While they were talking, the three Korean girls finally lost their nerve. They looked at the motionless hostages and rapid-fire mumbled words in their language.
Then, they actually held hands and rushed towards the Fiendfyre.
"Are those three out of their minds?" Howard was dumbfounded, and the surrounding hostages were also shocked by the actions of the three Korean girls.
The girls quickly ran to the Fiendfyre, and although they felt a little scared by the endless magic emanating from the Fiendfyre Curse, they continued.
"Stop, don't let the flames get near you!" Gary remembered something and quickly shouted to the three of them, using the simplest language possible.
The Korean girls looked back at them, then rushed into the Fiendfyre without hesitation.
"No!" Howard also reacted, extending his hand like Er Kang.
Many hostages watched with wide eyes as the three girls leaped into the blue flames.
The moment the flames touched their bodies, they became even more chaotic, scorching the young girls' bodies, devouring all their flesh and blood, leaving only the magic within them to be slowly digested by the flames' flickering tongues.
"It's over, it's all completely over," Howard sat on the ground. "Are Koreans crazy?" he muttered.
Gary and Lily's faces turned pale; they knew very well what changes would occur after the Fiendfyre devoured magic.
Kona's condition improved slightly; she broke free from Howard's arm and sat on the ground.
"Now we're all going to die," Kona's tone was somewhat despondent, and Howard's hand hovered in mid-air behind Kona's head, hesitant to drop.
"Now what will you use to stop me, Moody?" Lord Voldemort's voice reached the Aurors through the Fiendfyre Curse.
"Quickly think of a way, the Fiendfyre has already devoured others' magic and will soon boil again. The flames will converge towards the center, and everyone inside will die!" Mr. Shafiq waved his wand, casting a Stupefy that passed through the Fiendfyre Curse, only to be blocked by Lucius.
Moody looked at the raging Fiendfyre, pondered for two seconds, then turned to ask a somewhat portly blond man beside him, "Ted, what do you think?"
"Me... what can I think?" Ted's voice was mellow. "The only thing that can stop Fiendfyre is that one magic."
"No," Moody disagreed. "If we use that magic, all our magic will be drained, and we'll be at their mercy."
"...The order from above is to rescue the American Magical Congress Chief," Mr. Shafiq said with a serious expression. "Our Aurors plus the lives of the other hostages must be sacrificed to save her life."
"Who told you that?" Moody's eyes became strange. "I've never heard of this order."
"These are Ms. Jenkins's instructions, Alastor," Mr. Shafiq's attitude was very firm.
"Of course, I can execute this order," Moody's magical eye spun erratically, "if you agree to sacrifice your son as well."
"What?" Mr. Shafiq was first confused, then surprised. "Gary is in there too?"
His magic surged forth, and his handsome face gained a few traces of a man-eating ferocity.
"Are you still going to do this?" Moody's normal eye looked straight ahead, while his blue magical eye stared at Mr. Shafiq beside him.
"His letter to me didn't say they were in first class." Gary had written him a letter before coming to France, but Mr. Shafiq was busy tracking down criminals at the time and had prohibited external communication, so he didn't reply to Gary.
Upon hearing that his son was also among the hostages, Mr. Shafiq fell silent, his mouth continuously curved downwards, and his eyes conveyed a message of worry.
Moody's magical eye turned to look at Mr. Shafiq, then turned back, and the words that had almost slipped out of his mouth circled back and were swallowed.
While the Aurors were talking, the situation had already taken a turn for the worse.
After devouring others' magic, the Fiendfyre turned from gentle to ferocious. The flames rose high, approaching the hostages with scorching heat.
"I swear these Koreans are useless, more trouble than they're worth," Howard grumbled, pulling Kona backward with his right hand.
Lily and Gary held Alfrina and retreated. Hostages and Death Eaters were mixed together, so to avoid accidental injury, the Aurors stopped their attack.
"Moody, after tonight, the magical world will be a bloodbath. Are you really not considering joining us?" Lord Voldemort still wanted to recruit this Auror who hated evil like poison. "You have no chance of winning. Come to my side, and Lord Voldemort guarantees you the position closest to him."
The Fiendfyre's encirclement had already shrunk to the hostages' proximity. Even though they were pressed back-to-back, they could still feel the intense heat from the flames.
Lord Voldemort used his wand to push an old man out. The old man fell into the flames and only had time to let out a scream before turning to ashes. The Fiendfyre, re-energized, became even more reckless, wildly spewing flames.
"Those of you who previously agreed to do something for me can step forward. If you haven't lied, the Fiendfyre will not harm you." Lord Voldemort laughed, reaching up to smooth his black hair.
Mr. Bonaparte thought of his recently married wife, gritted his teeth, and took a step forward.
The Fiendfyre scorched his body but did not devour him. Mr. Bonaparte breathed a sigh of relief.
Noang followed him and also took the crucial step. The Fiendfyre likewise did not harm him. The two returned to Lord Voldemort's side after passing through the Fiendfyre.
"Hurry, there's no time left!" Mr. Shafiq urged.
"No matter what, I will not agree to use that spell," Moody said. "Dumbledore will be here soon; let's wait a little longer."
"If we wait any longer, my son will die!" Mr. Shafiq stomped his foot in anger.
"Why aren't you acting like you're trying to usurp power now?" Moody said coldly.
Mr. Shafiq watched his son, huddled at the outer edge of the crowd, protecting two girls, and grew even more anxious.
"Next, Gary, it's your turn." Lord Voldemort made a gesture of invitation.
"Didn't you promise to let us go?" Howard glanced at the raging flames, growing anxious.
"Lord Voldemort promised to spare the four of you, not including himself." Lord Voldemort's snake-like eyes narrowed dangerously. "Gary, show your courage. As long as you truly wish to work for me, there will be no danger."
"Help me take care of her." Gary handed Alfrina in his arms to Lily.
"Be careful," Lily said uneasily.
Gary took two deep breaths to calm himself, gripping his dragonhide wand tightly—it was the only item he could rely on. He lifted his foot and advanced towards the raging Fiendfyre.
His wrist was suddenly grabbed. He turned his head and eyes to the side; it was Alfrina.
Her gaze was still somewhat dazed, but from the faint starlight emanating from her eyes, Gary knew she was conscious.
"Be careful," her cold hand tightened, leaving a distinct red mark on Gary's wrist.
"I know," Gary reassured her with a feigned confident tone.
Turning his head, he took his step, and the flames devoured him.