Hogwarts Raven

Chapter 455, Section 454: Echoes of the Past 5
The monster's magical attacks are bizarre and powerful; it can manipulate shadows, summon corrosive black rain, and even briefly distort the surrounding space.

Saruman had to use all his magical knowledge to deal with it.

"Wall of Light! Holy Protection! Banishment from the Void!"

Powerful spells collided in the corridor, the resulting energy fluctuations causing the entire space to tremble. Kag, relying on his warrior's instincts and immense physical strength, engaged the monster in close combat. Each swing of his battle axe carried the power to cleave mountains and split rocks, but the monster always managed to block the attacks with its tentacles at the last moment.

In this level of combat, warriors are indeed only capable of playing a supporting role.

"Stay! Stay! Stay! Learn real knowledge!"

The monster—or rather, the former Star Speaker Alanir—slowly raised its wand. Its movements were elegant and precise, unlike the frenzied chaos of other monsters. The wand's trajectory left a silver afterimage in the air, and a complex magic circle instantly formed before it.

Countless starlight burst forth from the magic circle.

Each starlight transformed into a deadly energy arrow, raining down on the two like a storm.

These arrows did not fly in a straight line, but traced strange trajectories in the air, as if they were controlled by an invisible gravitational field.

"careful!"

Saruman shouted, "This is star magic!"

He was warning his only remaining teammate, who was still capable of fighting, by giving him a warning!

Kag immediately became alarmed.

Saruman also provided support and protection immediately.

"Mirror reflection! Starlight barrier! Void devouring!"

Multiple casting.

This is a rather sophisticated spellcasting technique.

Now it is controlled by the young Saruman, who, as mentioned before, is a brilliant wizard whose magical skills have reached a level that cannot be described by ordinary standards.

I saw.

With the advent of instant casting.

Three layers of protective magic of different natures were instantly deployed.

The first layer of mirrored barrier refracts some of the starlight to the surroundings, and the refracted starlight leaves deep etched marks on the wall, emitting a piercing hissing sound.

The second layer of starlight barrier absorbs energy from the same source, emitting a piercing hum, and ripples spread across its surface; the third layer of void barrier devours the remaining starlight like a black hole.

However, it trembled constantly during the absorption process, clearly under immense pressure. Despite this, the outcome was ultimately positive; it successfully blocked the opponent's attack.

only.

It seems that he withstood the second round of attacks.

But this is definitely not the end.

The Star Speaker's attack didn't stop there. With a gentle wave of its wand, the starlight refracted onto the wall suddenly came to life, transforming into hundreds of silver serpents that lunged at the two from all directions. The eyes of these serpents were burning stars, and swirling nebulae could be seen in their open mouths.

"Firestorm!"

Kag also displayed his extraordinary nature; he didn't want to just play a support role. He ignited his bloodline, roared, and swung his battle axe. A whirlwind of blazing fire erupted from him, burning the Starlight Serpent to ashes. But to his astonishment, the ashes quickly reformed, transforming into even more dangerous Starlight Hounds.

Their claws can tear through magical defenses, and their eyes burn with eternal fury.

“Its fighting style,” Kag said, panting after one exchange, “is very disciplined. Like a rigorously trained wizard.”

Saruman's heart sank. He realized they weren't facing an ordinary monster, but a former wizard who had retained his fighting instincts and magical knowledge. This realization made the battle even more difficult—every magical clash, every dodge of an attack felt like a life-or-death duel with a familiar comrade.

Besides.

Facing the magic of the Star Speakers.

Saruman's forehead was also beaded with cold sweat: "This is no ordinary transformation. This is a conceptual reshaping! It has touched the edge of creation!"

His extensive knowledge had already made him aware of the terrifying power of this magic; it was a symbol of entering the legendary realm. He didn't know whether the Star Speaker had possessed this power before or had been enhanced by this place. Although he hadn't yet reached the legendary level, even touching the threshold of legend was a terrifying thing.

All of a sudden.

The whispers of the Star Speakers echoed in Saruman's mind.

