Turning the Tables

Three flames of different colors and shapes, like the most ferocious beasts in the world, hungrily devoured everything in sight, turning everything in their path into scorched earth.

In less than ten minutes, all the plants in sight were burned to ashes.

"Malfoy, your combat prowess truly astonishes me." Morozov's cold voice rang out, filled with amazement. "I must admit your strength, but within the tree formation, I am invincible!"

The ground began to tremble slightly.

Just a few breaths later, the earth began to churn as if boiling water had been poured into a pot. Suddenly, large swaths of soil flew into the air with a loud bang, only to fall back down upon them!

Not far from here, dozens, even hundreds, of trees swayed and trembled, their thick roots rising from the ground. Some of the towering trees had roots buried extremely deep, lifting tons and tons of soil with their immense force... White and brown roots crawled across the ground, and the tall trees thudded as they moved toward Skylar.

Dozens of large trees, hand in hand, moved forward slowly like they were hopping on grass skirts, but the heavy footsteps made the whole earth tremble. Every now and then, a dozen or so large hands would swing down from the air, some needle-leaved, some broad-leaved, and some with no leaves left. Although the speed was not fast, the overwhelming momentum was enough to crush everyone's confidence.

A new wave of attacks descended upon Skylar once again.

The three flames gradually died down under Skylar's control.

While fire magic is inherently effective against plants like flowers and trees, quantity can lead to quality. Faced with such a massive army of treants, unleashing powerful magic would only deplete one's magical and mental energy more quickly.

This situation is different from when Skylar destroyed the Acromantula's nest in the Forbidden Forest. That time, he didn't need to control the Fiendfyre all the time and could let it run rampant. But this time, if he loses control of the Fiendfyre due to exhaustion of his mental energy, not only will many precious rare flowers and herbs be destroyed, but he himself and the four people hanging upside down from the tree will also be doomed. It is even unknown whether Phoebe will be able to escape in time.

Therefore, he could only stop his triple flame attack.

Fortunately, he was agile, and the huge tree-man's attack speed was not fast, which allowed him to constantly move and change his shape in the dense forest to deal with the enemy.

However, the demonic tree's attacks are endless and inexhaustible. Even branches that are blasted apart can regrow within seconds.

Skylar's wand danced incessantly, unleashing a barrage of Fire-Making Spell, Thunderbolt Curse, and Severing Curse in quick succession. Each attack was incredibly precise, and his modified versions of the spells were far more powerful than the versions circulating outside. With his overwhelming magical power and exceptional combat skills, he relentlessly defended against the onslaught of the demonic tree array.

But... this is not a long-term solution.

At a glance, the number of trees in this dense forest seemed endless. If the battle continued like this, sooner or later Skylar would surely be defeated and die from exhaustion of physical strength, energy, and magic.

He had realized that Morozov was not controlling the trees with ordinary magic, but with some kind of higher-level Dark Arts ritual—as long as he remained in the forest, Skylar would not be able to completely destroy these demonic trees.

The longer the delay, the worse it will be for Skylar.

Skylar's movements gradually slowed, and his breathing became rapid. Although his magic was powerful, it was ultimately limited. The demon tree's attacks showed no signs of stopping. Moreover, even though his physical strength far surpassed that of ordinary wizards, he was still a wizard who did not rely on physical strength, and he was already showing signs of fatigue.

Several careless mistakes left him with bruises. Although he avoided vital points at crucial moments and was not seriously injured, these minor injuries continued to accumulate.

Finally, in a slightly sluggish dodge—

"Pfft!"

A sharp thorn pierced Skylar's chest from behind, striking a vital spot!

Blood splattered, staining the withered leaves on the ground a shocking dark red.

Skylar's body jolted violently, the world before him blurred, and his consciousness was rapidly fading away...

"Hahahaha..." Morozov's laughter came from the shadows. He slowly stepped out of the shadows, put his hands behind his back, and looked down at Skylar's fallen figure with a cruel sneer on his lips.

"This guy's really tough," Morozov muttered, glancing at the bloody hole in Skylar's chest. "Of all these people, you held out the longest in the Demon Tree Formation, but hey, you finally fell."

He looked up into the depths of the dense forest, his gaze icy. "Now only that Veela is left... She won't go far. This is my hunting ground; all people and things are under my control!"

He grinned maliciously, about to take a step, when he unexpectedly—

A figure slowly appeared.

Phoebe stood not far away, wand gripped tightly, her azure eyes burning like flames.

"... You're right, I didn't run away." Her tone was calm, but carried an undeniable chill.

Morozov frowned slightly. "Disillusionment Charm?"

Phoebe nodded slightly, her gaze cold.

She didn't leave at all.

From the very beginning, she knew that Skylar alone could not possibly withstand the endless array of demonic trees. The only way to break the array was to directly defeat the caster.

But the cunning Morozov was well aware of this principle, which is why he always remained hidden in the shadows, never showing himself easily, and never giving them any opportunity to take advantage of him.

Phoebe's only chance is to create the illusion that "Skylar has fallen," so that Morozov will come out on his own!

And now, her plan has succeeded.

"Looking for me? No need to bother, I'm right here—" A fierce fighting spirit burned in Phoebe's eyes. This was the only chance that Skylar had risked so much to secure for her, and she absolutely could not let him down!

"Come on, let's see if you can 'take care' of me too?" Phoebe said coldly, her magic seemingly breaking through due to her intense emotions, reaching a height she had never experienced before.

No sooner had she finished speaking than Phoebe made her move first!

"Flame Storm!" A dazzling azure flame erupted from the tip of the staff, sweeping away like a storm!

Morozov snorted coldly, flicked his wrist to cast a spell, and a black magical barrier instantly rose up, blocking Phoebe's flames.

The battle between the two instantly erupted in the dense forest!

At the same time, Skylar, who was lying on the ground, suddenly raised the corners of his mouth slightly.

--It's time.

He slowly raised his hand and pressed it against the thorn stuck in his chest.

"Reductor Curse." With a gentle tap of his wand, the thorn snapped instantly. He gritted his teeth and pulled it from his body. Blood gushed out, and the pain made his body tremble slightly, but his eyes remained calm.

"Creation Regeneration." The deep incantation echoed in the air, and the next second, a faint golden light emerged from his body, quickly flowing through his entire being.

The chest pierced by thorns is healing at a speed visible to the naked eye!

Just seconds later, all the wounds on his body disappeared completely, and his skin was as smooth as ever, as if he had never been injured.

Skylar slowly stood up, stretched, and a disdainful smile appeared on his lips.

"Morozov, you've probably forgotten something..."

"I" will not truly fall until you fall.

He raised his wand, and golden magic surged around him like an impending storm.

--The hunt begins.