An Unexpected Failure

It was not just the ground that was affected. As the blinded dragons vented their fury, they also opened their cavernous jaws toward the circular stands.

Fortunately, the magical energy field cast by Dumbledore blocked the dragons' breath, sparing the spectators in the stands from disaster.

Even so, with that dragon breath so close at hand, many spectators felt their hearts tighten.

Victor Krum suddenly dove to the side, evading the dragon breath spewed by the Norwegian Ridgeback.

He sprang nimbly to his feet and raised his wand toward the sky.

Ludo Bagman noticed this and quickly looked up. When a Flying Broomstick flew into the arena, he broke into a broad grin.

"Of course, it's the Flying Broomstick!" he shouted, slamming a hand on the table. "Krum hasn't disappointed us!"

"He's summoned his own Flying Broomstick! It looks like he intends to charge through the two dragons and make a run for the Golden Egg!"

Victor Krum mounted the Flying Broomstick and sent it soaring into the sky. The spectators all looked up, their eyes tightly following Krum's figure.

Ludo Bagman rose to his feet, crying out excitedly, "What a beautiful burst of acceleration!"

"Watch out!" His expression changed at once when he saw the Norwegian Ridgeback raise its head and breathe fire.

Victor Krum was utterly focused. Naturally, he sensed the dragon breath close at hand and immediately steered his Flying Broomstick away.

"A spectacular sideways dodge!" Ludo Bagman shouted excitedly. "His reactions are incredibly fast! He avoided that sudden blast of dragon breath!"

"Oh! Merlin's beard! We only blinked, and he's already swept past both dragons! Now he's diving down!"

"Look at Krum's fierce dive! He's getting close to the Golden Egg! He's like a dazzling meteor! Is he trying to prove something?"

Harry and the others