In truth, Will's Transfiguration had served no purpose beyond misdirection. The Ministry of Magic's ceiling could not stop the force of the explosion.
Elsewhere, the dark-gold shock wave rapidly expanded, its terrifying, violent aftershocks sweeping outward and blasting the marble columns on either side of the hall into dust.
The magically reinforced walls of the hall shattered on the spot.
When the dark-gold shock wave struck the barrier Will had pulled down from the ceiling, it cut through like a hot knife through butter, failing to hold it back for even an instant.
Will, who had transformed into a phoenix, was just about to leave with Scrimgeour and several Ministry employees when he saw the dark-gold ripples sweeping toward them.
Boom—
Will's heart lurched. If that hit him, he would definitely be severely injured!
Scrimgeour had already closed his eyes, resigning himself to death.
But just as the golden ripples reached Will and the others...
Scrimgeour heard something.
Crack!
A streak of silver flame flashed through the air, then was swiftly swallowed by the dark-gold ripples.
Several people appeared out of thin air on the roof of a dilapidated high-rise apartment building in London. Apart from Scrimgeour, almost everyone had already passed out.
Scrimgeour fell to the ground, his vision blurring. By the time he climbed to his feet, he could see another version of himself—in other words, "Will Behrens."
At that moment, Behrens was sitting in a chair he had conjured up from somewhere, treating a gravely injured Ministry wizard.
At some point, a large gash had opened in the wizard's belly. Blood and filth were spilling out, probably from a ruptured intestine. Although he was unconscious, his face was still twisted in pain.
As far as Scrimgeour could see, the man probably would not survive. After all,