Thick black mist began to rise from Cho Chang's body, and the struggle on the ground came to an abrupt halt. His eyes turned a piercing shade of scarlet, and his pale face started to distort, just like when David had consumed the Polyjuice Potion.
The transformation continued until Cho Chang was no longer recognizable. His features stretched unnaturally, his chin sharpened, and his nose flattened until only two slits remained in its place.
With a sharp motion, Voldemort took control, moving his head twice before tearing off Cho Chang's scarf, revealing a smooth, hairless head. He adjusted to Cho Chang's body quickly, as though he had been waiting for this moment.
"I'll give you a chance," Voldemort hissed, his voice slithering through the cold night air. "Kneel and submit to the great Dark Lord, and I shall spare your life."
His scarlet eyes bore into David with an eerie mixture of appreciation and resentment.
He resented David for interfering with his plans but could not deny the strength the young wizard had displayed. Right now, Voldemort was in desperate need of loyal followers. Each new recruit would strengthen his return, increasing his chances of success tenfold.
Moreover, Cho Chang's body was failing. This host wouldn't last long. It would be wise to prepare another vessel in advance.
"Dark Lord?" David's lips curled into a smirk, his wand twirling between his fingers. "You mean the one who was defeated by a baby ten years ago? The one who disappeared like a coward? Where did you hide all this time? A stinking sewer, perhaps?"
Voldemort's face twisted with fury.
"You dare—"
Before he could finish, David flicked his wand, and a stone on the ground transformed into a small monkey. The creature grabbed the dragon egg box from David's hands and leaped into the dense forest, vanishing into the shadows.
David had no intention of running. His goal was clear—he wanted to draw Voldemort out.
The last time he had encountered danger and responded with force, he had gained a significant achievement. If he could directly repel Voldemort now, there was no doubt he would be rewarded once again.
Voldemort was weak. If there was ever a time to attack, it was now.
"Looking for death!" Voldemort trembled with rage.
For years, people had cowered in fear before him. No one had dared to insult him so openly since he first rose to power. Those who had tried were long dead—nothing but ashes now.
"Avada Kedavra!"
A burst of green light shot toward David, far stronger and faster than anything Cho Chang could have conjured.
Yet, just as the curse was about to strike, David vanished. The deadly light continued forward, hitting the ground behind him and leaving a smoldering crater in its wake.
Voldemort's eyes narrowed.
Though David had disappeared from sight, Voldemort could still sense his magic, darting through the shadows of the forest.
"Heh." Voldemort sneered, his tongue flicking out unnaturally long before curling back.
Then, without warning, he opened his mouth and released a massive surge of orange-red flames. The fire roared to life, spreading in all directions, setting the trees ablaze.
No more shadows.
Let's see how you move now, boy.
But Voldemort had miscalculated.
From within the raging inferno, David stepped forward. His entire body was surrounded by an even brighter, hotter fire—flames that bent to his will.
Voldemort's eyes flickered with interest, but his expression quickly darkened.
He had made a mistake.
The boy was stronger than expected.
Waving his wand sharply, Voldemort gathered his magic. The fire around him surged and twisted, forming into a massive serpent made of flames.
The fiery snake slithered forward at breakneck speed, jaws wide open, ready to consume David in a single strike.
But just before the serpent could strike, a wolf made of fire leaped into the air and intercepted it, sinking its blazing teeth into the snake's neck.
The two creatures clashed violently. The wolf bit and tore, its massive paws striking again and again, while the snake coiled around it, squeezing tighter.
Voldemort's gaze darkened.
Cho Chang's body shuddered beneath the weight of his magic. His skin had begun to wrinkle, and his complexion was deathly pale.
"Enough."
With a final flick of his wand, Voldemort detonated the fiery snake.
The explosion was deafening.
The blast tore through the ground, leaving a molten crater. The magic wolf was obliterated, scattering into countless embers.
A massive wall of fire rose between Voldemort and David, the shockwave rippling outward.
David stared at the destruction and exhaled sharply.
Voldemort didn't care about Cho Chang's life at all. Each powerful spell drained the host body further. David could see it—Cho Chang's already frail form growing weaker with each passing second.
Fine.
Let's see how much of your own vitality you're willing to burn, Voldemort.
Without hesitation, David raised his wand. The fire around him surged like a tidal wave, crashing toward Voldemort with immense force.
Voldemort's eyes flashed, and he quickly gathered his own flames, forming them into a burning sphere.
At the last moment, he detonated it, sending an explosive force back toward David.
The two waves of fire collided, roaring as they consumed each other, each struggling for dominance.
From within the flames, fiery ravens took flight, their wings alight with golden-red embers.
Voldemort countered swiftly.
A massive serpent, larger than before, emerged from his flames, swallowing the ravens one by one.
Miles away, Dennis and the other two onlookers watched in stunned horror.
Even from this distance, they could see the sky painted in fire.
What kind of battle was happening over there?
And why hadn't Dumbledore or the other Hogwarts professors intervened yet?
"Avada Kedavra!"
Another green light tore through the flames, this time thick as a tree trunk, crackling with terrifying power.
David had no doubts—Voldemort was fighting desperately now.
The sheer force of the Killing Curse was comparable to the one used when Voldemort had attacked Hogwarts.
Cho Chang's body was near its limit. His skin had tightened like parchment, his limbs trembling violently.
Yet it was still not enough.
A black wolf leaped out from David's shadow, swallowing the green light in one bite.
The spell exploded within the wolf's chest, tearing it apart, but Voldemort froze.
Killing one created two more.
This was madness!
The black wolves surged forward, their blood-red eyes gleaming in the firelight.
David lifted his wand like a conductor leading an orchestra.
The flames began to condense.
Voldemort's instincts screamed at him—something massive was forming within the inferno.
Then he saw it.
A fire giant, towering over a hundred meters tall, its body pulsing with molten lava.
It held a sword of flames, its tip pointed directly at Voldemort.
David swung his wand.
The fire giant followed.
The enormous sword fell, slicing through the air with deadly precision.
Defense was impossible. Cho Chang's body was too weak to withstand it.
Dodge? The attack was too wide.
"Clang!"
A high-pitched screech echoed as a blinding white bird shot through the flames.
A tall figure appeared beside it, his long silver beard flowing in the wind.
David's expression remained unreadable.
Time to go.
Reaching down, he grabbed the chain at his waist.
In an instant, his body twisted and vanished.
A Portkey.
Dumbledore stood frozen, taking in the destruction before him.
He had arrived too late.
The ground was scorched, trees reduced to ash, and a massive lava lake stretched 300 meters across.
His eyes flickered toward Cho Chang.
The host body lay motionless, missing an arm, barely breathing.
Voldemort had survived.
But just barely.
(End of Chapter 62)
----------------
Visit our Patreon for more:
patreon.com/Johnwick007