"Stay! Stay! Stay! Learn real knowledge!" This voice haunted his mind like a leech, trying to erode his reason through his thirst for power.

obviously.

Just as Lina couldn't resist the prophet's curiosity, Saruman may have been influenced by this place from the beginning, which is why he was filled with that obsessive desire to explore its depths.

now.

The Star Speakers' strength and language further amplified the influence of this place on Saruman, attempting to ignite his thirst for a legendary rank within him.

"Damn it! Get out of my head! This pollution started the moment we came in!" Saruman exclaimed in shock, quickly suppressing his impulse with reason.

He realized something was wrong in time.

Seeing this, the Star Speaker let out a low laugh, a voice carrying an unsettling rationality: "Young colleague, you are quite insightful."

"But knowledge can't save you."

"Why not stay? Stay and work with me to understand the cosmic truths contained in this place. You and I can both reach that legendary level."

"Don't resist, don't fight back, it's pointless. And you shouldn't see it as a pollution, but rather as a blessing."

"Look, I'm evolving, getting closer to that more perfect being." It's unclear whether the great terror of this place is using the Star Speaker's voice to bewitch, or whether the Star Speaker does retain enough rationality, only that their understanding of things and reality has been completely distorted and altered.

"no way!"

Saruman's attitude was very firm. He did indeed yearn to become a legendary wizard and was filled with longing for endless knowledge, but the path of wizardry he sought was by no means one that would abandon humanity itself.

"That's a shame."

The Star Speaker sighed.

It waved its wand once more, and this time, the starlight throughout the corridor began to stir. Glowing moss detached from the stone walls, coalescing in the air into a colossal starlight serpent. The serpent's eyes were two burning stars, and its gaping maw contained swirling nebulae, emanating a terrifying aura of devouring everything. "In the name of the Star God, devour these blasphemers!" the Star Speaker chanted an ancient incantation, each syllable causing the space to tremble.

He is indeed still a Star Speaker, but the stars he pursues, worships, and studies are no longer the same stars as before, but evil slumbering in the depths of the universe.

The colossal star serpent roared deafeningly as it charged towards the two. Wherever it passed, space distorted and warped; the stone floor of the corridor was torn apart, revealing an even more ancient structure beneath. The serpent's body was composed entirely of stellar energy, making it virtually impervious to any physical attack.

"Damn it!"

Saruman knew that ordinary protective magic was no longer sufficient to withstand attacks of this level.

He took a deep breath and began chanting an extremely dangerous forbidden spell. His wand traced complex paths in the air as he began his spellcasting.

"In the name of the River of Time, by the authority of the end of all things, I command this place—time and space to freeze!" Saruman and his friends have certainly not come up empty-handed from their years of exploring various ruins.

He also gained much power and knowledge from it. This magic that manipulates time is one of them, and over the years Saruman has developed many powerful spells for himself.

A silver-gray light burst forth from the tip of the wand, and everything in its path froze. The giant star serpent, pouncing towards them, was suspended in mid-air, its jaws agape in a terrifying pose; the Star Speaker's movements with his wand also slowed to an extreme degree, as if he were moving through glue.

"No, why is it attacking indiscriminately?" Even Kag felt his thinking become sluggish, as if he were stuck in a quagmire. It was clear that he was also very confused.

no way.

After all, he was still young and his understanding of magic was not thorough enough, nor had he studied it in great depth. Therefore, Saruman's time magic still had some drawbacks. In this place, only Saruman himself could maintain normal mobility, but this magic was consuming his life force at an alarming rate.

"Attack now!" Saruman hissed, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth as he tried to minimize the impact of his magic on his teammates.

"I can't maintain this spell for long!"

Because he needed to maintain his magic, Saruman was unable to move freely, let alone cast other spells, so he could only try to rely on the strength of his teammates.

"Alright! I will not let you down!" Kag endured the discomfort caused by the time-space freeze, and all the runes on his battle axe lit up as he poured all his power into them.

"Avenge Lina!"

"Dawn's Light! Blade of the End!" The battle axe, imbued with the power to tear through space and time, cleaved towards the starlight serpent. Under the frozen state of time and space, the power of this attack was amplified several times over.

