"What a spectacular performance!"
Ludo Bagman's voice once again echoed throughout the arena, trying to calm the surging cheers. "Let us once again applaud Castelobruxo champion Diego Rodrigues! He has shown us extraordinary courage, skilful control of magic, and a calm mind at a critical moment!"
The applause swelled warmly once more.
As it gradually died down, Bagman puffed out his chest and gestured towards the judges' table.
"Now, esteemed judges, please score Champion Rodrigues's excellent performance! Ten points is the maximum!"
The Headmasters and Ministry of Magic representatives at the judges' table exchanged glances before raising their glowing scorecards.
Professor Dumbledore, wearing a gentle, approving smile, raised his card: 8 points.
Madame Maxime nodded slightly and also awarded 8 points.
The Thunderbird likewise gave 8 points.
Most of the other judges, including the representatives from Uagadou and Kunlun, awarded scores between 7 and 8 points, which could be considered fair.
However, when it was Igor Karkaroff's turn, his face was etched with cold indifference as he slowly raised his scorecard.
4 points.
A wave of boos and murmurs immediately erupted from the audience.
The Castelobruxo students even rose angrily from their seats.
Karkaroff seemed not to hear the commotion. His magically amplified voice rang out in his usual harsh tone.
"His tactics were too limited and relied excessively on plant magic, while lacking direct magical combat ability. Furthermore, he was clearly injured during the task, which shows that his response was far from perfect and contained obvious mistakes."
The Castelobruxo Headmaster's expression immediately darkened.
He abruptly turned towards Karkaroff, barely suppressing the anger in his voice. "Karkaroff! Your judgment is unfair! My student successfully obtained the golden egg, and he did so by distracting and outwitting a Norwegian Ridgeback! His strategy was clear and effective, and injuries are unavoidable in such intense combat! Your score is an insult to his effort and courage!"
Karkaroff sneered, lifting his chin even higher, his tone carrying its usual sarcasm.
"I am merely judging based on what I observed, Headmaster Oliveira. Perhaps where you come from, clever tricks and injuries are enough to earn high marks? Heh. But not here. Durmstrang values pure and powerful magic."
"Clever tricks? That was wisdom!"
Headmaster Oliveira's beard trembled slightly with anger. "Are you saying my student had to charge in like a barbarian and wrestle with a dragon before you would consider his performance 'pure'? Your standards are absurd!"
"Gentlemen! Gentlemen!"
Seeing the situation escalating, Ludo Bagman hurriedly stepped in, a strained smile on his face. "Every judge has their own perspective, and that is part of the competition! Let us respect the decisions of all the judges! Champion Rodrigues's score is still quite respectable!"
Professor Dumbledore also spoke at the right moment, his voice calm but carrying undeniable authority.
"Igor, Alfonso, calm yourselves. The competition must continue. Let us turn our attention to the next champion."
With Dumbledore's intervention and Bagman's urging, the argument between the two Headmasters finally subsided.
Headmaster Oliveira let out a heavy snort and turned away, his expression still grim.
Karkaroff, meanwhile, pursed his lips, wearing an expression that seemed to say he would not stoop to arguing further.
In the end, Diego Rodrigues's score for the first task was calculated and displayed. Although Karkaroff's low score had dragged it down somewhat, the relatively fair marks from the other judges still left him with a respectable result.
Holding the golden egg, he left the arena amid the enthusiastic cheers of the Castelobruxo students, heading off for treatment and rest.
"All right, a very good result! Thank you, Champion Rodrigues, for giving us such an excellent start!"
Ludo Bagman's voice was once again brimming with energy. "Now, let's keep things moving! Please welcome our second champion! From Durmstrang, Hektor Ramirez!"
A burst of rhythmic applause and cheers erupted from the Durmstrang section as a tall, broad-shouldered seventh-year student emerged from the small dark room.
Hektor Ramirez had short dark hair, a resolute face, and sharp eyes. His steps were steady and powerful, and he carried the tough, disciplined air characteristic of Durmstrang.
He walked to the centre of the arena and placed his hand on the reappeared Duelling Stone Tablet.
The stone tablet sank into the ground once more, and the arena changed dramatically.
The cold tundra that had recreated the Norwegian coast vanished, replaced by a hot, humid tropical rainforest dense with vegetation.
Towering trees wrapped in vines rose from the ground, their thick canopies almost completely blocking out the sky. Only a few rays of sunlight managed to filter through, casting patches of mottled light across the ground covered in rotting leaves and ferns.
The air was heavy with the earthy smell of damp soil, mixed with decaying vegetation and a faint but pungent odour.
Deep within the rainforest, in a relatively open hollow, lay Hektor's opponent: a Peruvian Vipertooth.
Unlike the Norwegian Ridgeback, with its heavy black scales and fortress-like build, the Peruvian Vipertooth was relatively slender and streamlined, making it far better suited to moving through dense forests.
Its wings were comparatively small, while its tail was long and flexible. Its smooth bronze-coloured scales were marked with vivid black stripes, glistening faintly in the dim light.
Its head was narrow and pointed, but its most striking feature was its fangs. They gleamed with a chilling pale light and protruded even when its mouth was closed.
Powerful paralysing venom continually dripped from those sharp fangs. Wherever it landed on the surrounding plants, it produced a sizzling sound, causing them to wither almost instantly.
"Wow! It's a Peruvian Vipertooth!"
Ludo Bagman launched into his commentary at once. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is a very special dragon! Unlike other dragons that rely primarily on fire, the Peruvian Vipertooth is known for its deadly fangs and extraordinary speed! Its venom can quickly paralyse large creatures, and it usually nests in dense jungles, using the complicated terrain to launch ambushes! Champion Ramirez will need to be especially wary of surprise attacks and venom!"
As if confirming Bagman's words, the Peruvian Vipertooth let out a snake-like hiss, its bronze slit pupils flickering in and out of the shadows.
Its long tail swept restlessly from side to side, snapping the surrounding ferns at their roots.
Unlike the Ridgeback, the Peruvian Vipertooth did not remain fixed in the centre of its nest. Instead, it stayed half-hidden behind thick tree roots and tangled vines, its body lowered like an experienced hunter waiting to strike.
Hektor Ramirez stood at the edge of the rainforest, gripping his wand tightly as his eyes vigilantly scanned the complicated surroundings.
He was unfamiliar with the characteristics of this dragon, so he did not rush in recklessly.
"So, what strategy will Durmstrang's Hektor Ramirez use against the Peruvian Vipertooth, a dragon famed for its speed and deadly venom? Let us wait and see!"
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