Hogwarts wizards who signed in to Middle-earth.

Chapter 205 Lord of Aisengard
Wearing the Ring of Power crafted by Saruman, Dui instantly felt the difference.

His eyes were filled with surprise and delight.

This Ring of Power differs from the three Rings of the Elves. Unlike the Ring of Water, which provides protection, the Ring of Air, which provides healing, and the Ring of Fire, which provides understanding, this Ring of Power enhances the wearer's abilities.

The moment he put it on, Dui felt his magic and spirit surge several times over.

He felt incredibly strong now, capable of crushing several of his previous selves.

He can even cast spells without a wand or staff, and the power of his magic is even greater than that of a wand or staff!

Dui was overjoyed.

He had always envied Gandalf and his companions for having the Three Rings of the Elves, but he never imagined that one day he would also possess a Ring of Power.

Of course, he also had some regrets. Although Saruman's ring was comparable to the Three Rings of the Elves in terms of power, it was probably because Saruman's craftsmanship was not exquisite. So, in a real comparison, the Three Rings of the Elves were still superior.

The Ring of Power simply enhances one's own strength, while the Three Rings of the Elves not only slow down the erosion of time and possess abilities such as protection, healing, and encouragement, but are also closely connected to the elements of air, water, and fire, allowing one to mobilize them.

Even so, Dui was very satisfied.

Looking at this gold ring, the inside is inscribed with the words "Energy belongs to me, the one with the greatest strength, whose power is inexhaustible" in the Tenghwa script.

It is clear that Saruman was imitating the One Ring, intending to create another One Ring.

Unfortunately, Saruman clearly overestimated his abilities, and his attempt to imitate the One Ring backfired, resulting in a "beggar's version" of the One Ring, far less powerful than the One Ring itself.

Another issue is that Saruman crafted this Ring of Power specifically for himself, without considering whether others could use it.

Therefore, although this ring allows Dui to cast spells without a wand and unleash power several times greater than that of a wand or staff, each use is a huge physical strain for Dui.

So after wearing it for a while, Dui had to take it off.

Then, using a Transfiguration spell, he conjured a necklace, slipped the ring onto it, and hung it around his neck.

At that moment, the system also issued a notification:
[Hogwarts Check-in System: Location: Aisengard Eusankta, check-in required?]

Dui's heart skipped a beat: "Sign in."

[Sign-in successful! Congratulations on obtaining the Magical Creature Hybridization Breeding Method!]

Magical creature hybridization? Dui asked in surprise.

He glanced at it briefly and immediately felt that this hybridization of magical creatures was truly amazing.

Because this magical hybridization, like magic itself, is illogical and there is no issue of reproductive isolation.

For example, Hagrid hybridized a man-headed lion-bodied scorpion-tailed beast with a fire crab to create the Blasttail: a giant lobster that looks like a shelled lobster, with a tail that can shoot flames and explosives, and is a volatile and dangerous creature.

Besides this hybrid creature, the hippogriff living in the Forbidden Forest of Hogwarts is also a hybrid magical creature, a hybrid of a griffin and a horse.

There is also the Chimera, listed by the Ministry of Magic as the most dangerous and deadliest monster. It is also a product of magical hybridization, with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a dragon. It is extremely powerful and dangerous.

In Newt Scamander's "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," this creature, even more dangerous than a dragon, is highlighted. Due to its powerful aggression and untamability, many wizards have died at its hands, and ordinary wizards simply cannot subdue it.

Because creatures bred through magical hybridization are uncontrollable—either extremely weak or extremely dangerous, and often unruly and difficult to tame—the Ministry of Magic strictly prohibits wizards from engaging in biological hybridization.

Having obtained the method for hybrid breeding of magical creatures, Dui couldn't think of what to do with it for a moment. Could it be used to breed some hybrid creatures?
Unable to figure it out for the time being, he simply put the matter aside and turned his attention back to it.

With the matter of the Ring of Power settled, the group began discussing how to deal with the problem of Osankta.

Osank Tower was forged by Saruman into an incredibly sturdy magical fortress. Had Saruman not been lured out, they wouldn't have been confident they could breach it even if they joined forces.

Saruman has now fled, and Osakata is now without a master.

No one ever thought of destroying this place.

Not to mention that Osankta itself is of great value, it is an impregnable safe haven.

Moreover, Osanktar and the surrounding Isengard are located near the pass between the Misty Mountains and the White Mountains, making them a vital transportation hub connecting the western region of Eridor with Rohan, Gondor, and even Mordor.

They also controlled several important routes, including the North-South Highway and the path leading to the Rohan Plain.

It can be said that once you control Eisengard, you will have control of the gateway to the Eriador region.

Therefore, whether for its strategic location or the formidable fortress of Osankta, they cannot afford to abandon Essengard.

However, Elrond and Galadriel each had their own elven territories and could no longer take over this area, so they initially refused the responsibility of taking over Isengard.

