Ravaging

Dazzling, shrill flashes of spell light suddenly appeared and vanished in the darkness. Deep within the silent forest came the continuous thunder of trees snapping and crashing to the ground, along with explosive blasts.

The two combatants shifted rapidly and continuously across the uneven terrain, using broken trees, vines, bushes, and every other obstacle to gain even the slightest advantage.

Only half a minute had passed since the fight to the death began, yet Amosta had already confirmed two things.

First, the black-robed witch fighting him had indeed come for him, and she was determined to kill him.

She had no qualms about using Dark Magic explicitly prohibited by the Ministry of Magic, including the three Unforgivable Curses, as well as numerous restricted spells that would either kill or maim their victims. All she wanted was to take his life as quickly as possible.

This was utterly absurd. Amosta's face turned livid, fury blazing in his eyes!

Who on earth bore such a grudge against him that they were determined to put him to death?

Second, the Dark Witch truly had extensive combat experience. At the very least, Amosta admitted that he was no match for her in that regard.

During their brief exchange, her dazzlingly nimble footwork as she evaded spells was like that of a master dancer. Beyond that, her techniques for luring attacks, slipping in ambushes even amid intense exchanges, and her adept combination of Transfiguration, tactical spells, and Dark Magic left Amosta no choice but to marvel.

Compared to her, Amosta, who had only secretly practiced dueling techniques on his own and occasionally sparred with Professor Snape, was practically a complete novice.

Of course, he had his own powerful advantages.

If Amosta had to describe this battle, it was a confrontation between an assassin and a master.

This Dark Witch of unknown origin was like an assassin who had been meticulously trained. To her, every spell and attack technique was merely a tool for killing. She sought proficiency, not mastery.

But Amosta was different. He had always aspired to delve into the essence of magic, and he had already found his own unique path in tracing the origins of modern spells. So long as he continued forward without slacking, he would surely achieve accomplishments that would astound the world.

Most of the spells he used were improved versions created through careful thought and countless experiments. They were immensely powerful and difficult to resist head-on. Their only drawback was that they consumed too much magic.

Amosta was already beginning to regret the spell he had used at the start to intimidate her. It had consumed a considerable portion of his magic, yet achieved nothing.

The Dark Witch had cast a Disillusionment Charm on herself during the duel. Though she could not conceal her magic, it did make it difficult to pinpoint her exact location. Combined with her constant movement and silent casting, it practically allowed her to launch ambushes face-to-face.

Fortunately, Amosta was a quick learner. He copied her method and swiftly mastered it as well. As a result, the two people dueling in the Forbidden Forest now resembled two transparent ghosts flinging spells at each other!

Whoosh!

Surging Fiendfyre burst wildly from behind a boulder halfway up the slope, one that had been blasted apart. It swelled in the wind in midair, becoming a sea of flames that blotted out the sky in the blink of an eye. Dragons, Sphinxes, Chimeras, and other savage beasts formed from fire silently bared their fangs and roared atop the fiery waves.

The Dark Witch had no intention of controlling the Fiendfyre. She allowed the terrifying flames to spread without restraint and burn everything in their path, while she rapidly changed position and concealed herself.

Amosta pressed his lips into a tight line, hatred gleaming in his eyes.

At his current level, he could not directly extinguish Fiendfyre. Yet he could not simply stand by and watch the scattered flames consume the Forbidden Forest either. Otherwise, those unlucky little lions of Gryffindor would likely all perish beneath the Fiendfyre.

Amosta rapidly swung his wand, scattering a sheet of golden flames into the air. Those flames had been derived from Fiendfyre, then altered and restrained by Amosta. Though they were not as tyrannical as Fiendfyre, they were easier to control and would not impair the caster's sanity in return.

Fighting fire with fire was a sophisticated way of containing a blaze.

Amosta controlled the flames to seal off the sea of fire, increasing his magical output as he sought to gradually devour the Fiendfyre.

"I don't want to imagine what's happening in there, Snape. How many people will die?!"

Staring toward the Forbidden Forest, where intertwined golden and white flames lit up half the sky, Professor McGonagall pressed her lips tightly together. Her face was frighteningly pale. She had completely cast aside the dignity of the deputy headmistress and sprinted forward in great strides, not even bothering to fix the perfectly arranged bun that had entirely come loose.

Snape's face was a sickly waxen yellow, no better than Professor McGonagall's. For the first time in all the years since the night Lily died, he found himself praying for something again!

At the castle gates, Professor Flitwick missed a step and tumbled down in an undignified roll. Professor Sprout, who had even lost her hat while running, merely gave him a hand as she passed before charging toward the Forbidden Forest without another word.

Whoosh, whoosh!

After remaining deadlocked for so long and failing to kill Amosta, the Dark Witch resorted to an even more despicable method. She transfigured the rubble scattered across the ground into sharp daggers, then directed more than a dozen of them at the Gryffindors whom Amosta had moved into the clearing!

"Whoever you are, I will make you pay an unforgettable price!"

Fury nearly burst from Amosta's eye sockets. His right hand, which was suppressing the Fiendfyre, did not waver, while his left tossed out a milky-white orb of light.

The orb reached Bill and Charlie before the daggers did. In an instant, it expanded into a semicircular magical barrier, like a transparent bowl turned upside down, blocking the incoming daggers at the last possible moment.

Even the Dark Witch had not anticipated that move. She froze in place for two seconds.

And those two seconds became the key to victory!

Amosta suddenly withdrew his right hand, his wand trembling rapidly. The stones beneath his feet transformed in the blink of an eye into a long spear coated with verdigris, which shot forth like cold lightning and appeared before the Dark Witch almost instantly.

Clang!

At the final possible moment, the Dark Witch summoned a wall of light shrouded in black mist. The wall collided with the spear in a deafening boom like a struck gong, and then both vanished into specks of fluorescence.

Though she had blocked it, the tremendous impact sent the magic within the Dark Witch's body surging violently, leaving her mind blank for an instant.

"Sectumsempra!"

Having finally seized the opportunity, Amosta unleashed his loudest roar since the battle began. A crisp metallic ring burst from the invisible void, and in an instant, the Death God swung its scythe above the Dark Witch's head, bringing it down decisively with cold fury!

Elsewhere, Snape had just entered the Forbidden Forest when he heard that familiar voice roar with such violent rage. His body swayed uncontrollably, his face turning from yellow to black. The next second, he gathered his strength and sprinted forward with all his might once more.

P.S. Once investments reach 100, this can get a recommendation. Please lend your support, everyone. Many thanks!