You Chase, I Run

Avery skipped to the center of the arena, twirled his wand, and gestured with his chin towards Regulus, his expression eager. He had been watching the spectacle from the sidelines, and now that it was finally his turn, he showed no nervousness whatsoever, only pure amusement. He declared enthusiastically, "I'll go!"

Alex followed behind, looking somewhat reluctant, but he didn't back down and walked over as well.

Regulus glanced at Avery: "Stand still."

Avery took a breath, shrugged, and assumed a ready stance.

"Legilimens."

Regulus's mental power pushed forward without any hindrance.

Hermes at least had something that could be called the edge of consciousness, though it was as thin as fog and would dissipate with a breath, but at least it existed.

Avery had nothing; his Mental Space was wide open.

Regulus's will simply entered, without feeling the slightest resistance; it was so smooth that he himself paused for a moment. Two seconds later, Regulus withdrew.

Avery blinked, then blinked again, looking completely bewildered, and then asked, "You're in?"

Regulus put down his wand. "Goed in and came out again."

Avery's expression was priceless; his mouth opened and closed, his brow furrowed and relaxed, as if he were completely bewildered about how he should feel.

He even felt a little aggrieved. "How come I didn't feel anything?"

Regulus looked at him, recalling the Legilimency he had faced with Voldemort at the Christmas Banquet.

That was an extreme maneuver, a triple barrier, Thought Folding, Spatial Topology, False Path —each layer pushed to its limit in the face of Voldemort's will.

For Avery, it wasn't about pushing his limits, but it was still a matter of finesse—gentle in and gentle out, afraid of using too much force and messing up the kid's brain. Regulus looked at him, his tone slightly fluctuating. "That's precisely the problem."

They can't even sense being invaded, and their perception of their own Mental Space is almost zero.

Someone else's will entered, took a look around, and left, without him even realizing it.

If someone with malicious intent were to come along, they could rummage through his memories like turning over a drawer.

Avery swallowed hard, his aggrieved expression turning into a less than pleasant one.

When it was Alex's turn, he didn't say anything, he just nodded.

Regulus raised his wand. "Legilimens."

Alex is in a slightly better situation Avery.

When the mind was pushed in, he could feel the invasion, panic flashed in his eyes, and he instinctively wanted to back away.

There is discomfort, a rejection reaction, and a vague defensive instinct at work in the Mental Space.

But that's all.

Unable to stop him, he was pushed in. He only had one more layer of perception Avery, knowing someone had entered, but he couldn't do anything about it. Regulus withdrew, and Alex sighed, his face not looking too good, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Regulus put down his wand and looked at the three people in front of him.

"Hermes, you have the best talent, strong attack power, but weak defense. Your emotions are easily swayed. Legilimency is exactly what you need." Hermes didn't speak, he just listened.

He looked at Avery and Alex.

"The two of you, in Mental Layer, are at the average level of a second-year student at Hogwarts."

Before they could react, he added, "Not very good."

Avery's lips twitched, and Alex lowered his head slightly.

Regulus changed the subject. "Avery's intuition isn't bad. He was slow to react when he was invaded, but he recovered quickly after withdrawing. Alex can sense the invasion; that's the most basic step, and many people can't even do that."

Avery listened, a slight smirk playing on his lips, which he quickly suppressed.

Alex also looked up, his brow relaxing slightly.

These two people are actually quite useful.

Avery is the face to the outside world, the spokesperson, the one who can speak in front of the crowd, and the future network node in the Pure-blood Circle. Alex meticulous and cautious, suitable for handling specific matters, and can unite Half-bloods and Gentle Pureblood.

However, the fact that each has its own use does not mean that it can be ridiculously bad in any aspect. It does not need to be top-notch, but it must at least be sufficient.

And to be honest, their qualifications aren't ordinary, so they can't be judged by his standards.

In a normal frame of reference, a second-year wizard who can consistently cast the Shield Charm and execute effective spell combos in combat practice would not be considered shameful even by fifth or sixth grade.

He's a step below Hermes, more than a level below him, but compared to the ordinary junior wizards at Hogwarts, he's already far ahead. It's just not enough; to follow in his footsteps, he has to strive for higher levels. It doesn't matter if he doesn't reach the top, as long as he achieves a high level of skill.

So, we still need to practice.

Regulus began assigning tasks.

"Hermes, practice Legilimency with me, at least twice a week, Legilimency together, and practice self -Magic Manipulation. I just explained the method, start with your fingertips."

Hermes nodded.

As for Avery and Alex, they should start with the basics of Magic Manipulation and practice in real combat, without touching Legilimency for now, and focus on building a solid foundation first.

"So what should we practice now?" Avery raised his hand.

Regulus looked at his head.

