Dumbledore's body was being held tightly.
A sharp burning and pain shot through his ankles. His Magic Power, depleted by the previous powerful attack, was now sluggish. The corrosive power of Dark Magic slowly spread upwards along his legs, beginning to interfere with his core Magic Power. Yet, his eyes showed no panic. Instead, all emotion gradually faded, leaving only utmost calm and resolve. He knew he couldn't fight back with brute force now; he had to stabilize himself first.
Only then can we find an opportunity to counterattack.
"You're still so impatient." Dumbledore deep breath, suppressing the discomfort within him. He stopped resisting the pulling force and instead slowly relaxed his body. The Elder Wand slowly retracted, pointing directly at his chest. The golden light at the tip of the wand became soft and warm, no longer aggressive.
Seeing this, Gleeson and the Auror below were filled with anxiety. They thought Dumbledore had given up and gripped their wands tightly, wanting to rush forward, but the aftershocks stopped them in their tracks.
But the next second, Dumbledore uttered a spell that no one expected, a spell that lacked both offensive sharpness and defensive solidity, yet carried the unwavering determination to survive a desperate situation.
Episkey!
A gentle golden healing light flowed along the wand, slowly entering his chest. This wasn't an offensive spell, nor a defensive one, but the most basic yet crucial healing spell. The moment the golden light entered his body, it rapidly repaired the damaged magical pathways within him. The meridians burned by Dark Magic in the previous battle, and the Magic Power source nearly depleted due to overuse, began to repair and replenish themselves at an astonishing speed under the precise execution of this healing spell. The previously stagnant Magic Power flowed smoothly again, the corrosive power of the Dark Magic invading his body was gradually dispelled by the golden light, and the pain in his ankle gradually lessened. His exhausted body slowly regained its strength.
Grindelwald's smile froze instantly. He could clearly sense Dumbledore's Magic Power rapidly returning, and the previously suppressed situation was suddenly reversing. "Damn it!"
His eyes hardened, and he increased his Magic Power Output. The power of his two fiery palms surged once more, roaring as he tried to drag Dumbledore completely into the darkness. "Don't try to struggle! Albus, you can't escape!"
Dumbledore kept his eyes closed, letting the healing spell work. The blood at the corner of his mouth gradually dried, and his pale cheeks slowly regained color. His hand, gripping the Elder Wand, became Mount Tai once more. He slowly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in his golden pupils. The aura of a top-tier Wizard once again enveloped his entire body. This duel was far from over. "What are you doing!"
Grindelwald's smile froze instantly. He could clearly sense that the Magic Power within Dumbledore's body was rapidly recovering at an illogical speed. The two pulling forces that had been firmly suppressing the other party were now being gradually pushed aside by a gentle yet resilient golden light.
The black flame hand wrapped around Dumbledore's ankle had begun to show fine golden cracks at its edges, no longer as indestructible as before. The madness in his eyes faded slightly, replaced by deep astonishment. His heterochromatic pupils contracted sharply, and the black flames at his fingertips became slightly disordered due to the turmoil in his mind. Even his roar trembled almost imperceptibly, "You! You actually forcibly overdraw your Life Force to activate a healing spell at a time like this! Have you gone mad?!"
It's obvious.
This performance showed that he knew Dumbledore too well, and was well aware of the price hidden behind this seemingly gentle Healing Charm. Acting has to be realistic, after all.
Ordinary healing spells can only repair superficial wounds, but Dumbledore just cast was a forbidden healing spell that converted his own Life Force into Magic Power. It seemed to quickly replenish his depleted Magic Power, but in reality, it was burning his own lifespan. Every extra moment he endured was an overdraft on his body's foundation.
Everyone witnessed this scene.
This certainly includes those hidden Death Eater as well.
The performance continues.
"You're crazy!"
Grindelwald had thought Dumbledore was cornered and beyond saving, but he hadn't expected Dumbledore to turn the tables in such a suicidal way. His anger and resentment surged instantly.
Dumbledore did not respond to his question. At this moment, even speaking made his meridians ache terribly, and every inch of his bones seemed to be groaning in pain. The Magic Power abundance brought by the healing spell was just an illusion. The exhaustion and tearing sensation deep within his cells swept over his entire body like a tidal wave, but he could not show the slightest fear.
