The Old Ones of Hogwarts

Chapter 582-591: When Night Falls 2

Dumbledore's body was being held tightly.

A burning and painful sensation came from his ankle. The magic power in his body was somewhat sluggish because it had been used up too much by the previous powerful move.

The corrosive power of dark magic slowly spread upwards from his legs, beginning to interfere with his magical core. Yet, his eyes showed no panic; instead, all emotion gradually faded, leaving only utmost calm and resolve. He knew that he couldn't fight back with force now; he had to stabilize himself first.

Only then can we find an opportunity to fight back.

"You're still so impatient." Dumbledore took a deep breath, suppressing the discomfort in his body. He stopped resisting the pulling force and instead slowly relaxed his body. The Elder Wand slowly retracted, pointing directly at his chest. The golden light at the tip of the wand became soft and warm, no longer aggressive.

Upon seeing this, Gleeson and the Aurors below felt their hearts leap into their throats. They thought Dumbledore had given up the fight, and they all gripped their wands tightly.

He tried to rush forward, but was stopped by the aftershocks, his face full of anxiety.

But the next second, Dumbledore uttered a spell in a deep voice that no one expected, one that was neither sharp in attack nor heavy in defense.

Yet it carried with it the unwavering determination to survive a desperate situation.

"Heal quickly!"

A soft, golden healing light followed the wand and slowly entered his chest. This was neither an offensive nor a defensive spell, but the most basic yet crucial healing incantation. The moment the golden light entered his body, it began to rapidly repair the damaged magical pathways within him. The meridians burned by dark magic in the previous battle, and the mana source nearly depleted due to excessive consumption, began to repair and replenish themselves at an astonishing speed under the impetus of this precisely cast healing incantation.

The previously sluggish magic flowed smoothly again, and the corrosive power of the black magic that had invaded the body was gradually dispelled by the golden light, and the pain in the ankle gradually lessened.

His exhausted body slowly regained its strength.

Grindelwald's smile froze instantly. He could clearly sense that Dumbledore's magic was rapidly returning, and the previously suppressed situation was showing signs of reversal.

"hateful!"

His eyes hardened, and he increased his magical output. The power of his two fiery palms surged again, roaring as he tried to drag Dumbledore completely into the darkness.

"Don't even try to struggle! Albus, you can't escape!"

Dumbledore closed his eyes, letting the healing spell work. The blood at the corner of his mouth gradually dried, his pale cheeks slowly regained their color, and his hand holding the Elder Wand became as steady as a mountain again.

He slowly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in his golden pupils. The aura of a top-tier wizard enveloped his entire body once more; this duel was far from over.

"What are you doing!"

Grindelwald's smile froze instantly. He could clearly sense that the magic within Dumbledore's body was rapidly recovering at an illogical speed. The two pulling forces that had been firmly suppressing the other party were now being gradually pushed aside by a gentle yet resilient golden light.

The black fire hand wrapped around Dumbledore's ankle had developed fine golden cracks at its edges, and was no longer as indestructible as before.

The madness in his eyes faded slightly, replaced by deep astonishment and disbelief. His heterochromatic pupils suddenly contracted, and the black flames at his fingertips became slightly disordered due to the turmoil in his mind. Even his roar trembled imperceptibly: "You—! You actually forcibly overdraw your life force to activate the healing spell at a time like this? Are you insane?!"

I can tell.

This performance demonstrated that he knew Dumbledore far too well, and was well aware of the price hidden behind this seemingly gentle Healing Charm.

Acting should be realistic.

Ordinary healing spells can only repair external injuries, but what Dumbledore just used was a forbidden healing spell that converted his own life force into magic. It seemed to quickly replenish the depleted magic, but in reality, it was burning his own lifespan. Every extra moment he endured was an overdraft on the foundation of his body.

Everyone witnessed this scene.

This certainly includes those hidden Death Eaters as well.

The performance continues.

"You're crazy!"

Grindelwald seemed to think that Dumbledore was cornered and beyond saving, but he did not expect that the other party would turn the tables in such a suicidal way.

His anger and resentment surged instantly.

Dumbledore did not respond to his question. At this moment, even speaking made his meridians ache terribly, and every inch of his bones seemed to be groaning in pain. The magical abundance brought by the healing spell was just an illusion. The exhaustion and tearing sensation deep within his cells swept over his entire body like a tidal wave, but he could not show the slightest fear.

