Chapter -49.
While it was unfortunate that increased fear value was necessary to boost magic power, there was also a silver lining: Lester's level 2 Protego Diabolica spell was on the brink of an upgrade!
After a series of intense battles, Lester had taken down numerous pure-blood officials and Aurors using this spell, bringing its proficiency to an unprecedented 989 points!
Perhaps due to the high caliber of wizards Lester was vanquishing, each kill significantly boosted his proficiency.
Moreover, with his recent consistent use of the spell, an upgrade was imminent.
"It's time to strike back!"
Feeling a surge of powerful magical energy coursing through him, excitement twinkled in Lester's eyes.
He thrust his hands forward, and the previously unstable Protego Diabolica, under the pressure of the Killing Curse, suddenly grew stronger.
The terrifying Killing Curse collided with the flaming shield but failed to even create a ripple.
"What?!"
Bernard, witnessing his Killing Curse completely negated by the shield, exhibited a flicker of astonishment.
He was aware that his ascension to one of the top officials in the Ministry of Magic was not only due to his extensive connections but also his considerable strength.
In the magical community, strength commanded respect, and Bernard, recognized as the superior among Aurors, was certainly no lightweight.
In his estimation, aside from a handful of ancient professors at Hogwarts, few could measure up to him—but now he had encountered someone who could!
How could he not be taken aback?
"What an opportunity!"
Noticing Bernard's grave miscalculation due to his lingering hesitation in battle, Lester swiftly seized the moment to launch a decisive attack.
"Fire, burn him to ashes!"
With one hand, Lester conjured a wall of flames to block the pure-blood official's strikes while gripping tightly towards Bernard with the other.
In that instant, Lester unleashed his magic in full force, creating a massive fiery band.
The expansive fiery belt encircled Bernard and suddenly tightened, ensnaring the bewildered official.
"Die!" Once the fiery belt ensnared Bernard, Lester heaved him up and forcefully slammed him against the room's wall, swiftly raising his wand to unleash a terrifying burst of flames along its arc.
Trapped by the thick band of fire, Bernard found himself powerless to escape as he was hurled away.
"Bang!"
With a deafening crash, a hole was shattered into the wall, large enough for a person to pass through, and the entire Ministry of Magic shook violently.
Bernard was ejected through this hole and propelled several hundred meters away, colliding harshly with the wall at the far end of the Incident Reversal Team's office.
The force of the impact sent up a cloud of dust, causing the wall to tremble under the tremendous pressure.
"What the hell?!!!"
Lester's unexpected counterattack rendered everyone present speechless.
The pure-blood officials, who had previously been smug with victory, were frozen in disbelief at the sight of Bernard being thrown out so forcefully.
Simultaneously, the prisoners, who had braced themselves for death, displayed expressions of joy as though they had narrowly escaped calamity.
They knew Lester wouldn't let them down!
In that moment, Lester disregarded the shock of those around him; his focus was singular: to eliminate Bernard!
He clasped his hands together and then thrust them forth.
Instantly, a massive fireball erupted from his palms, hurtling toward Bernard through the very hole he had broken.
As the fire materialized, the temperature in the entire office soared, leaving many wizards drenched in sweat from the heat.
"Damn it!"
Just after being ejected, Bernard spotted the ferocious flames rushing towards him, and his eyes flickered with rage.
"Armorum tutela!"
Confronted with the terrifying wall of fire, Bernard swiftly raised his wand and conjured a white protective shield in front of him.
Boom!!!
The fierce flames crashed violently against the sturdy shield mid-air with a deafening roar, unleashing a massive shockwave that rapidly radiated outward from the impact point.
The powerful shockwave not only propelled Bernard back again but also wreaked havoc on the walls of the Magical Accident and Disaster Department, tearing down the barrier separating the two offices.
But it didn't end there; witnessing Bernard flying through the air, Lester's eyes blazed with intent as he clenched his right hand toward the void.
Moments later, a whip of blue fire materialized in Lester's grasp.
Crack!!!
Lester raised his right hand, and the fiery whip lashed out at Bernard with incredible speed.
Instantly, the air tore with a sharp sound, and the roar of flames filled the room as the whip struck Bernard with fierce force.
As Bernard was about to touch down, the whip redirected his flight, sending him crashing violently into a nearby wall.
The unfortunate wall gave way against the overwhelming force, leaving a hole nearly the height of a person.
Having sustained successive severe injuries, Bernard crumpled against the wall like a rag doll.
His once elaborate noble attire was now tattered and charred, transforming him into a figure resembling a beggar.
Meanwhile, his ornate wand, adorned with golden designs, snapped in two from the flames, reduced to mere debris discarded on the floor.
In that moment, Bernard appeared utterly disheveled.
"Arlis, you hid so well!"
Glaring with crimson eyes brimming with murderous intent, Bernard addressed the one responsible for his injuries, "I never anticipated that you could conceal yourself so effectively that even I was fooled."
"However, this should all come to an end now. You will regret betraying me!"
With that, Bernard suddenly opened his eyes wide, a flash of brilliance igniting them as a powerful dark aura erupted from within him, engulfing his entire being.
***
Tl/N : Want to read more while supporting me, you can join me on PATREON: where I have kept stockpile of 20 chapters.
PATREON.com/SoulDream.
Like it ? Add to library!