There was no need to use a Fiendfyre Curse.
The simplest way to destroy a cursed object was to counter it with opposing magical power.
Of course, for most wizards, such a method would sound like a fairy tale.
While most wizards were still stuck chanting spells and relying on wand movements, Ivan had already begun to grasp the essence of magic itself.
This level of understanding was far beyond the imagination of ordinary wizards.
[Congratulations to the host for completing the main task (I)]
Current Progress:
Recover the Soul Coffin (completed) Trace the source of the curse (completed)
Task Reward: Experience Points x1
"Here it comes!"
Ivan's eyes flickered as he read the system notification.
For someone who usually maintained a calm demeanor, the news stirred an unmistakable excitement within him.
Experience Points.
These were far more valuable than potential points.
While potential points could enhance certain abilities, Experience Points were the rare currency needed to push an attribute beyond the threshold of 5—into the domain of exceptional mastery.
Ivan began to consider carefully where he should allocate this 1 point of experience.
======
[Attributes]
(1 Ordinary, 2 Excellent, 3 Outstanding, 4 Rare, 5 Legendary, 6 Apocalypse, 7 Miracle)
Soul: 5 (Legendary)
Magic: 5 (Legendary)
Physique: 2 (Excellent)
Thinking: 3 (Outstanding)
Mind: 3 (Outstanding)
Will: 3 (Outstanding)
Potential Points: 0
Experience Points: 1
======
At this moment, only two attributes stood out as viable options for investment: Soul and Magic.
Although Experience Points could technically be converted into Potential Points, only a fool would waste them that way.
Between the two key attributes—Soul and Magic—Ivan already knew which one to enhance first.
"Magic!" Ivan decided resolutely.
He had already gained a good understanding of the Soul attribute.
To Ivan, abilities like clairvoyance, the magic eye, and the dream dimension all boiled down to one core function: observation.
In simple terms, the higher the Soul attribute, the clearer and deeper one's perception of the world became.
But when it came to Magic, things were different.
With just 5 points in the Magic attribute, Ivan had already achieved the status of a natural Archmage.
It was almost impossible to imagine what kind of power or experience he might gain by pushing the attribute to 6.
"Professor," Ivan asked, turning to Dumbledore, "do you know what lies beyond the realm of an Archmage?"
"Beyond the Archmage?" Dumbledore repeated, intrigued by the question.
He didn't warn Ivan against being too ambitious or accuse him of arrogance.
Instead, he looked at the young wizard with interest, curious about the reason behind his inquiry.
"As a wizard, isn't it natural to want to push further down the path of magic?" Ivan explained.
Dumbledore nodded in agreement.
"Indeed," he said. "There's no fault in that reasoning."
"Although," Dumbledore added with a small smile, "it may be a little early for you… it is always good to be mentally prepared."
Dumbledore then continued, "As we've discussed before, the difference between a Archmage and an ordinary wizard lies in the qualitative transformation of magic power.
It is this transformation that marks the true threshold into the realm of mastery."
The magical power of an Archmage is significantly stronger than that of ordinary wizards.
When spells collide, the Archmage's magic will overwhelm and crush the magic of ordinary wizards with sheer force.
Take the battle between Harry and Voldemort in the original story as an example.
Harry, a mere student, manages to face off against an Archmage like Voldemort.
In theory, such an occurrence should be impossible.
Yet, despite Voldemort's immense power, he is unable to kill Harry Potter.
There are numerous explanations for this:
The prophecy that binds their fates.
Lily Potter's sacrificial love.
Voldemort's integration of Harry's blood into his own body.
The resonance of their Phoenix feather wands.
Voldemort's hesitation due to the shared connection with Harry.
The reasons are many, but the conclusion is simple: Voldemort, despite his reputation, wasn't strong enough to overturn fate.
Against anyone other than Harry and Dumbledore, Voldemort is utterly dominant.
His power allows him to crush all opposition with ease, leaving no room for a stalemate, confrontation, or even a prolonged back-and-forth battle.
"If you wish to ascend to the level of a great wizard," Dumbledore explained, "there are two primary paths: magic transformation and blood reversion.
Either path, if pursued to its end, offers the potential to glimpse the realm beyond the great wizard."
This implies that a sixth point of magical power exists in this world.
While reaching it is extraordinarily difficult—so challenging, in fact, that even Dumbledore and Grindelwald considered it to be nothing more than a myth—it remains theoretically possible.
"I once held two of the Deathly Hallows," Dumbledore admitted.
"Through studying them, I caught a glimpse of what lies beyond our current understanding of magic."
The Deathly Hallows are said to embody the magic of death.
According to European legend, anyone who collects all three Hallows will become the Master of Death.
However, the "God of Death" referred to in the legend likely isn't a literal deity.
Ivan believed that "Death" in this context symbolized the magic of death, a fundamental and mysterious force.
To become the Master of Death essentially means to become the master of death magic itself.
"Do you mean to fully merge with a specific natural magic?" Ivan asked, thoughtfully.
