Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures - H.P.S.T Chapter 1494: The Power of Slytherin
Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle, the water surged, and a large number of bubbles floated up from the bottom.
Barbed tentacles burst forth from the dark abyss and quickly rose along the wall.
In addition to the barbs on the tentacles, the most eye-catching thing was the countless folds on their surface. This was the most obvious difference between them and the evil god tentacles Evan had seen before. The curved folds made these tentacles look like knotted ropes, or like nerves, or something similar, connected to the evil god’s brain.
Whatever they were, Evan had no interest whatsoever in why a creature that was clearly a brain would have tentacles.
These nerves of the evil god — or let’s just keep calling them tentacles for now — seemed like mutated versions. They were circling around Evan, Dumbledore, and Harry, constantly swaying, like the gaping maw of a beast with bared fangs. The central area had a huge suction force, drawing in a torrent of seawater.
If the tentacles closed in, the three of them would be instantly crushed to pieces.
Without hesitation, Evan immediately directed his Patronus to charge at the terrifying tentacles.
The Patronus did have a certain restraining effect on the evil god. It had saved Evan many times before, and his Patronus was now extremely powerful, so it should work…
As expected, the approaching Patronus slowed the tentacles’ movements.
Just touching the misty glow of the Patronus caused the edges of the tentacles to distort and dissolve into black mist.
The next second, the “Black Panther” quickly raised his right claw and struck a tentacle hard.
The seemingly insignificant impact force caused the tentacle, which was over a hundred feet thick, to quickly disappear.
It worked, but Evan had no time to feel relieved. Hundreds more tentacles surged out of the darkness, with thinner ones still continuously emerging from below.
Although the Patronus had a restraining effect on the evil god, facing so many tentacles, it was quickly caught in a fierce struggle.
“The scent of magic!”
At that moment, a low voice sounded in Evan’s ears, as if someone was speaking inside his head.
He looked around, and the walls around him were already occupied by the terrifying tentacles.
It was the voice of the evil god’s brain below. It was Herpo the Foul who was speaking to him.
“Pitiful mortals… you have disturbed a presence far beyond your comprehension.”
Countless tentacles swayed, getting closer and closer to Dumbledore, Evan, and Harry. Under the huge pressure, the three of them seemed particularly small.
“Through endless ages, I have witnessed the rise and fall of empires, the birth and extinction of species. Across infinite time, only the allure of power and the folly of mortals remain unchanged. Your presence here confirms this truth!”
The tentacles were getting closer and closer, and the voice was getting clearer and clearer.
Evan had a distinct sense of being watched. Herpo the Foul was staring up at them from the abyss below.
The brain, representing a part of Herpo the Foul himself, the most notorious Dark wizard in history, was speaking to them.
Under the pressure of the tentacles, Evan’s Patronus reluctantly retreated, and the once-invincible mist of light was now being compressed by the surrounding darkness.
“When I was still mortal, I saw the future with perfect clarity. The entire world will turn to nothingness… but you will not live to see that day.”
The voice sounded again, and Evan shook his head vigorously and waved his wand.
Suddenly, he felt extremely tired and his wand felt so heavy in his hand.
“Death is not far from you!
“You think death is the end, but it is just the beginning of everything. After death, you will have the honor to enter the world I have created.
“Pathetic, pitiful, weak… you cannot comprehend it. But when you wander alone in the dark, you will understand.
“And when that time comes, I will savor your souls; they are so… delicious.”
Herpo the Foul’s words seemed to imply something… or perhaps, like the ravings of other evil gods, they were simply madness, devoid of meaning.
Evan had no time to ponder it. The glowing circle of the Patronus was shrinking.
As the evil god spoke, the tentacles covered with black barbs were already in front of him, and the pressure radiating from them, transmitted even through the Patronus, became increasingly intense. Even in the depths of the ocean, Evan’s forehead was drenched with sweat. He was channeling all his magical energy into maintaining the Patronus.
Among wizards, Evan was already quite powerful, but he still could not compete with an evil god, even if his opponent was only a part of the evil god. If his Patronus had not just absorbed a lot of power and become extremely powerful, he would not have been able to hold on until now.
With the darkness and approaching tentacles, fear turned into real oppression, and the power of the Patronus was gradually compressed.
Evan knew he had to do something, but it seemed that no magic could cope with the current situation.
At this moment, Dumbledore, who was standing next to him, raised his wand.
A dark green halo flashed with Dumbledore as the center. Evan turned his head and saw Dumbledore holding up his wand.
From the wand’s tip radiated a green brilliance; it was a spell Evan had never seen before. But what shocked him most was that the spells in Dumbledore’s right hand were moving!
The runes seemed to have suddenly come to life. They flowed on Dumbledore’s right hand and arm. There were two centers.
One was Gaunt’s ring, which seemed to be the source of all the spells. The spells were pouring out from there. The other center was Dumbledore’s wand, which was the outlet of the spells. All the runes converged there and became part of the magic that Dumbledore was casting, and finally turned into a dark green halo.
There was no doubt — this halo held immense power.
The evil god’s tentacles, which had been gradually closing, all stopped, and seemed to be a little confused, and seemed to have seen what they feared the most.
“Weak mortals, you draw near to the realm I have created. Welcome to —
“Wait — what is this magic? Why does it feel so familiar?! No… Salazar Slytherin — this is that wizard’s power!”
Evan heard the evil god’s whisper, and the undisguised surprise in his shock, shattering the fear that had enveloped him.
In that instant, all the writhing tentacles came to a sudden halt.
According to what the entity just said… was Dumbledore using Salazar Slytherin’s power?
Evan stared at the headmaster, whose expression was solemn, wondering how he had managed to do it.
The next second, with Dumbledore’s raised wand as the core, a dark green spell rune appeared out of thin air and quickly grew larger.
The rune had a complex structure, and it looked like two giant pythons entwined with one another.
Was this the power of the Twin Serpent Staff?
It must be the relic that Salazar Slytherin had left behind to seal this place — that was why the evil god below was reacting with such fear.
And the glowing rune on Dumbledore’s hand… it must be the proof that he was wielding the power of that magical scepter.
Suddenly, it all seemed to make sense. Evan remembered that Dumbledore had spoken about this before. The key lay in the appearance of this very rune.
