"Huff... huff..."
In the heart of a silent forest, a goblin materialized, short and stocky, his once-gleaming armor now tattered rags. He collapsed against a tree, his sallow skin a ghastly white, the fierce red of his eyes faded to a dull, gray-black. Lanlock leaned against the rough bark, raising trembling hands to his face, desperate to summon the power he once commanded.
"Gone... truly gone..."
Not only his unique goblin magic, but that extraordinary force – it had vanished completely. He was feeble, diminished; even his intrinsic talents seemed to have waned.
"That blasted brat!" Lanlock clenched his fists. "He stole my power! Everything that was mine!"
Goblins hold a deep-seated belief that everything belongs to its creator, not the one who merely purchases it. Lanlock's ancestors had been commissioned by Hogwarts' founders to construct five secret vaults, meant to contain a particular power. Lanlock believed that power rightfully belonged to the goblins, only to be embezzled by a despicable wizard. Therefore, in his mind, it was perfectly justified for him to seize it; that immense power was his by right.
Now, it had been stolen by an even more despicable wizard!
"I will not let this stand! I must reclaim what is mine! I must destroy that wretched brat! I will hunt him to the ends of the earth!"
Unbeknownst to Lanlock, "his power" was irretrievably lost. He labored under the delusion that Tom, like himself, merely wielded that power temporarily.
Lanlock pushed himself to his feet. "Though the very idea sickens me, that brat is too strong. I need allies."
His first thought was of his followers, but he knew that when he was sealed away a century ago, they couldn't escape the Ministry's purge. But the goblin community still existed. Lanlock knew that many goblins still harbored rebellious thoughts, longing to overthrow wizarding rule; he himself felt much the same. Perhaps he could still call upon the strength of his own kind?
But would these complacent creatures truly be willing to aid him? Lanlock was a goblin; he understood their mercenary nature. In the past, they were only willing to follow him in recognition of his power – a power so great they were convinced they could challenge wizarding rule. Now, he had nothing. Although his understanding of goblins might allow him to trick some into helping him, that alone wouldn't be enough.
Lanlock, lost in thought as he walked, suddenly paused, then stopped dead in his tracks. Someone was ahead. Someone… who radiated an aura of intense danger.
Damn it… If I still possessed my power, I wouldn't even consider this individual a threat. But now, Lanlock was forced to admit that this person had the capacity to kill him.
The bald man in the black trench coat had also taken notice of Lanlock.
"A goblin?" Voldemort (remnant soul) sounded almost surprised. He didn't know why a goblin would appear here, but since the creature had seen him, then it must die.
"..."
"Is there no reasoning with you?!" Lanlock was aghast. "Damn it all! My power was just broken, and some green-eyed brat stole it! Am I to die like this? No!"
"A green-eyed brat?" Voldemort (remnant soul), who was about to strike Lanlock down, abruptly paused, then unhesitatingly launched a Legilimency attack.
However, goblins possessed a natural wariness, their minds slightly more resistant to mental intrusion than those of ordinary wizards. Moreover, Lanlock had been exceptionally strong among goblins, and he was fighting tooth and nail to resist the attack. Thus, Voldemort (remnant soul)'s Legilimency proved far less effective than he expected, but, nevertheless, it got through.
Voldemort (remnant soul) gleaned flashes of Lanlock's memories. And those flashes yielded enough...
He finally understood what had transpired, and an intense surge of interest arose within him regarding that potent force!
It was a bitter pill to swallow that Tom now possessed it. This infuriated Voldemort (remnant soul). Tom was already impossibly powerful, and now he possessed an equally terrifying strength… How could he possibly hope to win?
No matter how I look at it, victory is impossible.
Perhaps I should simply surrender to my other self. I, Voldemort, could be second-in-command! After all, we are both Voldemorts. Seeing as we are "one and the same," I could surrender and admit defeat. You be the boss; I'll be your lieutenant – it's all the same.
But what if Tom was determined to obliterate him? Voldemort (remnant soul) was deeply troubled. He knew himself all too well; if he had the means, he would undoubtedly eliminate his other self.
And Tom clearly shared the same sentiment. Am I destined to forever hide in the shadows...?
Voldemort (remnant soul) gazed up at the sky, a picture of bald, tragic despair.
Lanlock, standing beside him, watched him with suspicion. The bald man seemed utterly oblivious to his presence.
Perhaps… Perhaps I could seize this opportunity to escape.
Acting on his thoughts, Lanlock swiftly turned to flee, only to be noticed by Voldemort (remnant soul).
Voldemort (remnant soul) glared at the useless goblin, irritated that he hadn't managed to harm Tom in the slightest. But then, his eyes lit up. Perhaps I can use this creature! Lanlock once possessed that power; perhaps he holds the key to stripping that power away from Tom. If I could obtain that power, Tom would be nothing! Such a mysterious being should be eliminated without hesitation! And before that, I might be able to gain the support of goblins through Lanlock…
Suppressing the malice in his eyes, Voldemort (remnant soul) forced himself to give a "friendly" smile. "Perhaps, we could cooperate."
Lanlock knew that the man had just subjected him to Legilimency, but he couldn't determine how much he had gleaned. But he was certain that Voldemort (remnant soul) had seen that immense power. Does he also covet "my power?"
Although Lanlock was far from pleased, he did not reject Voldemort (remnant soul)'s offer. He desperately needed a powerful ally, and Voldemort (remnant soul)'s formidable strength might even aid him in enlisting goblin support. As for whether Voldemort (remnant soul) would betray him, Lanlock wasn't concerned. He was confident he could exploit the creature's desire for that power.
"You are correct. We can cooperate."
Thus, two individuals, each seeking to exploit the other, forged an alliance.
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