The Arrogant Are Easier to Fool

The Magic Array emitted a white light, dispelling the darkness in the Secret Chamber.

However, this time, crimson flames surged from the formation, and Aaron consumed more than twice the Magical Energy as before.

As the light dissipated, two Fantastic Beasts appeared on the spot: a white Holy Dragon and a red Phoenix.

Abei up to Aaron, flapping his wings as if to boast, "How about that? This is the strong reinforcement I found."

"I knew I was so tired!"

"But are you sure you found this Phoenix?" Aaron glanced at Fawkes, who had tossed his school cap to Harry and was now quietly perched on his shoulder, and his lips twitched involuntarily. "I'm almost too embarrassed to call you out on it."

At that moment, a rumbling sound came from above, and the statue of Salazar opened its mouth wide, the sound of a venomous snake flicking its tongue clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"Take Ginny and run! Don't look back!" Aaron said immediately. "The basilisk won't dare to approach the barrier as long as there's the sound of Basilisk crowing."

"Then what are you going to do?" Harry asked worriedly. "You can't beat the Basilisk by yourself."

"I have my own way." Aaron took a deep breath, stretched his right hand into the air, and took out a silver Longsword from a red Magic Array.

"What are you standing there for? Are you going to stay and hold us back?"

I'm professionally trained; I can fight with my eyes closed, but you can't.

The three immediately picked up the cold Ginny, and at that moment, Fawkes flew off Harry's shoulder, his red figure soaring straight to the ceiling.

"Come back, Fawkes!" Harry called out anxiously. The Phoenix was amazing, but he didn't think Phoenix could defeat the Basilisk; their sizes were too different.

But what happened next completely overturned their understanding, leaving them dumbfounded.

Fawkes circled the Basilisk, not hesitating to meet its gaze, completely immune to the Basilisk's magic.

The Basilisk statue of Salazar raised its body, thicker than a tree trunk, from its shoulder, opened its mouth full of sharp fangs, and angrily bit down at Fawkes.

Instead of retreating, Fawkes advanced, dodging the fangs, and flew to the top of the Basilisk's head.

The long golden beak pierced the Basilisk's green scales, pecking at its head several times, black blood splattering onto the ground.

The Basilisk in great pain, writhing and falling from the high stone statue to the floor, causing the ground to tremble.

But Fawkes didn't stop. His two claws pierced the Basilisk's yellow eyes, tearing them to shreds, making everyone on the scene feel extremely nauseous.

But the thought that the Basilisk was blind and its magic would be useless made them all feel a little happy.

Although it has lost its eyes, the Basilisk still has venomous fangs and a huge body, but its intimidating power has been greatly reduced. At least everyone now has the courage to face it directly.

"No, get away from that bird, get away from that bird!" Riddle screamed, somewhat exasperated. He looked at the smug four and composed himself. "Don't be too happy yet. Even without eyes, the Basilisk can still locate you by sound and smell your scent."

It could kill you all with ease.

"Eh? I have to say something here, what you're saying doesn't include me among you."

I initially thought I'd have to be blindfolded to slay the snake, but the difficulty dropped by more than half. I'm fairly confident I can handle a giant, blind snake.

Riddle gritted his teeth and was about to swing his Wand to attack.

"You just said you wouldn't interfere. Does the infamous Dark Lord go back on his word?" Aaron said calmly.

"You..." Riddle sneered, "You don't really think a Phoenix can kill Basilisk, do you?!"

Even with its body covered in wounds, the Basilisk could easily kill a few junior Warlock.

As they were speaking, a snake's tail swept over.

Accompanied by a deep, resonant wind, it felt like a green wall bearing down on us.

Harry, Ginny, and the others immediately put Ginny down and lay on the ground to avoid the snake's tail, while Aaron raised his Longsword to parry. The silver blade sliced through the snake's tail like a hot knife through butter.

While leaving a sword wound on the Basilisk, he was also pushed more than ten meters away before barely stopping.

"Aaron, are you alright?" Harry asked.

"It's alright, it's just that the Basilisk is too big."

My sword, though sharp, is unlikely to inflict a fatal wound.

The wound on its tail aroused the Basilisk's ferocity. It suddenly straightened up, knocked the Phoenix aside, and then opened its blood-red maw to pounce on Aaron.

The Basilisk's mouth was wide open, and two rows of venomous fangs gleamed coldly, with venom as potent as strong acid seeping from between them.

Aaron calmly gripped his Longsword, dodging the serpent's tongue as it coiled around him, and precisely stabbed the Basilisk with his Longsword, causing black blood to gush out instantly.

The Basilisk hissed in pain, trying to fling Aaron away.

But he held on tightly to the Longsword, and at the same time, the first black Magic Crystal on the hilt began to flash, greedily absorbing the Basilisk's blood, not even letting go of the venom.

After enduring for more than an hour, Aaron was slammed against the pillar several times by the Basilisk. Only when he saw the first Magic Crystal light up did he draw his sword and create some distance between himself and the Basilisk.

"That's amazing, but isn't that a bit too much?" Ron couldn't help but say.

Harry nodded blankly, while Hermione's eyes sparkled.

Just then, a hissing sound came from behind them. Hermione immediately stood in front of Harry and Ron, nervously raising her Wand. "Would the Dark Lord really go back on his word?"

