[Third Person Pov]
Arthur was panting heavily, sweat pouring down his brow as his chest rose and fell in ragged bursts. His muscles screamed in protest as he tried to steady his breathing.
'Apart from running dangerously low on magic,' he thought through clenched teeth, 'I'm also running out of stamina. It's just been nonstop—one fight after another with no chance to rest.'
He forced himself out of his thoughts just in time. A claw lashed out and grazed his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. Arthur twisted his body instinctively, using the creature's own momentum against it, deflecting the rest of the strike away before it could tear into him. The impact rattled his arms, but he held firm.
Merlin appeared in a blur of motion beside him, driving her sword forward with deadly precision, aiming straight for the monster's heart. The blade barely pierced the Gorgon's thick, scale-covered chest before it stopped short as with a snarl, the creature caught the sword in its massive hand.
For a split second it seemed to have her trapped—but Merlin reacted instantly. She yanked her weapon free in a sharp arc, the edge slicing across the monster's palm and carving it open. Dark blood spilled forth.
The Gorgon screeched in pain, and before Merlin could react, it flung the burning blood toward her. She instinctively raised her arms to shield her face, but the liquid splattered across her sleeve and skin.
"Ahh!" Merlin cried out, wincing as the blood burned like acid. Her clothes hissed and dissolved where it landed, the fabric curling and disintegrating before her eyes.
"Arghhh!" Arthur roared as he charged in, slashing his sword across the Gorgon's entire back with all the strength he could muster.
The beast howled in fury and pain, spinning around with terrifying speed. Its massive arm whipped out, backhanding Arthur and sending him flying through the air. He hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind from his lungs as he skidded across the icy stone.
Arthur lay there gasping, vision swimming, as the other three warriors drew the Gorgon's attention away from him. He raised a trembling hand, still struggling to breathe, and forced himself to focus. Magic gathered in his palms as he whispered the incantation.
[Tier 2 Magic: Flash Freeze!]
A violent burst of violet-tinged cold exploded outward, engulfing the creature in a layer of hardened ice. Frost crawled across its scales, locking its joints and forcing its movements to slow and stiffen.
But the Gorgon was relentless. The more it thrashed and attacked, the more cracks appeared in the ice. With brute strength and savage rage, it began tearing itself free.
From a distance, the golden trio watched anxiously as Arthur staggered back to his feet and rejoined the battle. Merlin quickly caught on to his strategy and began channeling ice magic of her own, synchronizing her spells with his.
Blasts of cold and razor-sharp ice shot through the air in chaotic arcs. Arthur, conserving what little magic he had left, cast sparingly—but even so, massive chunks of ice were sent flying as the beast smashed through their attacks with raw power.
"I thought Mer-lynn said magic was useless against that thing," Harry whispered cautiously.
They watched helplessly as their friends were hurled through the air, slammed into the ground, and battered again and again—only to stubbornly rise and throw themselves back into the fight.
Gwyneth's face was streaked with tears, her arms and knees scraped and bleeding, yet she gritted her teeth and forced herself upright once more, refusing to stay down.
"They're not trying to attack it with magic," Hermione said, chewing anxiously on her lip.
"Harry, give Hermione your glasses," Ron said, wrapping his arms around himself as he shivered. "I think she's losing her vision. Hermione, they're throwing bloody ice at it—what else is that if not magic?"
Ron sniffed and shuddered. "Couldn't they use something warmer? I'm freezing half to death over here."
"No, you dunce, that's the point," Hermione snapped. "They're not battling it with raw magic—they're using logic. Snakes are cold-blooded creatures. The cold makes them sluggish, sleepy. They're trying to put it to sleep."
Suddenly, Gwyneth slipped on the slick, ice-covered ground and let out a startled squeak. The Gorgon seized the opportunity and lunged toward her.
Frozen in fear, she stared at the towering monster—until Lance slid in front of her at the last second, throwing his body over hers to shield her from the attack.
Both Lance and Gwyneth squeezed their eyes shut, bracing themselves for the worst.
Instead, Merlin's voice rang out sharply, filled with irritation.
"I'm surrounded by nothing but idiots. One of you decided to fight with your eyes closed, and the other suddenly thought playing hero was a good idea."
The Gorgon pounded furiously against an invisible barrier surrounding Lance and Gwyneth, each blow threatening to shatter it. Then it paused, turning its head toward Merlin, realizing she was the source of the spell. It growled deeply, frosty breath spilling from its jaws.
As it began crawling toward her, a sudden flash of light caught its attention.
The monster snapped its head around to see Arthur standing firm, feet planted, sword raised in a perfect stance. He gripped the hilt with both hands as magic visibly surged along the blade, wrapping it in crackling energy.
This better work, Arthur thought grimly, tightening his grip. Because I'm betting every last scrap of magic I have left on this spell.
[Tier 3 Magic: Reinforcement] + [Tier 3 Magic: Flying Edge] = [Tier 4 Magic: Lunar Slash!]
Arthur swung his blade with every ounce of strength he had left. Magic roared through the steel as he completed the arc, and a massive crescent-shaped slash erupted from the sword in the form of a crescent moon, glowing with residual heat as it tore through the air and slammed head-on into the Gorgon.
