Early the next morning, David awoke to the sound of commotion outside. The past few days had been quiet, so the sudden noise was unexpected. He got out of bed, opened the door, and saw a large crowd gathered around Tariq's hut. Tariq stood in the middle, chatting animatedly with the others. When he noticed David, he waved him over.
"Ron, come here! Tell them about the animals we saw inside. They don't believe me about the poisonous horned beast!" Tariq said, glaring at the people around him.
"Yes, there's a poisonous horned beast inside," David said quietly. Before Tariq could say more, David turned and went back into his room, closing the door behind him.
Now he understood why Tariq had taken him to see the magical animals. It was all part of a larger scheme—a fishing expedition. But a new question arose: how had the R organization managed to transport so many magical creatures? Why were they willing to pay such a high price for this operation? Unfortunately, David couldn't investigate further without risking exposure.
By the eighth day, two days before the deadline set by the wizard with the three-headed dog mask, the compound had transformed. The wizards guarding the area began decorating the venue. They used magic to cover the wooden structures with vines and colorful flowers. The huts where David and the others stayed were adorned with magical images of various creatures, complete with descriptions for the guests' reference.
A long red carpet unfurled from the central building, winding through the area and leading into the inner section, which remained shrouded in mist. The atmosphere grew lively as more wizards emerged from their huts to admire the decorations. The streets, once quiet, were now bustling with activity.
The lively scene lasted until the afternoon, when the sun began to set, painting the sky with hues of orange and red. Suddenly, a loud voice boomed from the watchtower outside the walls: "Enemy attack!"
The wizards who had been decorating immediately stopped what they were doing, grabbing their broomsticks and taking to the air. The onlookers panicked, and within moments, several wizards Disapparated, leaving the area in a hurry.
David looked up and saw rows of uniformed wizards flying on broomsticks, their wands drawn. The battle was intense. Spells flew through the air, blasting holes in the newly decorated walls and sending splinters flying in all directions. Some spells even struck the inner area, though the mist obscured the damage.
"You really do follow us everywhere!" Sori's voice rang out as he and a group of wizards flew up to confront the attackers. With a wave of his wand, Sori transformed pieces of wood into spears, hurling them at the enemy. However, the uniformed wizards countered the attack effortlessly, some of the spears exploding into dust or turning back toward Sori's group.
Sori raised a wall of fire to block the returning projectiles, then shouted, "Form an array!" His wizards quickly organized into teams of four, coordinating their attacks and gaining the upper hand. But the enemy soon adjusted their formation, and the battle reached a stalemate.
David watched in awe. He had never seen such a large-scale wizard battle before. The air was filled with spells he couldn't even recognize. Within minutes, several wizards fell from the sky, groaning in pain.
As the fighting intensified, David noticed that the gate to the inner area was unguarded. He considered sneaking in to check on the magical creatures, but before he could act, a wizard wearing a swallowtail dog mask approached him.
"Brother, this is for you," the wizard said, handing David a small, heavy bag before hurrying off.
David didn't have time to examine the bag. He glanced around, saw that no one was paying attention to him, and made his way toward the gate. But just as he reached it, Sori's voice echoed through the air.
"Fine! If we can't keep it, neither can you!" Sori shouted. A small red dot appeared at the tip of his wand, growing larger and brighter.
"Everyone, retreat!" Sori commanded, his voice carrying across the battlefield.
"No, Sori, don't do this!" one of the enemy leaders pleaded, but it was too late.
The red orb detached from Sori's wand and fell toward the inner area. David felt a surge of dread, his instincts screaming at him to flee. He took a few steps back, preparing to Disapparate, when Tariq grabbed his arm.
"Ron, take me with you!" Tariq pleaded.
David hesitated, then nodded. As the red orb descended, he Disapparated with Tariq, leaving the chaos behind.
When they reappeared, they were in a remote, uninhabited area. Birds scattered in alarm as the two wizards materialized. Tariq collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.
"Finally, we made it out," Tariq said, lying back in relief.
Suddenly, a deafening explosion echoed in the distance, and the ground shook violently. A thick cloud of smoke rose into the sky.
"What was that?" Tariq asked, sitting up nervously.
David didn't answer. He stared at the horizon, his mind racing. The R organization's compound was gone, and with it, any chance of uncovering their secrets. But one thing was clear: the battle was far from over.