Chapter 146: Where is its Brain?
So much for the laws of physics not applying to carbon-based lifeforms... The thought flashed through Ryan's mind. The magical shockwave had had no effect, and he immediately layered himself with both magical and physical defenses, ready to Apparate at a moment's notice. Wizards were glass cannons, high in attack but low in defense. Most had no magic resistance, with a few rare exceptions. As for physical resistance, they were as squishy as any ordinary human.
The bat seemed to have been provoked. It tilted its head stiffly, opened a mouth full of bizarre, ape-like teeth, and emitted a low, dull sonic wave.
The wave shattered countless windows in the vicinity. Birds that had been startled into flight by the vampires' chaos suddenly stiffened and fell from the sky, lifeless. A few unlucky vampires, too close to the blast, collapsed to the ground, vomiting blood as their internal organs ruptured.
On the ground, Dumbledore had appeared at some point, his wand raised, maintaining a transparent shield that protected all the wizards within. A few lucky vampires who had fallen inside the barrier meekly raised their hands in surrender.
"Headmaster... what is that?" Ralvin asked, clutching his wand. Anyone would instinctively grab a weapon if Godzilla suddenly appeared in front of them.
"That's not magic," Dumbledore said. "It's a sonic wave."
"A sonic wave?"
"It's a discovery from the Muggles' exploration of the world. They believe that sound travels through a medium, is created by vibrations, and exists in the form of a wave," Dumbledore explained, giving a quick lesson in basic science. He looked up at the sky, thoughtful. Why is this giant bat using sonic attacks? Is it because its own magical power is weak?
The moment Ryan saw the bat open its mouth, he realized he was facing a master of sound waves and immediately cast a Silencing Charm around himself. The charm, which prevented sound from being produced, should also be able to block the transmission of sound waves. As the bat's mouth opened, Ryan also caught a glimpse of a faint red light deep within its fang-filled throat.
If all it has is sonic attacks, I can win this. The Silencing Charm was a perfect counter. Ryan felt his confidence return.
"Incendio!"
With a wave of his wand, he summoned a torrent of oil and other flammable materials, which drenched the bat. A moment later, the spell hit its mark, and in the space of a single breath, the bat, which had been diving toward him, became a massive fireball.
Amidst the sizzling sound of roasting flesh, the giant bat didn't make a sound. Instead, it charged through the flames, straight at the series of shields Ryan had erected.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
A series of dull thuds echoed through the air, like the beating of a drum. But the bat-drummer was far too violent, shattering several "drumheads" in a row and forcing Ryan to Apparate away.
"This thing is a living creature! Why isn't fire working?" he wondered, having blinked to a safe distance. Even if it was a mutated bat, it was still a bat. It should be afraid of fire. And the continuous pain from being burned alive shouldn't be something that a simple mutation could nullify.
Where Ryan had just been, thick, black grease dripped from the giant fireball, splattering on the ground with a sickening stench.
"Did I just run into the toughest bat in the world?"
Unwilling to give up, Ryan ignited the normal version of Fiendfyre, since he hadn't yet learned Gellert's "gas stove" version. The moment the inextinguishable flames appeared, they were accompanied by a sharp, whistling wind. It was caused by the convection currents from the intense heat, but it sounded like the wails of countless tormented souls, the cries of all living things protesting the impending disaster.
But the bat was silent. It only charged.
Engulfed in flames that could incinerate anything, the bat swooped and dove through the air, occasionally opening its mouth to unleash a sonic blast, determined to destroy its opponent. It may have been a tough bat, but Fiendfyre didn't care. Fiendfyre burned everything with equal prejudice.
As Ryan continued to Apparate and set fires, the bat charged and roared. More and more grease dripped from the sky, splattering on the ground. The bat's body had visibly shrunk, its outer skin now a dry, charred black. It had become a giant, desiccated husk.
"Such willpower... a respectable opponent. But why don't you use magic?"
As Ryan dodged and rendered bat fat, he was constantly on guard for a sudden magical attack. But the bat's skill set seemed to be limited to two moves: charge and sonic blast.
"Ventus Jinx!"
Dust and sand swirled into the air, coalescing and slamming into the charging bat. The collision of sand and flesh produced a dull thud, like a rock falling from a great height into a pool of water.
"Its fat and water have been boiled away, and its skin and muscles have been tempered into a dry husk... how is it still moving?" The sound of the impact confirmed it for Ryan: the creature should have lost all biological activity, dried out beyond all recognition. And yet, the giant bat-jerky was still full of life, its charge not slowing in the slightest. In fact, it had gotten faster, as if all that fat had just been weighing it down.
To hell with physics!
Apparating away again, Ryan opened his magical sight, observing the bat's life force and magical fluctuations. This time, its magical power was greatly diminished, having dropped to the level of a newly awakened young wizard. Its life force was also minuscule; despite its enormous size, it was no more alive than an insect on the roadside.
"This isn't magical..."
On the surface, it looked like the wizard was dominating the fight, toying with the bat, which couldn't land a single blow. But as the battle dragged on, the wizard was starting to get worn down by the bat-monster's seemingly infinite health bar. He was beginning to wonder if it even had a health bar.
Ryan tried the Imperius Curse. Even a mutated bat's brain couldn't be that large, its soul that heavy. The curse should have been easy. It was a basic spell, part of the Dark Arts 101 curriculum. The casting was simple: point your wand and say the words.
But the opponent was not basic. It took the curse without a single sign of hesitation, continuing its relentless charge.
Ryan, who had just cast the curse: ???
He struggled to find a trace of thought in the creature's mental presence, and then he realized: there was nothing there. No consciousness, no mind...
Where is its brain?!
~~~
Get early access to 50+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn