Beat Up the Professor

The Gryffindor fights were exciting, but as exciting as they were, the skill level was just so-so.

Some are chasing their opponents, some are being chased, and some are standing in the middle, unsure of who to attack.

Professor Vance looked on, wanting to shake his head.

On the Slytherin side, apart from Black and Mulciber, the other two groups performed surprisingly well.

Cuthbert and Roxier were instructing the other two, and they were actually doing a pretty good job.

Cuthbert talked as he played, and Vance followed along. Although his movements were still a bit stiff, he was making progress.

The same goes for Roxier's side; that Half-bloods girl, Costa, is improving rapidly and has already begun to try to fight back.

Professor Vance knew that Cuthbert, Roxier, Mulciber, and Black were a small group, with Black at the core.

Professor Vance knew the Mulciber family's social class; he had even dealt with them before.

Professor Slughorn also mentioned that this Mulciber was a problem child because he dared to openly use Dark Arts right at the start of his first year.

He had initially thought he would need to pay more attention to this student, but now it seems he's actually doing alright; at least he hasn't misbehaved in class.

Professor Vance looked away.

Ten minutes before the end of get out of class, he tapped on the podium. "Stop."

The classroom fell silent. The young Wizards stopped, panting, their faces showing a lingering sense of satisfaction.

Professor Vance walked to the center of the classroom, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "Today's performance was, overall, quite average."

He pointed to a few students from Gryffindor.

"Mr. Pruitt, your Disarming Charm is too slow. By the time you finish casting it, your opponent will have already defeated you."

It also refers to another one.

"Mr. Macmillan, where's your Slowing Charm? The other side hasn't even stopped."

He called on several people one by one, pointing out their problems in a serious tone, each issue hitting the nail on the head.

The Wizards lowered their heads, not daring to utter a sound.

"With your skill level, if you really encountered Dark Wizard, you wouldn't last a single move, and you wouldn't even have a chance to escape."

The classroom became even quieter.

Then Professor Vance looked towards Slytherin.

"Mr. Cuthbert, Mr. Roxier, you've done a good job."

Avery straightened his back, a smirk playing on his lips, while Alex smiled slightly beside him.

"Knowing how to guide peers and how to utilize the environment—these are two things that many people still don't learn by fifth grade."

He continued, "But don't get cocky, you're still a long way from a real battle."

Then he looked at Regulus: "Mr. Black."

Regulus looked over.

Professor Vance was silent for a moment, then said, "Come up here, let's demonstrate."

The classroom erupted in chaos.

"Black's going to fight the professor?"

"Really?"

"That's a professor..."

"Even if Black is amazing, he's still a second-year student."

Regulus stepped forward and stood opposite Professor Vance.

Professor Vance wanted to demonstrate, and he had no reason to refuse; it was no surprise that he was chosen.

And that's exactly right.

The young Wizards stepped back against the wall, making room for each other.

The two bowed to each other.

On the Slytherin side, the young Wizards stared intently at Regulus.

They knew Regulus was powerful, that he could fight fifth graders, and seventh graders should be no problem either, but what about higher grades?

Adult wizard?

professor?

Nobody knows.

So they were excited and expectant.

The atmosphere in Gryffindor is a bit more complicated.

Some were curious, some were nervous, but most were waiting to see Regulus make a fool of himself.

Professor Vance's expression became more serious, but not to the point of being nervous.

Regulus has quite a reputation, but he's still just a second-year student.

He had experienced real battles and knew what true power was. He had also seen too many talented young wizards and knew that even they had their limits.

"Mr. Black, you go first."

Regulus didn't stand on ceremony; he raised his wand, but before doing so, he glanced at the professor's Magic Power.

It is weighty, concise, and possesses a sharpness honed through long battles.

He is stronger than many adult wizards, but far from the level of a Dean; he is probably at the level of a senior Auror.

Perfect, just enough for him to do his thing.

As Professor Vance waved his wand, a stone slab at his feet suddenly struck his ankle.

Transfiguration.

Professor Vance hadn't expected Regulus to pull this off so quickly, but he reacted swiftly, taking a step back. The stone slab missed its target, crashed into the wall, and shattered into dust.

Regulus chanted the spell. "Expelliarmus!"

A red light shot out from the tip of the staff at a tricky angle, heading straight for Professor Vance's chest.

Professor Vance flicked his wand, sending the red light flying, and at the same time, the floor beneath his feet shifted slightly.

Professor Vance frowned.

This child, his spells aren't spells, they're spells that lead to traps.

He started to get serious. "Impedimenta!"

A purple wall of light crashed towards Regulus.

Regulus didn't take the hit head-on; instead, he dodged to the side, simultaneously pointing his wand at a chair in the corner of the classroom.

The chair instantly Transfiguration into a sparrow, flapping its wings and flying straight towards the Slowing Charm.

The sparrow collided with the purple light, shattered into pieces, and the Slowing Charm was neutralized.

Professor Vance narrowed his eyes. Using Transfiguration to block the spell?

He Spellcasting continuously.

He Spellcasting continuously.

