The battle intensified. The Kunlun students, sensing a weakness in Hogwarts' defense, pressed their advantage aggressively. With their magical reserves dwindling, the Hogwarts students were in a desperate situation.
Penelope, maintaining a constant Shield Charm, looked pale. "Charlotte, we can't sustain this! My magic is nearly exhausted!"
Cedric nodded grimly. "The Eastern side is depleted too, but they maintain numerical superiority. Even without magic, their physical capabilities are overwhelming. We need a new strategy."
Charlotte understood he was correct. Hogwarts was being systematically ground down, suffering slow defeat through attrition. The Eastern warriors weren't rushing; they were simply waiting, wearing them out methodically. Everyone recognized that if this continued, Hogwarts was doomed. Without magic, they were defenseless before the Eastern forces.
On the Eastern side, the Kunlun students were already celebrating internally. It appeared the first round was theirs.
Charlotte observed the enemy's relentless assault. Suddenly, an idea sparked. She lowered her voice and whispered urgently to her teammates. The Hogwarts students looked startled.
"Are we really attempting that?" Penelope asked, her voice trembling slightly. "With our magical levels? We might lose control completely!"
"There's no alternative," Charlotte said firmly. "It's our only chance to prevail. Slowly succumbing here guarantees failure. Besides, with Mr. Cavendish monitoring us, we'll be protected."
Everyone nodded. Cedric clenched his fist. "Let's do it. We can't lose like this. We have to trust Charlotte—and Mr. Cavendish."
Across the arena, Sunny Finch noticed the shift in Hogwarts' formation. Her brow furrowed.
"Everyone, be vigilant!" she warned. "I believe they're about to unleash something powerful!"
The Eastern students tensed, raising their defensive postures. Charlotte's eyes turned icy. She took a sudden, aggressive step forward.
The Eastern students reacted instinctively, bracing for a direct confrontation. Sunny Finch hefted her war hammer.
But then, Sunny Finch realized the deception. "No! Retreat!"
It was too late.
"Now!" Charlotte commanded. "Impedimenta Maxima!"
Every Hogwarts competitor cast the spell simultaneously. Vines erupted from the ground. But instead of attacking the Kunlun students directly, they grew rapidly in front of and behind the enemy, encircling them completely.
The spectators in the Great Hall were confused.
"What is that strategy?"
"Did the spell misfire?"
"What are they planning?"
Hermione watched the screen, frowning intensely. Suddenly, her eyes widened. "Fire! They're establishing a fire trap!"
The professors on the podium had already recognized the tactic. They had witnessed similar strategies before.
Professor McGonagall laughed. "These students are shameless! Deploying such a massive conflagration in a confined space!"
Grindelwald took a sip of his coffee. "With Erwin supervising, nothing will go catastrophically wrong."
The other professors nodded in agreement.
The Kunlun elder shook his head gravely. It was a desperate situation. Using fire in such a confined space against a numerically superior enemy was extraordinarily reckless. Sunny Finch hadn't even comprehended their intent yet. That placed them at a severe disadvantage.
That girl, Charlotte, was exceptionally cunning. She had deliberately allowed Sunny Finch to observe them "discussing a desperate plan." She baited the Eastern side into anticipating a last-stand confrontation. When Sunny Finch tensed for that engagement, Charlotte seized the moment of hesitation to steal the initiative.
The Hogwarts students completed the vine barrier, eliminating all escape routes.
Sunny Finch finally comprehended. "Water magic! Deploy everything you have! They're going to incinerate us!"
Charlotte's lips curled into a knowing smirk.
Too late.
Ordinary fire is extinguished by water. But Fiendfyre?
Charlotte raised her wand, channeling her last reserves of magic. "Fiendfyre!"
A massive eruption of flame burst from her wand. Behind her, the Hogwarts students poured their remaining magic into the attack.
"Confringo Barrage!"
The explosion of fire was instantly consumed by the Fiendfyre. The flames twisted, morphing into a massive, roaring crimson dragon. It lunged toward Sunny Finch and her team.
Sunny Finch moved with blinding speed. A runic array illuminated beneath her feet.
"Attack formation!" she roared, slamming her hammer into the ground. Her hands wove intricate seals, drawing moisture from the surrounding air. The disciples behind her channeled their remaining magic forward.
The array flared brilliantly, transferring their collective power to Sunny Finch. The water surged, coalescing into a serpentine dragon—a divine beast of the East. It roared, meeting the Fiendfyre dragon head-on.
Sunny Finch staggered, nearly collapsing. The Eastern students behind her fell to their knees, pale and completely spent. The Hogwarts side was in identical condition. Charlotte braced herself against the wall, gasping for breath.
Every eye in the arena was fixed on the collision of water and fire in the center. It was a clash of everyone's remaining strength.
The fire dragon and the water dragon locked in mid-air. For a moment, they were perfectly matched—an absolute stalemate.
Sunny Finch's eyes lit up. We blocked it!
But she frowned. If Charlotte was deploying fire... why establish the vine barrier?
Sunny Finch's eyes widened in horror. She opened her mouth to shout a warning, but Charlotte was faster.
Charlotte flicked her wand with her last ounce of strength.
"Finite!"
The fire dragon exploded. Not from the water's impact, but by Charlotte's own command. The Fiendfyre burst apart, scattering sparks everywhere.
Freed from opposition, the massive water dragon—now carrying the full momentum of both elemental forces—charged directly toward the exhausted Hogwarts group.