章節 174: Chapter 174: The Fury of the Dragon
"Mr. Augustus. Great, you're finally here," Bagman said brightly, turning toward him. "Come in; the competition is about to begin."
"Alright, now that everyone's here, let me explain the situation!" Bagman said enthusiastically. "Once the audience is ready, I'll pass this bag around,"—he held up a purple silk pouch and gave it a shake—"and you'll each draw a model of the creature you'll face. Each model represents a different type. Oh, and your task is to retrieve the golden egg!"
Retrieve the golden egg? Augustus smiled faintly. No wonder all the dragons were female—stealing an egg under the nose of a mother dragon was far harder than confronting one in battle.
Before long, Bagman began untying the silk pouch.
"Ladies first," he said, offering the bag to Fleur.
With a determined expression, Fleur reached into the bag and pulled out her model. A Welsh Green Dragon—a relatively tame choice. Her luck was evident, as it was the least aggressive of the four.
Next came Augustus. Amid murmurs of sympathy from the others, he drew the Hungarian Horntail. The miniature dragon unfurled its wings, baring its tiny fangs.
The remaining champions each drew their lot: Viktor received the Chinese Fireball, and Harry ended up with the Swedish Short-Snout.
"Alright, you've all got your dragons!" Bagman announced. "The number around its neck indicates the order in which you'll face it. Got it? I'll leave you for now to explain things to the audience. Fleur, you're first—when you hear the whistle, head into the arena, understood?"
Bagman left the tent without looking back. Fleur stared at the ground, her face ashen.
Moments later, a whistle sounded from outside.
"Good luck, Miss Fleur," Augustus said politely, with a gentle smile.
"Thank you," Fleur replied hesitantly, her refined features showing a hint of uncertainty. "I'll come to watch your performance afterward. Good luck to you as well."
Two minutes after Fleur left, a wave of cheers erupted from the arena. The crowd was roaring, screaming, and gasping in unison.
"A clever strategy—but it didn't work!" Bagman's voice echoed faintly in the tent.
"Oh! So close! Careful... Oh, my goodness, I thought she had it!"
Ten minutes later, applause erupted as Fleur's trial concluded, followed by a brief silence as the judges prepared to score her. Then came another round of thunderous cheers before the whistle blew a second time.
It seemed Fleur had succeeded, though her performance likely had flaws given the commentary. Augustus remained calm, gazing out the window at the distant greenery.
"And now, it's Mr. Krum's turn!" Bagman announced.
Krum flashed Augustus a victory sign before slouching out of the tent.
"Bold move!" Bagman's voice rang out. The Chinese Fireball let out a deafening screech, eliciting a collective gasp from the audience. "Such courage—ah—yes, he's got the golden egg!"
The crowd's applause shattered the winter air as Krum completed his trial.
"Next, the champion from Hogwarts—Augustus!" The booming announcement echoed across the arena.
Augustus's silhouette vanished from the tent, reappearing moments later in the arena. For a moment, the crowd fell silent, and then a deafening cheer erupted.
"What an entrance!" Bagman's delighted voice filled the air.
The scene before Augustus resembled a vivid dream. Hundreds of faces gazed down from the stands. At the far end of the arena loomed the Hungarian Horntail, crouched low over its clutch of eggs. Its yellow, predatory eyes locked onto Augustus. The enormous, scale-covered dragon lashed its spiked tail, leaving deep gouges in the ground.
Standing tall, Augustus's figure was serene, almost like a piece of art amidst the chaos. The whistle blew.
"Let the match begin," Augustus said with a courteous smile. "A bow, first." He bent slightly forward.
The Horntail watched him with a puzzled expression.
"I said, bow!" Augustus repeated gently, his wand moving slightly. An invisible force pressed the dragon's head downward, compelling it into an unwilling bow.
"ROAR!" The Horntail's furious bellow erupted as it opened its mouth, unleashing a torrent of red-hot flames.
Augustus's figure became semi-transparent, and the flames passed harmlessly through him. "So rude," he sighed softly.
Above the arena, a fiery scarlet sword materialized in the air. The colossal blade, alight with molten flames, descended into Augustus's hand. Sheathing his wand, he gripped the sword with one hand. Though dwarfed by the massive dragon, he stood as a true warrior ready to slay a beast.
"As a champion, one must act with valor." His voice echoed across the arena.
With wind magic enhancing his movements, Augustus disappeared in a blur, reappearing high above in an instant. Bathed in golden sunlight, his lean form shimmered, the crimson blade seeming to glow with divine brilliance.
Under the gaze of thousands, the fiery sword slashed downward. The Horntail reflexively folded its wings, trying to shield itself. A resounding crash echoed as the dragon's massive body was driven into the ground, raising a cloud of dust that obscured the arena.
When the dust settled, a deep crater marked the center of the field. Augustus stood poised, sword in hand.
The Horntail let out a piercing, defiant roar and surged skyward, wings beating furiously.
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