"Now, submit to the Judgment of God!"
As he spoke, those newly re-formed, dark red slit pupils locked onto the boy opposite him.
Gavin, however, gave him no time to savor that "divine intimidation."
The very second those dark red pupils fixed on him, Gavin met his gaze.
He activated Legilimency.
But he saw nothing.
Before his thoughts could even touch the surface of the other man's consciousness, an utterly savage force swallowed them whole.
It felt less like hitting the "wall" of Occlumency and more like plunging a mental probe into a chaotic black hole, where it was instantly torn to shreds.
He had never experienced anything like it.
A sharp pain stabbed between Gavin's brows, and he immediately severed the mental connection.
He had originally intended to treat the man to an Avada Kedavra.
But now, he apparently couldn't even lock onto his target, which meant his soul-targeting spells might all be useless.
Using them would only waste magic.
Without the slightest pause, Gavin thrust his black walnut wand forward.
"Sectumsempra!"
More than a dozen invisible blades formed instantly, skimming the ground and plowing a straight, deep furrow through the earth before slamming into the Dragonified Wizard's chest.
Clang!
A piercing metallic screech erupted beneath the night sky.
The invisible blades shattered on impact, leaving not so much as a pale scratch on the dark red scales.
The Dragonified Wizard didn't even glance down at his chest. His lips curled in mockery.
"Are you trying to tickle me?"
He neither drew his wand nor chanted a spell. He simply shoved his scale-covered right hand forward.
A sharp crack suddenly split the air.
Gavin's pupils contracted slightly, and he instantly sidestepped to the left.
The ground where he had been standing caved in with a crash. Dirt, gravel, and