"Indeed, it's different. You're weaker than before," Elijah sneered.
He mercilessly ripped open Voldemort's wounds, which made Voldemort feel a bloody humiliation.
"No, I mean, we can cooperate!" Voldemort's snake eyes gleamed. "I have to admit, neither of us alone would be Dumbledore's match. But what if the two of us unite? There will never be anyone closer than us in this world. We are originally the same person!
Killing Dumbledore would be no problem at all. Not to mention that we have now found Ancient Magic—"
The more Voldemort spoke, the more excited he became. It was as if conquering Hogwarts and ruling all of Britain, Europe, and even the entire world would be a cinch.
But Elijah interrupted his impassioned fantasy.
"We? Sorry, you've got it wrong. It's me. And only me!" Elijah said coldly.
The blue flames separating the two of them seemed to draw a clear boundary between them.
Upon hearing this, Voldemort's expression also grew cold, and murderous intent flowed in his eyes like a blood-red river.
He stared at Elijah with those vertical pupils for several seconds before speaking in a deep voice:
"You dare to try and replace me?"
Elijah could tell that as soon as he showed even a slight hint of such an intention, Voldemort would ruthlessly strike to kill.
But now he was not afraid.
"Replace you? I have no interest in replacing a loser," Elijah said lightly. "However, I must remind you that many people have heard about you hiding in the dark jungles of Albania after being defeated by that boy. Dumbledore happens to know about it."
"No need for your reminder. This was originally news I deliberately released. I thought I could wait for some loyal servants to come and help me resurrect, but, humph…"
Voldemort did not continue to dwell on the topic of whether the Death Eaters were loyal, and continued: "Dumbledore did come to Albania to look for me a few times. He wanted to kill me completely, but he couldn't succeed! He simply had no way to deal with me! As long as the Horcruxes are not destroyed, then I am immortal!
But you are different. You were resurrected from a Horcrux, and it can even be said that you might be the Horcrux itself. You can be destroyed," Voldemort tempted. "Come on, cross the flames and return to me, and you will no longer be threatened by death."
"Is that so? Then have you ever thought, you stayed in that smelly gutter for ten years and didn't wait for a single servant. So why did a Wizard who was about to become the Defense Against the Dark Arts Class Professor coincidentally go to Albania the year that boy was about to go to Hogwarts?
Have you ever considered who spread the news to your ears that the Philosopher's Stone could resurrect you?
Have you ever considered why the news of my escape from Azkaban could travel such a long distance to Albania? Who wanted you to know this news?
And who sent this Dark Wizard before you to become your vessel?"
The more Elijah spoke, the more unsightly Voldemort's face became. He was now beginning to realize a terrifying truth.
And Elijah helped him speak the truth he dared not face directly.
"It's Dumbledore!"
"You're not too stupid. I thought making so many Horcruxes had already muddled your brain," Elijah scoffed. "He wants to verify if the prophecy between the Dark Lord and that child is true. He wants to see if Lily Potter's magic is still effective. Now, he wants to see what kind of reaction two Voldemorts will have when they meet. That is why you can stand before me. Understand?"
Elijah's words made Voldemort feel suffocated.
Voldemort already lived in Dumbledore's shadow. He was the only person he feared. Now someone—this person who was very likely himself—was telling him that everything he had was controlled by Dumbledore. Dumbledore let him live, so he lived. Dumbledore made him shrink in Albania, so he could only survive by relying on filthy beasts.
Of course, he wasn't so easily scared by Dumbledore. Horcruxes were his confidence. As long as Dumbledore couldn't destroy all of his Horcruxes, then he wouldn't die. As long as he didn't die, he would always outlive that old man.
What's more, with Elijah now, the two of them could completely join forces. If one of him couldn't defeat Dumbledore, surely two of them could?
"I think he must believe we are narrow-minded, unable to tolerate each other, and he hopes to see us fight among ourselves," Voldemort laughed. "But he is wrong. I would never lay a hand on my own Horcrux."
However, Elijah did not laugh.
He suddenly realized a very serious problem. After he transmigrated, he had indeed fused with that small, incomplete piece of Voldemort's soul. Perhaps he was indeed Voldemort's human Horcrux, just like Harry. After Voldemort was defeated by the magic of love, his connection with the previous Horcruxes was severed, so Elijah had never considered this issue before.
But now he probably had to face it squarely. He didn't want an extremist like Voldemort to live, nor did he want to trade his own death for Voldemort's death.
"If that's what he wants, then we cannot let him have his way!" Voldemort said seriously. "And once we join forces, Dumbledore will be no threat."
Elijah emerged from his worries. There was no use in thinking too much now. The most urgent task was to resolve the current trouble.
As for Voldemort's talk of joining forces, he held no hope for it. If the two of them could join forces, couldn't Dumbledore find help too? There was still a Wizard who had been living like a widow for half a century in Nurmengard!
Although Grindelwald was also a dangerous individual, he was completely different from a madman like Voldemort. If Dumbledore truly felt the situation had reached an irreversible point, Elijah wasn't sure if he would seek Grindelwald's help. At that time, even if he and Voldemort joined forces, they would have no advantage.
Grindelwald himself was a Wizard no less powerful than Dumbledore. Several people could almost be said to be on the same level, and even if there was a gap, it wouldn't be very large. Moreover, Dumbledore also had the Elder Wand and the Order of the Phoenix, who were willing to sacrifice their lives for a noble cause. Grindelwald had the loyal Wizarding Party.
These were incomparable to those useless Death Eaters.
In short, Elijah was not optimistic about joining forces with Voldemort. What's more, he and Voldemort were not on the same path anyway. He didn't care about Voldemort's life or death, and there was absolutely no need to confront Dumbledore. What good would it do him to confront the greatest Wizard of the century?
Elijah only wanted to obtain Ancient Magic, become stronger, and live a lazy life, while Dumbledore would take care of the problems of the Wizarding World.
"Come on, come over. We are originally the same person, closer to each other than brothers," Voldemort was still beckoning to him. "We are born to wield power. We can become the Dark Lord who brings fear!"
"I have no interest in bringing fear to others. What's more—" Elijah shook his head, looking at Voldemort with disdain.
"Only losers are called the Dark Lord!"