A whoosh of invisible cool spring water splashed against his face, like gulping down iced mint on a summer day, refreshing to the bone.
Although one percent wasn't much, the magic power surging through his body replenished the physical energy he had just consumed.
"Phew..."
Ethan couldn't help but sigh contentedly, feeling completely at ease. His robes fluttered without wind, dust drawn by magic power slowly swirling around him, mysterious and powerful.
Only two percent remained until he met the advancement conditions!
Ethan felt the magic power surging within him, vaguely sensing he was about to break through his shackles. Like a dragon emerging from the sea, a fish leaping through the dragon gate.
Breaking through the forty percent threshold would surely bring him completely new changes!
Ethan raised his wand and slowly chanted ancient incantations. The tone was deep and melodious, like the chanting of elves under the moon.
In this elegant melody, the three-headed dog felt their eyelids growing heavier and their consciousness becoming increasingly hazy.
No way, this was the enemy's trick...
"Snore..."
Watching the three-headed dog fall asleep instantly, Ethan raised the corners of his mouth.
Milky white threads like spider silk floated out from the three-headed dog's heads, coiling around Ethan's wand. Like planetary rings, they slowly suspended in the air.
Images unfolded before Ethan's eyes.
There were scenes of a tiny three-headed dog being held in Hagrid's arms, scenes of being fed with a large pacifier, scenes of chasing garden gnomes playfully. Then came scenes of their mighty prowess after growing up. As if buried in hellfire, a scorching smell filled his nostrils.
Through this battle, Ethan also realized more clearly that he lacked direct combat methods. This time he could use the ceiling for critical hits. But not every situation would have suitable terrain for strategy.
The Cerberus could perfectly compensate for this. It was power that could directly subdue enemies!
Ethan nodded with satisfaction, collecting the soul fragments in a prepared glass tube.
Now what he needed to do was successfully paint the Cerberus living portrait! And make it into a summoning card!
Coincidentally, the magical materials Quirrell had purchased were arriving one after another. Just by looking at Professor Quirrell's pained expression, Ethan was certain this batch of goods was definitely pure.
"Hehehe..."
Ethan's pleased laughter echoed like a ghost through Hogwarts' silent corridors. He cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself and walked away from the forbidden corridor with light steps, heading toward Ravenclaw Tower.
Along the way, he frightened several patrolling prefects, making them huddle together in terror. Promoting their friendship.
Meanwhile, in a corner Ethan hadn't noticed, a figure slowly materialized. Silver-white hair and beard gleamed like silk in the moonlight. It was Hogwarts' headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.
Dumbledore stood outside the forbidden corridor, his eyes behind half-moon spectacles looking helplessly at Ethan's departing figure.
"Young wizards these days are so... lively..."
Dumbledore murmured.
After days of observation, Ethan hadn't learned any strange Dark Arts from Quirrell, nor had he been led astray. Instead, he was driving Quirrell nearly insane.
"Why is Ethan so obsessed with living portraits? In outdoor environments, those paintings shouldn't be of much use..."
For some reason, Dumbledore felt a vague unease. Ethan's recent state was very similar to before Halloween. Quietly, single-mindedly preparing his artwork. Then shocking everyone with something big.
No, that shouldn't happen.
After all, his opponents were all top students from various schools, selected through layers of competition. Ethan's paintings, which were somewhat removed from human nature, could have a very limited effect.
After thinking it through, Dumbledore felt reassured. They wouldn't threaten Hogwarts' excellent reputation.
"I'll have to ask the judges to look after young Mr. Vincent then. I wonder what kind of surprise this child will bring us."
...
In the following days, Ethan attended classes during the day and studied with Professor Quirrell after dinner. Late at night, he practiced drawing living portraits.
This was the most difficult painting Ethan had ever created. A canvas measuring 1.2 by 1.8 meters stretched on a wooden frame, standing like a wall in the dormitory. To paint the higher sections, Ethan had to stand on a stool.
Using his wand as a brush and magic power as paint. Fusing silk-like delicate soul fragments, gradually painting the creature's memories onto the canvas.
Every stroke was like directly extracting Ethan's life force! Making each brush stroke carry the weight of a thousand pounds!
Once, Ethan even collapsed from exhaustion, falling from his chair and fainting on the floor. When he opened his eyes again, he was staring at the hospital wing ceiling. His roommates Michael and Mandy had carried him there.
"You need to eat more and rest more, child," Nurse Pomfrey said sternly yet worriedly, preparing a dizzying array of potions for him. "Stop painting your pictures!"
Ethan nodded in agreement.
That very night, he sat before the easel again.
Painting was life's expression and refinement. Not painting would be the real waste of life!
Days passed one by one. As the artwork gradually took shape, Michael and Mandy went to sleep in the common room.
Finally, the night before the challenge arrived.
Late at night.
Moonlight spilled into the dormitory, spreading across the canvas tanned with unicorn hair, emitting a misty ivory-white glow.
The air seemed to stop flowing, silently suspended in midair. Leaves stopped swaying, and usually noisy crows fell silent, standing on branches with their black eyes darting about.
The world seemed to contain only the soft sound of brushstrokes on canvas.
Ethan was completely focused. In his cobalt-blue eyes, there was only the canvas before him. His face was as pale as paper, large beads of sweat dotting his forehead, his body trembling unconsciously from exhaustion.
But Ethan didn't stop, continuing to extract every drop of magic power from within himself. Condensing it onto the brush, applying strokes of black deeper than night and red more scorching than fire onto the canvas.
Occasionally, tongues of flame would leap from the canvas, licking at Ethan's hands. Leaving charred marks on his pale skin.
On the canvas, the three-headed dog's massive and ferocious form was complete. As if it could move at any moment, leaping out.
Only the final step remained: dotting the eyes.
"Phew..."
Ethan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, steadying his pounding heart and trembling hands.
Success or failure hung on this moment. And he would never falter.
Suddenly, Ethan opened his eyes. Like a silver moon revealed, his eyes showed brilliant radiance without a trace of hesitation. His body was also straight and steady, showing no sign of fatigue.
He raised his hand.
The brush steadily touched the disk-like eye socket, dotting the central pupil.
One dot, two dots, three dots... six dots.
Three heads, six eyes.
When he dotted the final pupil, a tremendous aura swept out from the canvas!
"ROAR!"
A lion-like roar carrying supreme majesty thundered throughout the entire dormitory!
No, not just the dormitory. It penetrated walls and stones, echoing throughout the entire Hogwarts castle!
Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and even Slytherin deep underground were all awakened by this thunder-like roar! Frozen in terror, unable to move.
Outside the window, fierce winds suddenly arose. Leaves rustled wildly, shaking off swirling snow. Crows cawed "Ah! Ah!" and scattered in a flurry.
And farther away, at Hagrid's hut.
Hagrid bolted upright in shock, discovering his hunting dog, Fang, trembling in fear, cowering under the bed.
Outside the Ravenclaw common room.
Michael and Mandy both rolled off the sofa, looking at each other in terror, then simultaneously toward their dormitory.
Clearly realizing one thing: Ethan's painting was complete.
[Chapter Complete]
***
Want more? Check out my Patreon for:
✓ Advanced chapters of all my stories
✓ Exclusive novels & fanfics
✓ Early access content www.p@treon.com/meowthtl
💪 Community Goal: 500 Power Stones unlocks a bonus chapter!
Thanks for reading and supporting the story!