There was no mistaking it; the power controlling the earth itself to shatter with such force was ancient magic! What were once mere stones, easily crushed, were now weapons capable of inflicting harm!
The Lanlock Dragon dared not meet this assault head-on. It gathered its black and red energy, blasting the boulders careening toward it from above. The massive explosion sent debris flying in all directions, but then came another volley of boulders, each as large as the first!
Two blocked its right flank, and as it instinctively veered left, two more sealed off that path! The Lanlock Dragon, abruptly halted, had no time to react as a dozen enormous boulders slammed it to the ground, burying it beneath a veritable peak of stone!
With a sharp crack, Tom Riddle Apparated into view. He knew this makeshift prison wouldn't hold the dragon for long, so he intended to reduce it to a smoldering ruin.
He waved his wand again, focusing on the mountain of stone that pinned the Lanlock Dragon. A strange, deep purple light pulsed...
BOOM!!!
Nothing.
A burst of deep purple energy erupted! The ever-expanding explosion annihilated the mountain, pulverizing stone and shattering the dragon's scales. The combined effects of external ancient magic and internal magical turmoil were causing it immense suffering!
Tom Riddle's ancient magic only exacerbated its injuries, and the more severe the wounds, the harder it became to control the volatile power within.
Damn it... Too much! It can't be contained! It's overflowing!
Every wound on the Lanlock Dragon's body now emitted a strange, blackish-red energy! It thrashed in the pit, claws scrabbling for leverage, but its strength was so immense that whatever it touched was instantly crushed to dust.
"Is it over already?"
Tom Riddle, his form cloaked in black mist, floated above the Lanlock Dragon. "Then I find myself disinclined to continue this game."
Tom Riddle swung the Elder Wand in his right hand, engulfing the Lanlock Dragon in crimson Fiendfyre. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he sent a torrent of fire erupting like a volcanic geyser, soaring into the sky.
The Lanlock Dragon could feel the inferno below scorching it, even as it was "pushed" higher and higher into the air! Every inch of the cracked earth overflowed with crimson heat! Dazzling flames spiraled upwards from every fissure! The conflagration surged towards the black and red dragon, converging in the air before exploding with violent force!
From a distance, it looked like a colossal tree of crimson flames had risen toward the heavens, illuminating the world in its hellish glow.
...
"Albus."
Gellert Grindelwald and Albus Dumbledore sat amidst the ruins beside the Hogwarts crater, gazing at the towering, fiery tree that seemed to pierce the sky, watching the "fireworks" that lit up the horizon.
"Tell me honestly, did you lock me up because you feared these creatures would kill me?"
"..."
"I knew you still cared."
"..."
...
The Lanlock Dragon detonated.
Logically, even the terrifying Fiendfyre shouldn't have been able to harm the Lanlock Dragon, but this was Tom Riddle's Level 11 Fiendfyre. There were differences even between different Fiendfyres; the peak of others was merely its starting point. Therefore, it was fully within Tom Riddle's expectations that the dragon couldn't withstand it.
But what he didn't expect was that the Lanlock Dragon had not died.
Before being completely incinerated, it had lost control of the magic within. The energy that leaked from its body managed to somewhat shield it from the full force of the Fiendfyre, saving its life. At that moment, the Lanlock Dragon was plummeting from a height that would turn even a banshee into mincemeat.
Of course, it was still possible that a freak accident would allow it to survive, but regardless, Tom Riddle didn't dwell on its fate.
Tom Riddle was now focused on something else: those out-of-control, eerie blackish-red energies. They were incredibly potent, with an intense peculiarity; even Tom Riddle's Level 11 Fiendfyre couldn't completely eradicate them.
He knew what they were, of course. This energy had originally been extracted from countless lives by a long-dead wizard who had controlled ancient magic.
Their essence was pure pain.
Pain is an exceedingly unique emotion, and emotions are the foundation of magic.
"…"
Tom Riddle retrieved a small vial from his silver snake ring. The potion within shimmered with a beautiful ruby-like luster. It was unlike any he had encountered, ancient or modern. It was primarily brewed from the Fang of the Blood Ancestor he had previously acquired, supplemented with fairy dust, dragon nerves, phoenix blood, and other esoteric ingredients.
As for its effects…
The system description of the Fang of the Blood Ancestor mentioned four words: "Forbidden Usurpation!"
Upon obtaining the ingredients, Tom Riddle had a hunch that the Blood Ancestor had placed a curse upon it to prevent "Forbidden Usurpation," so naturally, the cursed fang must be the so-called "Forbidden Usurpation."
However, despite its stubbornness, the curse had been cleanly removed. It was more resilient than the Curse of the Blood Orcs once afflicting Nagini, but Tom Riddle had found a way to separate it regardless.
That was precisely why Tom Riddle dared to use the item to brew a potion.
Pfft.
Tom Riddle uncorked the vial, holding it with his left hand. With his right, wielding the Elder Wand, he magically manipulated the surrounding black and red energy, drawing it into the potion!
The ruby-colored potion gradually transformed into a strange, swirling mass of black and red.
"..."
Honestly, this stuff looks undeniably toxic; most people probably wouldn't dare drink it. But Tom Riddle's thirst for power couldn't be quenched by such trivialities.
Unlike Lanlock, who forcibly crammed magic into his body, using himself as a vessel, Tom Riddle, with the help of this specially brewed potion, could absorb this power and completely integrate it into every strand of his own magic. Then, he would not only fully control this energy but achieve a true "transformation"!
Without hesitation, Tom Riddle tilted his head and poured the entire potion into his mouth.
The next moment, a faint red glow enveloped his body!
Guided by the potion, an immense energy surged through him, permeating his body, his soul, even every wisp of his magic!
His body was transforming!
His soul was ascending!
His magic was growing wild and hungry, seeking its primeval origin!
"…"
The unsuppressed, terrifying aura once again caused strange phenomena in the skies!
This time, the effects were even more pronounced than before!
A large part of Europe, including all of England, was shrouded beneath a dark red sky!
Neither wizards nor Muggles could suppress the growing dread within them!
Dark red clouds swirled around Tom Riddle, and uneasy hurricanes made his robes flutter wildly!
Until the faint red light on Tom Riddle's body dimmed, returning him to his original appearance.
[Name:] Tom Marvolo Riddle/Voldemort
[Age:] 71
[Level:] 67
[Skill:] Ancient Magic
[Item:] Potion of the Blood Ancestor
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