In the pitch-black Forbidden Forest, countless spiders surrounded them, their massive forms as large as horses. The endless tide of arachnids surged forward, leaving Ron struggling to breathe. He gasped for air, his eyes darting nervously. Harry was drenched in sweat, his mind blank with panic, unable to conceive of any way to break free of the encirclement.
Augustus drew his silver wand and stared at Aragog, who loomed not far away. His tone was calm but piercing. "Since Hagrid asked us to find you, it shows he trusts you. Are you certain you want to send your offspring to their deaths?"
Aragog paused, seemingly puzzled by Augustus's words. It waved its front legs and let out a bizarre, guttural laugh. "Relax. My children treat their prey gently. You won't feel any pain. Of course, since Hagrid sent you, consider this a special favor from me."
Augustus chuckled wryly. Talking to animals was indeed challenging. If words wouldn't work, then it would come down to battle.
With a wave of his wand, clusters of fireballs soared into the air and rained down in all directions, leaving no blind spots. Many spiders were hit before they could react, disintegrating into ash and scattering in the wind. Yet, for the vast army, the loss was negligible. The remaining spiders surged forward toward the three of them.
Walls of fire erupted around Augustus, burning intensely. Spiders charged into the flames, only to be engulfed within moments. The Level 5 Flame Prison spell, originally designed to trap enemies, proved highly effective as a defensive measure against mass attacks.
The spider army hesitated briefly, their momentum broken by the blazing walls. Most stopped sensibly, warily watching the flames. Augustus didn't pay them much attention. With a flick of his wand, a group of fire elementals materialized, their blazing forms exuding an overwhelming heat. The moment they appeared, they charged into the spider ranks. The searing flames on their bodies incinerated the spiders upon contact. Like an unstoppable force, the elementals rampaged through the spider army, burning and destroying everything in their path.
Aragog hadn't anticipated such resistance. In just a few exchanges, his army was in disarray. At this rate, they would soon be decimated. He let out a strange shriek, and all the spiders halted. The next moment, countless strong silk threads spewed from their mouths. Most of the threads burned up upon nearing the elementals, but a few proved heat-resistant and managed to bind the rampaging fire creatures in place.
Augustus chuckled softly. "Not bad, old spider." Suddenly, a six-pointed star appeared beneath his feet, and he began to rise from the ground, glowing faintly. The star emitted a crystalline white light as Augustus chanted under his breath and waved his wand.
The rhythm of the entire forest seemed to shift. Every creature present felt their heartbeat falter, skipping a beat. A vast white frost radiated outward from Augustus, coating the ground. The wind froze, and the scene transformed into an icy wasteland. The sky, trees, and grass were enveloped in layers of frost. The spiders, including Aragog, were covered in a glaze of ice. Even the fire walls and elemental creatures froze into translucent blue sculptures. The clearing in the forest had become a frozen wasteland.
Augustus smiled bitterly. Casting the Level 8 Ice Magic: World of Frost with his current abilities was pushing his limits. This spell bordered on the forbidden, normally requiring five magicians working in unison to cast.
Harry and Ron were stunned, unable to comprehend what they were witnessing. Was this army of spiders defeated just like that? Could such an icy realm truly be conjured by human hands? To them, it was nothing short of divine intervention. But Augustus knew the truth. He had witnessed real miracles—omnipresent, eternal forces that dwarfed mortal power.
"Well then, I think it's time to question our old spider friend." Smiling at Harry and Ron, Augustus led them to Aragog.
The massive spider was now a giant, icy sphere radiating a frigid aura. Augustus stepped forward and pointed his wand at the creature. The frost began to melt, revealing only its upper body. Aragog's numerous eyes shifted nervously.
"I'll ask, and you'll answer. What is the creature in the Chamber of Secrets?" Augustus's tone was cold, his expression grave.
"We won't say. Even in death, we won't reveal its identity," Aragog replied, its many eyes filled with unease but resolute.
"Death?" Augustus smirked faintly. "Sometimes, death isn't the worst thing. Would you like to find out?"
Aragog fell silent, seemingly unfazed by the implied threat. To it, this young human, no matter how powerful, was insignificant. Even if he could kill them, he wouldn't be able to force them to reveal the identity of the terrifying creature, for doing so would bring unthinkable consequences.
Augustus rubbed his forehead in frustration. It seemed these spiders wouldn't yield unless forced. He had no choice but to use a forbidden spell—a dark and sinister incantation he would have avoided under any other circumstances.
Pointing his wand at the spider, a wisp of black flame emerged and floated toward Aragog. The spider watched the faint flame with disdain, sneering inwardly. Did this human think such a pitiful thing could intimidate him?
The flame slowly seeped into Aragog's body. At first, the spider seemed amused, but soon, its demeanor changed. A horrifying shriek erupted as the black flames began to scorch its very soul. Immobilized by the lingering frost, Aragog howled in pain, its agony searing into its being.
"Stop! I'll talk! Please, let me go! It's a basilisk! A basilisk!" Aragog's desperate cries echoed in the clearing.
A basilisk? Augustus's golden hair was tousled by an unseen wind, his eyes shimmering with a crystalline glow.
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