"It's not really a trick. You didn't seriously think that Salazar Slytherin would only settle for a single ordinary Basilisk as his beast. No, the master of snakes would only choose the King of Serpents as his champion. You see, when the founders discovered the repository of ancient magic, they didn't know that they stumbled on the tomb of one of the greatest sorcerers of Ancient Greece, Herpo. The man had found something slumbering in ruins that he studied for decades trying to replicate. The result of his experiments was the creation of Basilisk, which he deemed to be a pale imitation of the real thing. Salazar was able to bind this great beast to his bloodline using a mastery of the Dark arts that even I could barely understand. It is one of the seven Titans of the magical world, true remnants of the age of gods, the world serpent, Jörmungandr!"
With that proclamation, the chamber started to shift, the walls started moving as if responding to the ancient power invoked by the name. The air grew heavy with otherworldly energy, and an ominous hiss seemed to echo from the very stones themselves. Harry's eyes widened as he gazed upon the transformation taking place around him, a mixture of awe and trepidation filling his heart.
Riddle's voice, now carrying an unsettling blend of excitement and reverence, continued, "Jörmungandr, the World Serpent, the creature that encircles the world in Norse myth, its enormity beyond mortal comprehension. The true monster of Slytherin, a being of ancient magic and primordial power, and it is mine."
As the chamber continued to shift and rearrange itself, a colossal form began to emerge from the very depths of the floor, scales as dark as obsidian glinting with an eerie iridescence. Slowly, the massive serpentine body of Jörmungandr emerged, coiling and undulating in the confined space, its eyes gleaming with an intelligence that belied its monstrous appearance.
Harry wouldn't admit it, but the sight was as impressive as it was disturbing. He never expected anything like it. This was his challenge, his problem, the final problem, "He's the Chamber of Secrets itself, isn't he?"
"Yes. Do you think that I would have let you in this place if there was a single chance that you could defeat me? You're not fighting me. You're fighting a force of nature. So, now, in the face of overwhelming force, tell me, Potter, how do you plan on fighting that?"
The chamber continued its metamorphosis, the ancient magic intertwining with the present moment. The confrontation was no longer about a petty rivalry between students; it had transcended into a clash of legacies, a battle that stretched across time and dimensions. It was hard for Harry to understand what he was seeing with his eyes, but he didn't have to use his eyes to truly see, did he?
He closed his eyes for a second and found the answer. It was risky, but it was better than many alternatives. He nodded to himself and looked Riddle straight in the eye, "I have to say it's an interesting trap, but you made a mistake…"
The boy stiffened and asked, "What?"
"This is a good trap, putting me in an environment completely under your control from the beginning. But you made a mistake, a huge mistake even. It's sad that you don't see it."
"What mistake, Potter?" the older boy insisted.
"Didn't one ever tell you that there's one thing you don't put in a trap? If you're smart, if you value your continuing existence, if you have any plans on seeing a tomorrow, there's one thing you never ever put in a trap."
"And what would that be, Potter?"
Harry put his hand inside his Fedora discreetly and grabbed a familiar weapon. The Colt. He closed his eyes and used his Arcane Hearing to find the source of the room, the soul of the mythical world serpent, "Me!"
He gave Riddle a smug look, took out the Colt, pointed it towards the source of the World Serpent, and fired.
.....
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