"He didn't go back on his word," Harry said, on the verge of tears. "He let the Basilisk deal with us first."

"What?"

"Isn't it normal to clean up the trash on the chessboard first?" Riddle said with a sinister smile. "Gaius is qualified to be my opponent, but you guys are really getting in the way."

Gollum!

Ron swallowed hard, looking at Harry with a desperate, almost panicked expression, "What are you saying?!"

"Aren't you Parseltongue? You should be able to control Basilisk too, right?"

"Hahaha..." Riddle burst into maniacal laughter, his expression turning particularly ferocious. "Parseltongue can't help you. It only obeys me, and the Heir of Slytherin with Salazar's blood."

The Basilisk abandoned Aaron and swooped down, dragging its green, monstrous body.

"Impedimenta!"

Hermione cast several Barrier Shield Charm in succession, but the pale golden light that struck the Basilisk was deflected away.

Even though she conjured some protruding stones on the floor, she couldn't stop the rampaging Basilisk; she could only slow it down a bit.

"You have some talent, but the Basilisk is a top-tier magical creature. With your current magical power, you can only delay your death by a few seconds." Riddle explained gloatingly. Having finally escaped the diary, watching these young Warlock struggle in Despair was a kind of fun.

"What do we do?" Ron stammered, "We don't have Aaron's exaggerated close-combat abilities."

"Let's get Ginny through this round first," Hermione said, but she wasn't sure what to do as the green snake's head drew closer.

Harry wanted to say something more, but then a few points of light flickered inside the Hat, and he reached in with his right hand as if possessed, pulling out a Winky silver sword with a red gem the size of an egg on its hilt.

Unlike the Longsword in Aaron's hand, the sword in Harry's hand was slightly thinner. Although sharp, it looked more luxurious, as if it were prepared for a duel.

"Alright!" Harry composed himself, and thinking of Aaron's earlier behavior, a surge of courage welled up within him.

Hermione and Aaron's performance just now proved that with their current level of magic, they cannot deal with this giant snake that has lived for thousands of years, but they can still damage it with melee weapons.

Moreover, the Basilisk is now severely injured, so a desperate attempt might just kill it.

"Let me try. You guys stay away from here for a bit."

"Are you crazy?" Ron asked in astonishment.

Harry didn't answer, but simply assumed a position, facing directly at the gaping maw slick with venom and blood.

"Abei!"

Aaron shouted, and a heavenly dragon's roar reached everyone's ears.

The three-meter-tall Holy Dragon, radiating white holy light, pressed down on the Basilisk's head with one claw, forcing it to stop a few meters in front of Harry.

Harry stared at the giant dragon so close to him, momentarily stunned.

Hermione and Ron were also dumbfounded. They had seen Abei transform into a giant cat last year, but back then it was only a little over a meter tall, nothing like the giant cat it is now.

Abei roared, his two dragon claws pressing against the Basilisk's upper and lower jaws. A white Magic Array appeared in front of him, ready to send a burst of Dragon Breath into the Basilisk's body.

Abei was confident enough that, although the Basilisk was several times larger than him, this move would definitely cook it.

However, the next moment, Aaron spoke in a deep voice: Don't kill it yet. If you kill it, I'll have to face Voldemort in his younger form.

I can't beat him now, and even if you, Fawkes, and the Chamber of Secrets are included, it would still be tough.

I need time to prepare. Also, go find Riddle's Diary, but don't act rashly; it concerns our lives.

Abei paused slightly, swallowed the flame that was about to reach his mouth, and then flapped his wings and used his sharp claws to cut a long gash on the Basilisk.

A painful hissing sound rang out, Basilisk writhed in agony, thus saving Harry and his friends from being devoured.

"What are you standing there for? Get away from here while you can!" Aaron reminded her impatiently.

Harry nodded hastily and followed Ron and Hermione, along with the shivering Ginny, to hide behind a snake pillar at the entrance.

"Was that Dragon Language just now?" Riddle said with some surprise, "You are indeed exceptionally talented, and you even have a divine dragon by your side."

"You flatter me. After all, we are a Warlock family with a history of thousands of years. We still have a certain foundation." Aaron waved his hand, pretending not to care, and glanced at the two glowing black Magic Crystal on the sword hilt. A hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes.

"I'm curious, that dragon was able to kill the Basilisk just now, so why did you stop it?"

"Because... it's fair." Aaron, seemingly serious but actually talking nonsense. "You said that I'm just like you, willing to do anything to achieve my goals, but there are some bottom lines that I still have to stick to."

You could have easily killed Harry and the others just now, but you didn't. Even though the Basilisk was at a huge disadvantage, you refrained from making a move.

You can keep your promise, and I'll naturally have to make this duel as fair as possible.

"Hmph!" Riddle's lips curled up slightly as he chuckled, "You are worthy of your noble stature and bloodline. I knew I hadn't misjudged you."

Aaron Gaius, if you can defeat the Basilisk, I can spare your life today. It would be a shame for a human like you to die.

Just wait! After I rule the Magic World, I will definitely pay you a visit. I hope you will make a wiser choice then."

Aaron:...

I'm inexplicably flattered!

Indeed, arrogant people are easier to fool.