---
Chapter 21
Ancient Magic and the Blue Phoenix
Since there was no way to escape, then she would fight it out.
She was not completely defenceless!
In response to Bode Grey's provocation, Hydras drew in a deep breath and unleashed her dragonfire.
She did not hold back in the slightest. Her full power erupted at once, dyeing the sky crimson.
The dragonfire burned at terrifying temperatures. At its core was an intense blue flame, edged with blazing orange-red, so hot that the surrounding air twisted and warped.
Yet Bode's lips never lost their disdainful smile.
With a slight flick of his wand, an ice wall rose instantly, completely blocking the dragonfire.
Hiss—!
In the next moment, he appeared behind Hydras.
His wand moved rapidly, and a torrent of orange-red magic burst forth like gunfire.
Before the ice wall could even crack under the dragonfire, Hydras—caught completely off guard—was struck by the surprise attack.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bode had launched his assault without casting a single spell.
He was simply releasing raw magic.
No wizard would dare fight a fire dragon like this unless they had absolute confidence in their own strength.
If one's magic was insufficient, not only would it fail to injure the dragon, it would instead provoke its fury.
But it was clear that Bode's power far exceeded Hydras's expectations.
It was enough to let him act with utter disregard.
Each strike pierced straight through Hydras's dragon scales, drawing streams of blood.
Bode could have killed her easily during the ambush with an Avada Kedavra.
But he wanted to torment her first.
In his mind, the recent misfortunes of the Grey family were all her fault.
He knew, deep down, that this was little more than displaced blame and thoroughly unreasonable—but in truth, Hydras was not entirely innocent either.
Hydras clenched her teeth.
After enduring the first wave of attacks, she forced herself to manoeuvre through the air, doing everything she could to evade.
But Bode needed only the smallest movement of his wrist to attack.
She, on the other hand, had to make broad, exhausting motions to dodge.
As expected, it did not take long.
Her movements slowed, her strength drained, and wounds covered her body. Blood soaked nearly half her form.
Pant… pant…
"Is that all?"
Bode's wand traced an elegant arc through the air.
Seizing the opening, a thick beam of magic slammed into her.
"Hydras the Evil Dragon—such a fearsome reputation."
"And yet, you're disappointingly weak."
The girl could no longer sustain her dragon form.
She plummeted towards the ground.
A smug grin spread across Bode's face.
This obstacle that had hindered the rise of the Grey family for so long was finally about to be removed.
"Avada—"
As she fell, Hydras suddenly opened her eyes.
She had realised that even without continuing the act, she could still turn the tables.
Her performance had been flawless.
She had deceived Bode completely—and bought herself the precious moment she needed to switch forms.
"Enjoy the show."
Hiss—!
A green beam of light tore through the sky.
But Hydras was no longer there.
Bode froze.
Had she escaped?
No matter. With his skill, tracking Apparition traces was trivial.
He focused, preparing to analyse the magical residue—
—and then he heard it.
A faint whoosh of wind from above.
Bode snapped his head up.
Hydras was descending straight from the sky, landing directly in front of him.
She had not fled.
She had been waiting for her chance to strike back.
What nerve!
"Take this, you old bastard!"
Her fist slammed into his face.
The impact shattered half his teeth, sending them flying.
At the same time, the eye socket on that side collapsed, flesh and blood bursting open to reveal stark white bone beneath.
Hydras's two and a half years of brutal mixed-martial-arts training from her previous life had finally paid off.
"AAAAH—!"
Bode reeled, his vision spinning as he plummeted downward.
Panting heavily, Hydras reverted to her fire-dragon form.
Bode had made the fatal mistake of underestimating his opponent.
And paid dearly for it.
She would not repeat that mistake.
After all, there was a perfect example right in front of her.
Exploit his weakness. Kill him.
Hydras accelerated, diving straight after him.
She drew in a deep breath, dragonfire gathering in her throat.
She was about to show him why she was called Hydras the Evil Dragon.
But Bode's willpower was terrifying.
He was dazed for less than a second before snapping back to his senses.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Hydras charging towards him.
Fury surged through him.
Gripping his wand with both hands, he swung it violently through the air.
Above Hydras, lightning surged out of the void itself.
BOOM!
A bolt of lightning struck down with impossible speed.
Hydras was hit before she could unleash her dragonfire.
