"… I see."
The real scene of the audio-visual conference, in the sky above the circular open-air venue that was packed with seats, the dark gray clouds and fog had completely dissipated.
But for some reason, not even a single star could be seen in the sky.
It's a dark cloud! Thick clouds had enveloped me at some point, covering all the moonlight and starlight so tightly that nothing could penetrate.
Deep in the clouds, there was an occasional flash of blue lightning, and the scene looked like a storm was about to come.
The chests of all the spectators seemed to be pressed down by a heavy object, and even breathing became difficult.
At this moment, an eerie voice suddenly sounded, as if coming from all directions, making it difficult to judge the direction of the person coming.
But there is no doubt that someone... is coming!
"Well… "
In a corner of the auditorium, Harry suddenly felt a throbbing pain from the lightning scar on his forehead. It had been a long time since he had experienced this feeling since he had practiced Occlumency according to the notes Maka had given him.
"Harry, what's wrong?"
His friends beside him were concerned about him, but he just shook his head in confusion.
"...Gilderoy Lockhart? Interesting..."
The voice sounded in everyone's ears again, gloomy and strange. After experiencing the "audio-visual meeting" just now, the vast majority of the audience immediately thought of a certain person.
Someone whose name cannot even be mentioned.
At this moment, everyone was nervous, and they kept whispering. The uneasiness in their hearts was about to turn into action, and they escaped from this crowded venue.
But in terms of nervousness and uneasiness, Lockhart, who was standing in the center of the stage, was definitely the first to bear the brunt, especially after being called by "that person"'s name.
But…
"… So what?"
Lockhart is no longer the Lockhart he was before. In the past few years, he has experienced a lot. Especially this time, how much preparation has he made to stand here today, on this stage with all the eyes on him
Maybe he is not very powerful yet, maybe this is all a bluff. But Gilderoy Lockhart is today's protagonist. This is an indisputable fact.
It was MacLean who gave him the opportunity to gain the popularity he had always dreamed of. But this kind of popularity can't be gained by just talking, he also needs to work hard!
Everyone has a life direction that suits them best, and his direction is acting!
In the years after resigning from Hogwarts, he wandered around the Muggle world on film sets, searching for himself among cameras and sets; today, Maka gave him the opportunity to stand on the stage of this life, In this way, he performs a performance that belongs only to him.
Who says liars don’t need courage? In this world, what liar dares to deceive the Dark Lord? Deceiving the entire wizarding world
"...Voldemort... No, Tom Riddle!" Lockhart suppressed the trembling hands in his sleeves and cast an amplifying spell on himself, "Whether it is the you in the diary or the you now, there is nothing wrong with you. He's just an ordinary wizard with a twisted heart..."
—Calm down! Be calm! Today's stage is my home court!
"Mr. Riddle," he sighed softly, "do you know what you lack most?"
"What you lack - is 'love'!"
—Ahhh! Damn it, even if I am as shameless as I am, it would be difficult for me to say such pretentious lines! This script by MacLean is so embarrassing...
"snort!"
Following a vague cold snort, a large amount of black energy suddenly appeared out of thin air around the stage, swirling and spinning, and quickly gathered not far from Lockhart.
When the black energy gathered together like a whirlpool, Voldemort stepped out from it, bringing up wisps of black flowing clouds.
"'Love'?" His expression didn't look so good, and these lines carefully arranged by Maka clearly hit his sore spot, "That old man Dumbledore said so, and you said so too... 'Love' '? 'Love' what the hell is that? 'Love'... can you get out of here alive!"
Voldemort looked at Lockhart coldly, with no concealment of the ferocious flame in his eyes. The terrifying aura of having studied black magic for a long time was invisibly emitted, causing the entire audience to have a thought in their hearts: move. In one moment, you will really die!
-right! Be angry! Be angry! That guy McClain is so scary, everything is in his calculations! But... will it be okay next time
"Mr. Riddle, what you did is too extreme. You hurt many innocent people for your own desires..."
Lockhart's heart was as turbulent as the sea in a storm - he even felt guilty and wanted to curse, but on the surface he still maintained a calm and calm expression.
"To be honest, I really want to simply destroy you, just like I destroyed your remaining soul in Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets..."
At this moment, Lockhart was simply arrogant. Even though most people have a good impression of him, in terms of their true strength...
