Deathly Hallows

After absorbing all of Voldemort's magical knowledge and research findings, Lin An finally turned his attention to the Invisibility Cloak he had borrowed from Harry Potter. It was one of the legendary three Deathly Hallows.

He activated the Alchemical Eye, attempting to analyze the structure of this mysterious magical artifact. Yet whether at the material level or the magical rune level, he found nothing. The cloak's material could not be identified, its woven symbols followed no discernible pattern, and even its magical resonance was utterly blank.

"This isn't an ordinary magical object," Lin An said softly.

He closed his eyes and sensed the power within—an immensely profound energy, neither magic nor something limited by magic. It was like a motionless river, running between reality and the soul: cold, silent, yet carrying a heart-palpitating sense of "order."

"Law Force?" Lin An murmured.

At that moment, he suddenly recalled another Hallow—the Gaunt Family ring, the very ring Voldemort had made into a Horcrux. The black gemstone set in it was the legendary Resurrection Stone.

He immediately Apparated to an abandoned cottage hidden deep within the forests of Albania. It had once been one of Voldemort's fortified strongholds. Lin An skillfully dispelled the protective spell array and cursed seals before pushing open the old wooden door.

The room was silent, with dust floating through the air.

He walked to the battered table and took out the ring Voldemort had concealed in a hidden compartment. With the knowledge gained through the contract, Lin An easily broke Voldemort's curse.

As the ring was removed, a wisp of dark smoke flashed through the air before vanishing. Lin An dismantled the ring and extracted the black gemstone.

He stared at the stone and activated the Alchemical Eye. The result was the same as with the Invisibility Cloak: nothing could be analyzed.

The stone itself was made of nothing more than ordinary rock.

What truly granted it power was not matter, but the "Law" contained within it.

An ancient legend surfaced in Lin An's mind—The Tale of the Three Brothers.

According to that tale, the Resurrection Stone had been a stone Death casually picked up by the river; the Elder Wand had been a branch taken from a tree by the roadside; only the Invisibility Cloak was different from the others—it was a part of "Death itself."

At that thought, Lin An's heart stirred faintly.

He had seen "Death" with his own eyes. That encounter had confirmed that the legend was not entirely fabricated. Following that reasoning, the powers of all three Hallows originated from the Law of Death itself.

He gazed at the Invisibility Cloak and Resurrection Stone in his hands and murmured, "The power of death... truly isn't something mortals can reach."

Yet understanding was not the same as control. Even knowing the truth, Lin An still could not replicate such power. He had not yet reached the level where he could command "Laws."

But he was not impatient.

"In this world, the strongest power always lies beyond understanding." A faint smile appeared on his face.

He placed the two Hallows side by side on the table, took a deep breath, and raised his wand.

"Activate—Law Resonance."

A low hum echoed through the air. The Invisibility Cloak and Resurrection Stone rose into the air, faint threads of light flashing between them like two stars communicating.

That energy was exceedingly weak, yet it struck directly at the soul. Lin An could feel his magical power slowly being drawn away, flowing into the two Hallows.

"So it really requires magical power." Cold sweat formed on his forehead, but he did not stop.

Suddenly, a flash of black light appeared.

His vision went dark, and an invisible force swept him into the Void.

When his vision returned, he was standing in a purely white space.

Silent, endless, empty.

Before him appeared a tall, hooded figure—it was "Death."

The aura of that existence was like a cold mist pressing against the soul, indifferent and ancient.

Lin An raised his head slightly, his tone calm. "It seems my deduction was correct."

Death slowly spoke, its voice like a whisper echoing through the Void. "Wizard, why have you summoned me once more? The contract between us ended long ago."

"This time, I've come to discuss a new deal," Lin An said calmly.

"A deal?" Death lifted its head slightly, seemingly showing a trace of interest. "What do you want?"

"Knowledge of souls, death, time, and space."

Death laughed deeply, the sound like wind passing over dry bones. It took a step forward, its figure looming over Lin An.

"What you seek does not belong to mortals."

"I can pay the price," Lin An said firmly.

"The price?" Death's voice became profound. "Then what can you offer?"

Lin An looked directly into the hollow hood and answered, "Voldemort's soul."

The air fell into deathly silence.

After a moment, Death chuckled softly. "Absurd. What value does a soul fated to die possess?"

"Indeed, he will die," Lin An replied. "But you will never obtain his soul. Because he created Horcruxes, his soul has been split apart and scattered. Even if he dies, he cannot return to you. He is an existence that 'cannot be harvested.'"

Death raised its head slightly. Lin An continued:

"I can retrieve those fragments for you and deliver his complete soul into your hands."

After a long silence, the pure white space began to tremble faintly. Death's voice rang out again, carrying a low echo:

"Your proposal... is interesting."

"However, I have a condition."

"Please, state it," Lin An responded solemnly.

"I will not give you all knowledge concerning souls and death."

Lin An frowned. "Why?"

"Because I am the incarnation of the Law of Death itself. My understanding transcends the mundane. If such knowledge falls into mortal hands, the order of the universe will be destroyed."

Lin An fell silent for a moment, understanding what it meant.

Death's knowledge existed on too high a level; no wizard could endure it directly.

He took a deep breath. "Then what can you give me?"

Death leaned down, its voice like a whisper echoing at the end of the world—

"I can give you a chance to glimpse the 'Law.'"