Charles's words clearly hadn't frightened the crowd before him.
By now, over fifty wizards had gathered around him in a dark mass — an ominous contrast against the pure white snow blanketing the ground.
"Are you kidding me, Avery? You went through all this trouble just to deal with some kid?"A laugh erupted from the crowd, though its mockery wasn't aimed at Charles, but at Avery himself.
Once a proud Death Eater under Voldemort's banner, now this was what he'd been reduced to — rallying a small army just to handle one boy. Worse yet, he'd even hired him, the infamous werewolf leader.
"If you don't want to take part, Greyback, you can leave. But the gold stays," Avery snapped.
Ungrateful mutt. Take the money and still complain.
"Not a chance! I couldn't find an easier job than this if I tried," Fenrir Greyback grinned, showing yellowed teeth.
Discrimination against werewolves in the wizarding world ran far deeper than that toward any other nonhuman race. Werewolves carried the contagious toxin lycanthropy — anyone infected became one of their kind.
It was, in every sense, an incurable plague. No wonder every wizard avoided them like the plague itself — and hiring them was unthinkable.
Not that Greyback cared. His only joy came from attacking children, spreading his curse to create more werewolves. Decades ago, he was the one who had bitten Remus Lupin.
"Enough chatter! Let's kill the brat and get out of here. This damned place is freezing!"Several foul-smelling wizards had already drawn their wands. Their filthy robes and matted hair made them look more like beggars than spellcasters — gutter wizards who probably lived in Knockturn Alley.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Charles struck first.
"Pika—CHU!"
Pikachu leapt high, crouching midair as crimson sparks flared from its cheeks. Lightning crackled violently across the snowy field.In the next instant, a golden torrent of electricity burst outward!
"Arcanine!"
With a howl, the majestic Fire-type's crimson aura flared from beneath its paws, igniting the snow.
"Flame Wheel!"
Arcanine transformed into a blazing inferno, charging straight into the group of wizards!
"Protego!"
Several wizards stepped forward, layering multiple Shield Charms atop one another. They had faced Pokémon before — they knew just how destructive that "little electric mouse" could be.
The less experienced dark wizards weren't so lucky. Arcanine's fiery body slammed through them, scattering their ranks like burning leaves.
"Locomotor Mortis!"
Avery stepped forward without hesitation. A Leg-Locker Curse shot out and struck Arcanine, binding all four of its legs together.
Though Arcanine quickly broke free, the brief interruption halted its attack.
"Use the Killing Curse!" Avery bellowed. He didn't want this dragging on — better to end it swiftly and cleanly.
Dozens of wizards raised their wands, emerald light bursting from each tip.
"Avada Kedavra!"
In an instant, the snowy landscape was drenched in green.
Countless Killing Curses intertwined, weaving a deadly net of light that left no room to escape. Avery's lips curved into a smirk. There was no way anyone could survive that.
But then — through the gleaming haze — he saw Charles's expression.Calm. Not a trace of panic.
"Arcanine — Protect!"
The great dog lunged forward, slamming into the snow. A translucent, shimmering sphere expanded outward, forming a barrier around them.
"Protego?"
Avery froze. Didn't that Mudblood know that no spell could block the Killing Curse?
Then again, the Unforgivable Curses were taught only in higher-level Defense Against the Dark Arts classes. And this boy had been expelled in his third year.
Avery sneered. "You should be grateful. Otherwise, you'd never learn the truth — Protego can't stop the Killing Curse. Unfortunately for you, the lesson comes at the cost of your li—"
His words died in his throat.
The green bolts struck the barrier — and didn't break it.Instead, ripples spread across the transparent shield like waves upon a pond.
"What did you say the cost was again?" Charles tilted his head mockingly.
"H-How is this possible? Protego can't block the Killing Curse!" Avery's eyes went wide with disbelief.
Every wizard present stood dumbstruck. It was common knowledge — an absolute law of magic — that no shield could block the Killing Curse. And yet today, that truth had just been shattered before their eyes.
Still, their wands kept channeling power. The emerald beams hammered against Arcanine's Protect, the energies colliding and merging at a single unstable point. The barrier rippled violently, its surface distorting like a storm-tossed lake.
And then—
BOOM!
The combined force of dozens of spells detonated, triggering a massive explosion!
A shockwave of green energy swept outward, flinging snow into the air like a blizzard turned upside down. The wizards were thrown off their feet, tumbling as if caught in a hurricane.
Luckily, the explosion came from the unstable magic itself — not the Killing Curse proper — or they'd have all been dead.
"Cough—! What happened? Did we get him?"
Avery pushed himself up, blinking through the swirling snow.
"Did we kill the Mudblood?"
The air was thick with drifting white flakes that blurred his vision.
Given how close Charles had been to the explosion's center, it was possible the blast or a stray curse had finished him off.
But Avery's hopes were dashed as a dark figure slowly emerged through the haze.
The green barrier faded at last — unbroken.
Even Avada Kedavra couldn't pierce Protect.
Of course, a move like that couldn't be used continuously — its success rate dropped sharply when repeated.
Still, Charles was clearly irritated now. He waved his wand lazily, as if brushing dust aside.A powerful gust of wind swept outward, clearing the snow and smoke.
"Tch… damned beasts," Avery spat.
Those Pokémon were a nuisance — just like before. Months ago, he'd lost a battle to this boy, largely because of them.
That Mudblood was just like Newt Scamander — weak on his own, hiding behind his creatures.No… Pokémon were far worse than magical beasts. They weren't merely strange — they were terrifyingly powerful.
Take that electric rodent, for example — looked like a Niffler, but its lightning could blast through any Protego.
"We'll need to get rid of those beasts first," Avery muttered.
But before he could act, he saw Charles lift two red-and-white Poké Balls and recall Pikachu and Arcanine.
…What?
He recalled them? Was he planning to switch them out?
Avery waited, but Charles didn't send out any others. His confusion turned to glee.
So the fool had withdrawn his Pokémon? Facing dozens of wizards, and he'd just dismissed his only defense? Perfect.
"No longer hiding behind your beasts, Mudblood? Without their power, what will you use to stop us?" Avery jeered, gesturing for the others to prepare their next volley.
Charles smiled faintly. "You seem to be mistaken."
"Oh? And what would that be?"
"You think I got this far because of my Pokémon?"
"Isn't that obvious? Without them, how could you possibly block our Killing Curse? How could you fight us at all?" one of the battered wizards sneered — one who had once been strung up by Charles's Venusaur months earlier.
"Of course not," Charles said softly, his boots crunching against the snow as he strolled forward — graceful as an artist about to paint.
"Before, I was worried that if I took action myself, I might kill you. Then Dumbledore would give me trouble for it. But now? No one will ever know. You'll die here, and the world will think Soviet wizards did it."
He smiled, fingers tightening around the Destruction Wand as magic surged violently around him.
Your Trainer is Warming Up!Your Trainer is about to take the field!
(End of Chapter)