Taking advantage of the moment when Blackfire's hand loosened, he suddenly tensed his whole body, exerted force in his wrist, and swung the Elder Wand upwards with the force of thunder!

Without lengthy incantations or unnecessary charging, an extremely thick golden beam of light shot into the sky from the tip of the staff. The beam was so pure that it had no impurities, and it burned as brightly as the rising sun breaking through the clouds, instantly illuminating the entire ruins of Azkaban that were shrouded in black fire and gloom.

The light carried the pressure of purifying all darkness. Wherever it passed, the dark magic aura permeating the air instantly dissipated. The two black flame hands wrapped around his ankles could not even struggle. Like ice and snow under the scorching sun, they melted and vaporized at a speed visible to the naked eye, leaving not even a spark.

"Boom! Boom!"

At the same time as the beam of light erupted.

A ring of golden shockwave emanated from Dumbledore and spread wildly outwards, its force so great that it tore through the remaining black fire barrier surrounding Grindelwald.

Grindelwald had no time to dodge. His chest slammed into the shockwave, and with a muffled groan, he was sent flying backward uncontrollably as if struck by a giant hammer.

"This guy is really going all out." He tumbled around in the air a dozen times, flailing his arms wildly trying to steady himself, but the aftershocks kept hitting his body. With each tumble, the injury to his chest worsened, and his already pale face completely lost all color.

The blood seeping from the corner of his mouth was no longer thin streams, but thick beads of blood, dripping continuously down his chin, scattering a string of dark red blood spots in the air.

Well, it wasn't until he was sent flying nearly a hundred meters away that Grindelwald managed to gather the last bit of magic power, leaving a faint black fire rune under his feet, barely managing to stabilize his suspended body.

"You want to kill yourself while you kill me?!" He gasped for breath, his breathing heavy like a broken bellows. The wound on his severed arm still throbbed, and his magic power was almost depleted. But instead of retreating, his heterochromatic eyes burned with an even more intense and obsessive fighting spirit.

It even carried a hint of morbid excitement.

He raised his hand and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his tattered sleeve, which was instantly soaked with blood. His eyes were fixed on Dumbledore, and his hoarse voice was filled with a manic pleasure: "Interesting—truly interesting! Albus, this is how you should be, even more insane and arrogant than me!"

Dumbledore hovered in mid-air, his body swaying slightly. He could only barely maintain his balance with the power of the Elder Wand. He was also panting heavily, each breath accompanied by a dull pain in his chest. The explosive beam of light had almost drained all the magic temporarily converted by the healing spell.

The feeling of physical exhaustion intensified, and the aches and pains throughout his body threatened to overwhelm him, causing his vision to blur slightly.

The way he performed showed that he clearly knew he couldn't hold on much longer; the loss of his life force was causing his reactions and control over his magic to decline rapidly.

This duel cannot be delayed any longer. Every second the stalemate continues, the greater the danger. Not only will he be caught in the aftershocks, but the Aurors below will also be swept into certain death.

Grindelwald also saw this through.

He watched Dumbledore's slightly trembling figure and the gradually dimming golden light at the tip of his staff, instantly realizing that Dumbledore's healing spell was a case of drinking poison to quench thirst. Both were top-tier wizards, intimately familiar with each other's strengths and weaknesses. At this moment, no words were needed; they both understood each other's thoughts.

This is a last-ditch effort; it's either win the duel or perish together. There is no third option.

"bring it on!"

The two stared at each other across the distance, their gazes clashing in mid-air. There was no emotion other than murderous intent, only resolute determination. The next second, they simultaneously raised their wands, even though Grindelwald's wand had already been shattered in the previous battle, leaving only a short, cracked wooden handle.

Even the tip of the staff was gone, yet he still gripped the handle tightly, as if holding onto his lifelong ambition and obsession.

"The final blow."

Grindelwald spoke first, his voice shedding its previous madness and provocation, becoming unusually calm—a calm born of exhaustion and a willingness to gamble everything. His hoarse voice echoed across the empty ruins, clearly reaching the ears of every Auror, causing the huddled crowd below to hold their breath instantly.

My heart was in my throat.

Who will win?

"Merlin, please don't let it be Grindelwald!"

"Dumbledore has to win!"

Everyone was praying frantically, but no one knew the answer.

