am-books Chapter 250: This Is Not A Game
Chapter 250: This Is Not A Game
Chapter 250: This Is Not A Game
Cassandra stood atop the enormous Rune-Engraved Serpent, its jagged scales jutting out like sharp rubble.
The damp forest wind whipped through her golden curls, making her look like a Valkyrie!
"Vole's daughter?"
Rodolphus was taken aback by Cassandra's sudden appearance, along with that uniquely massive Rune-Engraved Serpent. He rolled across the ground, dodging Cassandra's barrage of spells.
With a quick Protego Charm, he deflected her attack back toward the serpent, only for the spell to land harmlessly on one of its scales, larger than a human hand.
Though Rodolphus didn't believe Cassandra had killed Rabastan, her presence only intensified his fury. Rabastan had initially separated from him to deal with Cassandra.
Now, here she was, unharmed, while his brother's fate was uncertain—a comparison that filled him with even more rage!
Moreover, he never had the courage to confront Cyrus directly to avenge his brother. From the start, he'd targeted Cassandra and Fischer. Now that they were together, his bloodlust spiked!
"Hey, Vole? What are you doing here?" Fischer glanced at the massive serpent, its three heads flicking out crimson tongues as its terrifying eyes swept over everyone, as if viewing them all as prey.
This was the largest Rune-Engraved Serpent Fischer had ever seen, and in its presence, he felt as small as a rabbit, just waiting to be swallowed.
Due to his fear, he didn't dare get too close to Cassandra, maintaining a safe distance while he and Cassandra warily watched Rodolphus.
The pain from the wound on his back was growing more intense.
"Just happened to run into you," Cassandra said casually.
She wasn't particularly close with Fischer and had no intention of sharing information about the Death Eaters. Fischer might be promising, but he wasn't yet a follower of Cyrus!
"Alright, let's take him down together!" Cassandra readied herself for battle.
The others didn't realize that when she said "take him down," she truly meant to kill Rodolphus!
Ever since the Goblet of Fire had chosen the champions, Cassandra hadn't been focused on the tournament itself.
She knew she wouldn't be the star of this competition, nor did she plan to use the tournament to seek the spotlight.
Helping Professor Cyrus in any small way was the only thing that mattered to her.
Although she wasn't clear on the Death Eaters' plans, eliminating them couldn't be wrong.
She swiftly jumped off the back of the Runespoor and pointed her wand, sending the massive creature barreling toward Rodolphus like a train car.
A Runespoor around two meters in length was dangerous enough to be rated as a 4X; this one, though not as powerful as a dragon, still held formidable strength.
The serpent dove toward Rodolphus as if he were prey, its right head, with its venomous fangs, striking out like lightning!
Rodolphus didn't hesitate to roll to the ground, dodging the attack, then aimed a quick Conjunctivitis Curse at the left head!
Despite its massive size, the Runespoor didn't have the same magical resistance as a dragon, and its eyes were a vulnerable spot. It had already suffered at Cedric's hands before meeting Cassandra; if Rodolphus's curse hit, it might actually lose an eye.
The central head, which relished in its own glory, immediately shut its eyes and turned to shield the left head from the curse. Then, it swung its powerful tail like a whip toward Rodolphus!
Crack!
It sounded as if the air itself had been split open!
Watching the monstrous creature rampage through the forest, Fischer finally dared to approach Cassandra, standing back as he watched the giant snake wreak havoc. Its tail cut through thick fir trees, which didn't fall immediately but leaned, held up by the surrounding branches.
"Where on earth did you find such a monster?!" he asked in astonishment.
"Just happened to come across it." Cassandra didn't elaborate.
She really had stumbled upon the Runespoor by chance, but taming it had required a bit of skill. Even for her, handling such a powerful magical creature wasn't easy, though Cyrus always seemed to have some special ways with serpents.
The ancient magical mark Cyrus had left on her arm wasn't just for decoration; it held Cyrus's power, and conveniently, he was both a Parselmouth and wielded a snakewood wand.
The magic of Parseltongue seemed to be even more potent under the enhancement of ancient spells, and it was through this means that Cassandra had commanded the unique Runespoor.
"Forget about it; let's join the fight!" Cassandra elegantly raised her wand and cast a spell toward Rodolphus, who was being chased by this big Rune-Engraved Serpent.
Rodolphus wasn't entirely helpless, though. While large creatures had the advantage of power, being small also had its perks. To the serpent, Rodolphus was as slippery as an eel, nearly impossible to capture.
But Cassandra pushed him aside without hesitation.
"I'm not asking you to get involved. Just stand back and watch."
"Are you insane? This is just a tournament! You'll get us disqualified!"
"Don't you understand, Fischer?" Cassandra's green eyes fixed on him, her gaze carrying a blend of pity and scorn, as if she were addressing a naive, immature child.
"What?"
"You think the fall of Nurmengard was an accident? Haven't you heard of what's been happening in the British magical world these past years?" Cassandra sneered. "You really need to grow up, Fischer. This was never just a tournament. It's a clash of powers!"
In Fischer's stunned silence, Cassandra continued calmly:
"You think the lake is calm on the surface, but beneath it, the currents have been raging all along."
In that moment, a whirlwind of thoughts flashed through Fischer's mind.
Countless things he'd never considered suddenly lit up like sparks of insight!
He realized that the current peace was merely the calm before the storm, and it might take just one flash of lightning to shatter the illusion.
The outcome of the Triwizard Tournament would be that very lightning bolt.
He stepped aside, leaving nothing between Cassandra and Rodolphus.
.....
On the Quidditch field.
Over a thousand spectators watched tensely—Cassandra, who had already killed once, raised her wand again toward the Beauxbatons champion, who knelt on the ground with only one arm remaining, seemingly unable to resist any longer.
Most people had initially felt disdainful of Rodolphus's cowardly ambush on Fischer and hadn't thought much of him, but now, almost everyone felt a wave of pity for him.
"She shouldn't be so brazen," Hermione said, frowning.
Knowing that their opponent was a Death Eater, Hermione didn't exactly object to Cassandra killing him, but doing so in front of more than a thousand spectators wouldn't be wise for Cassandra's reputation.
"Maybe she doesn't care. I mean, she's pretty cool!" Ron said admiringly.
In the Weasley family, killing a Death Eater would be an honor worthy of being inscribed in their family records!
Meanwhile, over at the judges' stand, the professors were in disarray.
Professor McGonagall's face was pale with worry. "We must stop her at once, or else..."
"The tournament continues!" Barty Crouch Jr. interrupted.
"What?" McGonagall looked both shocked and outraged. "Do you know what you're saying, Madame Maxime?"
She stormed over to Barty, her eyes filled with disbelief as she demanded, "That's your student's life on the line!"
"Historically, the Triwizard Tournament has always been a dangerous event. They were prepared for sacrifices before they even arrived at Hogwarts," Barty replied with a stony expression, looking at McGonagall as if the Lestrange brothers' lives meant nothing to him.
"Professor McGonagall, if the Triwizard Tournament is to be revived, then casualties shouldn't be a reason to stop it. This isn't just a game—or do you think this is child's play?"
"Fine! I'm sure they'd be thrilled to have a headmaster like you!"
Irritated by Barty's coldness, McGonagall turned and stormed back to her seat, as though determined never to speak another word on behalf of Beauxbatons' champions.
Meanwhile, deep in the Forbidden Forest, Rodolphus hadn't yet given up hope of survival.
As long as a wizard still holds the wand in his hand, he cannot be considered to have lost.
Just like now, Rodolphus madly ignited the flames from hell!
The fierce fire began to burn!
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