Ch. 444Welcoming their king
After the champions were separated by a sudden collapse, Ron, Neville, Hermione, Harry, Malfoy, and Cedric navigated the underground maze and searched for one another. Zhang Xiao reached the sunken palace, where its royal guards knelt before him after recognizing his rune.
- Ron woke injured in a stone chamber, found his wand, and discovered his communicator was broken before limping toward a door.
- Neville defeated Stone Men, tried unsuccessfully to contact his friends, and marked his route through the maze.
- Hermione burned an Inferius, mapped her route, and continued onward, while Harry sent his stag Patronus to find his friends.
- Malfoy left Galleons as markers and continued searching, while Cedric followed Harry's Patronus and reunited with him.
- The audience praised the Hogwarts champions as Zhang Xiao reached the palace complex and entered its main hall.
- Zhang Xiao's rune detached and shone, prompting the royal guards to draw their weapons and kneel before him.