Taking advantage of the moment when the blackfire's hand loosened, he tensed his entire body, his wrist suddenly exerting force, and the Elder Wand swung upwards with the force of thunder! Without a lengthy incantation, without any unnecessary charging, an extremely thick golden beam of light shot into the sky from the tip of the wand. The beam of light was so pure that it had no impurities, and it was as blazing as the rising sun breaking through the clouds, instantly illuminating the entire ruins of Azkaban shrouded in blackfire and gloom.
The light carried a purifying pressure that cleansed all darkness. Wherever it passed, the Dark Magic aura in the air instantly dissipated. The two black flame hands wrapped around his ankles could not even struggle. Like ice and snow under the scorching sun, they melted and vaporized at a visible speed, leaving not even a Mars.
"Boom! Boom!"
At the same time as the beam of light erupted.
A ring of golden shockwave emanated from Dumbledore, spreading wildly outwards. Its force was so great that it tore through the remaining black fire barrier surrounding Grindelwald. Grindelwald had no time to dodge; his chest slammed into the shockwave, and with a muffled groan, he was sent flying backward uncontrollably as if struck by a giant hammer. "That guy's really going all out," he muttered. He tumbled wildly through the air a dozen times, flailing his arms frantically trying to regain his balance, but the residual force of the shockwave continued to batter his body. With each tumble, his chest injury worsened, and his already pale face drained of all color.
The blood seeping from the corner of his mouth was no longer a thin trickle, but a thick bead of blood, dripping continuously down his chin, leaving a trail of dark red blood spots in the air. To put it another way, it wasn't until he was sent flying nearly a hundred meters backward that Grindelwald barely managed to gather the last bit of Magic Power, leaving a faint black fire rune beneath his feet to stabilize his suspended body. "You want to kill yourself while you kill me?!" He gasped for breath, his breathing heavy like a broken bellows. The wound on his severed arm still throbbed, and his Magic Power was almost completely depleted. Yet, instead of retreating, his heterochromatic eyes burned with an even more intense and obsessive fighting spirit.
It even carried a hint of morbid excitement.
He raised his hand and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his tattered sleeve, which was instantly soaked with blood. His eyes were fixed on Dumbledore, and his hoarse voice was filled with a crazed pleasure. "Interesting... very interesting! Albus, this is how you should be, even more insane and arrogant than me!"
Dumbledore hovered in mid-air, his body swaying slightly. He could only barely maintain his balance with the Magic Power of the Elder Wand. He was also panting heavily, each breath accompanied by a dull pain in his chest. The explosive beam of light had almost drained all the Magic Power that the Healing Charm had temporarily converted.
The feeling of physical exhaustion intensified, the aches and pains coursing through his limbs almost overwhelming him, and his vision began to blur slightly. His performance clearly showed he knew he couldn't hold on much longer; the loss of Life Force was causing his reflexes and Magic Control to decline rapidly. This duel couldn't drag on any longer; every second of stalemate increased the danger, not only for himself but also for the Auror below, who would be caught in the inevitable aftershocks. Grindelwald understood this as well.
He watched Dumbledore's slightly trembling figure and the gradually dimming golden light at the tip of his staff, instantly realizing that Dumbledore's healing spell was a case of drinking poison to quench thirst. Both were top-tier Wizarding World, intimately familiar with each other's strengths and weaknesses. At this moment, no words were needed; they both understood each other's thoughts.
This is a last-ditch effort; it's either win the duel or perish together. There is no third option.
"Bring it on!"
The two stared at each other across the distance, their gazes clashing in mid-air. There was no emotion other than murderous intent, only resolute determination. The next second, they simultaneously raised their wands, even though Grindelwald's wand had already been shattered in the previous battle, leaving only a short, cracked wooden handle.
Even the tip of the staff was gone, yet he still gripped the handle tightly, as if holding onto his lifelong ambition and obsession.
"The final blow."
Grindelwald spoke first, his voice losing its previous madness and provocation, becoming unusually calm—a calm born of exhaustion and a willingness to gamble everything. His hoarse voice echoed across the empty ruins, clearly reaching the ears of every Auror, causing the huddled crowd below to hold their breath instantly.
My heart was in my throat.
Who will win?
" Merlin, please don't let it be Grindelwald!"
" Dumbledore must win!"
Everyone was praying frantically, but no one knew the answer.
"You've reached your limit. That's enough." Dumbledore nodded without speaking. He simply closed his eyes slowly, took a deep breath, and channeled all his remaining Magic Power, even his last ounce of Life Force, into the Elder Wand in his hand.
