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Chapter 185 - Chapter 185: Sparking the Camp!

Late at night.

In the common bunk, a pair of cobalt-blue eyes quietly opened.

Ethan pulled an Ageing Potion from his pocket and gulped it down.

"Crack, crunch."

His bones made a crisp sound, like chewing celery, and Ethan's body slowly lengthened.

After quietly changing his clothes, he slipped a pure white mask over his face.

Perfect.

This way, even if he got caught, he could pin it on Mr. Lamp.

Hehe.

"Disillusionment Charm," Ethan whispered.

With a wave of his wand, magic cascaded over him like cold water, and his figure vanished from sight.

"Mmm, Goblin, delicious—"

A wizard rolled over, smacking his lips as he continued to sleep soundly.

Sweet dreams.

Ethan nodded and quietly slipped out of the common bunk.

"Creak."

The door opened and closed.

Tonight, the sky was heavily overcast, completely obscuring the moon.

Ethan stealthily crossed the open space in the center of the camp, weaving between the houses.

He arrived at the location of the ancient well marked on the treasure map.

Ethan pressed himself against the wall.

Peering out, he saw two guards standing by the wellhead, just as expected.

Nearby, patrols moved back and forth without pause.

The Disillusionment Charm only hid his form.

If he got too close to anyone, he'd still be discovered.

There were so many guards—it was clear how much importance they placed on this ancient magic.

Even with Ethan's advanced spells, breaking through head-on would be tough.

"Luna, I'm counting on you."

With that thought, Ethan felt no nerves at all.

He trusted that Luna would use her extraordinary wisdom to devise a brilliant plan.

"Bang!!"

A massive explosion erupted from the other side of the camp!

A towering blaze lit up the thick night sky.

Ethan: ???

Is it that simple and crude?!

Ethan stared at the rolling smoke and muttered, "...Great wisdom appears foolish; the great path is simple. Truly worthy of Luna."

Excellent!

Ravenclaw gets an extra hundred points!!

Right after, a deep, resonant horn blast echoed through the air.

It shattered the night's tranquility completely, turning the camp into instant chaos!

The guards by the ancient well shouted, "There's an attack! Those damned Goblins are ambushing us!"

"But that explosion just now—it seemed to come from inside the camp—"

"Nonsense, it must be the Goblins' alchemical bombs! Those sneaky bastards!!"

Ethan overheard and nodded in agreement.

He remembered the Goblin scout he'd spotted in the dense forest upon arrival.

Hmm, feels like they got an unintended heads-up, didn't they?

By the ancient well.

"Bang! Bang!"

With a few sharp cracks, the guards all Apparated away to join the fight.

Good! My turn!

Ethan's eyes lit up. After confirming they were gone, he hurried to the wellhead.

"Feather-Light Charm."

Lightness bloomed from his feet like feathers.

Ethan leaped straight into the deep well, descending gently.

He didn't notice.

A tall, burly figure had returned.

Staring fiercely at the ancient well.

"Clink."

A shoe sole splashed into a puddle.

Ethan landed steadily at the bottom of the well, glancing around in surprise.

What met his eyes was an astonishingly vast space.

Damp air hung heavy, water pooled in low spots, and tunnels stretched out in every direction like a tangled spiderweb.

It looked like those wizards had been excavating for ages.

They knew the ancient magic artifact was down here, but they couldn't pinpoint it.

But I've got a cheat!

Ethan unfolded the treasure map, left by the artifact's owner himself.

Immediately, a faint blue magical energy emanated from it.

It formed a guiding line, leading Ethan onward!

Guide me!

Ethan swiftly followed the beam.

He crossed slippery floors, navigating countless branching paths.

Finally, he reached a wall.

The magical light extended right through it.

—A Disillusionment Charm?

Ethan reached out, but his hand met solid stone.

Blasting it open wasn't impossible, but Ethan sensed instinctively that wasn't the way.

He leaned in close, feeling along the wall inch by inch.

Sure enough, right in the center, he found a subtle little hole!

"I get it."

Inspiration struck Ethan like a spark.

He pulled out the Gringotts Vault 12 key and slotted it into the keyhole.

A perfect fit!

"Click."

The key turned, and an arched door etched with intricate patterns materialized on the wall!

It swung open slowly before Ethan's eyes!

"This is basically a chain of quests," Ethan marveled. "No wonder ancient magic got lost—turns out you need all the key pieces."

"I wonder what goodies that mysterious Mr. Black left for me."

Ethan rubbed his hands together eagerly, like a fly eyeing a feast, and stepped inside.

The interior was a narrow chamber.

A single table stood quietly in the center.

On it rested a hefty, oversized book.

Its surface was pitted and rough, like skin charred by flames.

Just looking at it made you uneasy.

Ethan loved it.

He felt even more connected to the owner of this ancient magic artifact.

But he didn't grab it impulsively; instead, he scanned the surroundings first.

That's when he spotted two dragon-head statues lurking in the shadows on the opposite walls.

Hmm—they look like some kind of trap mechanism.

Just as Ethan was about to poke around.

His pupils suddenly shrank!

