Zhang Xiao drew out his breaths, his attention focused entirely on Professor Flitwick.
Suddenly, he moved. His wand lashed through a wide arc as though whipping a spinning top. A Red Charm far thicker than before hissed through the air like a whip, tracing a strange curve toward Flitwick.
"That's it! That's what I wanted to see!"
Flitwick cried out in delight. Rather than meeting it head-on, he took several quick, sliding steps, nimbly dodging sideways to let the spell pass.
But Zhang Xiao's attack had only just begun. The instant his wand reached the lowest point of its swing, he flicked it sharply upward.
Flitwick immediately felt his body rise into the air against his will, and his delight only grew.
"Students, did you see that? Absolutely brilliant!
"An imaginative use of the Levitation Charm! The Levitation Charm has no physical projectile. As long as your movements are subtle and fast enough, even someone like me will find it difficult to dodge.
"This is a crucial principle in duelling: how to restrict your opponent's movements!
"If you can effectively limit your opponent's ability to dodge, you're already halfway to victory!"
The young witches and wizards watched the fierce battle onstage with their mouths hanging open and their eyes bulging like so many frogs.
While Flitwick was still rising, Zhang Xiao gave his wand two rapid flicks. Both were extremely fast, but the spells they produced were much weaker.
Perhaps because Flitwick weighed so little, he had already risen several metres in that short time.
Two spells, each only as thick as a pencil and giving off an inconspicuous glow, shot toward him, aimed ahead to account for his movement.
Without making any visible movement, Professor Flitwick dispelled the Levitation Charm on himself. He dropped swiftly, neatly avoiding both spells.