Erwin raised his hand, shattering the barrier of divine energy that had surrounded him.
He summoned the Sword of Gryffindor into his grip and gave it a tentative swing.
He shook his head. "Too light."
The blade quivered faintly in his palm.
Erwin let out a soft hum of surprise. "You've recovered a bit? Don't worry, I'll get justice for you."
The sword trembled more violently.
Erwin flicked his wrist, and the sword vanished.
Then, he stretched.
After months of labor, it was finally complete.
He thanked his lucky stars he was using divine power; otherwise, he would have starved to death long ago.
Divinity truly had its uses.
Erwin walked toward the temple entrance.
At the threshold, Ebony was curled up on the ground. The creature had survived the time using divine energy as well, but it hadn't eaten a bite. It was ravenous.
Suddenly, Ebony sensed the fluctuations of divine power vanishing within the temple. It scrambled to its feet just as Erwin emerged.
The familiar ran over immediately, rubbing against Erwin's leg.
Erwin smiled, patting the creature's head. "Hungry? Let's go for a feast."
Ebony nodded eagerly.
Erwin snapped his fingers, and his figure vanished from the spot.
Ripples spread through the air where he had stood, and a moment later, a new figure appeared.
It was Merlin—or rather, a condensed energy form of him.
He glanced at the temple. "Am I too late? It took too long to summon this energy form."
Merlin stepped inside and walked to the spot where Erwin had been sitting. He carefully sensed the residual magic, and a look of shock flashed across his face.
"Divine power? Or two types? But why is there also an aura of authority? What is going on with that child? No, I must inform the others immediately!"
He turned to leave, but a beam of purple light suddenly streaked through the air, piercing straight through him.
Merlin hadn't expected an ambush.
The energy form itself possessed little combat power; it stood no chance against a sudden attack. His body instantly dissipated.
Slowly, Erwin's figure materialized in the gloom.
"We finally meet, Merlin."
Merlin tried to speak, but no words came. The energy form faded entirely.
Erwin, who had returned, felt the surge of magical power within him and smiled.
"I didn't expect a mere energy body to grant such an improvement. It's a pity there probably aren't many left. Otherwise, this would be a reliable way to gain power."
He shook his head and waved a hand, collapsing the temple structure. Then, he vanished.
Elsewhere, in a separate space, Merlin's true self paled.
"That child... he is already this strong? He destroyed my energy body in a single strike? Who is he? Have we been walking the wrong path all this time?"
Merlin looked at the dark energy encircling the space. He couldn't escape, nor could he send a message out. He only had one energy body left, and condensing it took significant effort.
He knew in his heart that things had exceeded his expectations. Erwin was out of his control—he couldn't even discern whose pawn Erwin was. It was possible Erwin was never a pawn at all, but the player himself. And those who call themselves players are often the real pawns.
The words of that unknown being echoed in his mind, but there was nothing he could do. Trapped in his prison, Merlin sat cross-legged and began to work against the darkness around him, hoping against hope that his effort would make a difference.
Meanwhile, Erwin had already arrived within his destination. He didn't head to the Changbai Mountains first; there was still time before the competition began. Instead, he took Ebony directly to enjoy some well-deserved rest—a craving he had held for a long time.
Walking through the world, Erwin had altered his appearance. He looked different, and looking into the mirror, Erwin felt a complex sense of nostalgia he couldn't quite explain.
While Erwin enjoyed his time and explored with Ebony, the players at Hogwarts were preparing to set off for the Changbai Mountains. The first to leave were the students from Durmstrang. These determined youths shouldered their packs and embarked on their journey without hesitation, striving to gain an advantage.
Hogwarts, the exchange students, and Beauxbatons, however, remained at school. They attended classes as usual, seemingly in no hurry at all. While the captains weren't anxious, the other players were getting restless.
In the players' lounge at Hogwarts, Harry Potter couldn't help but ask, "Senior Charlotte, shouldn't we leave as soon as possible? Getting there early will give us a head start."
Charlotte sat on the sofa, sipping her coffee. She said slowly, "Harry, what do you think is the fastest way to get there?"
Harry thought for a moment. "Riding a flying broomstick?" His mind filled with images of sweeping through the sky on a Nimbus.
Cedric and the others laughed.
Charlotte shook her head helpfully. "Harry, your thinking is a bit limited today."
Cedric chimed in. "Floo Powder, Portkeys, and even Apparition for short distances are all much faster than flying broomsticks. However, each method has its weaknesses. For example, Portkeys: as far as I know, there doesn't seem to be a direct Portkey to our destination. Floo Powder is the same. So, Durmstrang will likely use Apparition for the journey."
Penelope added, "We could also use the Knight Bus. Although it doesn't cross borders, it can still take us close."