Although the battle outside the secret passage caused a great deal of noise, the Wucui Party inside continued their work in an orderly manner.
Once they had completely dug through the passage, the sounds of fighting outside gradually faded.
"Should we wait for the gentleman?" Olive asked.
Vita shook her head. "The faster we act, the better. No need to wait. Let's go in and clear everything that might become an obstacle. Once the gentleman finishes his work outside, he can come in and take what he needs directly."
"Understood."
Vita was one of Grindelwald's most trusted assistants, and the witches of the party followed her lead without hesitation.
They illuminated the chamber with their wands and cautiously stepped inside. The room was pitch black, and even the light from their wands couldn't fully penetrate the darkness.
Vita reached into her pocket and pulled out a handful of small glowing orbs. She shook them briefly and then released them.
As the orbs floated upwards, they gradually brightened, casting a warm glow over the room. When they reached the ceiling, they spread out, illuminating the once-dark chamber completely.
The witches extinguished their wand lights but quickly had their attention drawn to a massive metal sphere in the distance.
Even from afar, the members of the Wucui Party could feel an overwhelming magical presence radiating from it—much like how an ordinary person would feel intimidated by the flashing sparks of a high-voltage electrical box.
The path leading to the metal sphere was littered with ruins, evidence of an intense battle fought here long ago.
"Let's take a closer look," Vita instructed, stepping forward cautiously.
They carefully navigated past several collapsed stone pillars, encountering no immediate danger.
Gradually, their vigilance waned.
They assumed that any traps that once existed must have been destroyed in the previous battle.
But just as they were approaching the metal sphere with a relaxed mindset—
Pop!
Vita heard a soft burst from a nearby stone pillar, like the sound of a balloon popping.
Something felt off.
Before she could react, the witches on the outer perimeter suddenly collapsed to the ground.
"No! Be careful!" Vita shouted, quickly casting a protective spell on herself.
Had they missed a hidden trap?
But she was mistaken.
What attacked them wasn't a magical mechanism—it was an airborne drug, a potent substance capable of penetrating their very pores.
Vita took a few steps back, but dizziness overtook her. Her limbs went numb. She collapsed, overwhelmed by an uncontrollable fatigue.
As she drifted into unconsciousness, she caught sight of all her fellow witches falling around her.
"It's over..."
That was her last conscious thought.
Outside the Secret Passage
Only Grindelwald and Headmaster Dippet remained standing.
The professors and the Wucui Party members had all fallen.
Headmaster Dippet was in utter shock.
The Hogwarts professors were among the finest wizards, yet they had been overpowered.
Initially, they had managed to push back against the witches of the Wucui Party, launching a valiant counterattack.
For a moment, they believed victory was within reach.
But then, they witnessed firsthand the terrifying power of Grindelwald, the master of the Elder Wand.
It wasn't that Grindelwald was simply more powerful—if it were a pure contest of magical strength, he might have only been evenly matched.
But the dark magic he wielded was too strange, too unfamiliar.
Many professors had never encountered the spells he used, leaving them unable to counter them effectively.
And with the Elder Wand's formidable power enhancing his spells—
Professor Garrick, who had the weakest combat ability, was knocked unconscious the moment the duel began.
The other professors hesitated, stunned.
They quickly realized that they couldn't afford to be careless.
Everyone fought with everything they had.
Yet, one by one, they fell.
Even the strongest among them—Professor Hicks and Professor Slughorn—couldn't hold out for long.
Now, only Headmaster Dippet remained.
Panting heavily, he stared at Grindelwald, who remained calm and composed.
"You may use despicable tactics, but I must admit… your talent is remarkable," Dippet murmured.
Grindelwald smiled gently. "I must also set aside my earlier underestimation of you, Professor Dippet. If you were younger, you might have been a real challenge for me."
Dippet forced a weak smile. "Your compliment is not comforting."
Nevertheless, he raised his wand once more.
"You still refuse to surrender?" Grindelwald asked, tilting his head slightly. "Are you certain you have the strength left to fight?"
"I am the Headmaster of Hogwarts. I cannot surrender in the face of an external threat."
Despite his weakened state, Dippet's resolve remained unshaken.
He made his final move—
"Rise, the stone guardians!"
Hogwarts' enchanted statues began to awaken.
It was a desperate last stand.
Grindelwald sighed. "Why make this harder than it has to be? I have no intention of harming Hogwarts' students. I only want to retrieve something and leave. You must have heard of my beliefs—I do not typically harm wizards. Look around. I have not killed a single one of your professors."
Dippet's voice was cold. "Young man, no matter how much you pretend to be noble, you cannot erase the countless crimes you've committed. Do you think we don't know how many lives you've taken?"
Grindelwald sighed. "It seems there is nothing more to discuss."
The battle resumed.
Dippet, though valiant, could not last much longer.
In the end, he too collapsed.
Grindelwald approached the unconscious headmaster.
"In other places, I may kill indiscriminately," he murmured, "but in Britain… in Hogwarts… sleep well, Headmaster."
He turned and stepped into the secret passage.
Now, nothing could stop him.
Soon, he would absorb the powers hidden within and become unstoppable.
Not even Dumbledore would be able to challenge him.
The world would kneel before him.
But as he entered the chamber, something felt wrong.
His witches were gone.
Normally, they would have waited for him outside if they had found something.
Unless…
Something had happened to them.
Grindelwald tightened his grip on the Elder Wand.
He took a step forward.
The echo of his leather shoes filled the silent chamber.
Then, he saw them—
His followers, all collapsed on the ground.
His eyes narrowed.
Dumbledore?
No.
If Dumbledore had arrived, he would never have left Dippet lying outside.
Grindelwald knelt by one of his fallen witches.
Then he caught a sweet scent.
Dizziness crept into his mind.
Immediately, he waved his wand.
A violent gust of wind swept through the chamber, dispersing the drug in the air.
"A sleeping gas trap?" Grindelwald chuckled. "I see now."
He scanned the room.
"I almost forgot… there were two people missing earlier," he muttered. "Come out."
His voice echoed.
Silence.
No one appeared.
He smirked.
"Do you really think I can't see through an invisibility cloak?"
With another wave of his wand, a silver cloak was swept away.
Two trembling figures stood in the corner—Tom and Annie.
Grindelwald frowned.
Something was off.
There should have been three people under that cloak.
Where was the third?
Then—
A sharp pain shot through his back.
A soft voice whispered behind him:
"Looking for me?"
Grindelwald's eyes widened.
Somehow, Robert had appeared behind him.
His wand pressed firmly against Grindelwald's back.
"Ah… you've improved," Grindelwald chuckled. "How did you slip past my senses?"
Robert smirked. "Guess?"
"Wrong answer," Robert whispered.
"Avada—"
Grindelwald's expression darkened.
"Ha! You little bastard!"
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