Chapter 410: The final words come at a critical moment
Sizzle~
Three Death Eaters lay on the ground, twitching occasionally, a sickening smell wafting from their charred bodies.
"Ghost Crystal, Thunderbird tail feather, triple enchantment. It was worth all the effort I put into making this bullet.
But now I truly have no strength left. You win."
Aaron let out a bitter laugh and lay on the ground, completely ungracefully.
He seemed to be giving up and surrendering, but the remaining dozen or so Death Eaters exchanged glances, not daring to approach.
After all, the previous examples were still lying there, weren't they?
One wanted to snatch credit, showing impatience, and died carelessly.
The other three were a bit more cautious, casting Stupefyfrom afar, but their outcome wasn't much better; it would probably take a year or two for them to recover.
Lucius hesitated for a moment, then strode over to Aaron, confiscating his wand and flintlock pistol.
"I can only ensure that you won't be harmed to the maximum extent, but beyond that, I can't help."
"So, I guess I should thank you?" Aaron rolled his eyes.
"Of course, this is for my son's sake," Lucius said, pulling him up from the ground. With his back to the others, he mouthed: "Location."
Aaron immediately understood. Lucius meant that he would find out Aaron's detention location and then inform the Gaius family, who would then come to rescue him.
Lucius led Aaron to Lord Voldemort, then stood respectfully to the side, saying nothing.
Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor were also brought here by Barty Crouch Jr. Although they were also tied to pillars, their treatment was slightly better than Harry's.
"Well done, Lucius," Lord Voldemort said meaningfully. "Even if your loyalty to me has not wavered, your ability disappoints me greatly; thirteen years with no results.
However, Lord Voldemort never goes back on his word. The debts of the past thirteen years are wiped clean. What reward do you desire?"
"This subordinate dares not ask for anything. I only wish to fulfill my master's commands and achieve our magic path as soon as possible."
"You are quite smooth, but I like to hear that," Lord Voldemort chuckled, then walked up to Aaron. "A fifteen-year-old student, causing more than a third of my subordinates to be casualties. Truly remarkable."
"Overpraised," Aaron said weakly. "Your subordinates here probably don't even count for much among the Death Eaters!
Their magic energy has indeed reached the standard of a Magus, but their combat power is generally not strong."
"Haha, what you said is not wrong.
More than ten years of peaceful life has made them almost forget how to fight, and their magic has hardly grown. They can only bully Wizards weaker than them.
The true elites among the Death Eaters should be in Azkaban now. I will soon bring them out."
"Wow!" Aaron shrugged indifferently. "Good luck to you."
Lord Voldemort nodded, then approached Aaron, using his wand to make him look at the four bound individuals. "Your few remaining powers now: witness their deaths.
Choose one! Who dies first?"
"Harry Potter."
"What?"
Harry's eyes widened. He knew this moment would come eventually, but... did you have to be so direct? At least hesitate a little!
"Harry Potter is definitely not an option. If I were the Dark Lord, I would save him for last." Aaron pondered for a long while, then looked at Krum. "How about him?
Simple-minded and brawny, I've disliked him for a long time."
"As you wish," Lord Voldemort sneered.
Barty immediately raised his wand, pointing it at Krum, whose eyes were tightly shut. "Goodbye, superstar.
Avada..."
"Wait," Aaron took a deep breath. "I suddenly remembered I owe him a trivial favor. Let's postpone his death by a few seconds!
How about Cedric?
His father is the Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures at the Ministry of Magic. He's quite high-ranking and powerful.
Using him as a sacrifice to announce the Dark Lord's return would be perfect."
"I didn't even know I had this use," Cedric said with a bitter smile. "But my father will firmly stand on the side against the Dark Lord."
"Then him it is," Barty said, immediately raising his wand. "Avada..."
"Wait a moment."
Barty's anger flared up. "Don't forget you're just a prisoner."
"Maybe I'll even be the Dark Lord's successor?
Perhaps I'll agree, so speak to me politely."
"You..."
"Make your decision quickly, Gaius," Lord Voldemort said with some impatience. "You need to fully experience the feeling of controlling others' lives and deaths. This will push you to make the correct choice.
Of course, you can also choose none. Surrender to me now, and I will immediately spare their lives."
"Including Harry Potter?"
Lord Voldemort sneered. "You can only decide the fate of those three. Harry Potter is not included."