The Gorgon twisted its body in a desperate attempt to evade the attack, scales scraping as it turned—but it wasn't fast enough. The crescent blade struck diagonally across its torso, carving a brutal gash from shoulder to hip. The force of the blow lifted the monster clean off its feet and sent it hurtling across the dungeon hall.
"AHHHH!!" Hermione, Harry, and Ron screamed in unison as they dove wildly out of the way.
'Merlin's illusion spell was too effective!' Arthur realized in sudden horror. 'I forgot where they were hiding!!'
The entire dungeon shook violently as the Gorgon was slammed into the far wall. Stone cracked and buckled on impact. Blood erupted like a geyser from the monster's open wound, spraying across the stone floor and pouring from its mouth as its eyes rolled briefly to the back of its head.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione lay sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably, fear and adrenaline making their limbs shake. The ancient walls of Hogwarts were now gouged by a massive blade arc burned into the stone, faintly hissing with heat. At the center of the destruction, the Gorgon slumped forward, the glowing crescent cut burned deep across its torso, blood flowing freely and pooling at its feet.
"B-bloody hell…" Ron stuttered, his voice breaking as he whimpered. "I—I nearly soiled myself. That was absolutely terrifying."
Arthur's relief lasted only a second.
He noticed movement.
The snakes atop the Gorgon's head began to stir—slowly, almost imperceptibly. Its fingers twitched, claws scraping weakly against the stone.
"Everyone move!!" Arthur shouted. "It's still alive!"
They scrambled to their feet in panic, but even grievously wounded, the Gorgon was faster. With a sudden, serpentine lunge, it struck out, fingers snapping around Harry's neck as it dragged itself upright.
"Harry… Potter…" it hissed, its voice cracked and distorted, yet disturbingly clear as its near-death state brought a moment of twisted lucidity.
"Urgh!" Harry grunted, grabbing at the creature's arm as it tightened its grip.
"AARGHH!" the beast shrieked suddenly, releasing him and stumbling backward.
Everyone stared in shock.
Burn marks sizzled across the Gorgon's scales where it had touched Harry—and where Harry had touched it. Smoke curled from its flesh. Harry clutched his forehead, gasping in pain as his scar throbbed violently.
Arthur and Merlin locked eyes.
They both smirked.
Without a word, they rushed forward together. While the Gorgon reeled in confusion, they slashed in perfect synchronization, blades slicing cleanly through its Achilles tendons.
The creature collapsed with a roar of agony.
"Everyone, pin him down! Now!" Arthur commanded.
The snakes on the Gorgon's head hissed and began to lash out—but Hermione reacted instantly. With a sharp motion of her hand, she cast the same spell Quirrell had once used on them. Thick magical ropes erupted into existence, ensnaring the serpents and forcing them into a tight, tangled bundle.
"You brats! What do you think you're doing?!" the Gorgon snarled, thrashing violently.
Ron, heart pounding, threw himself forward and pinned the crook of Quirrell's arm beneath his knee.
"AHH!" Arthur yelled as he drove his sword straight through the Gorgon's palm, embedding it into the stone floor.
Merlin mirrored him on the opposite side, her blade pinning the other hand down.
"AARGGGH!!" the Gorgon roared, thrashing furiously, trying to wrench itself free.
Hermione rushed in to help Merlin hold her sword steady, while Ron leaned his weight onto Arthur's blade to keep it pinned.
Gwyneth and Lance charged in without hesitation.
Lance raised his sword and drove it straight through the Gorgon's kneecap.
"Oh god, oh god—" Gwyneth gagged, face pale as she stabbed her rapier into the opposite knee. "Ugh—I think I'm going to puke!"
Then, in perfect unison, they all shouted:
"HARRY! TOUCH HIM!"
Harry snapped out of rubbing his scar and lunged forward.
"No—let go of me!!" the Gorgon hissed desperately. "With my master and I as one, we are invincible!!"
"If you're invincible," Arthur shot back, breathless, "how come we can still see you?"
"Wha—?"
"IGNORE HIM, BY THE DEVIL!" Merlin snapped.
Harry pressed both hands firmly over the Gorgon's face.
The creature shrieked, thrashing violently as smoke poured from its flesh.
"AHHH! IT BURNS! MASTER! MASTER HELP ME!!"
"The power of Christ compels you!" Arthur shouted dramatically as they watched Quirrell's body begin to blacken, scales and skin cracking and crumbling into ash.
"Arthur! Zip it!!" Merlin barked, glaring at him.
"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! Be banished to where thou came from, unholy creature!!"
Ron stared at Arthur in disbelief. "Mate… have you been hit in the head too many times?"
The Gorgon let out one final, strangled scream before collapsing completely, its body disintegrating into a lifeless pile of ash beneath them.
"Can I get an amen!!" Arthur shouted triumphantly—then immediately slumped backward, collapsing onto the cold stone floor.
Lance and Gwyneth clutched their stomachs, laughing helplessly in relief and at Arthur's ridiculous performance.
'I'm too tired…' Arthur thought dimly. 'Used too much magic… I'll just close my eyes for a few seconds…'
As darkness crept in, the last thing he heard before losing consciousness was everyone shouting in panic:
"HARRY!!"
'Hey… I'm going under too, you know—'
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