New Skill · We Fuse!

Pansy glared furiously at Ethan and the group of Gryffindors.

A surge of offended anger rose in her chest, like discovering a stray dog on the roadside had dared to bite her.

She turned her head, intending to call her companions to hurl insults back.

Let these poor, lowly Mudbloods see if they could afford to mess with her!

But.

What met her eyes was a sparse Slytherin group of less than ten.

Some were even shrinking back, trying to slip away.

"..."

Pansy's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at them.

Wh-what was going on?

Where were the people?!

Only Goyle and Crabbe remained trembling on the front line.

But it was hard to tell if they were holding their ground or had simply forgotten to run.

Only then did Pansy belatedly realize what she was facing.

Her face went pale as she slowly turned to meet a pack of hungry little lions.

A restless energy churned in the air, as if they might charge over at any second and tear them all apart.

The only thing holding them back was that "that person" hadn't given the order yet—

Ethan Vincent!

When her eyes met those cold, emotionless Cobalt Blue pupils, Pansy collapsed to the ground with a thud, all her earlier arrogance gone.

Eyes wide, trembling, fear creeping across her face.

She turned again to look at the large crowd of Gryffindors, cracking their knuckles and watching her like prey.

Finally, she faced reality.

A belated terror rose in her eyes.

Ethan looked down at the trembling girl on the floor.

He narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Savoring the restlessness and fear permeating the air, Ethan wore an expression of pure delight.

How satisfying.

Slytherin?

Kneel when you speak to me.

[Your painting has caused a massive impact on the crowd!]

[Soul Fusion Degree increased by 3%!]

[You have learned a new skill: Fusion]

[When flesh and blood merge, new life is born; so too does the blending of painting and pigment]

[When two extraordinary paintings are fused, a new effect is produced]

[Note: Fused paintings can also be separated, unless they possess a specific devouring attribute]

A full 3% increase!

Even when Broom Rash had caused a certain stir, it had only gone up by 1%.

This time, it had broken through the 30% mark in one go.

And he gained a new skill—

Noble Fusion!

Two paintings combined, their dual techniques stacking to create a new effect.

Just from that description, countless ideas sparked in Ethan's mind.

Once he had more extraordinary paintings, his magical combinations would surely become far more diverse, catching his enemies off guard.

With the system's appearance.

It was like a bucket of refreshing spring water being poured over his head on a scorching summer day.

Magic surged forth from within Ethan like bamboo shoots after spring rain.

Just then.

Ethan suddenly felt his wand tremble!

It resonated with the magic inside him.

A scent of nuts mixed with minerals wafted out.

This smell was familiar to Ethan.

It was the scent of paint.

--Could it be about to transform?!

Ethan's heart jolted.

He quickly went along with the feeling, channeling his magic into it.

The surface of the wand began to flow, as if turning into liquid, the space around it slightly warping.

Yet, no matter how hard Ethan tried to picture the Perfect Brush in his mind, he was still a bit off.

Just missing a crucial key point.

A few seconds later.

The hazy glow faded, and the wand's form stabilized again.

Only the scent of nuts and minerals lingered in the air.

Ethan opened his eyes again, looking down at the wand in his hand.

Its light brown surface was very smooth.

Fine horizontal ridges ran across it like some kind of sacred symbol.

It was a wand perfectly suited for a good wizard like him.

As if, since the moment it was crafted, it was meant to belong to him.

"Damn, I got blue-balled..."

Ethan muttered.

Still, Ethan wasn't impatient.

Often, patient waiting yields the best results.

This time, he had gained a lot.

Another 3% Soul Fusion Degree, a wand on the verge of transformation, a new skill.

And he'd given an impassioned speech in front of everyone.

Malfoy, you really did me a favor!

Ethan looked at Malfoy, who was nearly being choked breathless by Pansy, with a benevolent gaze.

Just then.

Ethan's eyes shifted, catching sight of a figure hurrying toward them from a distance.

He raised his wand, pointing it in Malfoy and Pansy's direction.

"Ah!"

Pansy screamed, clutching her head and squeezing her eyes shut, yanking Malfoy with enough force to strangle him.

She thought Ethan was about to cast a spell on her.

At that moment, she was filled with regret.

Why pick a fight with anyone, let alone that lunatic Ethan Vincent?

Better a fierce madman than a cultured one!

Pansy had no idea what twisted magic Ethan might use.

The threat of death had never felt so clear.

"Episkey."

With a gentle voice, white light enveloped Malfoy on the ground.

The redness and swelling on his cheeks faded, and the trickling nosebleed stopped.

"Help... save me... huh?"

Malfoy, calling for help in a voice as faint as a mosquito's, belatedly realized his face didn't hurt anymore.

Had a professor arrived?

Malfoy opened his eyes in surprise, for the first time in his life hoping to run into a professor.

The next second, he met Ethan's smiling eyes.

Malfoy: "..."

Maybe I should just pass out!

Ethan's move shocked everyone once again.

"..."

Pansy sat slumped on the ground in a daze, her hair disheveled and her body covered in mud, her legs too weak to straighten.

Finally, her lips quivered, and she couldn't help but burst into tears.

Broken both physically and mentally by the "Mudblood" she despised most.

Ron paused, then asked anxiously, "Ethan! Why are you healing him! Shouldn't we press the attack!"

Ethan turned his head and said seriously:

"What are you talking about? Am I the violent type?"

"Friendship first, competition second."

Ethan looked at Malfoy and put on an innocent smile:

"We were just having a friendly spar, deepening our understanding and study of spells, right?"

"..."

Malfoy stared at the pool of blood on the ground.

He felt that Ethan's understanding of the word "friendly" was, to put it mildly, way off.

But then, everyone understood why Ethan had done that.

"What are you doing?!"

A sharp voice rang out as Professor McGonagall's figure hurried over.

The remaining Slytherins, as if seeing a savior, swarmed around her and hid behind the professor.

This rare treatment made Professor McGonagall narrow her eyes.

Then, she immediately spotted the blood on Malfoy's face.

Professor McGonagall's heart skipped a beat. She quickly checked Malfoy and, seeing nothing serious, breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Then, her anger flared, and she demanded:

"Will someone explain to me what happened here?!"

Harry said quietly, "It was Malfoy, Professor. Malfoy came to provoke Ethan!"

"That's enough, Mr. Potter!"

Professor McGonagall glared at him sternly.

"We'll discuss your problem later. Diving down from such a height—did you ever consider you might break your neck?!"

Harry then remembered that he had broken the rules by riding the Flying Broomstick earlier.

Compared to what Ethan had done, it seemed like nothing.

Just then, a voice rang out:

"Professor McGonagall, please don't be angry. This is all my fault."

Ethan looked up, his expression remorseful and resolute, as if he had made up his mind to take responsibility.

"Malfoy challenged me to a duel. It was my first duel, and I might have been a bit too rough... Though I healed his wound right after, I'm truly sorry, Professor McGonagall."

Malfoy stared at Ethan in disbelief.

Every word was true.

But why did it sound so innocent?!

A bit too rough?

You were trying to beat him to death!!