The Corrosion Curse and the Fear Curse—the effects of these two spells could be understood literally.
The former entangled the target with curse energy, using the power of the curse to achieve a corrosive effect.
The latter involved the application of mental power, though essentially, it was still a curse-type spell.
Through the study of these two spells, Kyle could touch upon the gateway to converting magical power into curse energy.
This was also Grindelwald's purpose in teaching him these two spells.
On the foundation of curse energy, the third spell, Shadowburn, involved even more profound techniques of magical nature transformation.
The spell Shadowburn was created by Grindelwald specifically for Kyle.
Its principle was to convert magical power from its original non-elemental state into a gloom attribute bearing strong Dark Magic characteristics, using dark magical power to erode the target.
After learning the Shadowburn spell, Kyle would be considered to have basically mastered the technique of magical nature transformation.
It was just that, for some reason, these three clearly systematic spells always reminded Kyle of a certain "bad luck" class from a game in his previous life—the Warlock who tinkered with Fel energy.
Looking at the blackboard in front of him, Kyle fell into deep thought.
After learning these spells... he shouldn't... become unlucky, right?
Summoning a water mirror, Kyle looked at the reflection within: blonde hair and blue eyes, a standard European appearance.
Forget it. He didn't believe that the bloodlines of Grindelwald and Dumbledore—the two Dark and Light Lords—could fail to withstand the bad luck curse of a Warlock.
Let's do this! Ollie-give!
Regarding magical nature transformation, Kyle actually had some foundation.
Previously in New York, when he was fumbling around alone with what he thought was Ninjutsu, he managed to whip up two styles: Water Release and Earth Release.
Later, after arriving at Hogwarts, under Professor Flitwick's guidance, he successfully mastered the other three: Fire, Lightning, and Wind, completing the Five Basic Nature Transformations.
Also, while in France, in the records of Ancient Magic he saw in the castle library... there were also descriptions of elemental magic.
With so many prerequisites, Kyle already had some scattered understanding of magical nature transformation.
Today, under Grindelwald's systematic explanation, his understanding reached a new level.
Therefore, Kyle quickly mastered the Corrosion Curse and the Fear Curse, which counted as introductory curses.
By the time he went to bed that night, from the mental power application aspect of the Fear Curse, Kyle had grasped by analogy the technique of casting the Fear Curse through eye contact.
Kyle stroked his chin and thought, if Draco dared to provoke him the way he provoked Harry, couldn't he now scare Draco into wetting his pants with just a look?
If given more time to study the Fear Curse, Kyle believed he could soon unlock the entire system of Genjutsu.
When the time came, things like Tsukuyomi or Kotoamatsukami... he could try them all.
However, researching the Fear Curse was not Kyle's primary task at the moment.
The most urgent thing right now was to first grope for the gateway to converting magical power into curse energy through the Corrosion and Fear Curses, and then further master the Shadowburn spell.
By the afternoon of the next day, Kyle had pretty much mastered the use of curse energy.
He no longer had to stick to the specific forms of the Corrosion and Fear Curses; as long as he wished, he could imbue his magical power with the destructive and corrosive properties of curse energy.
The astonishing talent Kyle displayed made Grindelwald look at him with a hint of surprise.
It must be known that when he learned this back in the day, it took him nearly a full week.
Although he didn't have a teacher guiding him then, relying purely on his own exploration and discussions with Dumbledore.
But even with a teacher's guidance, Grindelwald didn't think he could have mastered this in a single day—it would have taken two or three days at least.
Did this mean Kyle's talent was two to three times his own? Or rather, greater than or equal to the sum of him and Dumbledore combined?
Mathematical genius Grindelwald felt very satisfied with the conclusion he had reached. Nothing made him happier than having a worthy successor.
In the training room, Kyle flicked his wand lightly. A mass of dark gray mist poured from the tip of his wand, crossing a distance of seven or eight meters to envelop an alchemy puppet.
The wooden shell of the alchemy puppet rotted rapidly amidst the swirling dark gray mist, until finally, it turned into a pile of scattered debris.
Kyle stroked his chin, pondering: How could he transform it into the Shadow Magic Grindelwald described, based on the foundation of curse energy?
Eh, wait!
Why did he have to perform the transformation on the foundation of curse energy?
Magical power that has already undergone one nature transformation is no longer pure.
Trying to make it react and precisely transform into another substance while impurities exist would increase the difficulty exponentially.
Grindelwald had him learn the Fear Curse and Corrosion Curse only to familiarize him with the process of magical nature transformation. He had walked into a misconception from the very start.
After stepping out of this mental trap, Kyle's progress in learning magical nature transformation became very fast.
Before Alfred came to the training room to call him to the dining hall for dinner, Kyle successfully converted his first wisp of Shadow Magic.
"Dad, I succeeded. When can we start the next phase of learning?"
Watching that wisp of Shadow Magic dancing at Kyle's fingertips as if it had a life of its own, Grindelwald's eyebrow twitched slightly.
He knew his son's magical talent was good, but wasn't this a bit too good?
He originally estimated it would take Kyle a week to master magical nature transformation. He didn't expect that after just one night and one day, his son would come running to report that he had mastered it.
Dumbledore was fully focused on dealing with the pudding on his plate and said without lifting his head:
"A young wizard of your age had best not bite off more than he can chew. Master what you've learned recently first."
Grindelwald nodded in agreement, but then he realized—I'm the one teaching my son, what business is it of yours, Dumbledore?
The old Dark Lord narrowed his eyes, his gaze piercing coldly toward the old bee beside him.
Kyle retracted the wisp of Shadow Magic from his fingertip and looked up at Grindelwald.
"But Dad, you still haven't taught me Apparition, which is what I want to learn the most."
As if he hadn't noticed Grindelwald's gaze, Dumbledore spoke up quickly, taking over the heavy responsibility of educating the younger generation before Grindelwald could.
"I'll teach you in a moment."
Grindelwald let out a cold snort. For such a small matter, he wouldn't go so far as to shamelessly fight Dumbledore for it.
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