No One Can Judge Me

Harry didn't move. He knew it was a trap— Voldemort would never expose her weaknesses so easily; she must have a backup plan.

"What? You're scared?" Merope tilted her head. "Then I'll help you out."

She suddenly snapped her fingers.

Boom!

The Magic Array suddenly burst forth with a dazzling red light, and the energy flow inside the Crystal Pillar surged wildly. Countless dark red threads spread out from the pillar like tentacles, reaching outwards in all directions!

"Watch out!" Dyg shouted anxiously.

The threads moved incredibly fast, instantly wrapping around Tonks ' ankles!

Tonks cried out in alarm as he was dragged toward the Crystal Pillar!

"Tonks!" Silva reacted the fastest, throwing his magic dagger and severing the thread.

Tonks fell to the ground, then immediately rolled over and got up; his hair had turned a furious bright red.

But even more threads surged toward them, dense and overwhelming, sending a chill down their spines.

Harry waved his wand, and a platinum-white barrier suddenly appeared before everyone.

The silk threads struck the barrier with a hissing sound, then were burned to ashes by the platinum light.

"You all step back!" he shouted. "I'll deal with him!"

"Harry!" Cassandra started to say something, but was stopped by Harry's gaze.

"Trust me," he said.

Cassandra glanced at him, then nodded, and led Tonks, Dyg, and Silva back to the edge of the hall, where they warily watched the battlefield while fending off the threads.

She knew that none of them were suitable to participate in this duel between Harry and Voldemort.

Harry turned around to face Merope.

The two were dozens of meters apart, with the huge Magic Array and the Crystal Pillar with energy surging wildly within it in between.

"Heroism, tsk tsk." Merope chuckled. "You're always like this, preferring to face everything yourself rather than let your companions take risks. It's your strength, and also your weakness."

Harry didn't answer, he just raised his wand.

Platinum light condensed at the tip of the staff, growing brighter and brighter until a thick beam of light roared out, heading straight for Merope!

Merope didn't dodge; she simply raised her hand, and a dark red light gathered in her palm, colliding head-on with the platinum beam of light!

Boom!

The moment the two forces collided, the entire hall trembled violently from the aftershocks.

The Starry Sky Pattern on the dome shook violently, the Runes on the walls flickered, and tiny cracks appeared in the Magic Array on the ground!

Harry gritted his teeth and poured magic into the beam of light continuously.

He could sense that Merope's power was much stronger than before; it seemed she had begun to merge with this land.

Merope was also looking at him, her crimson eyes filled with fervor, admiration, and a hint of barely perceptible sadness.

"You know what, Harry," she suddenly spoke, her voice still clear amidst the roar, "Sometimes I think, how perfect we would have been if you had joined me back at Hogwarts."

Harry was taken aback.

What nonsense are you spouting?

Join me? Or are we the perfect match?

Although I'm in the Britain, I don't have that kind of hobby!

"I'm serious." Merope smiled slightly. "You and I are essentially the same kind of people. We've both experienced loneliness, we've both been hurt, and we both yearn to transcend. The difference is, I chose to rebel, and you chose to accept."

She withdrew her hand, and the dark red light dissipated.

Harry withdrew his magic, and the platinum beam gradually faded.

The two faced off, and the surrounding battle seemed to have faded into the distance.

"You think you're the righteous one?" Merope said. "You think the world will be a better place if you defeat me?"

Don't be silly, Harry. The world never changes because of one person—look, I've died so many times, and I've always come back. As long as there is darkness in someone's heart, as long as someone craves power, I will return.

Again and again, and never stopping.

"So what?" Harry said. "Is that your excuse for doing evil? You think you can't be completely killed because you made so many Horcrux, so you just become the most evil one?"

Miss Merope looked at him, her crimson eyes gleaming.

"You still see the world in black and white," she said. "How adorable."

She suddenly smiled.

"You know, sometimes I think, if I weren't Voldemort, if we had met somewhere else, we might have become friends—true friends."

Without a second thought, Harry shook his head and said, "Impossible."

"Why?" Miss Merope asked curiously.

"Because you've killed too many people," Harry said, "because your happiness is built on the suffering of others, because—"

He paused for a moment, his gaze passing over Merope and looking at his teammates at the edge of the hall.

Tonks was battling the silk threads, while Dyg had set up a small Defensive Array with his gadgets, barely managing to hold off the threads' onslaught; Silva stood guard beside Cassandra, severing several threads with each swing of his dagger.

Cassandra stood at the front, her Silver Compass hovering above her head, releasing Purifying Wave that protected everyone around her.

"Because of them," Harry said, "Because of them, I can't be your friend. Because of them, I'll always be on your side. Because of them, I must kill you today!"

Merope followed his gaze and looked at the group of people.

"Is it worth it?" she asked softly, "To give everything for these people?"

"It's worth it," Harry said.

Merope paused for a moment, then nodded.

"I understand," she said. "It seems you've been brainwashed too much by that Dumbledore guy, your mind is filled with so-called love."

"Then—" she raised her head, "I won't hold back!"

With that, she raised her hands, and the dark red light shone again, this time even more intensely than before.

The Crystal Pillar trembled violently, and the energy inside surged out like a burst dam, pouring into her body!

Her figure began to change; her dark green dress was torn apart by the surging magic, and her long hair flew wildly in the wind.

"This is the final stage of the Return of All Souls!" Her voice grew grand and hollow, as if coming from Fang Yi, converging towards the center, "I, Merope, will become the ruler of this land! Immortal and indestructible! Eternally existing!"

Merope's voice echoed through the hall, making everyone's eardrums ache.

The Crystal Pillar had completely merged into her body, and dark red energy surged around her like a flowing suit of armor.

