The spell meant for Alex struck Wilkes instead, slamming into him one after another. His body went rigid, his face twisted with pain as teeth began growing grotesquely from his mouth—a side effect of one of the stray spells. He collapsed to the ground, motionless and unresponsive.
Alex turned to the remaining group, his wand raised. For the first time, he spoke an incantation aloud. "Obscurifumus." Thick fog billowed forth, spreading rapidly and enveloping the area in a dense white shroud. Visibility plummeted, leaving the ambushers disoriented and panicked.
"Where is he?!" someone shouted.
"Just fire in his direction!" another yelled.
Curses flew wildly through the fog, their aim hopelessly inaccurate. Spells ricocheted off the crumbling walls or struck unintended targets. Cries of pain and outrage erupted as friendly fire took its toll.
"Damn it! Who hit me?!"
"That mudblood cursed me from the other side!"
"Watch where you're aiming, you idiot!"
Amidst the chaos, Alex moved like a ghost, his silhouette briefly visible before vanishing again. With each appearance, another wizard fell, taken out with ruthless efficiency. Some were knocked unconscious with well-placed blows; others fell victim to their own side's misguided spells. The air filled with the sounds of grunts, gasps, and bodies hitting the ground. In less than a minute, several members of the ambush lay defeated. Those still standing grew increasingly frantic, their nerves frayed by the unseen threat.
"Stop panicking!" Yaxley's voice cut through the turmoil. "Hold your fire, all of you! You're only making it worse!"
As the others hesitated, Yaxley raised his wand high, channeling his magic. "Depulso."
A powerful gust of wind surged outward, tearing through the fog with explosive force, scattering the thick mist and revealing the battlefield once more. Of the 17 wizards who had ambushed Alex, only 11 were still standing. Their faces were tense as a shadowy figure appeared behind one of them. Alex's hand clamped down on the wizard's shoulder, his wand pressed firmly against the man's neck. With a whispered Petrificus Totalus, the wizard stiffened and dropped, completely immobilized.
The Disillusionment Charm cloaking Alex began to flicker, its effects fading. He casually supported the paralyzed wizard's limp body with one hand, his other hand raising his wand to point at the remaining attackers.
"With this level of skill, you think you're fit to plan an ambush?" Alex's tone was mocking, his eyes cold as they swept over the group. "No teamwork, no coordination, slow reactions... I almost feel bad for expecting you to be a challenge."
The surviving wizards bristled at Alex's taunts, their frustration boiling over. Without hesitation, they fired a barrage of curses at him. Alex moved fluidly, flicking his wand. The unconscious bodies of fallen wizards lifted into the air, acting as shields to intercept the incoming spells. The curses slammed into the floating bodies, eliciting gasps of shock from the attackers.
One of the wizards watched in horror as his own curse deflected off a shielded figure and barreled toward him. Panicking, he quickly cast a Levitation Charm to redirect the flying body. As a skilled fifth-year, he executed the maneuver silently and efficiently. Just as he began to exhale in relief, a Stunner flew out from behind the floating figure. It struck him squarely in the chest, sending him sprawling. The wizard realized too late that Alex had used the levitated body as a visual distraction, concealing his curse behind it. With that, another two wizards were knocked out of the fight.
"Everyone, regroup! Don't let him pick us off one by one!" Yaxley barked, his voice sharp and commanding. Despite his waning arrogance, he managed to keep a level head.
Alex watched as the remaining eight wizards quickly formed two defensive clusters. He nodded approvingly, almost impressed. "Not bad," he muttered under his breath. "Grouping up improves your efficiency... but against me? It's just suicide."
A sly grin spread across his face as he reached up and detached a small metal button from his chest—a brooch shaped like a serpent with gleaming eyes. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it into the larger group. The eyes of the snake glowed faintly, activating the spell imbued within.
BZZZZT!!!!
A wave of soundless energy erupted from the brooch, rippling through the group with devastating force. Four wizards were instantly disoriented, their heads spinning as they stumbled backward. The impact knocked two of them into their teammates, sending the entire cluster sprawling. They landed hard, unconscious before they hit the ground.
Even the smaller group led by Yaxley and Travers, positioned a few meters away, wasn't spared. Although the infrasonic spell hit them with less intensity, it left their heads pounding and their coordination in shambles.
But Yaxley wasn't the top of his class for nothing. Gritting his teeth, he summoned the strength to cast a protective Protego just as Alex's repelling spells flew toward him. The shimmering shield absorbed the attacks, buying him enough time to recover from the lingering effects of the infrasonic spell.
Behind him, the other three wizards slowly regained their senses. One of them—a seventh-year—pulled out a small vial of Invigoration Draught. He took a gulp before passing it to his teammates, the potion dulling the throbbing pain in their heads.
Alex stood a short distance away, his posture relaxed as he tapped the snake brooch to deactivate its sonic enchantment. He observed his opponents calmly, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. The earlier skirmish had been tactical and precise, relying on clever tricks and equipment. But now, he was ready to shatter their spirits through sheer dominance.
Yaxley drained his own Invigoration Draught and forced himself to his feet. His gaze swept over the scattered bodies of his fallen allies, bitterness evident on his face. He had underestimated Alex, and now they were paying the price.
"You're finally back on your feet," Alex remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Good. I was starting to get bored. Let's move on to round two, shall we?" He raised his wand and gave a mocking bow, mimicking the formal gesture of a duel. "Show me what 'pure-blood superiority' looks like."
Travers clenched his fists, his face twisting in frustration. "If it weren't for your sneaky tricks and those damned alchemy tools, do you really think you'd still be standing?"
Alex's smirk widened. "The loser eats dust, Travers. Haven't you learned that yet? Or are you still stuck spouting empty words like always?"
'Four opponents. Two seventh-years are the real threats. Yaxley is the main one; the other one's not bad either. A fifth-year, decent reaction speed earlier, but manageable. Then there's Travers, a third-year... total trash. He's practically a walking distraction. Alright, I've got this.' Alex's sharp eyes scanned his opponents like a predator sizing up prey. His lips curled into a chilling sneer, exuding the aura of a bloodthirsty villain.
The seventh-year wizard standing next to Yaxley swallowed nervously and whispered, "What do we do now?"
Yaxley didn't break eye contact with Alex, his expression tense but resolute. "What else? It's four against one. If we can't win this, we might as well quit magic altogether. Stick to the plan and don't lose your nerve," he said, though the hint of doubt in his voice betrayed his confidence.