"Stupefy!"

"Petrificus Totalus!"

"Expelliarmus!"

Three spells were fired in quick succession, one after another, at incredible speed, completely blocking all directions Regulus could dodge.

But Regulus had no intention of dodging. He tapped his wand twice, first casting Stunning Spell and then a Petrifying Spell to deflect it. Then he sidestepped, letting the Disarming Charm whiz past him.

Suddenly, the wooden tabletop softened and twisted, as if it came to life, and a rope extended out, wrapping around Professor Vance's ankle.

Professor Vance flicked his wand, snapping the rope, but interrupting the rhythm of the Spellcasting.

Regulus seized the opportunity and flicked his wand. "Wingardium Leviosa!"

A stack of books in the corner of the classroom floated up and shot towards Professor Vance like bricks.

Professor Vance Cleansweep his wand, knocking all the books away, but in the instant he swung his wand, Regulus's Disarming Charm was already in front of him.

Professor Vance sidestepped, the red light grazing his chest as he narrowly avoided it.

He took a step back, widened the distance, and began to take the initiative to attack.

"Impedimenta!"

The purple light wall was larger and faster than before.

Regulus pointed his wand at the ground, and a stone slab appeared, blocking his path. The wall of light struck the slab, causing it to shatter and the spell to be blocked.

Professor Vance unleashed his next spell.

"Expelliarmus!"

Regulus dodged to the side, simultaneously casting a Stunning Spell. Professor Vance launched him into the air, then cast another one.

The two stood in the middle of the classroom, chanting spells back and forth, their speed and power increasing with each incantation.

The classroom was so quiet that only the sound of incantations breaking through the air could be heard.

The young Wizards were dumbfounded.

"That's way too fast..."

"I couldn't even see his wand moving."

"Professor Vance is playing this seriously?"

Professor Vance cast a Stunning Spell.

Regulus didn't dodge; the chair next to him Transfiguration into a cat, which jumped up and blocked the spell.

The cat was hit, turned back into a chair, and fell to the ground.

Regulus began to fight back; the power of his spell remained the same, but his speed nearly doubled.

"Stupefy!"

The spell was aimed directly at Professor Vance, who was sent flying.

"Impedimenta!"

The purple light followed closely, and he dodged to the side.

"Expelliarmus!"

The red light clung to the tail of the previous beam, and Professor Vance, unable to dodge, activated his Shield Charm.

The red light collided with the barrier, exploding into a burst of light. The barrier swayed slightly but didn't shatter, but Professor Vance took a step back.

Everyone saw this step.

The young Wizards gasped.

Professor Vance steadied himself and looked at Regulus.

Regulus looked at him, his wand hanging at his side.

Professor Vance was silent for a moment, then he put away his wand. "That's enough."

Regulus also put away his wand.

The classroom was silent for a moment, then erupted in chaos.

On Slytherin's side, applause and cheers mingled together, with some whistling and others banging on the table.

Avery turned to Samuel, his face beaming with excitement, and began to explain.

"Did you see that? Those last three incantations are linked together!"

The first attack forces him to block, the second forces him to dodge, and the third strikes when he has no time to dodge. That's called rhythm, understand?

Samuel stared at the field and nodded subconsciously, not even bothering to make any extra expression on his face.

Alex was also talking to Lina.

"Look at that cat he just Transfiguration. I never knew Transfiguration could be used like that."

Lina's eyes shone like fire, and she murmured, her voice trembling at the end, "So amazing..."

It was much quieter in Gryffindor. Some people clapped, but it was just a perfunctory clapping; most remained silent.

Mary MacDonald, on the other hand, clapped very loudly, while Gryffindor was quiet and she was the only one there, making her applause particularly clear.

Regulus glanced at her and nodded.

Mary smiled and continued clapping.

Professor Vance looked at Regulus with a somewhat complicated expression.

He had seen many talented young people, but this kid was different.

He didn't use Magic beyond the scope of a second-year student; all his spells were standard, but he performed them at a level far beyond the norm.

Professor Vance remained silent for a long time before saying, "Mr. Black, your behavior is not like that of a second-year student."

Regulus bowed slightly. "Professor, you flatter me."

Professor Vance glanced at him again, then turned to the class.

"See that? That's what a duel is all about. It's not just standing still and shooting at each other. Every step has a purpose, and every move has a follow-up. You guys are still a long way from that level."

He continued, "But as you've seen, Black was able to do it not with some profound spell, but with the things you've all learned."

Slytherin, on the other hand, felt proud and convinced.

The situation in Gryffindor much more complicated, but no one can really say for sure.

Professor Vance glanced at the time. "Mr. Black, Slytherin, 20 points."

Regulus bowed again.

Professor Vance withdrew his gaze. "Class dismissed."

The Wizards began packing their things, many still watching Regulus, their eyes following his every move.

Regulus returned to his seat and picked up his book.

Hermes stood by and waited for him. Avery walked over, his face still showing excitement, and Alex followed behind. The group walked out together.

Lina and Samuel lagged behind, exchanged a glance, and didn't follow.