"Oi, oi, oi! Mr. Scamander, what's wrong with your bird?! We've barely started, and it's already giving up?!"
Newt Scamander responded with an irritated frown.
"Thunderbirds are incredibly magical creatures. Their tail feathers can even be used as wand cores. They…"
But before Newt could finish, Wentworth shouted over him:
"Mr. Scamander, I didn't ask for a lecture on Thunderbirds! Just make it fly higher! I know flying all the way to Britain might be pushing it, but can't we at least get back to Minami Iwo Jima and find Headmaster Dumbledore?!"
Newt raised his voice in return.
"But Thunderbirds aren't meant for passenger travel! Carrying one person is already pushing it. With this many people? There's no way it can manage!"
Even as he spoke, the Thunderbird above them was already struggling to stay airborne, beginning to wobble and slowly descend.
Seeing this, one of the storm-battered wizard hunters below shouted, "They won't last much longer! After them, we can't let them escape!"
Up in the sky, Wentworth turned anxiously to Newt.
"What do we do now, Mr. Scamander?"
Newt looked up at his exhausted Thunderbird, Frank, his eyes full of concern, and then turned to the group.
"Once we land, head straight to the center of the island. There's a dormant volcano there, and inside the crater, I've left you broomsticks. Use them to fly to Dumbledore. As long as you reach him, you'll be safe!"
Wentworth hesitated. "But what about you, Mr. Scamander?!"
Newt gave a long sigh. "Without you lot around me, I should be safe. Once you're off, I'll have Frank take me out of here."
Then, with a smirk, he added, "Honestly, Wentworth, you're supposedly the Third Dark Lord, yet everywhere you go, people are trying to kill you!"
That sparked a flare of panic in Wentworth's eyes. "I'm not! I didn't! Don't say that! Who told you I was the Third Dark Lord?! Point them out!"
Newt gave him a look and replied dryly, "The Magical Congress of the United States."
Wentworth blinked, stunned for a moment, then exploded with indignation. "Them again?! I've never even been to America! How dare they slander me like this?!"
Newt raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised. "You didn't know? There's been a prophecy circulating through MACUSA recently: 'The Third Dark Lord shall rise from the lineage of the Dark Lord, walking upon the bones of his predecessor, to overthrow the old order of the magical world.'"
"My wife, Tina Goldstein, you've met her, she's a security advisor at MACUSA now. She told me the whole place is in a panic. Some within the Congress, desperate to preserve the current order, are even suggesting that they find and eliminate you before the prophecy can come true."
Hearing that, Wentworth's eyes narrowed in realization. He whispered to himself, "So that's what she meant… the prophecy from MACUSA…" His thoughts drifted to a certain witch—Christine Graves.
While Wentworth was deep in thought, Frank the Thunderbird could no longer sustain his flight and had to descend.
As soon as they touched down, Newt hurried over and gently embraced the panting creature.
"You did brilliantly, Frank," he murmured. "Take a good rest, I'll be relying on you again soon." With that, he carefully guided the Thunderbird back into his enchanted suitcase.
At this point, the volcano at the heart of the island was finally visible in the distance.
Without needing a word, the group exchanged glances and broke into a run toward it.
As they reached the base of the volcano, they spotted a lone figure already climbing its slope. The silhouette seemed to notice them as well, its pace suddenly quickened.
Wentworth narrowed his eyes. "What was that Russian guy's name again? Didn't expect him to be this capable."
Without wasting time, they began their ascent.
But they hadn't gotten far when the wizard hunters caught up. Seeing Wentworth and the others racing toward the summit, one of the lead hunters barked, "Leave a few behind to harass them with spells. The rest of us, move!"
Immediately, several hunters pulled out their wands and aimed at the fleeing group.
In the blink of an eye, a volley of colorful spells shot into the air and hurtled toward them.
Instinctively, Yukina began slipping into a trance, preparing to enter her Obscurial state. But Wentworth grabbed her arm and stopped her.
"No need. I'll protect you. All of you, go ahead first!"
Tears welled up in Yukina's eyes as she shook her head, her voice trembling, "No… Wentworth, you go first, I—"
Before she could finish, Newt cut in gruffly, "Will you two save the romance for after we're not being chased?!"
With a frustrated huff, Newt reached into his suitcase, and pulled out a giant beast.
Out charged a massive rhinoceros-like creature with two gleaming golden horns on its head.
At the same moment, the incoming spells closed in on them.
"Down! Take cover behind it!" Newt shouted.
He ducked behind the creature, and the others followed suit.
The spells struck, and were absorbed by the creature's thick hide, deflecting harmlessly off its body unless they'd gone wildly off-course.
From behind the creature, Newt explained:
"This is a Graphorn. Their hide's tougher than dragon hide, and they're immune to most spells."
Wentworth, awed, gave him a genuine thumbs-up. "Mr. Scamander, you've brought along a whole army of magical beasts! I think I'm beginning to understand how my grandfather ever ended up captured by you."
While Wentworth and Newt took cover behind the Graphorn and fended off the hunter's assault, a certain Russian, Vitaly from Koldovstoretz, was nearing the volcano's peak.
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This fanfic has been fully translated!