Aglaia rode atop the green dragon, swiftly soaring over the Forbidden Forest. However, the closer they got to Hogwarts, the more violently the dragon beneath her began to struggle.
Far behind her, Fatiil followed on a Hungarian Horntail, attempting to catch up with Aglaia.
As they neared the school's perimeter—within 500 meters—the Welsh Green Dragon suddenly plummeted from the sky and crashed to the ground. Something within the school filled it with an overwhelming sense of dread.
Aglaia paid no heed. She dismounted the dragon with determination, leaping off its back and charging toward Hogwarts without hesitation.
Behind her, the Hungarian Horntail also fell from the sky, tumbling into a heap. Fatiil shoved the dragon's wings aside, furious and exasperated, shouting, "Stop right there, you reckless fool!"
Aglaia didn't look back. She left a trail of footprints in the snow as she ran toward the Black Lake. She wasn't sure why she was heading there—she only knew she had to go. It was as though an invisible thread of fate was pulling her forward.
When she arrived at the lakeside, she saw a solitary figure standing by the water. The air was thick with an oppressive spiritual pressure so immense it seemed to choke all who dared approach. The mere brush of it was enough to evoke despair.
She called out, "Hoffa!"
By the edge of the Black Lake, Hoffa stood, gazing at the colossal figure before him. His voice was calm yet weary. "Do it," he said.
"No. Living like this is already worse than death for you. Why should I kill you?" The dragon's voice rumbled with laughter as it coiled its translucent, serpentine body around Hoffa.
"How does it feel," it taunted, "to be abandoned by the very school you once gave your life to protect? Not very pleasant, is it?"
Its hot breath lashed out as it sneered. "Is this the ideal school you dreamed of?"
Each word from the dragon was like a sharp thorn, piercing Hoffa's defenses. These were truths he had long known but had always refused to admit, truths he never wanted to face.
"I didn't do it for recognition," Hoffa said stiffly.
"Then why did you do it?"
"I did it because it was the right thing to do," Hoffa replied, his voice numb, as if even he doubted his own words.
"Hahahahaha…"
The dragon threw back its head, releasing a booming laugh.
"Right? What's the difference between right and wrong? If the majority agrees that something is right—even if it's destruction—would you still think it's wrong?
"What if the majority of people destroy the world? Hmm? Do you think eating fish is wrong? Do you think cutting down trees is wrong? Even if humanity wipes out one-third of all other species, would you call that wrong?
"No. No one cares. People will tell you it's necessary—that it's survival."
"Shut up!" Hoffa clutched his ears, shaking his head in despair. "That's not true! Evil is evil!"
The dragon's voice lowered to a devilish whisper. "And what is evil? Who defines it? Do you truly know?"
Hoffa's hands pressed harder against his ears. "I don't know."
"I'll tell you. If over 50% of people benefit, then it's right. If over 50% lose, then it's wrong. A simple mathematical model, combined with a convenient moral high ground, is enough to determine right from wrong, good from evil.
"All rules are made to serve survival, to ensure the continuation of a tribe or its DNA. If eliminating ultimate evil means sacrificing thousands, what does it matter?"
Hoffa's hands fell limp as all strength left his body. He sank to his knees.
The dragon coiled around him. "You think everything you've done is righteous, that all your battles have meaning. But the world is nothing more than an arena of survival, where there's no right or wrong, no good or evil.
"We, in our essence, are just protein—an insignificant cluster of molecules temporarily arranged in a fleeting moment of cosmic chaos. We were born in disorder, and to disorder we shall return. The world doesn't care about us. Our existence is utterly meaningless."
"Does that mean everything I've done… was pointless?" Hoffa murmured.
"Utterly meaningless. The past is meaningless, the future is meaningless, and the present is meaningless. We are no different from Sisyphus, cursed by the gods to endlessly push a boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down again.
"This endless cycle of good and evil—over and over—serves no purpose except to entertain a numb audience with their popcorn."
"We can't change anything. We live in lies, bound by rules created by others."
"I see," Hoffa whispered, his voice barely audible. He looked at the kaleidoscopic sky, then at the distant Black Lake. Slowly, he nodded. In that moment, he saw clearly the incurable void within himself. He no longer wished to see his own reflection.
