Chapter -94.
As Dudley caught sight of the dark green light, an unsettling chill ran through him.
Since delving into Ripple Energy, his senses had sharpened, far exceeding those of the average person, including even the most skilled wizards.
This heightened awareness was particularly acute when it concerned anything associated with death—a daunting curse that loomed large.
This dark force, inexorably tied to death, contrasted sharply with the lifeforce of Ripple.
In stark comparison, the spells conjured by the young witches and wizards of Hogwarts felt like mere child's play.
For the first time since he had developed magic resistance, Dudley felt genuinely threatened.
This was a power that could breach even his strong defenses, capable of inflicting severe injury or worse—death.
Reacting instinctively, Dudley rolled aside to evade the impending threat, while the little dragon swiftly took flight.
The dark green spell struck a large tree, resulting in a rapid decay until it transformed into a lifeless, rotting trunk.
A hooded figure suddenly appeared, drifting eerily as though a specter.
It was unmistakably a curse—a sophisticated spell, more advanced than a simple levitation charm.
The figure, entirely cloaked in black, concealed his face and wielded a wand that pulsed with a ghostly green light, unmistakably marking them as an antagonist.
Without hesitation, the figure unleashed a powerful attack aimed at Dudley.
Regardless of his motives, he was an enemy.
In an instant, Dudley turned into a blur, vanishing from sight.
His speed was remarkable, allowing him to close the gap between them in mere heartbeats.
Once he seized the wand, that wizard would be as vulnerable as a pumpkin at the roadside; even a slight push could send them reeling like an overinflated balloon.
The hooded figure clearly didn't anticipate Dudley's rapid response, managing only a hasty flick of his wand.
"Take my Breaking Face Fist!"
Dudley's fist collided with the opponent, but instead of the satisfying give of flesh, it met something as solid as steel.
The figure had cast 'Protego,' a solid defensive spell offering substantial protection against both physical and magical threats.
However, enduring Dudley's blow didn't mean he was unscathed; in the next moment, the cloaked form flew back like a baseball striking a bat, crashing into several trees.
An audible crack signaled the destruction of numerous trunks.
If the opponent had been just an ordinary wizard, even with 'Protego,' Dudley's punch would have at the very least caused them a minor injury, if not worse.
Can 'Protego' truly nullify the force of an impact without leaving any trace?
But Dudley learned that his defenses were strong—he floated out of the forest seemingly unscathed.
But the dark green curse launched again.
Reacting swiftly, Dudley plunged his hands into the ground, elbow-deep in the harder soil of the Forbidden Forest.
Then, he heaved.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!" [He shouted, exerting himself.]
A section of earth flew up, forming a barrier against the dark green spell.
The cloaked figure scoffed.
Such a simple mud barrier wouldn't stop his curse.
True to form, the dark green energy obliterated the earth; had Dudley remained behind it, he would have faced its full force.
But Dudley had anticipated this, already on the move.
Even as the curse devastated the makeshift barrier, the mud lingered behind, creating a rain of muck that drastically reduced visibility.
In combat, clear sight is paramount.
Just as the cloaked figure struggled to see through the grime to recast a spell, four vials shattered nearby, releasing a noxious wave of earthy yellow mist that engulfed the area in a stench reminiscent of a troll—or perhaps something even stronger that Dudley had purified.
One otaku once remarked, "Stench can be a weapon, too."
Oh yes, that struck him as something from an intriguing show.
But that was beside the point.
The overwhelming odor forced the hooded figure to cover his mouth mid-spell.
his incantation was thwarted.
"Roar!" The little dragon unleashed a furious cry.
A torrent of flame was unleashed, spiraling freely.
Dragon's Breath!
The tip of the cloaked figure's wand erupted, erecting an invisible barrier that held back the onslaught of flames.
Such a powerful defensive spell surpassed even 'Protego.'
Dudley couldn't name it precisely but remained undeterred, tossing four additional potions toward the confrontation.
The vials shattered upon contact with the barrier, unleashing a dark green liquid that engulfed the spell in a cloud of stinging white smoke, hissing ominously.
No defensive spell is foolproof.
And this particular potion was known as the Corrosive Potion (Perfect) – specifically crafted to dismantle magical defenses, capable of breaking spell incantations.
At its peak performance level, this potion's corrosive ability manifested almost instantly upon contact.
As it dissolved the spell, small, manageable gaps appeared through which the enraged dragon's flames could seep.
Caught off guard, the cloaked figure didn't anticipate the flames penetrating his own defenses and was singed, causing his cloak to ignite.
Swiftly, he extinguished the fire and retaliated with another spell, repelling the little dragon.
Though unhurt, the cloaked figure appeared somewhat flustered.
Dudley, seeking to grab the enemy's wand, found that after witnessing his formidable strength, the figure was not about to let that happen.
The vastness of his surroundings and his ability to fly made things tricky.
The ideal strategy for any wizard: Create distance, then unleash spells.
The little dragon attempted to charge again only to be halted by a counter-spell. Its youth and relative weakness compared to an adult dragon meant it was easily ensnared.
As the cloaked figure readied to deal with the little beast, Dudley made his move.
He, too, had ranged capabilities.
Grabbing a handful of dirt, he dunked a potion into it.
"Take that, flying sand and stones!" [He shouted again.]
This was a mixture of dirt and an explosive potion.
"Explosions are an art!"
"BOOM!"
The explosion rivaled that of a bomb, sending the cloaked figure reeling and disrupting his spellcasting, granting the little dragon the chance to escape and fly overhead. Fearful of the cloaked figure's powerful magic, it was cautious and did not dive down, choosing instead to coordinate his fire with Dudley's attacks.
The cloaked person repeatedly pointed his wand skyward, unleashing spells. Thankfully, Dudley was prepared with a diverse array of potions, more than enough to counter whatever magic he faced. Coupled with his unmatched speed against the adversary, once he narrowed the distance, victory would be inevitable.
For a tense moment, neither side seemed able to make headway.
he was at an impasse.
Then, abruptly accompanied by a shout, a sharp arrow sped out from the forest, striking near the feet of the hooded figure.
"Who harmed that unicorn?"
***
Tl/N: If you want to read more [upto 15 chapters] while supporting me, you can join me on patreon.com/EmptyThoughts ;Thanks.
*****
Note : Guys, some power stones will be really helpful.