Finally, the fire dissipated into nothingness.
The tree remained completely unharmed.
"What an astonishing defense," Though mentally prepared, Dumbledore could not help but express a hint of awe upon sensing it.
It should be noted that
Even though the fire-making spell had not been unleashed at full power, it would have overwhelmed most wizards. Yet this "blessed" tree remained untouched.
The immense weight of the power contained in that light was easy to imagine.
Dumbledore thought it was almost absurd that Ian might be right. This could indeed be the power of the Sun God, the God of Light.
Previously, there was Jörmungandr, the world-devouring serpent from Norse mythology.
Now, this power came from Greek mythology.
This combination of ideas from such unrelated sources, yet converging in one place, left Dumbledore perplexed. He could hardly imagine what secrets Ian might possess.
"The only one in destiny..."
Dumbledore suddenly muttered under his breath, seemingly without reason. Before Ian could ask for clarification, the Headmaster turned his thoughtful gaze toward him.
"Ian, how many beings can you influence at once with this?" Dumbledore was curious if this blessing had a single-target limitation. If not, it would be extraordinary.
"Shall I try?"
Ian didn't answer directly. Instead, he waved his wand again, letting his actions speak for themselves. The golden radiance surged outward like a tide.
It branched continuously,
Almost instantly, it covered the entire valley.
Every tree, flower, and small creature in the canyon was infused with golden light. Each being touched by the radiance began to emit a sacred aura.
"It's like holding a torch in the winter." Dumbledore lifted a curled maple leaf with the tip of his wand, and the leaf's veins radiated continuous heat.
Looking around, Dumbledore could only mutter in awe. Wherever the light passed, every blade of grass, every bush, and every stone was imbued with divine power.
Even the animals were affected.
All were blessed with the Sun God's power.
Twenty stags' antlers simultaneously glowed like tiny suns. The eldest stag raised a foreleg, and the water that sprang from its hoof left behind a scent as sweet as honey.
It was utterly dreamlike.
The entire canyon seemed transformed into a sacred mythical site.
"Briefly becoming magical creatures..." Dumbledore's eyes flickered with shock. Then, he swayed slightly, feeling as if he had glimpsed a secret about the origins of magical creatures.
Of course,
For him, even such a discovery- one that could astonish the entire wizarding world- was far less shocking than witnessing what Ian had accomplished. Every living thing in the valley was now blessed by divine power.
It was hard to imagine.
And this was just a Lumos Charm.
"What a terrifying power."
A simple Lumos Charm could create an unstoppable army. Just thinking about it sent chills down one's spine. Even Dumbledore couldn't help but silently feel relieved.
Fortunately, such power was in the hands of a wizard without ambition. If it were controlled by Voldemort or, worse, Grindelwald, Dumbledore didn't dare imagine the consequences.
It would inevitably cause true upheaval.
Blood and carnage.
He didn't even dare picture such a scene. Luckily, this power was in Ian's hands. Presumably, it would only be used on the workers in the 997 Blackhearted Workshop.
Nine-to-nine shifts with seamless workdays sounded frightening but were still easier to accept than a war between wizards and Muggles.
"Uh... Professor, look at your expression. Doesn't it seem a bit off?" Ian noticed something strange in Dumbledore's gaze: an indefinable emotion.
"Nothing."
Dumbledore shook his head calmly, his face unchanged.
He turned his attention back to the nearby animals. Suddenly, a rabbit leapt tens of meters into the air, its legs defying all logic.
Such a scene made the headmaster's heart tingle.
"Apply this influence to me. I want to experience it firsthand." Dumbledore's voice held a hint of anticipation as he voluntarily withdrew the protective magic surrounding him.
"Are you sure?" Ian was momentarily taken aback.
"Absolutely." Dumbledore smiled.
Seeing this, Ian didn't hesitate. He nodded, waved his wand, and a more concentrated golden radiance split off from the pillar of light, illuminating everything.
It surged like a tidal wave, enveloping Dumbledore completely.
"What a marvelous experience."
Dumbledore closed his eyes, fully feeling the power. Instantly, he felt a surge of immense energy coursing through his body, as if he were filled with limitless strength.
Tiny streams of light seemed to flow beneath his skin.
"This is incredible!"
In Ian's view, Dumbledore's muscles began to swell. His once-loose robes were stretched tight, until finally with a pop, they burst apart.
"Hiss~"
Ian drew a sharp breath.
Gandalf? No, this was the true Gandalf!
Albus Dumbledore had transformed into a muscle-bound old man, as if a new art style had taken over! And without a pointed wizard hat, far surpassing even the long-muscle potions invented by the Ravenclaws Ian had seen.
"An over-the-top old-man action anime style!"
Ian couldn't help but marvel.
Before him was a Dumbledore he had never seen. The Headmaster's body appeared exceptionally robust in the golden light, with muscle lines so defined that he didn't seem like a centenarian.
Even more striking, countless silver runes appeared on his skin, like an ancient seal. This was not a result of the Lumos Charm's influence.
It seemed more like a secret of the Headmaster himself being triggered.
"What is this?"
Ian's eyes widened in curiosity. He tried to interpret the runes with his knowledge, but it was like reading an alien script, they didn't belong to any magical text system he knew.
Dumbledore looked down at his body, his expression complex as he observed the runes.
"Some protective measures from long ago."
The Headmaster's explanation was brief and concise, offering no further details. He flexed his explosively large arm, and the silver runes shifted with the movement.
"Protective measures?"
Ian could feel an astonishing surge of magical power flowing through Dumbledore's body- at least three to five times stronger than usual. The silver runes greedily absorbed the golden light.
They grew brighter and brighter.
"Professor, how do you feel?" Ian asked cautiously.
"Feels like I'm eighteen again. Hmm, I was this strong at eighteen." Dumbledore joked, offering a rare moment of levity. But at that instant, another anomaly occurred.
A piercing black light suddenly flared on Dumbledore's chest.
The next moment,
The Headmaster groaned and sank to one knee, his face twisted in pain.
"Professor!"
Ian hastily withdrew his magic, and the golden light vanished instantly.
"It's nothing."
Dumbledore gasped as he stood up; his robes had somehow returned to their original state. He gently pressed his chest, where a strange scar, faint and sharp-looking, was visible.
"It seems some old injuries don't like this kind of healing," the headmaster said wryly, his voice calm again. Before Ian could ask anything, Dumbledore continued in a decisive tone:
"That's enough for today, Ian."
It was clear that Dumbledore didn't want Ian to ask any more questions.
"Understood, Professor."
Ian nodded, fully aware of the Headmaster's wishes.
However,
His mind lingered on the black mark that had appeared on Dumbledore's chest.
It looked strangely familiar.
A bit like the overlapping shape of the Deathly Hallows.
(End of chapter.)
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