"If it's you doing this, then there's no difference between us," he said softly. Straightening up, he stepped through the dragon's translucent form and headed toward the cliff.
Under the dragon's watchful gaze, he leaped.
The frigid air whipped against his face as the hundred-meter drop passed in an instant. He crashed into the Black Lake with a splash, his final struggle against a cruel fate and unjust world reduced to a faint ripple.
The cold water engulfed him, dragging him down. His vision began to blur.
At that moment, he was filled with rage.
Why me?
Hoffa plummeted deeper into the lake, trying one last time to ask the Creator his questions.
Why is it only me who must endure such pain?
Why can't I be happy like everyone else?
But, as always, the merciless Creator offered no reply.
The gray strands of hair brushed against his face, while his golden eyes had lost all their luster. He opened his mouth, letting the icy waters of the Black Lake pour into his throat. In an instant, the immense water pressure filled his lungs. Air bubbles squeezed out from his chest, blurring his vision entirely. He did not resist.
The rumbling of the water in his ears created an eerie sense of tranquility. He was completely removed from the dust of the world, far from its noise, conflicts, and chaos.
The cold enveloped his body, and beneath him stretched a seemingly bottomless abyss. Strangely, this frigid sensation transformed into a womb-like warmth, wrapping his mind in a haze. The cold turned into comfort, making him unwilling to think, reluctant to feel. In this moment, time lost all meaning.
He sank deeper and deeper, like a soul eternally falling into hell.
No, it was worse than hell.
What awaited him was not hell but absolute nothingness.
Let it be.
Just let it be.
Just let it be.
As Hoffa plunged into the Black Lake, the dragon's gaze remained indifferent. It stared at Hogwarts with apathy, its massive form growing larger and larger until it became a thousand-meter-long translucent colossus.
Then, spreading wings that blotted out the sky, the dragon soared upward. From its mouth erupted torrents of pale flames, consuming the entire school in an instant.
An overwhelming void devoured every inhabitant of Hogwarts. In that moment, their very existence was stripped away, consumed by the abyss. Their appearances were torn apart in an instant.
Shadows of their true selves emerged, vibrant and prismatic. These shadows, carrying the essence of their forms and souls, detached from their bodies and ascended toward the colossal dragon in the sky.
The dragon swept across the heavens, crossing every corner of the Earth.
In a park, under the glow of the moonlight, a couple embraced, sharing a passionate kiss.
The woman whispered, "Do you love me?"
The man, caressing her beautiful face, was about to respond with affection.
At that moment, the translucent, kaleidoscopic dragon streaked across the sky.
The man's expression turned scornful. "Idiot. I just want to sleep with you. Do this a hundred times and you can be on your way."
In a chapel, an elderly priest with a kind demeanor was preaching to his congregation.
"The Lord's virtues shine upon all creation. His guidance is our salvation; to live is to praise His glory."
The kaleidoscopic dragon passed silently overhead.
The priest tore off his robes, revealing a menacing grin. "Hell is other people! God is just a lie we sell indulgences for! Hahaha!"
In a bustling mall, a suave businessman passionately advertised his product.
"Diamonds are forever—a timeless symbol of love. For the beauty of your marriage, you must give your partner a diamond!"
The translucent dragon flew by.
The businessman hurled his microphone to the ground. "Diamonds are just carbon! We hire African slaves to mine them, and they're worth nothing! Only the stupidest customers buy this trash!"
In a high school classroom, a teacher stood at the podium, lecturing earnestly.
"Listen to your teacher. Do your homework. Only then will you have a bright future."
The dragon glided past.
The teacher flipped the podium, pointing at the students and roaring, "Homework is useless! The world uses it to enslave your time and tame your spirit!"
In a Western country, a politician stood onstage, speaking eloquently.
"We aim to help the forgotten, to provide opportunities for all. Our dream is to bring better lives to more families and children."
The kaleidoscopic dragon loomed overhead.
The politician tore his speech to shreds, grabbed the microphone, and sneered.
"I'm not here to change anything for you. I'm just exploiting you fools who think you can get something for nothing to secure my votes and career!"
In Azkaban, deep within its most secure cell, Grindelwald observed the chaos outside. Prisoners and guards were locked in frenzied combat. He smiled faintly.
"Revel in the ruins," he murmured.
(End of Chapter)
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