"You've reached your limit. That's enough." Dumbledore nodded without speaking. He simply closed his eyes slowly, took a deep breath, and channeled all his remaining magic, even his last ounce of life force, into the Elder Wand in his hand.

All I saw was...

next moment.

The Elder Wand burst forth with a soft yet powerful golden light, its shaft slightly warm, as if responding to its master's resolute determination. The surrounding air thickened due to the highly concentrated magic, and the sea below surged with giant waves once more, as if in fear of this ultimate showdown.

"Alright!" Grindelwald said no more. He also took a deep breath, the veins on his neck bulging, his face turning red from the effort. He poured all the last of his magic power, his life's work of dark magic, and even his will to live and his remaining life force into the broken wand handle.

The originally dull handle suddenly emitted an unprecedented black light. The light grew brighter and brighter, becoming so black it was almost purple and so thick, as if it had gathered all the darkness in the world into this light. Wherever the light passed, the air was torn apart, space was slightly distorted, and even the light itself was swallowed up.

"Fiercefire - The End!"

Grindelwald roared the incantation with all his might, his voice hoarse and almost broken, filled with a desperate resolve. This was no ordinary Fiendfire he had ever unleashed before, not just a simple flame, nor a single magical attack, but a forbidden, ultimate strike that concentrated his entire being, all his obsession, and all his life essence!

Black light erupted wildly from his body, no longer in the form of flames, but rapidly condensing, twisting, and taking shape in mid-air!

It transformed into a gigantic black dragon, tens of meters long!

The black dragon was wreathed in dark purple flames, its scales were formed from pure black magic and were incredibly hard. Its eyes were burning black flames, and when it opened its huge mouth, it revealed countless sharp fangs made of flames. The dragon roared deafeningly!

The sound waves shattered the rocks below.

With an aura that seemed to devour the heavens and earth, it flapped its enormous black wings and pounced on Dumbledore, turning the sky black wherever it passed!

Even the sea breeze was frozen, as if it were about to completely devour Dumbledore and the entire Azkaban.

"snort!"

Dumbledore dared not be negligent in the slightest. As Grindelwald chanted the incantation, he also poured all his power into the Elder Wand. Golden light surged from his body, no longer a pillar of light, but quickly condensed into a huge golden magic circle with a diameter of tens of meters behind him.

The magic circle was covered with ancient, sacred runes, the patterns intricate and solemn. It rotated slowly, and with each rotation, countless shimmering golden runes flew out from the circle, circling around Dumbledore like loyal guards, protecting his tottering body.

This is the pinnacle of sacred magic he has dedicated his life to studying, the power of judgment that can restrain all dark magic, and his last trump card to protect the magical world.

"Holy Light - Final Chapter!"

Dumbledore spoke in a low, deep voice, not loud, yet carrying a power that pierced through everything. The enormous golden magic circle stopped spinning, and under his control, like a falling sun, it surged forward with a purifying pressure, heading head-on towards the charging black dragon.

Golden light and black light rapidly approached in mid-air, and all sounds in the world seemed to disappear, leaving only the sound of two extreme lights tearing through the air. The Aurors below covered their eyes tightly, but they could still feel the earth-shattering magical pressure, and their whole bodies trembled.

They didn't even dare to breathe.

The next instant, the black dragon and the golden magic circle collided violently in mid-air!

At that moment, the world completely lost its color!

A blinding golden-black light instantly engulfed the entire sky. The light was so bright that it was impossible to look directly at it. Even with their eyes tightly closed, the light could still penetrate their eyelids and burn their eyes. The Aurors all lowered their heads, unable to bear looking any longer. A deafening roar exploded.

It was more terrifying than all the previous collisions combined. The sound waves swept in all directions, collapsing all the remaining stone walls and pillars of Azkaban. Huge waves tens of meters high rose on the sea, and the entire island trembled violently, as if the end of the world had arrived!

The very foundation of the magical world was shaken by this attack.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment. No one knew how much time had passed—perhaps a fleeting instant, perhaps a long century. The blinding light finally began to dissipate, and the roar gradually subsided, leaving only the lingering smells of gunpowder, blood, and the pungent aura of residual magic in the air.

When the Aurors cautiously opened their eyes and looked up at the sky, they all witnessed a scene they would never forget, their minds going completely blank for a moment.

Completely frozen in place, I even forgot to breathe.

"No!"

Everyone gasped in surprise.