Dui also said with a smile:

“Besides you, Gandalf, the other three of us have our own territories to take care of, but you, Gandalf, have no fixed abode yet. Why don’t you stay here and guard this place from now on?”
This way, you will not only have your own territory, but you can also contact the nearby Kingdom of Rohan and Gondor at any time, and monitor the situation in Mordor.

Elrond and Galadriel agreed. Elrond added, "More importantly, Saruman will certainly not give up so easily; he will definitely try to retake Isengard, so there must be someone here capable of dealing with him."

But despite the three men's attempts to persuade him, Gandalf firmly shook his head.

He chuckled and jokingly declined, saying, "I'm not old enough to need to stop and find a place to rest. I prefer to travel around, see all kinds of people and scenery. If you give me a territory, it will only tie me down, which would be terrible!"

In fact, Gandalf always kept his original intention in mind, believing that his role was to guide free people to save themselves, rather than to rule directly.

Therefore, he would wander throughout Middle-earth, just like his elven name Mithrandir (the Grey Wanderer). He did not belong to any fixed place, but went wherever there was danger.

A fixed territory would actually become a constraint for him, making it impossible for him to flexibly move between various forces and coordinate actions.

He doesn't need physical strongholds to demonstrate his power; instead, he unites people's hearts to forge a collective force against evil.

Therefore, Gandalf was not at all interested in Saruman's stronghold and strongly opposed it.

Galadriel and Elrond were both longtime friends of Gandalf, so they understood his will and did not try to persuade him further.

Then the three of them exchanged glances and simultaneously turned their gazes toward Dui.

Dui was a little confused by the three men's gazes, but he quickly understood what they meant and waved his hand in refusal:

"Don't look at me! I already have territory at Fengyun Peak, and this place is a thousand miles away from Fengyun Peak, so I can't possibly manage it all!"

He was already too busy managing Hogsmeade and Burritown at the foot of Windrise, so why would he bother running around Saruman's stronghold? Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?

Seeing Dui's resistant expression, the three of them smiled.

Gandalf said with a smile, "Distance is no problem for you, Duir. You just need to set up a Floo Network here in Osankta, and you can come here anytime, right?"

"Lady Galadriel and Lord Elrond are both unable to manage this place, and I also need to travel around and cannot stay here. Only you have the ability to guard Isengard, so you don't need to refuse!"

But no matter what Gandalf said, Dui kept shaking his head.

He only wanted to manage his small territory at Windrise Peak, and didn't want to be thousands of miles away, constantly on guard against attacks from Saruman and Mordor.

He suggested, “Gandalf, you know many people; perhaps you could send someone else to guard this place?”

Gandalf sighed and shook his head:

"It's not that we don't want to find other capable people, but Eisengard's location is special. It is a transportation hub connecting the East and the West, and it cannot be lost. Once it falls into the hands of Saruman or Mordor, it may directly sever the connection between the East and the West, leaving Rohan and Gondor in a helpless situation."

Not only would Rohan and Gondor be in danger, but the Mordor army could also advance unimpeded and invade Eriador, bringing disaster to the people of the West. Therefore, we need a trustworthy and capable person to guard this stronghold and prevent any potential threats.

Elrond and Galadriel mean the same thing.

Then Gandalf pulled out his trump card: "Duir, if you are willing to take over Eisengard, all of Saruman's legacy will be yours, especially the books and scrolls in the library. What do you think?"

Elrond and Galadriel smiled and nodded in agreement with Gandalf's words.

Dui looked at Saruman's collection of books and scrolls that had been amassed for hundreds and thousands of years, and shamefully admitted that he was tempted.

"Deal!" Dui gave up struggling and hesitating, and agreed immediately.

He said he was at odds with Saruman over so many books.

Since he has already taken Saruman's staff and the Ring of Power, and they are now irreconcilable enemies, it's not a problem for him to take over his territory now!
Seeing that Dui agreed, Gandalf and the other two showed smiles that were not unexpected.

So, in addition to Windrise Peak, Dui now has Eisengard as another territory.

Then Dui remembered the Black Barbarian Shrine, so he took out the magic circle diagram he had copied and handed it to the others to look at.

Looking at the magic circle on the picture, Elrond, Galadriel, and Gandalf all became serious.

"Duir, where did you get this magic circle from?" Elrond asked.

Dui recounted the entire situation of the Black Barbarian Shrine in detail.

Upon hearing this, the three of them became even more serious.

Elrond said with a look of relief, "Luckily you destroyed that formation in time, otherwise it might have led to something even more terrible!"

Seeing the three's attitude, Dui asked curiously, "Lord Elrond, do you recognize that magic circle? What exactly is it?"

Elrond nodded, his expression full of disgust:
"This is an ancient and evil sacrificial magic circle, originating from the Druids who were once conquered by Morgoth. They worshipped Morgoth with fanaticism, offering their lives and blood as sacrifices to him."

These sacrificial magic circles gradually disappeared after Morgoth's defeat; it's unexpected that one still remains at the Black Barbarian Shrine.

(End of this chapter)