If anyone has the qualifications to say this to Voldemort, then there is no one else except Dumbledore - almost everyone here thinks so.
But Lockhart's lines continued.
"... I believe you also understand that there are many ways to destroy a person. I have to say... just taking your life will no longer satisfy me."
Having said this, Lockhart secretly gritted his teeth and took a steady step forward. It was as if he didn't even pay attention to Voldemort in front of him...
"Boom—"
Among the clouds, another bolt of lightning pierced the night sky at the right time, making the atmosphere in the venue even heavier.
These familiar words and this familiar behavior made Voldemort almost think that it was Dumbledore standing opposite him.
That's the day! That night of facing Dumbledore! Dumbledore once said something similar!
"Then go to the world of the dead to find satisfaction!"
When Lockhart took another step forward, Voldemort finally couldn't hold himself back any longer!
He didn't even take out his wand, he just stepped on it suddenly, and his whole body turned into a ball of black flames and rushed straight towards Lockhart.
-This is the moment! The first blow is also the last blow! Only this time! Is McClain's preparation okay? But you must succeed!
third step! The moment Voldemort charged towards Lockhart, Lockhart advanced instead of retreating. He gritted his teeth and took his third step!
At the moment when the black flame that Voldemort turned into was only half a step away from Lockhart, a burst of soft blue light burst out on the stage!
At the same time, clearly identifiable lines spread under Lockhart's feet, covering the entire stage surface in an instant. Countless mysterious and mysterious symbols floated up, turning and rising in the ocean of blue brilliance, revealing an intoxicating sense of beauty.
At this second, the black flames around Voldemort suddenly dissipated, revealing his true body under the black flames;
The next second, with everyone's astonished expressions on their faces, Lockhart raised his leg and kicked forward at Voldemort, who was rushing towards him due to inertia, bringing Voldemort's face into close contact with the soles of his boots.
In the next second, the faint blue light on the stage completely dissipated. Lockhart took a few steps back before standing still, but Voldemort lay directly in the center of the stage.
"oh-"
The audience was stunned for a moment, and then roared excitedly. But they had just shouted half a sentence, and then they fell silent again as if they were being strangled by the neck.
This was just because Voldemort, who was lying on the stage, erupted into more violent black flames than before. The beating black energy automatically swayed on the stage without any wind.
"good very good!"
Voldemort, covered in black flames, slowly got up, his voice distorted by extreme anger. You can imagine how violent the next attack will be.
"... I didn't expect that there are so many powerful wizards in this world." He growled in a hoarse voice, "Great! That's great!"
shame! Today, Voldemort felt unprecedented humiliation! His great Dark Lord would have his face stepped on with the sole of his shoe by a nobody!
First, he was killed by a death curse caused by an infant who was still in his infancy. Then, a child took away the magic stone. Not long ago, he was smashed into his own house by a descendant of a hidden ancient family!
And today, he was actually rubbed against his handsome face with the sole of his shoe by the bastard in front of him!
The Dark Lord was so angry that he absolutely wanted this guy who didn't know how to live or die to experience the fear of death! He wants everyone to understand that those who dare to resist his Dark Lord will only die!
However, on the other side, Lockhart stood there with his "charming" face tense, and the sweat on his palms made him unable to even clench his fists.
—McLean isn’t here yet? I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die before you show up! Still not coming out? If you don't come out, I will run away!
He was right to think so in his heart, but on the surface, he couldn't do it. Not to mention whether he can escape or not, even if there is a way to evacuate, can he escape
The liar's lies deceive others, but they restrain himself! As long as he still wants to be this "hero", he has to stand firmly on this stage and dance on the tip of the knife.
Moved! Voldemort is on the move!
As soon as he raised his hand, endless black flames swept towards Lockhart like a tsunami, turning into a black flame snake in mid-air, opening its snak and pounced on his head with astonishing momentum.
The rune pattern just now dispelled all the magic in the field. Voldemort could recover in an instant, but Lockhart could not!
Even if he wanted to fight desperately, he couldn't do it at this moment!
At this moment, Lockhart stood with his arms crossed, and the strong wind blowing against his face blew the stardust on his wizard robes, scattering a bright starlight on the stage.
—You have to fake it even to the death!