His wand flicked up in a blur, a spell exploding from his lips:

"Protego!"

"Bang!"

A red curse slammed hard into the magical shield that had sprung up just in time!

Ethan double-checked that his mask was on and he still looked adult-sized.

Then he turned to face his attacker.

It was Jack, the camp's guard captain.

Jack gripped his wand, eyeing the scene with wariness and shock, his pupils shaking uncontrollably!

The ancient magic artifact they'd hunted for so long—found by this mysterious masked intruder!

He'd assumed it was those scavengers from earlier, but how could a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old kid pull this off?!

It had to be some other expert!!

Jack bellowed aggressively, "You dare trespass in my territory and stir up trouble!"

"Get out now, and I might let you live!"

He'd opened the hidden door—perfect.

Leave the item, and you can go.

After all, ancient magic is an unbelievably powerful force—it can't fall into the wrong hands!

A greedy fire blazed in Jack's eyes.

Let me go? Now?

You must be joking!

Ethan nearly instinctively unleashed a barrage to show this brute what real light looked like.

But he restrained himself.

He was a good guy—how could he attack a fellow wizard?

Even if the other was being unreasonable, he, as a kind and peace-loving soul, could only bear it.

Ethan glanced at the dragon-head mechanism on the wall.

He raised his hands and backed away silently.

The gesture boosted Jack's confidence even more.

It convinced him the intruder was weaker than him.

Why else avoid a direct fight?

"Hmph," Jack sneered, curling his lip in threat. "No funny business—I'll spot it. Stay right there, or you'll regret it!"

Ethan said nothing, just stood there quietly.

Like a cold, impassive statue.

An inexplicable shiver raced down Jack's spine.

But the lust for the ancient magic artifact overpowered that minor discomfort easily.

He shoved Ethan aside and strode quickly through the door.

Staring at the heavy book on the table, an irresistible hunger welled up inside him!

This book was his!!

Jack lunged for it, snatching it up!

The next second.

"Click."

A faint sound echoed.

Under the book, on the table, a pressure trigger had been activated!

Outside, Ethan let out a sharp whistle.

From the corner of his eye, he saw the dragon-head mechanisms on the walls start glowing orange-red.

Jack clutched the book tight, frowning in bewilderment. "What? What the hell?"

He glanced at the brightening walls, a sudden bad feeling hitting him.

Just as he started to back up, "Bang!!!"

Two searing fireballs blasted from the facing dragon heads!

They detonated on Jack, drawing out a squeal like a slaughtered pig!

"Aaaahhh!!!"

Flames burst forth.

One after another—the second, the third!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Like twin cannons, they spat fireballs nonstop!

The whole secret room turned into a brilliant fireworks spectacle!

At first, Jack's piercing screams filled the air.

Then, nothing.

The firelight danced through the mask into Ethan's eyes, drawing a sigh of appreciation from him:

"How beautiful..."

Explosions above and below ground at the same time.

A treasure to claim, and a fireworks show to boot.

The artifact's owner was really considerate.

A moment later.

The dragon heads dimmed, ceasing their lethal barrage.

As if they'd expended their fury, they fell silent.

Ethan waved his wand, dispersing the smoke in the room.

He stepped in, looked around, and spotted a blackened heap of flesh on the floor, nearly camouflaged against the surroundings.

It still rose and fell faintly—its life force was impressively stubborn.

Ethan: "Ah, there you are. Blending in so well—truly worthy of a guard captain."

Jack: "..."

Damn it, I've been blasted to charcoal!!

Rage consumed him, making him shake violently.

He forced his eyes open through the charred skin.

He watched the mysterious, eerie masked man pick up the ancient magic book he'd dropped.

The man brushed off the unscathed cover with elegant, unhurried grace.

Making Jack feel like a total fool by comparison.

—He'd been played.

Borrowing the trap to do the killing—everything had been under this damned masked man's control!!

From start to finish, he'd been the clown!!

Jack's eyes bulged red, and he rasped out a hoarse roar:

"You—who the hell are you?! The camp won't let you get away with this!!"

Ethan: Why does that line sound so familiar?

Seems like the Goblins said the same thing about not letting him off?

Sigh~ Even though he was supposed to be everyone's righteous ally.

Ethan looked down at the charred lump that was Jack and spoke slowly:

"Since you asked so sincerely, I'll mercifully tell you."

Jack: "..."

Jack trembled even harder.

Ethan: "I am the [Lamp], Mr. Lamp, who controls light and hope."

Jack: ?!!

He froze solid.

His mind raced back to the horrifying scene in the forest, like a frozen apocalypse.

Then.

Ethan suddenly bent down, and under Jack's horrified stare, he pulled off the mask.

Catching Jack's eyes widening in shock, Ethan's cobalt-blue eyes crinkled as he said playfully:

"And also, the scavenger 'Light,' oh~"

Jack: ?!!

He gaped at that mature yet unmistakably handsome face he'd never forget.

His brain buzzed, going completely blank!

How could this be—how could it be that pasty-faced kid?!

Just where had he first stepped into the other's trap?!!

--

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