In fact, it wasn't that he didn't want to act; it was simply because back then, he had just transmigrated and was still quite weak...
Even if he could see through the underlying code of this world, his pitiful mental strength was often useless in practical situations, whether it was in a fight or for research...
Thus, to establish a foothold among the Death Eaters, he could only rely on his own wits and those sinister, ruthless methods.
Although Dumbledore often said Voldemort had lost himself in his pursuit of power, Victor sometimes found himself envying that very strength.
Having great power meant many problems didn't require such effort to solve. That was the simple truth.
Because of this, Victor had been constantly training his mental strength to truly 'develop' and become more powerful.
Today, he finally possessed enough ability to protect himself, even reaching a level where he could, to some extent, suppress a wizard like Grindelwald.
But it still wasn't enough!
On his current foundation, if he wanted to grow stronger quickly in the short term, potions were undoubtedly one of the best options.
Therefore, he had tried to devise several potion formulas. Without exception, they were all combat-oriented potions meant to temporarily enhance his own abilities.
These potions could increase the consumer's speed, strength, magic, mental power, and even physical durability.
Beyond that, he even wanted to research Felix Felicis.
Anyone with a basic understanding of Potions knew the effects of Felix Felicis; it was a liquid luck that enhanced the consumer's abilities across the board, making everything they did go smoothly.
'If I can decipher the magical effects Felix Felicis has on a wizard,' he wondered, 'could I recompile that effect using code and turn it into a permanent state, a constant buff?'
It was a brilliant idea. Once realized, Victor would effectively gain a permanent 'blessing' buff, achieving a comprehensive enhancement in the truest sense.
Ten years ago, Victor had this idea, but his mental strength was too weak then. He couldn't deconstruct a magical effect of that caliber, so he had to set it aside.
Now, however, it was different. His mental strength was sufficient... and with Voldemort's return imminent, he could finally put this plan into action.
So, when Victor handed the formulas to Snape, he also bought a bottle of Felix Felicis.
After letting his dog, Lucky, out to wander on his own, Victor uncorked the bottle and dripped a single drop of Felix Felicis into his mouth...
The potion vanished the moment it touched his tongue, followed by a truly peculiar sensation!
Victor felt his thoughts become exceptionally sharp; even his movements became incredibly precise.
Most importantly, he discovered that his intuition seemed to be directly amplified by the potion!
Victor pulled a mirror over, preparing to observe the rune sequences appearing on himself.
However, just as he was about to look closer, his attention was inexplicably drawn to his pocket.
Then, as if possessed, he reached in and pulled out the Philosopher's Stone...
"The Philosopher's Stone..." Victor's brow furrowed slightly.
A powerful premonition made him want to do something right now...
Victor knew that after taking Felix Felicis, it was best not to fight the inspiration it provided.
So, he temporarily abandoned his observation of the rune sequences.
Obediently, he pulled out a rarely used cauldron, took out a large pile of materials from his collection, and followed the recipe Nicolas Flamel had given him to begin brewing the Elixir of Life...
The very same potion that had allowed Nicolas Flamel to live for centuries.
Logically, for a theoretical potion specialist like Victor, successfully brewing something as advanced as the Elixir of Life should have been difficult.
But this time, his hands were steady and his mind was incredibly clear. On his very first try, he miraculously brewed the Elixir of Life.
In truth, Victor still didn't know why the Felix Felicis had prompted him to brew this potion, as theoretically, it shouldn't have any effect on him...
An hour later, as Victor scrutinized a bottle of red potion, he suddenly felt an urge to drink it.
Victor didn't hesitate. Following the prompt from the Felix Felicis, he swallowed the potion.
In an instant, a warm current spread from his stomach to his limbs!
Victor felt a surge of vitality, which instantly restored his weary body to its peak state!
But a moment later, this life force acting on his body slowly detached from his flesh and began to seep into his soul...
'So that's how it is...' Almost ninety-nine percent of the Elixir of Life's power acted on the soul, maintaining its state and preventing decay, but it did very little for the physical body.
No wonder Nicolas Flamel could live so long with a clear mind, yet his body remained decrepit...
Victor guessed this was perhaps because the primary 'energy source' of the Philosopher's Stone was soul power, which is why the main effect landed on the soul.
Suddenly, Victor froze as he noticed something even more important...
His soul was being nourished by the potion, and with it... came a rapid growth in his mental strength!
At that moment, Victor finally understood why the Felix Felicis had prompted him to drink the Elixir of Life.
The Elixir's greatest benefit for him wasn't longevity, but the expansion of the mental strength he had been working so hard to increase!
Victor's method of becoming stronger differed from traditional wizards. He didn't rely on increasing his magic power; it was specifically his mental strength!
The stronger his mental strength, the more powerful the magic he could deconstruct and recompile!
The growth of his mental strength came to a halt, but that brief thirty-second burst was equivalent to three or four years of his previous arduous training!
Victor excitedly picked up the cauldron, preparing to brew more.
But a fragment of memory suddenly flashed through his mind.
It was a moment from his conversation with Nicolas Flamel, where a specific sentence resurfaced.
"The Elixir of Life can only be consumed once a year..."
Victor sighed and put the cauldron down. He knew this was the effect of the Felix Felicis.
While Liquid Luck enhanced a person's abilities across the board, it also allowed them to maintain their rationality...
If Victor hadn't taken the Felix Felicis and had discovered the effects of the Elixir of Life by chance, he would have surely lost his head and kept drinking.
In that case, the consequences would have been unthinkable...
At that thought, Victor put away the cauldron and the Philosopher's Stone.
Although he couldn't keep drinking it to continuously increase his mental strength, a massive annual boost still made his future look incredibly promising!
And the current increase was already enough...
If the current Victor faced Grindelwald again, he would be able to hold his own even without the home-field advantage.
The profound rationality brought by the Felix Felicis quickly ended Victor's daydreaming, and he refocused his attention on the magical effects of the potion itself.
Its duration was twelve hours; he still had plenty of time for research.
However, his gaze involuntarily fell upon the keyboard next to the mirror...
"Wait... could it be that I have yet another stroke of luck coming!?"
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