[Extraordinary Material – Pure White Sacred Bones]
[Description: Father's bones, taken from the 3rd to 7th vertebrae of the spine. Once supported a world for someone, filled with intense protective intent.]
[Effect: Can absorb life force and magical power for defence and protection. Can be used to construct three-dimensional art and create living beings.]
Create living beings!
Ethan's eyes lit up like Christmas morning. Based on these bones, knowledge of Biological Creation that he'd glimpsed before immediately surfaced in his mind.
Inspiration has arrived!
His artistic soul burnt with passionate fire. Once I'm back at Luna's house, I'll start creating immediately!
"So it's spine bones..." Ethan murmured, running his fingers along the gleaming white "branch". "No wonder it's got that subtle curve and undulation to it."
He caressed the bone with reverent fingers.
Lupin shifted uncomfortably. Why does this feel so bloody sinister? It's clearly just Ethan, so why does he look like some demon caressing a human skull?
Maybe it's because I'm not feeling well...
[You obtained the Hidden Underground Chamber Treasure Map.]
[Description: Shows you the way]
[An ancient treasure map that only works in specific historical periods]
Ethan studied the yellowed parchment. A red X marked a location that looked like it was deep in some forest. The signature in the corner read: 1612, ■ Black.
The name was obscured by old stains.
"Black..." Ethan raised his eyebrows. "This guy was actually from the Black family."
The most hated headmaster in Hogwarts history, Sirius, and Regulus, who'd replaced Voldemort's Horcrux – they're all from the Black family. Now there's also an ancient magic researcher.
Such a talented bloodline.
"Looks like I'll need another trip to the past to find this treasure map's secret," Ethan mused.
He glanced around, seeing nothing else worth taking, and turned to leave the vault with satisfaction. Time to begin his great artistic creation.
But when he looked up, he saw goblins surrounding the vault entrance. A full dozen of them, armed and ready.
"No need for such fanfare," Ethan said casually. "You can all disperse now."
The lead goblin Griphook nearly choked on his own spit. Laughing with bitter anger, he spat, "Smooth-talking thief! Let's see how arrogant you are in a few minutes!"
He pointed a bony finger at Ethan, his voice rising to a shriek: "That Vault 12 key originally belonged to us goblins! The treasures inside rightfully belong to us too!"
"You wizards are nothing but despicable, shameless thieves!"
Ethan raised an eyebrow with mild interest. Glancing at the signature on the treasure map, he said slowly, "I didn't know... there were goblins with the surname 'Black'."
This originally belonged to humans anyway. Just stolen by goblins, then taken back by me. If anything, I'm just returning it to its rightful owner.
Hearing this logic, the goblins' faces flushed red with rage. However, greed and hunger for ancient treasure overcame everything else.
"You're lying through your teeth! Seize him!"
"Whoosh!" A red spell shot out, aimed directly at Ethan's chest!
Ethan was about to raise his hand and give them something truly spectacular when a figure suddenly lunged forward!
Slap! The spell deflected off with a bang as it hit the stone wall harmlessly.
It was Professor Lupin!
Ethan's eyes brightened with genuine admiration. That move alone could beat ten Lockharts combined!
"Lupi—"
"Quick! Quickly take Luna and go, Ethan!" Lupin shouted, cutting him off mid-word.
Only then did Ethan notice Professor Lupin's condition was very, very wrong. He was breathing heavily, veins bulging on his neck, eyes bloodshot and wild.
Baring his teeth, his usually gentle, weary face showed a fierce expression that belonged on a predator.
Is he about to transform?
Ethan became genuinely curious, studying Professor Lupin with investigative interest.
Lupin felt his spine crawl. Why does my back suddenly feel creepy?
"I'll hold off the goblins! You and Luna get out of here!"
Initially, Lupin had thought this would just be ordinary Diagon Alley shopping. Who could've predicted that Thief's Downfall would trigger his inner wolf nature like this!
If he transformed into a werewolf here, his Hogwarts teaching career would end before it even began.
At the very least, he couldn't harm these students!
Seeing Ethan still standing there like he was watching a show, Lupin shouted anxiously, "Go quickly! Don't worry about me! I'll be fine!"
If I lose control and bite these two students...
Lupin shuddered, not daring to imagine the consequences.
"I just wanted to study—" Ethan began.
Before he could finish his sentence—
"Charge! For goblin treasure and glory!" The goblins shouted about ancient riches and racial pride, rushing forward all at once.
The next second—
"ROAR!" Professor Lupin suddenly howled at the cavern ceiling.
His body exploded in size, grey-black fur erupting from his skin like he was turning inside out!
The goblins froze mid-charge: "?!!"
They suddenly stopped dead, staring in absolute terror. Then they screamed and turned to flee in complete panic!
Nobody mentioned there was a hidden werewolf in this party!
Werewolf hide could resist most magical attacks. And getting scratched or bitten meant guaranteed infection!
"Help! Quick, run for your lives!"
"Don't push me, you idiot!"
Instant, complete route!
Just as the goblins were about to reach the vault door in their desperate flight—
BANG! The heavy door slammed shut right before their bulging eyes!
The fastest runner crashed headfirst into solid metal, spurting blood from his flattened nose.
What's happening?!
