The system's suggestion stemmed from the fact that defeating Death naturally offered the most enticing reward among all hidden quests. However, Tom had no intention of following the system's lead. While the allure of instantly claiming the prize was undeniable, the prospect of "instantaneously" vanquishing Death felt disappointingly anticlimactic.
Having ascended to the unofficial status of "God of Magic," Tom recognized that, save for the true deities, nobody in this world could match him. Sparring partners were practically nonexistent. Even when Dumbledore and Gertrude collaborated, they posed no greater threat than Harry and Malfoy combined—easily subdued. This realization engendered a profound sense of loneliness.
This wasn't an issue that could be resolved through simple conversation. His position was too elevated. Even if he wished to seek out the gods, he lacked the means to locate them. Strictly speaking, they resided not within this world but within "their own domain." Now, with the hidden quest activated, the system would transport him to the Grim Reaper's territory, "the border between life and death." Faced with an adversary he was guaranteed to find, one even stronger than himself, he was being told to skip the challenge?
"I must decline, System. I intend to confront Him directly."
"But, He is a god, wielding 'authority.' You cannot defeat Him without attaining godhood yourself."
...
Tom, not yet possessing such "authority," paused, momentarily stunned. "Ah, I comprehend. Perhaps I could threaten Him. Then, should He invoke His authority, I shall 'go all out' and defeat Him instantly."
"Acceptable... but you still cannot defeat Him without that new artifact."
"I am aware. Therefore, I do not plan to challenge Him yet."
"When do you intend to go?"
"Following Harry and the others' graduation, upon completion of the initial quest."
The initial quest: "Defeat another Voldemort and become the savior." Tom had recently confirmed with the system that, as he'd suspected, this quest was comprised of three stages. It mirrored the path trod by the original "savior," albeit from a different vantage point.
The first stage: Enrollment—Tom's "entry into the workforce."
The second stage: Academic progress; Tom received a reward each school year.
The third and final stage: Graduation. The "graduated" savior had "completed his growth" and was primed to vanquish the Demon King and save the world.
This encapsulated the entirety of the initial mission. Overall, it was a lengthy process, as each reward in the second stage required a year to obtain. Yet, in reality, the second stage need not be so protracted. Tom could defeat the remnant soul and expedite the completion of the third stage. However, that would abruptly conclude the second stage, rendering the House Cup irrelevant. Therefore, Tom resolved to wait until he had amassed seven years' worth of rewards before confronting the remnant soul. Several of these rewards proved surprisingly useful, even to him. Moreover, once he had collected all the rewards, he would have "completed his growth."
"Understood; that is acceptable."
The system did not dismiss the possibility that Tom, at his age, might indeed be capable of defeating Death on his own. From the system's perspective, the order of the tasks was inconsequential. Either option was viable. Furthermore, the system endorsed Tom's notion of "growing for three years and obtaining all the rewards of the second stage." After all, the final reward of the second stage, the seventh-year House Cup, was among the system's original collections!
"So, Tom, do you have any ideas for now?"
The system was curious. "Given your typical behavior, you have already formulated your next course of action, correct?"
"Indeed, I have some rudimentary ideas."
...
Elsewhere, the remnant soul and Lanlock arrived at Azkaban, the wizarding world's prison.
Even with the fairies Lanlock had persuaded to accompany them, they still lacked sufficient manpower. Unwilling to die just yet, they were compelled to "stock up."
"Are you certain these dark wizards will submit to our authority?"
Lanlock hesitated. Azkaban was not a place they could simply raid at will.
"It is not a matter of certainty, but of inevitability! They will agree! Because we offer them freedom! That fool's failure to take those dark wizards with him has presented us with this opportunity!"
The remnant soul believed he understood dark wizards better than anyone else! He had spent years deceiving others, and his only defeat had come at the hands of another version of himself! Thus, provided that other version did not interfere, he was convinced he could deceive them all!
"What if they betray you as the other Death Eaters did?"
Having spent considerable time with the remnant soul, Lanlock had gleaned certain insights, including that the other Dark Lord and the kid who had defeated him were actually the same person, although Lanlock struggled to believe it.
Look at him, young and handsome, strong, and a master of ancient magic. And you? Old and ugly, noseless, bald, and ignorant of ancient magic! You dare claim you and he are the same person? Who would believe such a thing? Even after a century of slumber, I, Lanlock, am not so easily fooled!
Thus, Lanlock dismissed the remnant soul's claims as nonsense, or perhaps the ramblings of a madman.
However… he did believe Tom was known as the Dark Lord by the wizarding world.
Indeed, Lanlock was no mere nobody to be defeated. He was, after all, a Dark Lord! And according to his subordinates, the Dark Lord was over sixty years old. Thus, Tom was merely an old monster with a knack for preserving his youth, not some prodigy who could be beaten after a few years of schooling.
In my opinion, those prodigies should be purged from existence! They disrupt the balance of the wizarding world! Oh, and Tom as well. Although he is an "old monster," a fully-fledged "old monster" is even more disruptive than those "young upstarts"!
Lanlock inwardly urged Merlin to weaken the Dark Lord! Of course, this was merely a fleeting thought; Merlin had likely been dead for centuries.
Lanlock paused, then continued, "Or perhaps, they actually..."
"Silence!"
...
"Very well! You believe you are so superior? I will listen to you! Simply await my return to power..."
Lanlock was incensed but dared not speak.
The remnant soul, having overheard Lanlock's words, also fell silent. Given the precedents of Barty Crouch Jr. and Bellatrix Lestrange, he wasn't certain these individuals hadn't been deliberately left behind by Tom to ensnare him.
"No! They had never been Death Eaters before! So, there is no need to be concerned!"
He was still willing to gamble! He was betting these useless individuals weren't a trap laid by Tom!
---
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