Hamburg Carrow and Chips Flint looked toward the direction of the sound with uncertainty and doubt.
What was that...?
It sounded as if they had disturbed some ancient beast resting deep in the forest. First came several roars that seemed layered together, earth-shaking and thunderous, making their hearts pound like war drums! Screams followed immediately after. Then came an even more terrifying, deathly silence.
They couldn't help but have many frightening thoughts. The materials didn't mention such dangers in the Great Rotting Swamp! Moreover, hadn't the event organizer Ludo Bagman confidently guaranteed that they had checked everything thoroughly?!
"What are you standing around for? Hurry up and move!"
Ahead, Prefect Gemma Farley, barked in a low voice. She had also heard those screams, her complexion somewhat pale, but she maintained composure and calm.
"..."
Being reprimanded in front of other team members, the two's expressions darkened. But ultimately they said nothing more, just lifted their feet to follow the team.
It would be fine. That monster was still far from them. As long as they moved quickly, they wouldn't be caught up!
...
Evening arrived.
The group made camp on level ground, lighting a crackling fire. The goddess of fortune seemed to truly be protecting them. All along the way, they hadn't encountered that unknown monster.
"Hamburg, Chips, you two go set up protective barriers," Gemma frowned, speaking with serious urgency. "Move quickly."
For some reason, Gemma had an ominous premonition. As if in the shadows cast by pines and shrubs, there had always been a pair of eyes quietly watching them. Watching them hurry along in their escape. Watching them breathe sighs of relief, mistakenly thinking they had escaped danger.
For a moment, Gemma felt as if she had become prey in this dense forest. No matter how they fled, it would only delay the inevitable outcome of being hunted.
A chill rose from the depths of her heart. Gemma pressed her red lips together, a hint of helpless fear appearing in her eyes as she forcibly suppressed her inner unease.
Unlike her tension, Hamburg and Chips had completely relaxed.
"Alright, alright..."
They drawled lazily in response. Arm in arm, they left the campsite to set up magical barriers around the area.
"Protego."
"Protego Totalum."
"Should we cast a Muggle-Repelling Charm too?"
The two laughed foolishly together.
"I really don't know why Miss Farley is so nervous, acting as if monsters are about to jump out and eat us any moment," Hamburg sneered.
He casually waved his wand, weaving semi-transparent barriers. After half a day of traveling, he had long since forgotten about that monster. This might even be a disruption tactic from other teams, just to make competitors anxious and make wrong judgments.
Hamburg continued: "Who would have thought that the dignified Miss Farley would fall for it so easily... It's probably because of mixing with that mudblood."
"That 'great artist,' Ethan Vincent."
"Heh, he's probably cowering in some corner crying right now! Oh! Or maybe he's already been sent to St. Mungo's!"
Companion Chips nodded in agreement, laughing: "It's also possible... that mudblood didn't even have the courage to enter the forest and withdrew directly!"
The two laughed heartily with great satisfaction.
At this time, Chips felt his lower abdomen swell and said: "I'm going to relieve myself."
Hamburg joked: "Don't get it bitten off."
"That would take Merlin himself to bite it, hehe."
His companion's figure disappeared into the darkness. Actually, according to Gemma's requirements, they should act in groups of at least two. But what did Gemma Farley know about real challenges!
He was just going to relieve himself... what could possibly happen?
"It's just a pity that Ethan didn't fall into my hands," Hamburg thought regretfully. "If he encountered me, I would let him know that Slytherin isn't someone he can mess with!"
Hamburg's mind wandered, filled with various cruel thoughts. He really wanted to personally beat Ethan to serious injury... Anyway, in this kind of dangerous competition, any accident was possible.
Hamburg didn't realize that his hatred and resentment toward Ethan had become abnormally intense. From previously putting "competition first" to now putting "killing Ethan first." All of this started from when he met that mysterious hooded person at the Hog's Head Inn...
Just then, Hamburg suddenly snapped back to attention, realizing a problem: How come Chips hadn't returned yet?
Constipated?
Hamburg swallowed nervously, looked back at the warmly orange-lit camp, then turned toward the shadows. It was just going nearby to find someone... nothing would happen...
"Chips? Chips Flint..."
Hamburg called out in a lowered voice. The sound echoed in the empty, silent forest. The further from camp, the more that warmth and light diminished. Only the surrounding dimness remained, with occasional whistle-like bird calls from the treetops.
"Damn it, where did that guy go to use the toilet? He didn't really get dragged underwater by a crocodile, did he..."
Hamburg muttered, loosening his robes. Perhaps due to anxiety, he felt somewhat feverish.
Suddenly, Hamburg stopped dead in his tracks, his gaze fixed on the protruding cliff ahead. On it were charred and chaotic marks. Scorching heat hit him in the face, claw marks deeply gouged into the ground had even shattered and melted the hard frozen earth. Crisscrossing, each one was as thick as Hamburg's forearm.
What kind of massive monster could have left these?!
What made Hamburg's entire body turn cold was a wand illuminated by moonlight at the cliff's edge. Although the distance was far and Hamburg couldn't see clearly, he instinctively realized it was left by his companion.
Step by step...
Hamburg walked to the cliff's edge. His mind blank, moving only on bodily instinct. Then he looked down and met the vacant gaze of Chips lying face-up at the bottom.
In an instant, Hamburg felt his heartbeat stop! His entire body's blood froze, and a terrifying chill quickly spread to his limbs, making his hands and feet numb!
His companion, who had gone to relieve himself, was now lying silently at the bottom of the low cliff. His face was as pale as paper, with a pool of dark red liquid beneath him. Eyes wide and vacant, staring at the sky above. As if he had seen something incredibly terrifying before falling!
Hamburg's breathing gradually became rapid and shallow. He thought of the roars and screams he had heard earlier.
The next second...
"Grrrr..."
The sound of a beast's low growl came from behind him. Flame-like heat beat against his back.
In this kind of dangerous competition, any accident was possible...
His earlier thought surfaced mockingly in his mind.
No, no...
Hamburg trembled like a leaf in a storm. His upper and lower teeth chattered, tears welling in his eyes.
No, I'm a noble pure-blood, not some lowly mudblood... You can't do this to me!
"ROAR!"
An earth-shaking roar interrupted Hamburg's panicked thoughts. Like a starting pistol.
Hamburg spun around and, without daring to look toward where the roar came from, rolled and crawled toward the camp with desperate abandon!
He was tripped by twisted vines and crashed to the ground. Sharp stones cut his face, and foul-smelling mud and dead leaves filled his mouth. Yet even so, he dared not stop!
Like a cat toying with a mouse, the unknown monster's burning breath sprayed behind him. Occasionally letting out a low, rumbling roar, urging him to ignore the pain and run faster.
He could only desperately sprint forward at full speed!
Ethan, the competition... everything vanished from his mind. Now, he just wanted to survive!
Hamburg looked at the warm, misty glow of the camp ahead, tears and snot streaming down his bloodied face.
If only, if only he could reach that place!
[Chapter Complete]
***
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