Wherever the axe blade passed, fine cracks appeared in the space. The giant star python let out a silent wail as its body shattered inch by inch, turning into countless specks of light.

But at that very moment, the Star Speaker forcibly broke through the time-space freeze! A terrifying smile appeared on its twisted face, and with a gentle tap of its wand, the shattered starlight reassembled.

"Interesting trick, but you're still too young!"

That indescribable evil god, perhaps speaking of the Star Speaker's return of reason, has become more eloquent and its eyes are more radiant than when it first emerged.

Skills are also improving.

The servant of this terrifying evil god raised his super wand and pointed it directly at Saruman, unleashing a pure line of nothingness towards him. This was a terrifying spell capable of erasing existence; wherever it passed, even space itself vanished, leaving behind an eternal trail of nothingness.

how to say.

The Star Speaker is a powerful wizard. Although his wand is not as powerful as the Elder Wand, it is still an epic weapon that can amplify the power of his magic.

"careful!"

Kag shoved Saruman aside and used his battle axe to shield himself.

The moment the Void Line collided with the Battle Axe, Kag felt an unprecedented impact.

"Damn!!!"

His prized enchanted battle axe began to disintegrate at the atomic level, the muscle fibers in his arm snapping inch by inch. One by one, the runes on the axe extinguished, emitting their final, mournful cries. Had it not been for the protective runes engraved on the axe erupting at the last moment, forming a final barrier...

He would be completely wiped out by this attack.

"Kag!"

Saruman's eyes widened in fury as he watched his companion fall to the ground, severely wounded. He felt he was about to lose another close friend of many years, and the excruciating pain filled his eyes with rage.

It didn't matter that the attack hadn't killed the enemy; the Star Speaker let out a satisfied chuckle: "Not bad weapon, but next time, you won't be so lucky."

"I want you to die!"

Anger flared in Saruman's eyes.

He knew he could hold back no longer. He bit his fingertip, used his blood to draw an ancient rune on his wand, and began chanting an ancient incantation that even Kag couldn't understand.

"By blood and soul, awaken the ancient power that lies dormant!"

The wand suddenly became scorching hot, and Saruman's silver hair moved without wind. His eyes turned pure gold, and he exuded an awe-inspiring aura. Countless translucent ghosts began to emerge in the corridor—the once-renowned heroes—emitting mournful screams.

They converged in the air into a gray torrent.

"Oh?" The Star Speaker showed interest for the first time. "Ancient Covenant? Interesting. However, none of your powers are as great as the power bestowed upon me by the Great Sleeper."

talking.

It waved its wand, creating layers of protection.

Three protective spells of different natures instantly formed.

It looked incredibly imposing. But the torrent of souls was unstoppable; it pierced through all magical defenses and struck the Star Speaker's soul directly. The ghosts' shrieks formed a tangible sonic attack, the stone walls of the corridor began to crack, and the air was filled with the smell of ozone.

"No! Something's mixed in here! Go to the ruins of the Raven! His apostles are inside!" The Star Speaker howled in agony, its body flickering erratically, the writhing runes beginning to crumble. It tried to fight back, but the Soul Devouring Bite was rapidly eroding its very essence.

"It's now!"

Saruman roared, blood streaming from his seven orifices as the forbidden magic devoured his life. Kag, enduring excruciating pain, raised his already broken battle axe once more. This time, he poured all his life force into it, and a sun-like brilliance erupted from the cracks in the axe.

"With my blood, with my soul, let this war end!"

The battle axe, imbued with all of Kag's will and power, cleaved towards the core of the Star Speaker. This strike transcended the realm of physical attack, directly striking at the very essence of the monster's existence. The instant the axe blade made contact with the Star Speaker, the resulting light illuminated the entire corridor, as if a new star had been born there.

“Damn it! You went to the ruins of the Raven!” The Star Speaker let out a final, unwilling roar as its body began to disintegrate. Before it completely vanished, Saruman saw its eyes regain a brief clarity—eyes belonging to an intelligent being, filled with pain and regret.

There is still a sliver of relief.

(End of this chapter)