"I know better than anyone how many shady things your Malfoy family owns in Gringotts! But I never imagined you could even get your hands on the Ancient Magic Repository."
"We Goblin have guarded this place for thousands of years, and even we ourselves can't get in. Yet you, a little thing, are standing here." Ranrok glanced at the Pensieve.
He glanced again at the newly formed portal of light, a low chuckle escaping his throat, "You think this is fate? This is luck?"
"No, you stumbled upon a place that doesn't belong to wizards by accident. This vault, this power, and the memories within this Pensieve... have never belonged to you wizards."
"We Goblin built Gringotts, and we've guarded it for a thousand years. Now, it's time to return it to its rightful owner."
As he spoke, Ranrok took a step forward, and the oppressive aura around him suddenly intensified:
"Hand over the key and the legacy of Ancient Magic obediently, and I can pretend today's events never happened. Otherwise, even if you are Malfoy, in this deepest underground vault..."
"No one can save you!"
Just as Draco was about to speak, the Goblin driver beside him suddenly mustered his courage, trembling as he reached out and touched Ranrok's shoulder armor, nervously saying to him, "S-Sir..."
Ranrok slowly turned his head, his sinister gaze fixed on it, and the Goblin driver swallowed hard.
It chuckled awkwardly twice, then forced itself to speak, "Please understand, it is currently those three who hold the keys to the vault; this is indeed Gringotts ' rule..."
"Say it again?"
Ranrok's voice carried a blatant threat, and the Goblin driver immediately panicked.
His legs trembled, but whether driven by the rules or by a desperate measure, he still straightened his neck and said:
"Please don't misunderstand, this is a strict rule of the vault; only the holder of the key can enter. Please leave as soon as possible..."
As soon as it finished speaking, Ranrok suddenly raised its head, revealing all its sharp teeth and claws. A burst of rose-red, violent magical energy erupted from its body, scorching and distorting the air.
With a wave of his hand, the Goblin driver was instantly levitated in the air by magic, and then slammed hard onto the stone ground.
With a muffled groan, the Goblin driver passed out. Clearly, Ranrok had held back and hadn't taken his life.
"I hate those who side with outsiders the most." Ranrok withdrew his magic and turned his head coldly.
" Gringotts has always been built on its reputation. You have blatantly broken the rules and harmed your colleagues. You are simply trampling on the reputation of you Goblin!" Hermione rebuked righteously.
"Reputation?" Ranrok scoffed. "There's no need to talk about reputation with greedy wizards like you."
"You'd better know who you're talking to. Do you know who my backer is? How dare you talk back to me like that?"
"Draco asked."
Upon hearing this, Ranrok's face revealed a mocking expression, and he sneered, "Backer? The Malfoy family's meager influence can't protect you in the Gringotts underground."
" Dumbledore, ever heard of him?" Draco chuckled.
"He is one of the most powerful wizards of this century. If we invite him here, we'll ensure you die a horrible death!"
Hermione and Professor Babbling were both taken aback by what they heard.
Hermione was surprised that Draco would bring up Dumbledore so directly.
Professor Babbling simply did not believe that the guy in front of her would be afraid of Dumbledore. She stared intently at Ranrok, waiting for his reaction, while secretly preparing to cast a spell.
" Dumbledore?" After repeating it, Ranrok burst into maniacal laughter, his words both mad and ruthless.
"If I can obtain the power of this Ancient Magic, even Dumbledore will be trampled under my feet!"
After laughing, his eyes sharpened, and he shouted sternly, "Enough nonsense! Hand over the memories in the Pensieve, the legacy of Ancient Magic, and that key—everything!"
"I bet you have no chance of taking anything from me. If you're so capable, come and take it yourself."
Draco chuckled knowingly.
"Since you're so ungrateful, don't blame me for being impolite!" Ranrok's rose-red magic surged forth.
Seeing that Ranrok was about to make a move, Professor Babbling reacted quickly, immediately raising her wand and chanting a spell:
" Stupefy!"
A sharp red light shot straight towards Ranrok's face.
Ranrok remained completely unfazed.
He raised his hand to block, and the gauntlet gleamed with a thick magical aura, its defensive power extremely strong. It actually blocked all the magic power of the Stupefy without causing him any damage.
Before the three could react, Ranrok instantly gathered all his rose-red magic, unleashing a fierce Ancient Magic shockwave carrying violent power that shot straight toward them.
" Protego!" Draco and Hermione exclaimed almost simultaneously, joining forces to erect a sturdy magical barrier, firmly protecting Professor Babbling in the center.
The power of Ranrok's Ancient Magic far exceeded expectations; the shockwave struck the barrier the instant it hit.
The three felt a tremendous force strike them, the barrier shattered, and they were thrown back, landing heavily on the floor behind them, their bodies aching all over.
However, the magical energy was unexpectedly so immense that it triggered the ultimate protection mechanism of Vault Twelve!
The ground began to glow with a crystalline blue light, and liquid-like magical water flowed slowly, making a gurgling sound. The entire Repository began to tremble.
The surrounding lights went out instantly, leaving only the faint blue glow of the magical water. Ranrok and his men immediately became alert, looking around to check for any unusual activity.
Behind Ranrok, the ancient Pensieve slowly sank into the magical water, which instantly boiled and churned.
Then an incredibly tall figure slowly rose from the water, seemingly a guardian protecting the Pensieve!
This Giant guardian was far more powerful than the previous stone warrior. Its main body was made of magical crystal stone with a ghostly blue and silvery luster, which was definitely not ordinary rock.
The guardian's body was covered in dazzling Ancient Magic patterns, and when it emerged from the water, it was enveloped in a thick curtain of water.
Blue light flowed continuously throughout his body, and a light mist surrounded him.
It wore a sharply defined, full-face helmet with no facial features, except for a bright blue-white magical core shining through the center of the helmet, resembling a vertical pupil.
The curved, spike-like decorations on both sides of the helmet add to its sharp and aggressive look.
Its torso was covered in heavy magical armor, with protruding armor on its shoulders, elbows, and knees. Its large feet stepped on the magical water, stirring up layers of blue magical ripples.
The Giant was as tall as five stone swordsmen.
He held a giant longsword in his right hand, the tip still slanted into the ground, exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression.
Ranrok's expression changed drastically as he looked at the giant guard that had appeared out of nowhere. He involuntarily took a few steps back, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes.
Without the slightest hesitation, the Giant guard gripped the hilt of his sword with his left hand, swung it up with both hands, and slashed fiercely at Ranrok and his group with the force of a cleaving through the air.