Tom suspected the Invisibility Cloak's power wasn't merely about being unseen. If it was just invisibility, how could the Grim Reaper, who wore it, still perceive it? It had to possess a deeper function: the ability for the user to manipulate its effects freely once a bond was established. And Tom had devised a plan to forge that connection.
Retrieving the Cloak from its box, Tom conjured a vial of clear potion. The Cleansing Potion! A reward from last year's Academy Cup! Its effect was simple but potent: to restore an item to its original state. He uncorked the vial and poured the liquid over the Invisibility Cloak.
As the last drops fell, the Cloak shimmered, its previously invisible form becoming faintly visible. According to Tom's System, the Cloak's status had changed to [Unbonded]. The Grim Reaper's influence had been purged, returning it to its base form. Factory settings restored!
The Invisibility Cloak's core abilities remained untouched. You can't restore a phone and expect it to revert to raw materials, can you? Tom reached out, his magic instantly imbuing the Cloak with "Tom's color," reshaping it to his will.
[Item: Invisibility Cloak]
[Quality: Mythical]
[Status: Bound by a Master (Tom Marvolo Riddle)]
Function 1: The Bridge Between Life and Death. The Invisibility Cloak serves as a medium between the two sides of life and death. Its wearer is virtually invisible, and ordinary people cannot see its true form, thus allowing the wearer to alter their appearance to the eyes of others.
Function 2: External Immunity. Ignores negative effects from the outside world, such as curses, poison, burning, illness, etc. Unless the perpetrator possesses power surpassing that of Death, the Invisibility Cloak still provides its wearer with a significant defensive boost.
Function 3: Death Avoidance. Can only be used once per period, consuming a large amount of divine power stored in the Invisibility Cloak to grant immunity to one fatal damage effect! No matter how strong the damage!
Evaluation: Pulled from Death, it contains the most powerful of the Three Deathly Hallows. Originally Death's treasure, it has now been stolen by a Dark Lord.
Two of the Deathly Hallows were securely in Tom's possession. He glanced at the Invisibility Cloak, then at his black robes, ordinary in comparison. He removed the robes, storing them in his silver snake ring, and donned the Invisibility Cloak.
At his command, the Cloak transformed, mimicking his original black robes. "Far superior." When not actively employing its power, he could wear it as a normal cloak, adapting it to any style he desired.
"Now, for the final Hallow: the Resurrection Stone." Tom laid out his next steps. He needed the Stone, and while he was at it, he would acquire the remaining soul fragment within. Only Harry's fragment will remain. Nurturing the "little snake" had taken time, but now it was almost complete. Feeding it the last two fragments would trigger its final evolution.
Then, I am almost entirely confident that I can forge it into a divine artifact. Combining it with the Deathly Hallows, Tom believed he might finally have a shot at defying Death. "To fight Death with his own Hallows… how amusing." Tom chuckled softly. "I wonder what His expression will be."
...
Far away, on a remote island off the English coast, at Lanlock's fortified home, Voldemort (remnant soul) paced anxiously.
Tap, tap, tap…
"Have you captured all of them yet?" Lanlock, engrossed with a complex magical artifact, didn't turn around. He knew only one person would dare to interrupt him.
"Almost. They are proving difficult to catch, and some are incredibly rare." Voldemort (remnant soul) grimaced, glancing at the device Lanlock was assembling. "How go your preparations?"
"A few components are still missing, but they should arrive soon." Lanlock set down his tools, rising and shaking his head.
"Those Gringotts goblins? They certainly have the connections to acquire what you need." Voldemort (remnant soul)'s face twisted into a cold smile. "And all thanks to those imbeciles at the Ministry of Magic. Without them, your little goblin wouldn't have been so eager to join our cause."
"Numbers are meaningless without power," Lanlock countered dismissively. "And even with them, they are insufficient. The Death Eaters vastly outnumber our allies."
"..." No matter how many times he heard it, Voldemort (remnant soul) always reacted to the reminder, especially as the Death Eaters had once been his.
"Progress remains sluggish," Lanlock conceded, frowning. "Release those who sought refuge here."
"Them?" Voldemort (remnant soul) considered the options. There was that dark wizard who arrived seeking shelter; he could also craft Horcruxes, albeit crudely. That caught my eye. He had taken the wizard under his wing, providing "employment." Conveniently, the wizard's brother had been apprehended by the Ministry of Magic. So long as he promised to secure the brother's release, he need not worry about the wizard's commitment to his cause.
Voldemort (remnant soul), a master of empty promises and masterful wordplay - he had only said he would help with the rescue as opposed to provide assurances of dates, times, or success.
If it weren't for the present difficulties infiltrating Azkaban, he would've skipped the games and rescued the fool himself. He had so few capable subordinates. Aside from the "old, weak, sick, and disabled" division of uselessness, there was the comparatively useful Isolde Carpenter left.
And that quartet has been out there for almost half a month without results! They aren't even as useful as Lanlock's fairies. At least those fairies have captured some intelligent beings to serve as resources.
"Sigh…" Voldemort (remnant soul) felt as if the last few years had been nothing but sighs and drunken sorrows. I need to find another way to extract Isolde Carpenter's brother. He is, without a doubt, a powerful dark wizard. But the Dementors and the enhanced Death Eater guards who arrived in Azkaban after that fight with Lanlock were proving challenging to manage. If he accidentally kicked up too much of a fuss, he would likely be recaptured by one of Tom's respawn points.
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Look some readers already know what the night holds before it arrives. Chapters ahead, deadass. They found p@treon. You're still here waiting. Don't play yourself. You already know what to do.