A green light flashed—Levitra's Killing Curse had been released.
However, Grindelwald was not in a hurry. The smile on his face did not fade, as if he had expected this. His coat had slipped from his shoulders at some point, and suddenly, it stiffened and flew up, wrapping around his back like a living shield.
"Puff!"
The Killing Curse struck the coat with a dull thud, but it failed to penetrate. Instead, the coat rapidly expanded, stretching toward Robert's face, obstructing his vision.
"Swoosh!"
At the same time, a red spell shot from beneath the coat toward Levitra.
"Crash!"
To Grindelwald's surprise, his spell struck nothing but air. Robert had somehow moved unnoticed, reappearing beside him.
"Crucio!"
Grindelwald raised his wand lazily and blocked the Cruciatus Curse with ease.
"You little brat," he chuckled, "you've picked up quite a few tricks. And you're very proficient in the Dark Arts. Did Dumbledore teach you, or did you learn in secret? Oh, this is interesting. What would he think if he knew?"
"If I kill you, he won't know anything about it," Robert said coldly.
"Haha! Kill me?" Grindelwald laughed, as if he had heard the most ridiculous joke of the century.
"Sizzle!"
Grindelwald tilted his head slightly, and another Killing Curse flew past him.
"You seem to have great killing intent toward me today," he remarked, smirking. "But unfortunately, you can't kill me."
"Old Deng, die! The Divine Sword has no Shadow!"
"Hmmm… An interesting spell. One I haven't seen before. Did you create it yourself?"
"Avada Kedavra!"
"Not bad, but your accuracy still needs work… Your talent is impressive, but unfortunately, talent alone can't bridge the gap in power."
"Crucio!"
Grindelwald strolled leisurely through Robert's barrage of Dark Magic, effortlessly dodging or deflecting the attacks.
"If I tell Dumbledore about your use of Dark Magic," he mused, "what would he say? Oh… his favorite, most promising student embracing the darkness… I'm looking forward to his reaction."
For a moment, Robert hesitated, staring at Grindelwald. Then he smirked.
"Since you're so eager, I'll call him back. Let's see if he believes you."
Grindelwald chuckled, his coat snapping back onto his shoulders.
"Your dear Professor Dumbledore won't be returning anytime soon. I found him a rather… interesting part-time job. But you're right about one thing—he wouldn't believe me even if I told him. What a pity."
His gaze shifted to the witches scattered across the ground.
"I trained my men carefully," he sighed. "Even if they failed in previous missions, they never suffered serious losses. I didn't expect them to fall into your hands. That drug of yours… It's quite effective, isn't it?"
Robert shrugged. "I don't know what you're talking about. I came here tonight looking for power. I never expected to run into you. If I'd known, I wouldn't have come."
"Oh? Really?" Grindelwald's eyes gleamed. "Then these drugs…"
"I planned to use them on the Forbidden Forest creatures tomorrow night… But it turns out they worked just fine here." Robert's answer was flawless.
Grindelwald's gaze swept over the fallen witches again. He had initially thought this was a trap set by Robert, that the boy had somehow seen through Anne's disguise and lured him here.
But after hearing Robert's words, he reconsidered.
If Robert had discovered Anne's true identity, why not inform Dumbledore? And how could a first-year student possibly take down his entire force alone? If Dumbledore knew, he would have sent Aurors instead of relying on a child.
Moreover, Grindelwald had given the order for Anne to lure Robert and Tom here.
He had hoped to tempt them with power, to convince them to join his cause. He had seen the desire in their eyes.
And yet, things had not gone as expected.
While he had been preoccupied with Hogwarts' professors, his men had been neutralized by Robert's drugs.
Grindelwald thought he finally understood the truth of the night's events.
"If your goal is also these magical powers, why don't we stop fighting and make a deal?" he proposed with a smile.
"What kind of deal?" Robert asked.
"You and Tom can join us," Grindelwald said smoothly. "You don't need to do so openly—just work with us in secret. If I fail, you won't be implicated. And in return… you'll get half the magical power here."
He gestured toward the fallen witches. "You've already seen the benefits of my gifts. Your spells are stronger, aren't they? This magic is incredible. So, what do you say?"
Tom, standing motionless like a statue, was tempted.
Had he not known the risks of this power, he might have eagerly accepted.
Anne, on the other hand, was seething with resentment. She had done so much for the Witch Party, yet Grindelwald was offering Robert and Tom a reward she had never received.
Still, she forced herself to remain composed. There's still half left. He'll reward me when we return… Won't he?
As Grindelwald, Tom, and Anne awaited Robert's answer, he smirked.
"Half? What a joke! If I kill you, all of this will be mine!"
With that, Robert unleashed another Killing Curse.
Grindelwald dodged with ease, still smiling. "Where do you get the confidence that you can kill me?"
Robert replied coldly, "People die when they're hit with a Killing Curse. And you… are just another person."
Grindelwald laughed. This brat is usually sharp, so why is he spouting nonsense tonight?
"Haha… Fine. Come on, then. Show me if you can kill me."
Despite his words, Grindelwald refrained from using lethal spells. He simply wanted to subdue Robert and talk.
Spells flew through the chamber.
Yet, oddly enough, it was Grindelwald casting defensive spells, while Robert wielded an onslaught of eerie green magic.
As the leader of the Dark Wizards, Grindelwald had never fought like a White Wizard before… and he didn't like it.
And then, something strange happened.
Robert was proving surprisingly difficult to deal with.
It wasn't that he was overwhelmingly powerful—it was that Grindelwald's spells kept missing.
A minute passed. Then another. Grindelwald frowned.
No matter how inaccurate I am, my spells can't miss by this much.
And yet, Robert's spells weren't hitting him either.
So what was the boy playing at?
Then it clicked.
He's stalling for time.
A sudden chill ran down Grindelwald's spine.
Could this be Dumbledore's trap?
Was Robert simply a distraction?
No… That didn't make sense. If Dumbledore had planned this, he would have been at Hogwarts, not away in America.
Then what was this?
Had Robert sent a message to Dumbledore, trying to hold him off until he returned?
Grindelwald smirked. "You're trying to delay me… But do you really think you can?"
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