Her figure grew even taller, her long hair danced wildly in the magical storm, and her crimson eyes had completely transformed into two burning flames.

Harry's pupils contracted slightly; he could feel her power increasing exponentially. The Ley Lines beneath his feet surged wildly toward her, the entire mountain trembled, and countless rocks rained down from the dome.

This is the true form of the Return of All Souls.

She is becoming completely integrated with this land, and from now on, as long as the Andes Mountains remain, she will be very difficult to truly kill.

"How are you?" Merope's voice came from all directions, carrying an inhuman hollowness, "Feeling despair? Harry Potter."

Harry didn't say anything, but instead unleashed several Charms at Merope.

Still holding on?

Merope tilted her head, a gesture that was undeniably girlish, yet the cruelty in her eyes sent chills down one's spine.

"You've won every time, and you think it will be the same this time, right?"

Harry took a deep breath and focused his magic to its limit.

"No," he said, "It's not just a feeling, it's an inevitability."

He waved his wand, and Platinum Beam, even thicker than before, roared out!

Merope simply raised her hand and gently squeezed it—the attack, powerful enough to shatter Fire Dragon, stopped right in front of her, frozen in mid-air by an invisible force.

"Do you see that?" she said. "That's the difference."

With a flick of her finger, the platinum beam of light instantly reversed and shot straight at Harry!

Harry's pupils contracted, and three layers of shields instantly materialized in front of him.

The beam of light struck the shield and exploded with a deafening roar. The violent shockwave sent Harry staggering backward, and the rocks beneath his feet shattered into pieces.

"Harry!" Cassandra's voice came from the edge of the hall.

"Don't come any closer!" Harry shouted, steadying himself and raising his wand again.

Merope looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

"You're always like this," she said. "You'd rather carry the burden yourself than let your companions take risks. Do you know what that's called?"

Harry did not answer.

"That's called arrogance," Merope said. "You think you can protect them? You think you're enough on your own?"

She suddenly raised her hand and pointed to the edge of the hall.

The dark red light instantly traversed dozens of meters, heading straight for Cassandra!

"Watch out!" Harry almost instinctively moved in front of Cassandra, using his body to block the attack!

The violent impact sent him flying, crashing heavily into the wall, which cracked with spiderweb-like patterns.

"Harry!" Cassandra rushed over and helped him up.

A trickle of blood escaped from the corner of his mouth, but he still held his head high.

"I'm fine," he said, struggling to his feet.

Merope didn't continue her attack. She simply watched it all quietly.

"See?" she said. "That's your weakness, you'll give anything for them. And I'll exploit that, time and time again."

Harry wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stared at her.

"Do you know why I've survived until now?" Merope continued, "Because I have no weaknesses. I don't care about anyone, I don't care about anything. Only myself, only my goals. That's why I can come back time and time again."

"So you're pathetic," Harry said.

Merope paused for a moment.

"What did you say?"

"I said, you're pathetic," Harry said, emphasizing each word. "You think having no weaknesses is strength? You're wrong. People without weaknesses are the truly weak, because they have nothing to protect, no one to cherish, and no meaning in life."

He looked at Merope, his gaze calm yet extremely firm.

"I have," he said. "I have people I need to protect, people I cherish, and a reason to live—that's why I won't lose. Because if I lose, they'll be in danger. If I lose, it'll all be over, so I can't lose."

Merope remained silent for a moment.

A barely perceptible hint of envy flashed in those burning crimson eyes.

"You've really changed," she said softly. "That little boy I pointed my wand at back then can now say things like this. I remember when I pointed my wand at you, you didn't cry, you laughed instead—of course, he paid the price for his arrogance."

Harry did not respond to her nostalgia.

"Voldemort," he said, "your last chance. Abandon this ritual, and we may give you a fair trial. If you continue—"

"Trial?" Merope laughed. "Harry, no one in this world can judge me, you know? Not even Merlin, not even the legendary Jesus!"

She raised her hands, and the dark red light surged once more.

"So, abandon your pointless preaching and let's see who's the real deal!"

"Let's do it then." Harry raised his wand.

The two faced off, and the air in the hall seemed to freeze.

Suddenly, the two moved together, and the platinum-gold and scarlet torrents of magic collided. An invisible shockwave swept outwards in all directions, and the entire hall was shaken to its breaking point by the aftershocks of the collision between the two Charms.

The two remained there, Harry on the right and Merope on the left. Although neither could gain the upper hand for the time being, Merope, empowered by the entire Ley Lines, was clearly gaining the upper hand.

Harry gritted his teeth and persevered, knowing he absolutely could not back down even a single step.

He frantically poured magic into the beam of light, but could only barely maintain his position from being repelled by Merope.

Just when he was about to give up, a silver-blue beam of light shot from the side and hit Merope in the shoulder!

Merope swayed slightly, her magical output decreasing a little, which allowed Harry to regain his footing.

Turning my head, I saw Cassandra standing at the edge of the hall, Silver Compass hovering above her head, emitting a dazzling Purification light.

Her face was pale, but she still stood tall and proud.

"He was never alone," Cassandra said.

No sooner had she finished speaking than Tonks charged in from another direction, his wand flashing as Binding Charm shot towards Merope! While the spells couldn't break through her defenses, they successfully distracted her.

Silva moved through the shadows like a ghost, each swing of his magical dagger leaving a crack in Merope's dark red shield.

Dyg stood at the entrance of the hall, the Quartz Probe in his hand glowing brightly. He was using some kind of spell to analyze the structure of the Magic Array, trying to find a flaw.

"You—" Merope looked at them, "Do you know you'll die if you stay?"

"We know," Cassandra said, "But we also know that if Harry were alone against you, he would die too."

"So what?" Merope asked sarcastically.

"So we'll be together," Cassandra said. "Either we live together, or we die together."