"Yes," Dumbledore replied, nodding. "If the initial stage of magic transformation is to integrate a fragment of natural magic into one's body, then the culmination of this path is to fully master one of the twelve natural magics."
The twelve natural magics represent the fundamental forces of nature as defined within the wizarding world.
Unfortunately, the times have changed, and it has been centuries since any British wizard has surpassed the level of a Grand Master.
"As for blood reversion..." Dumbledore continued, "it's a much simpler path compared to magic transformation."
The concept of blood reversion relies on the latent power of one's ancestors within their bloodline.
It is akin to standing on the shoulders of giants and taking a step further.
However, the prerequisite for pursuing this path is having an ancestor who truly reached the realm of 6 points of magical power.
For those without such lineage—ordinary wizards, for example—the path of blood reversion is entirely out of reach.
"Ivan," Dumbledore said with a knowing smile, "you carry the blood of Merlin and the Phoenix family.
You may dismiss the pureblood ideology as outdated, a relic of a time when they clung to grandiose dreams.
But there is a kernel of truth in their beliefs."
Hmm...
The purer the blood, the stronger the magical potential that can be inherited.
This often translates to a higher ceiling for magical accomplishments in future generations.
"The problem with purebloods," Dumbledore added thoughtfully, "is not their blood.
The real issue lies in their decadence.
Each generation of purebloods has been consumed by a life of indulgence and idleness, squandering their potential and stagnating in their complacency."
However, tracing back to their origins, countless powerful wizards have emerged from the bloodlines of today's pureblood families.
Given Ivan's lineage, it seemed inevitable that he could reach 6 points of magical power.
With the two ancient bloodlines he carried—Merlin's and the Phoenix family's—each one alone held the potential to elevate him to unimaginable heights.
If Ivan could fully develop even one of these bloodlines, he might awaken powers that could lead him down a path that even Dumbledore had never witnessed in his lifetime.
"Haah~ You are fortunate," Dumbledore said, though there was no trace of envy in his tone.
After all, Dumbledore himself was a member of the Phoenix family, sharing part of that same legacy.
Moreover, Dumbledore had already found his own path.
He understood what it would take to reach the elusive realm of Magic 6 and was content to follow his chosen course.
"Professor," Ivan asked, breaking the reflective silence, "what is it that you seek? A great adventure?"
Ivan's thoughts drifted to something Dumbledore had once said—a hint at the opportunity the old headmaster had been searching for, one that might allow him to break through to Magic 6.
________
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Death is another great adventure.
At the end of the original story, Harry encountered Dumbledore at King's Cross Station in a liminal space between life and death.
Ivan suspected that, by that point, Dumbledore might have already transcended the boundaries of mortality, potentially breaking through to the realm of Magic 6—a state beyond life and death.
Similarly, Grindelwald's willingness to face death after Dumbledore's passing raised questions.
Ivan couldn't shake the feeling that the deaths of these two figures were not random but deliberate, part of a premeditated plan.
"How did you feel about your adventure at Gringotts?" Dumbledore asked, steering the conversation in a new direction.
From Snape to Voldemort, mercenaries, and Aurors, Dumbledore had intentionally been shaping Ivan's journey.
By now, Ivan's combat experience rivaled that of seasoned veteran wizards.
"How should I put it?" Ivan said, shrugging.
"A little disappointing."
"That's the state of wizards today," Dumbledore replied with a resigned sigh.
The war against Voldemort had disrupted England's magical traditions, cutting off many lines of knowledge and training.
Countless powerful wizards perished in the conflict, leaving a void in magical expertise and resilience.
Dumbledore's decision not to chastise Ivan was deliberate.
He had already observed one important thing: Ivan had not killed anyone during his confrontation with the mercenaries and Aurors.
As long as Ivan refrained from taking lives, Dumbledore could accept and even understand the methods he employed.
Dumbledore's reasoning wasn't about being a saint; it was a pragmatic understanding of the limited number of wizards in the world. Each wizard represented a valuable resource.
Ivan also agreed with Dumbledore's perspective.
If he chose to kill, it would mean severing the restraints that guided his actions, leaving him unbound in the future.
While killing one or two wizards might not seem significant, taking the lives of hundreds or thousands would deal a catastrophic blow to the entire wizarding world.
Ivan's ability to act with discretion gave Dumbledore a sense of relief.
In contrast, Grindelwald had discarded all restrictions on killing, and Voldemort viewed human lives as utterly disposable.
In the Muggle world, killing was often seen as inevitable or commonplace due to the sheer size of their population.
But wizards were different.
There were only hundreds of thousands of wizards globally, a mere one ten-thousandth of the Muggle population.
By this calculation, every wizard Ivan killed would be equivalent to eliminating 10,000 Muggles.
Killing just 1,000 wizards would parallel wiping out 10 million people in the Muggle world.
The sheer scale of such destruction was staggering.
Imagine if someone were to take responsibility for tens of millions of deaths—it would be an unthinkable atrocity.
Not just in the history of humanity, but even looking toward the future, it seemed unlikely anyone could—or should—ever achieve such a level of destruction.
And this didn't even account for indirect deaths.
