Hektor Ramirez clearly believed in Durmstrang's practical combat philosophy of striking directly at an opponent's vital points.
He did not try to outmanoeuvre or outwit his opponent like the previous champion. Instead, he quickly locked onto his target: the dragon's nest suspended among the branches of a tall tree.
He raised his wand and, without hesitation, cast a spell.
"Diffindo!"
Several sharp cutting beams shot towards the thick vines and roots securing the dragon's nest to the branches.
With a series of harsh snapping sounds, the entire nest suddenly tipped over.
The spotted dragon eggs and the dazzling golden egg rolled out one after another, dropping heavily onto the soft ground below.
This was undoubtedly a direct provocation to the dragon.
Sswoosh-ga!
A sharp, furious shriek instantly tore through the stifling air of the rainforest.
The copper-and-black streamlined figure shot out from behind the tree roots where it had been hiding like a phantom.
The Peruvian Vipertooth's speed was astonishing. Almost the moment Hektor realised the attack was coming, it had already reached the spot where he had been standing.
Hektor reacted extremely quickly, rolling to the side and taking cover behind a massive banyan tree.
Bang!
The Vipertooth's sharp claws raked viciously across the trunk, leaving several deep gouges as wood chips flew everywhere.
"Impedimenta!"
Hektor darted out from behind the tree and pointed his wand at the pursuing dragon, attempting to slow it down.
The invisible force did cause the Vipertooth's movements to falter slightly, but only slightly.
"Reducto!"
He immediately followed with another spell, striking the Vipertooth accurately in the shoulder.
A patch of the Peruvian Vipertooth's copper-coloured scales burst apart, exposing the flesh beneath, and the dragon let out a roar of pain.
"A beautiful counterattack! Champion Ramirez is demonstrating Durmstrang's solid duelling foundations!" Ludo Bagman commented.
However, the Peruvian Vipertooth's ferocity had now been fully unleashed.
It used the complex rainforest terrain like the most cunning of hunters, sometimes taking cover behind thick trees and at other times launching surprise attacks from unexpected angles.
It no longer charged straight at him. Instead, it began using its deadliest weapon: its venomous fangs.
It swiftly circled around to Hektor's side, its long neck darting forward as its fangs, like two poisoned daggers, struck directly at him.
Hektor hurriedly leapt backwards to dodge. Although he avoided being bitten directly, a splash of cloudy venom from the fangs landed on the sleeve of his raised left arm.
Sizzle...
A wisp of smoke rose as several small holes were rapidly corroded through the fabric.
The moment the venom touched his skin, an agonising burning pain followed, immediately succeeded by a chilling numbness that spread rapidly outwards.
Hektor grunted, his face instantly turning somewhat pale.
He felt his left arm grow heavy and unresponsive, and his movements became noticeably slower.
"Not good! Champion Ramirez has been exposed to the venom! The Peruvian Vipertooth's venom has a powerful paralysing effect! This is going to be a serious problem for him!" Ludo Bagman's voice was tense.
The situation rapidly deteriorated.
With his movements restricted, Hektor was immediately placed at a severe disadvantage against the incredibly fast and cunning Peruvian Vipertooth.
He could only rely more heavily on the surrounding trees for cover, desperately dodging its continuous lunges and venomous bites, while both the frequency and accuracy of his counterattacks dropped sharply.
The numbness spreading from his left arm was like a persistent affliction, constantly draining his strength and slowing his reactions.
Hektor gritted his teeth, immediately pointed his wand at himself, and decisively cast a healing spell. A faint white light sank into his injured arm.
However, the Peruvian Vipertooth's venom was clearly no ordinary toxin. Conventional healing magic could only slightly ease the burning pain and had little effect on the paralysis that had already spread deep into his muscles and nerves. His left arm remained unbearably heavy.
"Champion Ramirez is attempting to heal himself, but the effect seems minimal! He'll have to continue fighting under these disadvantageous conditions!" Ludo Bagman's voice betrayed his concern.
A ruthless glint flashed across Hektor's face. Durmstrang's training would not allow him to give up so easily.