Baruk lay there, his eight amber eyes fixed on Regulus, his chelicerae occasionally twitching. He had nowhere to put his legs and was getting bored.

"I'll find you a sparring partner."

Regulus nodded his chin at Baruk.

Baruk bounced off Avery's head, landed on the floor, and ran on eight legs to Regulus's feet.

Regulus tapped his finger, the Transfiguration spell dissipated, and Baruk's body began to grow larger.

The carapace expanded, revealing a fine layer of keratinous texture on its surface. The bristles changed from fine down to coarse bristles, and the dark red base color deepened and became more intense. The eight legs slowly lengthened, with warm-colored patterns at the joints. They made a crackling sound as they stretched, each sound muffled more than the last. After a dozen seconds, an adult Acromantula, over two meters long, stood on the floor of the Room of Requirement.

The Room of Requirement sensed the change, and the ceiling automatically rose, expanding the space in all directions.

Avery's expression changed instantly.

Baruk, who was only the size of a palm, was very familiar to him. He would perch on Regulus's shoulder, curl up next to the pillow, and at most rummage through the drawers. He looked quite cute.

It was just perched on his head, all fluffy and beautiful.

But this one now has eight thick legs supporting a body over two meters long, covered in dark red bristles, with eight amber eyes in two rows, and large chelicerae tapping the floor.

This is something completely different.

Alex's face turned even paler, and his body trembled slightly.

Hermes was also startled, clearly stunned for a moment, and a flash of wariness crossed his face.

Then, seeing Avery and Alex's reactions, he changed his expression, crossed his arms, and put on a "you guys can't do it either" look.

Avery stood there, stunned, staring at Baruk for a long while.

The shock on his face slowly faded, and his eyes began to shine.

He was cute when he was the size of a palm, but he became even more handsome as he grew up—so handsome!

His dark red bristles, his eight legs longer than himself, and the force with which his large pincers slammed onto the floor.

He took half a step forward, trying to get a closer look, but then one of Baruk's main eyes turned and pointed at him, so he stepped back.

Alex, on the other hand, calmed down first.

Baruk was raised by Regulus, Regulus wouldn't let Baruk eat them; the logic is that simple.

He took a breath, tried raising his hand, and waved at Baruk: "Baruk?"

Baruk's large claws slammed shut twice, the sound both loud and deep.

It took half a step forward, its large body sank, its eight legs braced on the ground, and it lowered its head slightly in Alex's direction.

Alex didn't move, but Avery jumped back a step.

Alex glanced at Avery, then looked back at Baruk, and muttered to himself, "Not cute at all anymore."

Baruk continued waving his limbs, first smacking at Avery: "Little spider."

The sound was several tones deeper than when it was the size of a palm; it was deep, rough, and carried the unique frictional syllables of the Acromantula.

Then he jabbed at Alex again. "... Little Spider."

Regulus's lips curled up. "Don't bite, just chase. If you catch up, you can spray spider silk."

Baruk stomped his feet with a loud thud, making the floor thump loudly, clearly delighted.

Then it turned around, and all eight of its eyes were fixed on Avery and Alex.

Avery cursed and turned to run away.

Baruk charged forward, his eight legs landing alternately, each step creating a series of muffled thuds on the wooden floor. His body, over two meters long, moved with astonishing speed.

As Avery ran, he flicked a Petrifying Spell back, which struck Baruk's back armor, sending Spark Spell flying before bouncing away.

Adult Acromantula possess considerable Magic resistance, making the spells cast by young wizards feel like mere tickles.

He cast another Repelling Charm.

Baruk tilted his body, three of his eight legs adjusting simultaneously, and his entire body dodged to the side.

Then it accelerated, its eight legs tumbling rapidly across the wooden floor.

Avery was cornered, and he raised his wand to activate the Shield Charm.

Baruk raised one of his front legs and slapped it down, causing the silver barrier to shake violently. He slapped it again, and the Shield Charm shattered, the Silver Light scattering into fragments. Before Avery could react, Baruk had already turned around, his rear end facing him, and his silk-spinner opened, poof.

A strand of spider silk shot out, thick and tough, wrapping around Avery's body, starting from his neck and wrapping it tightly around him, his arms close to his body, his legs together, with only his head sticking out.

Avery fell straight to the ground, unable to move.

He cursed, then laughed, looking quite pleased with himself, and shouted towards Alex, "Run! Run! Baruk, go after him!" Baruk looked down at him, his large claws clicking twice.

The two main eyes at the top have "triumphant" written on the left and "happy" carved on the right.

Then it turned and looked at Alex.

Alex raised his wand, ready to fight back.

Baruk charged forward, Alex took off running, turning back to cast a spell as he ran.

Expelliarmus, the red light hitting Baruk's back armor Spark Spell, but it was completely useless.

Avery yelled from the other side, "Wrong spell! Do you want to remove its fangs?"

