Deep within the Realm of Illusion, inside a grand and bizarre temple, the being upon the Throne let out a muffled groan.
Herpo gently raised one hand. A Black Rhombus Crystal in his palm crumbled on its own, turning into a pile of sand.
Lightly rubbing the fine sand between his fingers, he closed his eyes and muttered to himself in an inscrutable tone, "Just as expected... Just as expected..."
A moment later, Herpo opened his eyes. He scattered the sand in his hand and held his ten fingers out into the air, deftly tracing something.
Starting from the tip, a pitted, somewhat blunt wand tip slowly appeared, followed by a protruding ring of burls.
It was the Elder Wand.
However, the Elder Wand Herpo had sketched from thin air stalled when it was only halfway complete. He brought his hands slightly closer together, and the fluctuations in the surrounding air grew even more intense.
The Elder Wand remained only half-formed. When Herpo tried to inject more magic into it, a violent cracking sound rang out, and the half-finished Elder Wand split apart.
Herpo showed no displeasure. He merely picked up the cracked half of the Elder Wand and held it before his eyes.
"Still not enough... As expected, it's been too long... I'm out of practice."
He set the Elder Wand down and placed both hands on the arms of the Throne.
Glancing at the Thrones on either side, empty for some unknown reason, Herpo calmly withdrew his gaze. "A farce is still just a farce in the end... Sean, when you face yourself, you begin to face me as well."
He was talking to himself, yet it sounded as though he were conversing with someone.
"I gave you an opportunity. I even showed what they call mercy for