"That's no fun," Aaron rolled his eyes speechlessly. "I'm not close to them, so there's no need to sign a contract of servitude to save them.
So... if you're going to kill, just kill. Don't make me choose, okay?"
"Then ladies first!" Lord Voldemort raised his wand meaningfully.
Fleur's eyes were tightly shut, appearing quite calm, as if she had accepted her impending fate.
"No, this won't do, this really won't do," Aaron hurriedly interrupted Lord Voldemort. "She owes me several favors. It would be such a shame if she died like this."
"It seems Mr. Gaius still holds some hope for Dumbledore!" Lord Voldemort shook his head regretfully. "Even at this point, he's still trying to stall for time."
"Nothing of the sort," Aaron said with a forced smile.
"Barty, use action to tell him not to play such petty tricks."
"Yes, master." Barty Crouch Jr. gave Aaron a provocative look, taunting, "I'm quite skilled at this sort of thing. The screams of the Longbottoms are still fresh in my memory."
"Crucio!"
"Ah..."
Fleur shrieked, her scream incredibly shrill.
She had never felt such intense pain, like countless red-hot knives carving through every inch of her skin.
"Stop!" Aaron said bitterly. "I choose, can't I just choose?"
Barty Crouch Jr. lowered his wand, still unsatisfied. "If you had done that earlier, none of this would have happened."
Aaron looked at Fleur, saying with some difficulty, "I'm sorry. Perhaps the only thing I can do now is to let you all die quickly."
Fleur nodded blankly; Crucio was truly unbearable for a human.
"Krum, do you have any last words?
If I have the chance later, I will convey them for you."
"Help me tell Her...mione Granger..."
"Alright, I understand.
Don't speak for now. Don't think too much before you die." Aaron interrupted him, then looked at Cedric. "Um... any last words?"
"Give my body to my father," Cedric said very seriously.
"I'll try."
"Done with your goodbyes, then!" Barty said flatly. "This is the first time I've been so wishy-washy when killing someone."
"Just one more sentence," Aaron sighed, then walked up to Fleur. "You..."
"Tell Gabrielle not to be too sad," Fleur blurted out. "I, as her sister, can no longer take care of her."
"Please close your eyes, and don't open them." Aaron took a deep breath, then, with his back to Fleur, pointed his thumb backward. "Fleur Delacour, she goes first."
Barty Crouch Jr. sneered. "Avada Kedavra!"
"Water Mirror!"
Three magic circles—red, yellow, and blue—lined up, blocking in front of Fleur.
The green killing curse struck the magic circles. After a brief stalemate, its direction began to shift slightly, even showing signs of bouncing back.
Barty raised an eyebrow, increasing his casting power, and a more powerful magic impact hit the magic circles.
Aaron's hands trembled constantly. The little magic his thought form had just recovered was now completely drained. He was truly fighting for his life.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The three magic circles shattered one after another, but the killing curse also deviated from its path, bouncing off a tombstone.
"Impressive magic," Lord Voldemort praised. "To be able to deflect Avada Kedavra. It's a pity your magic is insufficient, otherwise my servant would have died by his own spell."
"I originally intended to save this bit of magic for Apparition," Aaron said with a helpless, bitter smile. "But in the end, I couldn't just watch them die."
"You can rest assured that the place where you will be held cannot be Apparated from.
Barty, Mr. Gaius is very resistant to making a choice. You do it!"
"Yes, Master."
Barty sneered, and an Avada Kedavra shot straight at Delacour.
Aaron gritted his teeth, stepped in front of her, and then tightly closed his eyes.
"No!"
Lord Voldemort roared furiously.
Barty was also extremely flustered. Lord Voldemort valued Aaron greatly, and if he died like this, who knew what punishment he himself would face.
Just then, a dazzling white light appeared in front of Aaron, repelling the killing curse and knocking Barty backward.
At the same time, six other figures landed around Aaron, forming a circle to protect him.
This sudden turn of events gave a glimmer of hope to those who were tied up. They didn't know who had come, but anyone who could repel Death Eaters was definitely on their side.
"Who are you?" Lord Voldemort said coldly. He could feel that these people were not weak; any one of them could probably take on three Death Eaters.
Especially the one leading them; he even felt a hint of danger from him.
"Nice to meet you, Lord Voldemort," Genes said politely. "We are not your enemies. We came specifically only to ensure the young master's safety."
Having said that, Genes turned to Aaron. "Young Master, I trust we are not too late? That was a close call!"