Alex ignored him and kept running.

But the giant spider had too many legs, and they were very agile.

Baruk adjusted his direction with all eight legs simultaneously, twisting his body into a sharp turn while running at high speed. Before Alex could react, he was cornered against the wall.

He raised his Shield Charm, and Baruk swept his front leg horizontally, shattering the barrier with a single kick—even more fragile than Avery's.

But the instant the Shield Charm shattered, Alex dodged the second strike, slipped, rolled, and stood up again to create another barrier.

Baruk not only had many legs, but also many eyes, so he could see everything clearly without turning his head.

It stretched out one of its hind legs, and with a gentle poke of its claw at the barrier, crack, it shattered again.

Alex was positioned directly in front of Baruk's rear end. Without even bending over, he sprayed spider silk, wrapping Baruch from head to toe, just like Avery, leaving only his head exposed.

With a single strand of silk still attached to the silk-spinning device, Baruk dragged Alex toward Avery, making a rustling sound as he pulled it across the floor.

When they reached Avery, they placed the two of them side by side.

Then it raised its front legs and tapped each one in turn.

First, Avery: "Little Spider."

Then he tapped Alex: "Spider-Man."

The sound was deep and rough, and the giant shrug thudded twice, making the air tremble.

Avery and Alex were entangled on the ground, lying side by side, with only their heads showing.

Avery's eyes lit up with excitement, and he craned his neck to get a better look at Baruk's large physique.

Alex stared helplessly at the ceiling, but a smirk played on his lips.

Then the two turned to look at each other and burst out laughing.

Baruk circled between the two men, his eight legs leaving a ring of footprints, and he was quite satisfied.

Then he ran back to Regulus, lowered his body, tucked his front legs in, braced his hind legs on the ground, flattened his carapace, and stared up at him with all eight amber eyes.

The giant shrew thumped the floor with rapid, frequent tapping of its limbs, its rear end slightly raised and swaying from side to side.

Regulus's lips curled into a smile as he patted its shell, "Untie them, and continue."

Baruk propped himself up on all eight legs, let out a satisfied thud, and wobbled back up.

Avery was still gurgling on the ground when he turned to Alex and said, "Now I believe it can kill us."

Alex paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

Then Avery's expression changed. Looking at Baruk who was walking over, his eyes lit up again, and he murmured, "I really want to have one." Alex, standing calmly beside him, thought that this man was probably quite ill.

Baruk's shrew clenched its limbs, clamped onto the spider silk, and gently tugged. The silk snapped, and the two men tumbled out of the web.

Before they could even get their bearings, Baruk took a few steps back, stomping his eight legs on the floor with a clattering sound, his amber eyes darting back and forth between the two men.

For the next two hours or so, the Room of Requirement was bustling with activity.

Baruk was having more and more fun. Every time he caught someone, he would drag the two of them together, point at them one by one, and call out "Little Spider." Then he would run back to Regulus, get his shell patted, and then excitedly run back to continue the chase, never tiring of it.

Avery and Alex began discussing tactics, splitting up to run, one on the left and one on the right, hoping to prevent Baruk from chasing both of them at the same time.

As a result, Baruk shot out a piece of spider silk that stuck to the ceiling, his whole body swung up, directly intercepting Avery, who was running slower, and then fell down to block Alex, entangled the two of them into a cocoon side by side.

The two were wrapped in spider silk. Avery, panting heavily, told Alex to slow down, but Alex pointed out that Avery short legs.

Hermes sat cross-legged in a corner of the field, eyes closed, following the three steps Regulus had taught him: recognizing emotions, pushing them aside, and attempting to establish a barrier. At ten o'clock, Avery and Alex were exhausted, lying side by side on the ground, their spider silk just untangled, still covered in remnants of silk, their hair a mess like a bird's nest.

Avery threw his head back, panting heavily. Alex propped himself up on his arms, his face covered in sweat, his wand rolling at his feet. Baruk had shrunk back to the size of a palm, perched on Regulus's shoulder, his bristles fluffy, his eight legs curled up, occasionally opening and closing with a satisfied clatter.

Hermes wasn't much better off. He sat cross-legged for over two hours, his mind highly focused, repeatedly trying to build a barrier in his mind only to fail each time. He was pale and swaying as he stood.

Fortunately, as he gets older, his physical strength and Magic Power also increase, and he can walk on his own.

The Corridor was quiet, with only the orange glow of torches casting halos around the walls and the flames swaying gently in the wind.

The sound of four people's footsteps echoed in the stone-paved Corridor.

Moonlight streamed in through the high window, casting long, silvery streaks across the floor.

Avery and Alex walked ahead, still discussing how to coordinate their next operation.

Hermes walked at the very back, his head bowed.

He was thinking, am I happy?