All I saw was...
The next moment.
The Elder Wand instantly erupted with a soft yet powerful golden light, its shaft slightly warm, as if responding to its master's resolute determination. The surrounding air thickened due to the highly concentrated Magic Power, and the sea below surged with giant waves once again, as if in fear of this ultimate showdown.
"Alright!" Grindelwald said no more. He also took a deep breath, the veins on his neck bulging, his face turning red from the effort. He poured all the last of his Magic Power, his life's work of Dark Magic, and even his will to live and his remaining Life Force into the broken wand handle.
The originally dull handle suddenly emitted an unprecedented black light. The light grew brighter and brighter, becoming so black it was almost purple and so thick, as if it had gathered all the darkness in the world into this light. Wherever the light passed, the air was torn apart, space was slightly distorted, and even the light itself was swallowed up.
" Fiendfyre - The End!"
Grindelwald roared out the incantation with all his might, his voice hoarse and almost broken, carrying a desperate resolve. This was no ordinary Fiendfyre he had used before, not just a simple flame, nor a single Magic Power attack, but a forbidden and fatal strike that condensed his entire being, all his obsession, and all his life essence into one!
Black light erupted wildly from his body, no longer in the form of flames, but rapidly condensing, twisting, and taking shape in mid-air! It transformed into a gigantic black Dragon tens of meters long!
The black dragon was wreathed in dark purple Fiendfyre, its scales formed from pure Dark Magic, making them incredibly hard. Its eyes were burning black flames, and when it opened its massive mouth, it revealed countless sharp fangs made of flames. With its mouth wide open, it let out a deafening roar!
The sound waves shattered the rocks below.
With an aura that seemed to devour the heavens and earth, it flapped its enormous black wings and pounced on Dumbledore. Wherever it passed, the sky was dyed black! Even the sea breeze was frozen, as if it wanted to completely devour Dumbledore and the entire Azkaban.
"Snort!"
Dumbledore dared not be negligent in the slightest. As Grindelwald chanted the incantation, he also poured all his power into the Elder Wand. Golden light surged from his body, no longer a pillar of light, but quickly condensed into a huge golden magic circle with a diameter of tens of meters behind him.
The magic circle was covered with ancient, sacred runes, their patterns intricate and solemn. It rotated slowly, and with each rotation, countless shimmering golden runes flew out from the circle, circling around Dumbledore like loyal guardians, protecting his tottering body.
This is the pinnacle of Holy Magic he has dedicated his life to mastering, the power of judgment that counters all Dark Magic, and his last trump card to protect the Wizarding World. "Holy Light - Final Chapter!"
Dumbledore gave a low, deep shout, his voice not loud, yet carrying a power that pierced through everything. The enormous golden magic circle stopped spinning, and under his control, it surged forward like a falling sun, carrying a purifying pressure, heading straight for the charging black Dragon.
Golden light and black light rapidly approached in mid-air, and all sounds in the world seemed to disappear, leaving only the sound of two extreme lights tearing through the air. The Auror below covered their eyes tightly, but they could still feel the earth-shattering Magic Power pressure, and their whole bodies trembled.
They didn't even dare to breathe.
The black dragon and the golden magic circle collided violently in mid-air!
At that moment, the world completely lost its color!!
A blinding golden-black light instantly engulfed the entire sky. The light was so bright that it was impossible to look directly at it. Even with their eyes tightly closed, the light could still penetrate their eyelids and burn their eyes. The Auror all lowered their heads, unable to look any longer. A deafening roar exploded.
It was more terrifying than all the previous collisions combined. The sound waves swept in all directions, collapsing all the remaining stone walls and pillars of Azkaban. Huge waves tens of meters high rose from the sea, and the entire island trembled violently, as if the end of the world had arrived!
The very foundations of the Wizarding World were shaken by this attack.
Time seemed to stand still at that moment. No one knew how much time had passed—perhaps a fleeting instant, perhaps an eternity. The blinding light finally began to dissipate, and the roar gradually subsided, leaving only the lingering smells of gunpowder, blood, and the pungent aura of residual Magic Power in the air.
When the Auror cautiously opened their eyes and looked up at the sky, they all witnessed a scene they would never forget. Their minds went completely blank. They froze on the spot, forgetting even to breathe.
Everyone gasped in surprise.