The two of them moved forward and soon returned to the circular chamber where Tonks had been imprisoned.
By sheer coincidence, they ran into two wizards coming back from deeper within the ruins.
Unfortunately, by the time Lewis and Tonks saw them, the two had already opened the small room and discovered it empty.
"Damn it—the Auror's gone!"
"Someone's been here. You go check on the guards—I'll notify the boss!"
One of them reacted immediately.
"Attack! Don't let them warn the others!" Tonks ordered decisively.
"Stupefy!"
"Hideous Laughter!"
Both of them cast their spells almost simultaneously.
One of the wizards was hit by Tonks's spell and blasted backward into the wall, losing consciousness instantly.
The other suddenly burst into uncontrollable laughter.
The laughter came out of nowhere, yet it couldn't be stopped. It echoed through the chamber in a bizarre, unsettling way.
"Another strange spell…"
Tonks couldn't help but glance at Lewis.
It was somewhat similar to the Tickling Charm, but far more powerful. This laughter seemed to attack the mind directly—impossible to resist, impossible to counter.
The man was laughing so hard he couldn't even stand upright, let alone cast a spell.
At the same time, Lewis's reaction speed had also stunned her.
As a trainee Auror, her reflexes were among the best—even among full Aurors.
Yet this boy had kept pace with her effortlessly.
He really was a genius in every sense.
With both enemies neutralized, Tonks stepped forward, confiscated their wands, and bound them securely before letting out a relieved sigh.
"Thank Merlin we got here in time. If we'd been any later, they would've discovered everything."
"Or you could say it worked out in our favor."
Lewis winked at her.
"Now there are only five left."
"That's… true."
Lewis cast Invisibility on both of them again, and they continued deeper.
After passing through another corridor, they entered yet another circular chamber.
This one was far larger than the previous rooms—and far more ornate.
The walls were covered in carvings of magical creatures: centaurs, Grindylows, Chimeras, hippogriffs…
Around the chamber stood several brass braziers, burning with pale blue magical flames.
But the most striking feature was the massive metal door at the center.
Its surface was covered in intricate Celtic patterns, with magical gemstones embedded at key points.
Through Detect Magic, Lewis could see the entire door glowing with dense magical energy.
A magical gate.
And behind it—
The Scholar's Moonstone.
Four or five wizards stood around it, studying it intently, wands in hand.
Clearly, this door was the final barrier between them and the treasure.
Lewis couldn't help but recall the puzzles from the game.
Of course, reality was far more complex than guiding a few glowing moths into place.
This door undoubtedly involved advanced runes and ancient magic.
Meanwhile, Tonks observed the poachers.
Their outfits were similar—dark cloaks, heavy coats—faces obscured. Nothing about them suggested honest work.
Among them stood a man in a purple cloak, wearing a grotesque mask.
"That's their leader—Pickle Curtis," Tonks whispered.
"According to Ministry records, he rose to power around the same time as the Dark Lord. He leads Britain's second-largest poacher group. They've had long-standing dealings with the Death Eaters. He's powerful—and ruthless. Be careful."
"Don't worry, Tonks."
Facing five adult wizards—including a dangerous dark wizard—Lewis smiled confidently.
"I'll handle Pickle. I have a special spell that can disable him for five seconds. During that time, we take out the others, then focus him down."
"…Alright. I trust you."
Though hesitant, Tonks agreed. Lewis's arsenal of original spells had already proven itself.
Pickle Curtis had no idea that four of his men had already fallen.
Nor that two enemies were creeping up behind him.
He was completely focused on the magical door.
"Damn it… why didn't the records mention this thing?!"
After yet another failed attempt, he slammed his fist against the door.
It didn't budge.
"Gabrelis! Can you read these runes?" he barked at a bespectacled subordinate. "You've been at it for three hours!"
"I—I can't, boss!" the man stammered. "These runes are too ancient—I don't even recognize half the words! I don't know how to solve this!"
"Useless!"
Pickle cursed and turned to check on another subordinate—
But suddenly—
A sharp, invisible force pierced his mind.
Before he could react, it struck like a nail driven into soft flesh.
"AAAAAH!!!"
A shrill scream echoed through the chamber.
Hit by Lewis's Mind Spike, the dark wizard collapsed to his knees, clutching his head.
His fingers dug into his hair as sweat poured down his face.
The pain was like his brain being torn apart.
He couldn't think.
Couldn't focus.
Couldn't cast.
Pickle Curtis was out of the fight.
With their greatest threat neutralized, Lewis and Tonks revealed themselves and attacked.
Lewis moved first, pouring out a massive amount of magic.
"Quickened Frost Nova!"
A wave of icy energy burst outward in a fan shape.
The unprepared poachers were instantly caught—
Their legs frozen in place.
Their movements slowed by the biting cold.
Tonks followed immediately.
"Confringo!"
The explosion tore through the group.
Two of them were blasted backward, gravely injured. The rest coughed up blood, reeling from the impact.
"Confringo!"
"Fireball!"
The second wave came without pause.
Explosions roared through the chamber.
The poachers were completely overwhelmed—most of them no longer capable of fighting.
This was the strategy Lewis had proposed.
When resources are limited, rely on tactics.
When resources are abundant—
Blow everything up.
No elegant duels.
No dramatic spell exchanges.
Just overwhelming firepower.
And it worked perfectly.
Though the spells consumed a lot of magic, wiping out the enemy in two waves made it worthwhile.
At that moment, Pickle finally recovered from the agony of Mind Spike.
Seeing his subordinates devastated by a single ambush, he felt both furious and shaken.
He didn't even know what had hit him.
If not for his kelpie-hide cloak, those explosions alone might have killed him.
Now—
He would make them pay.
"Damn Auror… and you, brat!"
"You dare ambush me? Kill my men?!"
"You've made a grave mistake."
"Pray… because I'm about to make you regret ever being born."
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