…What?
What kind of magic was this?
That was her final thought.
Black smoke poured from her mouth. Her eyes rolled back.
She lost consciousness completely.
Her body fell freely toward the ground.
Bode immediately followed, determined to personally finish off the Lestrange bloodline.
Yet even then, he could not suppress his amazement.
That little girl's body was monstrously resilient.
Any ordinary wizard would have been reduced to ashes by that lightning.
Yet Hydras had merely been knocked unconscious.
Ancient magic…
"Avada Kedavra!"
Bode Grey clearly hadn't checked his luck before leaving that day.
This was not a favourable moment for the Killing Curse.
At this exact instant, fate decreed that it would miss.
A massive phoenix of blazing fire materialised out of thin air and soared straight toward him.
Bode's expression changed instantly.
Shock rippled through him.
The reason was simple.
The phoenix was blue—the same eerie blue as the flame of a gas burner.
As someone who had followed the old Lestrange from continental Europe to Britain, how could he not recognise this magic?
Back then, this very power had nearly burned all of Paris to the ground.
Although this phoenix was far smaller than the ancient dragon that once appeared over Paris, it was still far beyond what he could withstand now.
Damn it!
The research had stalled, and two grimoires had already been lost.
This year was cursed!
Yet Bode could not simply stop the Killing Curse halfway.
How could he allow Hydras to escape alive, right in front of him?
She was terrifyingly capable at such a young age.
What would she become when she grew up?
Letting her live would be like raising a tiger only to invite disaster later.
"Enjoy the show."
A green beam shot from his wand, streaking toward the falling Hydras.
At the same time, another green beam flew in from a different direction.
The two spells collided mid-air, erupting in a violent explosion.
…What a pity.
Bode shook his head regretfully.
Then he Apparated away without hesitation.
Tch. How did that man get involved with this little girl?
What rotten luck.
He cast a Healing Charm on his ruined left cheek—
—but it did nothing.
Damn it!
How could that brat's punch be like Dark Magic?
The spell couldn't even close the wound!
Half his face was numb with pain.
This was bad.
He was going to be disfigured.
---
…
…
In her haze, Hydras vaguely heard voices.
Two of them.
One old. One young.
The younger voice said,
"Uncle, she's badly injured. Will she survive?"
The older voice replied calmly,
"Her future is clear. She won't die here. Come—help me."
"Yes, Uncle," the young man responded.
His wand moved as though lifting something extremely heavy, his voice strained.
"Can she really bring us the future we want?"
The old man smiled.
"This time, I see more clearly than ever, my child."
"All right," the young man said, clapping his hands.
"I hope my efforts won't be wasted."
"They won't," the old man said softly.
"Because this time… he's on our side as well."
"Indeed," the young man murmured.
"It's remarkable that he agreed to your plan."
"What's so remarkable about it?" the old man replied, pouring a potion into Hydras's mouth.
The bitter, foul-smelling liquid slid down her throat, making her frown immediately.
"He wants the wizarding world to become better more than anyone else."
"As long as the goal can be achieved without harm, he will never refuse."
The young man began casting spells—without a wand—layering several Healing Charms onto Hydras.
After a moment, he said softly,
"Ah… she's about to wake up."
Hydras cracked her eyes open slightly.
Everything was blurred.
"It's not convenient for me to appear right now," the old man said.
"From here on, it's all up to you."
"Yes, Uncle."
The young man leaned closer, his voice low and amused.
"I'll take good care of this naughty little kitten."
"I'll make sure she doesn't hurt herself with those claws."
Pain wracked Hydras's body, and a soft groan escaped her.
As her vision slowly cleared, a face filled her view.
It was fairly handsome, with a pair of bright, clear eyes.
Those eyes felt… familiar.
As though she had seen them somewhere before.
"You can't wake up yet, Your Highness," the bright-eyed young man teased softly.
"If you do, I'll be in serious trouble."
"She's fainted completely."
Hydras closed her eyes again.
The last words she heard were:
"Although this is a heroic rescue,"
"please don't fall in love with me, Your Highness."
"I'm no prince."
"And even if I were—"
"You, the princess, are far too young."
What the hell…
What era are we living in?
Still talking about princes and princesses?
Warmth spread through her body.
And Hydras sank into a deep, dreamless sleep.
---