The ripple effects of a conflict among wizards would escalate quickly.
Once war broke out, tens of thousands of wizards could die.
If that impact were magnified ten-thousandfold in the Muggle population, the devastation would be unimaginable.
The entire World War II resulted in over 100 million casualties, but not even 200 million.
When considering Ivan's potential, Dumbledore understood that Ivan's magic would inevitably grow to a level that even he would have to look up to.
At that point, there would be no external force capable of restraining him.
The only thing that could guide Ivan would be his own conscience.
"What do you think of my work?" Ivan asked.
"Very good," Dumbledore replied with a smile. "Though the punishment for Fudge and Umbridge was a bit... heavy."
"At least I didn't actually hurt them," Ivan said defensively.
"Ah, yes," Dumbledore nodded in agreement. He didn't seem particularly concerned about the humiliation of the Minister of Magic.
The truth was, Dumbledore had never placed much stock in Fudge.
With so few wizards in England, his choices for leadership were limited.
Fudge had simply been the tallest among the short options available.
But now things were different.
The arrival of Ivan had given Dumbledore a glimmer of hope for the resurgence of the British wizarding world.
Put bluntly, Ivan's presence guaranteed at least a century of prosperity for the magical community.
That alone was something Fudge could never offer, nor could anyone of his ilk even compare.
"They were too noisy," Ivan remarked, his tone frank.
He didn't bother to play the role of a saint in front of Dumbledore. "I don't quite understand why they act so arrogantly."
Ivan's actions were always guided by his own will.
While he might occasionally be influenced by others' emotions, his overall direction remained firmly his own.
"Is it because he's the Minister of Magic that he feels untouchable?" Ivan questioned, a hint of irritation in his voice.
"This is the nature of power," Dumbledore replied, seizing the moment to impart a lesson.
"When someone is corrupted by power, arrogance inevitably follows."
"Magic is power," Ivan retorted.
Dumbledore smiled knowingly. "True, but the status of wizards was never meant to be achieved solely through power."
Many believed Dumbledore to be a saint, a paragon of virtue.
But only he truly understood that this image was far from the truth.
He wasn't above power or strength—he feared it.
Dumbledore feared that, with the wrong choices, he might become an even greater threat than Grindelwald or Voldemort.
His restraint wasn't an act of saintliness but a conscious effort to avoid becoming a monster.
"That said, power can also achieve great things," Dumbledore added, his tone encouraging.
"I hope you learn to use your power wisely, Ivan.
After all, Gryffindor never feared power—they embraced it."
The four houses of Hogwarts represent different kinds of people.
Gryffindor stands for bravery, sometimes recklessness.
They are bold enough to risk their lives for what they believe in, even when facing overwhelming odds.
If Ivan thought he could win Gryffindors over with sheer strength alone, he was mistaken.
Unless he were willing to eliminate every single one of them, Gryffindors would never be conquered by power alone.
They would only follow someone who earned their respect.
"Don't worry. I understand people."
Ivan said with a nod, his tone composed.
Elegance was what he pursued, and for him, true elegance meant not waving a wand around like a fool.
Language, negotiation, emotions—there were countless ways to communicate and influence others without resorting to brute force.
Similarly, to win over people with diverse personalities, one had to adapt their methods accordingly.
"It's good that you recognize this," Dumbledore said, his satisfaction evident.
After a pause, he added, "If you encounter any trouble in the future, feel free to come to me."
Ivan blinked, genuinely surprised by Dumbledore's words.
The message was clear: Dumbledore was removing the restraints on Ivan, giving him the freedom to act as he wished.
More than that, Dumbledore was offering himself as a safety net.
He was willing to stand behind Ivan and help him resolve any challenges he might face in the future.
For instance, during the incident at Gringotts, Ivan had used Path of the Fire God and his magic incarnation form in front of countless witnesses.
While many high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Magic were complacent and ineffectual, there were exceptions—people like Scrimgeour and Moody.
With their skills, it was only a matter of time before they began piecing together the truth about Ivan.
"But... Why does it feel like you always know ..everything?" Ivan asked, frowning slightly.
It was unsettling how much Dumbledore seemed to know, as though he had been present during the Battle of Gringotts himself.
"There are many ways," Dumbledore replied cryptically, a knowing smile on his face.
"You have to let an old man keep some of his little secrets, don't you?"
"You were there, weren't you?" Ivan pressed, his tone laced with suspicion.
"Who knows," Dumbledore responded with a chuckle, "maybe~"
Ivan was not entirely satisfied with the vague answer, but he chose not to pursue it further.
As long as he was confident that Dumbledore bore no ill will toward him and was, in fact, supportive, the specifics didn't matter much.
"What about the Ministry of Magic's follow-up?" Ivan asked, shifting the conversation.
"Leave that to me," Dumbledore reassured him.
After a brief pause, he added with a smirk, "Didn't you say they can't prove that it was you?"
Ivan couldn't help but laugh softly at Dumbledore's casual confidence.
It was a reminder that even in matters of great complexity, Dumbledore's wit and influence were not to be underestimated.
________
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