Dragging his half-numb arm, he continued using the thick trees as cover while firing spells with his right hand, trying to block or repel the Vipertooth's fierce attacks.
"Reducto!"
"Bombarda!"
Spell-light flashed through the rainforest. Most of the attacks were nimbly dodged by the Vipertooth, while the few that struck only drove it into an even greater frenzy.
Hektor fought while retreating, or rather, he was deliberately drawing the battle towards the place where the dragon's nest had fallen. The golden egg lay quietly among the decaying leaves.
The Vipertooth clearly sensed his intentions. Its attacks grew even more ferocious, its claws tearing and its long tail sweeping constantly as it forced Hektor away from its eggs.
Finally, a brief opening appeared.
Determination flashed in Hektor's eyes. He suddenly darted out from behind a tree, ignoring the dragon's attacks, and rushed with all his strength towards the golden egg only a few steps away.
The moment he exposed himself, an almost human-like cunning flashed through the Peruvian Vipertooth's eyes.
Instead of lunging forward to bite him, it suddenly opened its jaws and unleashed a stream of scorching orange-red flames, cutting off Hektor's path.
"Danger!"
Even Ludo Bagman could not help shouting, while a collective gasp rose from the stands.
Hektor reacted extremely quickly, throwing himself into an awkward sideways roll. The flames grazed his back, and the scorching heat made him gasp for breath.
But just as he pushed himself up from the ground, before he could even regain his balance, the Peruvian Vipertooth's second attack immediately followed.
A stream of cloudy, acrid-smelling venom shot from the Vipertooth's jaws like a high-pressure jet, aimed directly at his face.
It was a relentless combination attack.
"Protego!"
At the critical moment, Hektor swung his wand with his still-responsive right hand, conjuring an invisible barrier in front of himself.
The venom struck the barrier with a sizzling corrosive sound, sending tiny cloudy droplets splashing in every direction.
Having blocked the deadly venom with the Shield Charm, Hektor did not dare hesitate. He pushed off again and shot towards the golden egg, now almost within arm's reach.
He could already make out the patterns on its surface.
However, the Peruvian Vipertooth seemed to have anticipated everything.
Its long, powerful tail, like a steel whip that had been waiting in reserve, had already swept silently into position at the side.
Just as Hektor's fingers were about to touch the golden egg...
Thump!
A dull, heavy impact echoed through the arena.
The dragon's tail struck Hektor squarely across the chest and abdomen.
The tremendous force lifted him straight off the ground, sending him flying backwards like a broken doll before he slammed heavily into the trunk of a large tree.
A sickening thud rang out across the arena. Hektor collapsed to the ground, his wand flying from his hand.
He did not even manage to cry out properly.
The cunning Vipertooth did not pause for a second. Its massive body followed like a phantom as it opened its jaws, exposing rows of pale venomous fangs, and lunged viciously at the fallen Hektor Ramirez.
A dazzling white light instantly erupted around Hektor, engulfing both him and the dragon's head.
When the light faded, only the Peruvian Vipertooth remained in the arena, letting out a triumphant hiss beside the untouched golden egg.
Hektor Ramirez had vanished.
"Oh! No!"
Ludo Bagman's voice was filled with shock and regret. "Champion Ramirez has been hit! The protective magic has activated! He has been forced to withdraw from the task!"
A wave of gasps swept through the audience, especially among the Durmstrang students, whose faces were filled with disbelief and disappointment.
Some of the younger students even covered their mouths in horror.
"Please, everyone, don't worry too much!"
Ludo Bagman quickly added. "The suspended arena's protective mechanism has activated. Champion Ramirez is not in mortal danger. Although he has been badly injured, he will immediately be taken to the hospital wing, where Madam Pomfrey and the medical staff will provide prompt treatment! Let us wish him a speedy recovery! At the same time, this serves as a powerful reminder that the dangers of this tournament are very real!"
Despite Ludo Bagman's reassurances, Hektor Ramirez's failure undoubtedly served as a harsh warning to the spectators and the champions still waiting to compete.
When facing such terrifying magical creatures, courage and powerful offensive magic alone were far from enough.
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