he muttered under his breath, "Fuck." Taking a moment to gather himself, he began to ponder the situation. "This just got more complicated," he thought grimly, already planning his next move.
-scene change-
It was early June, and deep in the dense Amazon jungle, Gray stood amidst the vibrant greenery, his gaze locked on a golden lotus. His eyes, wide and star-struck, seemed to sparkle as he held his wand, which vibrated jealously in his hand. "Can you stop being jealous all the time? I'm not replacing you," Gray muttered, though his love-struck gaze never wavered from the stunning flower before him. "Damn, that's beautiful," he whispered, the awe in his voice unmistakable.
But as he approached the golden lotus, his instincts flared, warning him of imminent danger. Emerging from behind the flower was a figure clad in dark plate armor etched with faintly glowing runes, their mere presence exuding menace. They wielded a long enchanted spear that shimmered with latent power. The figure's helmet bore a single glowing sigil, an unmistakable mark of their rank.
Without hesitation, the figure purposefully stepped on the golden lotus, crushing it underfoot. Gray's wand seemed to hum with satisfaction, but Gray himself was fuming, his expression darkening. His fingers tightened around his wand as he glared at the armored figure.
Gray seethed with rage, gripping his wand tightly as he spat, "Oh, you're dead." He cast Bombarda, aiming for the figure. However, the spell hit nothing but empty air as the figure dodged with startling speed. The man moved fluidly, his actions precise and calculated. Gray's initial shock gave way to determination as he quickly regained his composure. He raised his wand, prepared to unleash his arsenal of spells.
The figure rushed forward, closing the gap in an instant, his glowing spear trailing faint arcs of energy. Gray fired off spell after spell—Expulso, Depulso, and even Baubillious, the forest around them exploding into chaos. Trees splintered into jagged shards, the ground ruptured into craters, and the air was filled with the sharp smell of scorched wood and ozone. Yet, no matter what Gray threw at him, the figure either dodged with superhuman reflexes or tanked the spells behind glowing magical barriers, emerging unscathed each time.
As the figure got close, his movements blurred with burst-speed enchantments. He delivered a devastating one-inch punch directly into Gray's chest. Gray, thinking his superhuman body could endure the blow, stood his ground, but he was wrong. The impact sent him skidding back several paces, his boots tearing grooves into the forest floor. Clutching his chest, Gray winced in pain, gasping, "Oh, this isn't good. He's a superhuman." He steadied himself, deciding to meet the figure in hand-to-hand combat, but his confidence was misplaced.
Gray swung his fist with all his strength, aiming for the figure's jaw, but the man deftly sidestepped the blow, redirecting Gray's momentum with a subtle twist of his arm. Gray countered with a left hook, only for the figure to parry effortlessly, sending Gray's arm wide. The figure retaliated with a sharp jab to Gray's ribs, the force of which made him stagger. Gray gritted his teeth and pressed on, throwing a flurry of punches—each one precise and powerful. Yet, the figure was leagues above him. Every strike was deflected, redirected, or dodged with minimal effort.
The figure moved like a master, his actions smooth and efficient. He weaved through Gray's punches as if anticipating every move, countering with brutal precision. Gray's strikes, which should have been overwhelming, felt meaningless in the face of such refined skill. Each of the figure's blows landed with devastating impact, yet it wasn't just raw power—it was technique. As Gray blocked a high kick, the figure shifted seamlessly, sweeping Gray's legs from beneath him. Gray hit the ground hard but quickly rolled to his feet, panting. Through the pain, he noticed something that made him grin despite the odds. "We're evenly matched in raw strength," he thought, his smile growing.
Suddenly, the figure was engulfed by a blinding light before delivering a powerful kick to Gray, sending him flying backward. The figure sighed as a male voice sounded, pulling out a small square device. He tapped it, and a hologram appeared, showing a shadowy figure. "Hey, Batterforged Knight, was it really necessary to send me, an Ironbound initiate, to handle this kid? His threat level doesn't seem high. He's superhuman, but he has no combat training," the man complained. Another voice interjected from behind him, "Really? Those brain-obsessed idiots at the intelligence division said his threat level required an Ironbound initiate. Lazy bastards. Look, just take care of him, okay? Apparently, it's an order from—wait, what's that behind you?"
The figure turned just in time to see a towering, 3-meter-tall lion-human hybrid gripping a tree with claws sharp enough to rend steel. This was Gray, transformed after consuming his newly crafted Lycanthropy Potion. His fur was thick and golden, his muscled frame exuding raw power, and his eyes burned with a feral, predatory rage. His deep, guttural voice roared, "You motherfucking worms dared to destroy that precious herb!" The sound reverberated through the forest like a beast's roar, shaking leaves from their branches. Without hesitation, Gray lunged at the figure, slamming him into the ground with enough force to crack the earth beneath. The figure groaned, his voice trembling as he reached for his device. "Agh, fuck, send reinforcements—" But Gray silenced him with a brutal stomp, crushing both the device and the figure's hope of escape.
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A/N like i said, there will be more information on this information.