The goblins spun around in shock to see Ethan holding his wand, smiling pleasantly at them.
Closing doors is just good manners.
"So..." Ethan's smile widened. "Enjoy yourselves."
He snapped his fingers with theatrical flair. Then conjured a thick cloth to cover Luna's eyes and block her hearing.
The upcoming scene is a bit inappropriate for minors.
"ROAR!" The werewolf Professor Lupin pounced on the pale-faced goblins!
"Help us! Somebody help!"
"Don't bite me! Please don't—AHHH!"
Bang Bang Bang, Crunch Crunch.
Ethan squinted with satisfaction, swaying his body to the rhythm like he was enjoying a pleasant symphony.
However, to prevent Professor Lupin from getting an upset stomach, Ethan kindly pulled the half-dead goblins from the werewolf's jaws before any real damage was done.
He piled them neatly to one side. Soon they formed a small, groaning mountain of battered bodies.
Swift and decisive victory.
With no prey left to chase, the werewolf's bloodthirsty gaze turned toward Ethan. Then his expression showed internal struggle.
"Quick—get out of here!" A hoarse voice emerged from the wolf's throat.
Ethan raised an eyebrow with interest. Facing Professor Lupin, who couldn't control his instincts and approached step by step, Ethan calmly raised his hand and drew an inverted triangle symbol in mid-air.
"What are you still doing?! Run!" Lupin was both anxious and furious.
Usually once people learnt he was a werewolf, they couldn't wait to flee to the other side of the world. But Ethan just wouldn't leave!
"You can't subdue me like this... I know too well that once I transform, there's no way to wake me up!"
Pain flashed across Lupin's furry face. "So please, just go—ROAR!"
He could no longer control himself, roaring as blood filled his vision. Raising razor-sharp claws, he pounced directly at Ethan!
Just then, Ethan finished drawing his inverted triangle rune. It floated in mid-air, emanating a mysterious ancient aura.
No way this'll work?
Then watch me show you a miracle.
Ethan watched the rapidly approaching fangs and claws, speaking softly: "Aard Sign, activate."
Instantly! "BOOM!" A tremendous force crashed into the werewolf head-on!
Lupin's eyes bulged as he felt like being hit by a charging rhinoceros. His very soul nearly got knocked clean out of his body!
His gaze immediately became several degrees clearer and more human.
"Aard Sign!" Ethan called out again.
"Bang!"
"Wait, wait—" Lupin tried to speak.
"Still showing wolf nature! Aard Sign!"
"BANG!"
"Wait! I think I'm—"
"Aard!"
"BANG!"
Lupin collapsed like a broken rag doll, completely limp. His wolf soul had been knocked flying into next week.
He gradually returned to human form, bruised but definitely human.
Ethan walked over, looking down at Professor Lupin's swollen face. Nodding with professional satisfaction: "Not bad. Excellent therapeutic effect."
Lupin, barely clinging to consciousness: "..."
He stared wide-eyed, feeling the dramatic changes in his body. "How did you do—"
"The wolf nature's still there!" Ethan looked shocked.
"BANG!" Another heavy impact.
Lupin fainted completely, falling into peaceful, baby-like sleep.
Ethan wiped imaginary sweat from his forehead. "That was close. Almost got bitten there."
The nearby "goblin mountain": "..." Is this some kind of terror squad we've stumbled into?
Suddenly, Ethan turned his head with a sharp click. His cobalt-blue eyes smiled as they focused on the injured goblins.
The goblins felt pure horror wash over them.
At this moment, goblin Griphook regretted everything. Most of all, he regretted choosing this isolated underground vault to deal with this supposed key thief!
He watched in growing despair as Ethan slowly took out that bone emanating a sacred, otherworldly aura.
"I remember this sacred bone's description said it can absorb life force..." Ethan mused, trying to activate it with his magical energy.
Then he saw wisps of pale breath flowing from the goblins' mouths like visible souls. The ghostly streams poured directly into the sacred bones.
The bone's radiance grew brighter, its originally pale, withered appearance becoming lustrous and healthy. Like a dying tree that had suddenly absorbed rich nutrients.
Meanwhile, the goblins' expressions gradually became dull and lifeless. Finally falling completely quiet, with only the faintest thread-like breathing.
So that's how it works!
Ethan's eyes lit up as he studied the sacred bones that had regained vitality. Like a machine needing charging. Or a creature needing food. It needs to absorb life force to function properly.
Wonderful ideas began surfacing in his creative mind.
"Shopping's officially cancelled," he announced cheerfully. "I need to go home and get started immediately!"
Ethan levitated the unconscious Professor Lupin with gentle magic, then led Luna out of the vault.
Finally, he glanced back at the pile of defeated goblins.
Death's not likely. But staying in St Mungo's for a very, very long time is absolutely certain.
Long enough for me to finish altering all the remaining historical records.
Ancient magic hadn't been successfully passed down to the present day. Vault 12 and everything this mysterious "Mr. Black" researched had definitely been lost to time.
"Didn't you claim everything belonged to you goblins?" Ethan's eyes gleamed as he licked his canine teeth with predatory satisfaction. "Then let me take everything from you instead."
At this moment, he seemed more genuinely wolf-like than Professor Lupin had ever managed.