Europe, Scotland, Hogwarts, the Forbidden Forest.
It was midnight. The sky loomed dark and deep, dotted with a sparse handful of stars. Suddenly, a brilliant shooting star streaked across the heavens, illuminating the night as if tearing through the dark canvas. A deafening roar shattered the stillness as the falling star crashed into the heart of the Forbidden Forest.
Hagrid abruptly rose from his wooden bed in his small hut, startled. What was that tremor? Even from within his cabin, he had clearly heard the loud explosion. Judging by the direction, it seemed to have originated from the Forbidden Forest. Hastily pulling on a coat, he stepped outside, his trusty pink umbrella emitting a faint blue glow to light his way. Staring into the dark forest, he resolved to investigate.
Yet as Hagrid reached the forest's edge, a strange, inexplicable sensation washed over him. His thoughts became scattered, his resolve faltered, and he stopped in his tracks. As if guided by an invisible thread, he turned back and returned to his hut. Moments later, the faint yellow glow of his cabin light went out, and Hagrid slipped back into a deep sleep.
Deep within the Forbidden Forest, an open clearing suddenly lit up with a silvery glow. In the light, five figures of varying heights stood.
"Captain," a soft, feminine voice broke the silence, "based on this timeline, we've arrived just between the first and second tasks of the Triwizard Tournament. The window is tight, but there's still some leeway. If we'd been any later, the available options for our alignment would have narrowed significantly."
As the words faded, a tall figure stepped into the center of the clearing. Illuminated by the glow, a young man clad in silver armor with a resolute face and a faint smile addressed the group.
"We've already decided our alignment before coming here, so there's no need to deliberate further," he said, waving a hand dismissively. "However, arriving before the Nordic team suggests we're at a disadvantage in overall strength. Unfortunately, there's little time to prepare before their arrival. Still, given our abilities, gaining Dumbledore's trust in this low-magic world shouldn't be too challenging."
"Our survival hinges on aligning with the Phoenix Order," he added, his tone turning serious. "I won't tolerate any actions that jeopardize this mission."
The other four nodded in agreement. One of them, a youthful, casually dressed man with a mischievous glint in his eye, smirked faintly.
"Beicheng Ke," the soft voice from earlier snapped, "don't think I don't know what you're scheming. There are certain girls in this world you absolutely must not touch, especially Cho Chang and Hermione Granger. If you ruin our relationship with the main characters and disrupt the plan, you'll have no place in our Zhongzhou team."
Beicheng offered a sheepish grin. "Relax, Sister Dong. Those plain-looking girls don't interest me. Even if a goddess descended, I wouldn't spare her a glance if it meant jeopardizing the mission."
Dong Zhen, a tall, striking woman, snorted in disdain and said nothing.
Beicheng slunk into the shadows, his eyes glinting coldly. Arrogant woman, if it weren't for the captain's protection, I'd have had my way with you long ago. Just wait, little minx—Cho, Hermione, Fleur... They're all mine.
"Don't mind him, Sister Dong," a younger girl with a book in her hands chimed in. Her cheerful expression radiated excitement. "I've always wondered what Harry Potter would be like in person. Do you think he'll be like in the movies? I'd be so disappointed if he were."
Dong Zhen's stern face softened. "Silly girl. This is a dimensional world; naturally, it's different from the movies. So, Potter won't be the same as the boy from the screen. Focus on yourself. This is a rare opportunity to strengthen your abilities. In a low-level world like this, we might not get such a chance again."
The girl nodded earnestly. "Don't worry, Sister Dong. I'll work hard. I won't hold everyone back anymore."
Suddenly, a cold, mechanical voice filled the clearing:
"Choose your alignment."
Dumbledore's Faction
Augustus' Faction
Voldemort's Faction
The announcement sent ripples through the group.
"Augustus? Was he in the original storyline?" The youth dressed in traditional robes and carrying a sword paled.
The silver-armored captain frowned. "If the system is accurate, this 'Augustus' might be a character created by the Lord God to increase the difficulty. Perhaps because we forced the use of the Qian Kun Map to access this low-level dimension, the Lord God inserted an artificial element. It's likely this Augustus is meant to increase the world's complexity."
Dong Zhen's eyes flickered with uncertainty. "If that's the case, should we reconsider our plan? Should we evaluate aligning with Augustus?"
Beicheng scoffed. "You're overthinking, Sister Dong. No matter how strong this Augustus is, he can't rival Dumbledore or Voldemort. He's just a pawn created by the Lord God. If he becomes a problem, I'll handle him myself. Let's stick to the original plan."
The captain deliberated briefly before nodding. "Beicheng has a point. Changing our alignment mid-mission poses too much risk. This is a team battle, and a single misstep could cost us our lives. We'll proceed with our decision to align with Dumbledore."
The others concurred. The captain made the selection.
"Alignment chosen."
"Initial task: Ensure Harry successfully completes the second task. Rewards: 1,000 gene points, a D-level side quest."
"The Nordic team will arrive in ten days."
As the voice faded, the group's expressions shifted to a mix of relief and anticipation.
"This task feels odd," the robed youth muttered. "Even without us, Harry would succeed in the second task. Why send us to meddle?"
Dong Zhen remained silent. The unexpected presence of Augustus weighed on her mind. This world, once thoroughly understood, now felt unpredictable. A faint chill seeped into her thoughts as she contemplated the unforeseen dangers ahead.
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