Harry Potter: I am the Legend

Hoffa stood atop a high vantage point, staring down at the massive, awe-inspiring network of metal pipelines below. His heart was gripped with shock and dread.

Though he himself understood alchemy, his own skills seemed utterly insignificant compared to the terrifying construct before him. This monstrous creation, capable of intimidating even gods—how could it possibly have been made?

The answer was evident. Along the pipelines, stationed at intervals, stood groups of heavily armed wizards holding wands, patrolling the area vigilantly.

Below them swarmed countless fantastical creatures burdened with military components on their backs—merfolk, centaurs, giants, trolls. Enchanted chains and spells bound them as they painstakingly placed the components in predetermined positions, shuffling back and forth tirelessly.

Hoffa spotted a frail human struggling under the weight of an enormous metal part. Collapsing to the ground, the man barely managed to rise before the metal began to writhe like a living thing. It surged up, enveloping the man's neck like a slime. In mere moments, he decayed as if centuries had passed, reduced to a skeleton in the blink of an eye.

The horrifying sight of a living person consumed by metal sent shivers down Hoffa's spine. Remembering the countless corpses he'd seen earlier, he drew a sharp breath. "Fatier... what have you done?"

As if in response to his words, two figures appeared on a massive platform the size of a basketball court in the distance.

Though they were over a thousand meters away, Hoffa recognized them instantly—Fatier and Chloe. Fatier climbed a ladder step by step toward the colossal astrolabe in the center of the platform. Chloe, her face vacant with a foolish smile, followed close behind, clearly under the Imperius Curse.

"Hey! What are you doing?!"

Hoffa roared in fury—not only at Fatier but also at Nicolas Flamel. What was that old man thinking, sending his descendant straight into the dragon's maw without so much as showing his face?

Fatier heard his shout, as did the countless wizards at work below. They raised their heads, eyes full of vigilance, wands at the ready.

"Don't interfere, Bach!"

Fatier cast a glance at him and waved his wand. Under the control of the Imperius Curse, Chloe stumbled forward, her pace quickening toward the enormous astrolabe.

The astrolabe began to rotate slowly, its countless circular metal bands unfolding like petals to reveal a fish-eye-shaped opening, which opened invitingly before Chloe.

"Don't go in!"

From his perch, Hoffa launched himself downward.

Fatier swung his wand toward Hoffa. "Kill him!"

His wizards Apparated away from their posts and reappeared on the platform, their wands raised. A kaleidoscope of magical beams lit up the air like a vibrant display of neon lights.

Meanwhile, the creatures enslaved below—trolls, centaurs, giants, and human Muggles—descended into chaos without the wizards' control. They abandoned their burdens and fled in panic, screams echoing in the cavernous space.

Some were trampled in the frenzy or collided with the writhing metal pipelines. The enchanted metal devoured them without mercy, leaving nothing but dry bones in its wake.

Amid the chaos, Fatier dashed to the control console beneath the giant clock. He quickly equipped himself with various alchemical devices.

"Not a chance!"

Fearless, Hoffa ignored the spells fired his way and lunged forward, hand outstretched toward Chloe.

A thunderous roar erupted.

He collided with an invisible force and was flung backward, crashing into the black dome above. A barrage of explosive curses followed, shattering the ceiling into cascading rubble.

Amid the swirling smoke, Hoffa entered the shadow realm. The shadow dragon he had kicked away earlier had returned, roaring as it lunged toward him.

Seeing Chloe about to step into the astrolabe, Hoffa refused to be delayed. He propelled himself off the ceiling, vanishing from sight, only to reappear directly in front of Chloe, attempting to block her path.

Fatier anticipated this. As the ceiling caved in, he Apparated behind Hoffa, delivering a sharp elbow to his ribs, sending him tumbling down the stairs.

"Get lost!" he snarled, grabbing Chloe's arm and preparing to Apparate away.

But just before they vanished, Hoffa grabbed Fatier's leg, determined to drag him down. To Hoffa's shock, Fatier reacted with ruthless decisiveness—his wand transformed into a blade, and he severed his own left leg without hesitation.

Ignoring the pain, Fatier vanished with Chloe in tow.

Hoffa stared in disbelief at the severed leg in his hand.

"Madman…"

With a loud pop, Fatier reappeared at the astrolabe's entrance. Without hesitation, he pushed Chloe inside. She smiled vacantly, oblivious to what was happening.

Electric arcs danced within the astrolabe as its massive rings spun. Chloe floated to its center, arms outstretched, her eyes turning a pure, silvery white.

"Damn it!"

Overcome with both anguish and rage, Hoffa discarded the severed leg. Spreading his four wings, he charged at Fatier.

Standing on one leg, Fatier smirked coldly as Hoffa closed in.

Boom! 

Hoffa collided with the invisible shadow dragon once again.

But this time, he didn't hold back.

"Enough of this, you pest!"

With a furious blow, Hoffa struck the dragon's head. The massive creature, over twenty meters long, crumpled as though a truck had slammed into a steel bridge. Its crocodilian skull cracked and bent under the force.

The impact created a massive crater in the ground, leaving the dragon lifeless, its body withering as the astrolabe's enchanted metal drained it of vitality.

The remaining Ministry wizards, stunned by the sight of the shadow dragon's defeat and Hoffa's overwhelming power, exchanged nervous glances. One by one, they began to Apparate away. Within moments, the cavernous space was nearly deserted.

Hoffa, his chest heaving with anger, walked toward the one-legged Fatier.

"Let her go!"

"Not a chance," Fatier replied defiantly.

Boom! 

Hoffa slammed him to the ground. "Are you blind? Even your followers know you're finished. Why can't you see it?"

"Then just kill me! Be your savior!"

Fattier sneered at him, his eyes brimming with disdain. "Go on, do it!"

Hoffa bit down hard on his lip. "Don't push me, Fattier. I don't want to fight you."

"I know you don't dare. That pathetic mercy of yours is exactly what I despise—and what I came back fifty years to destroy."

"Enough!" Hoffa pressed Fattier down with force, his hand transforming into razor-sharp metallic claws. Pointing them at Fattier's chest, he growled, "For Aglaia's sake, can't you hold onto even a shred of your humanity?"

"Say her name one more time in front of me, I dare you!"

Enraged, Fattier ignored the claws digging into his chest. With sheer will, he pushed himself upright, even as Hoffa's claws pierced clean through his torso. With a twisted grin, he raised his wand and cast an explosive spell.

The blast sent Hoffa flying fifty meters, crashing into the iron railings beneath the massive orrery. He struggled to his feet, clutching his bleeding hand, and glared at Fattier in disbelief. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"

"My life isn't more precious than anyone else's. I'm just here to accomplish my goal—just like you."

Balancing precariously on his one good leg, with a gaping hole in his chest, Fattier apparated to the control panel and continued equipping the alchemical devices.

Hoffa gritted his teeth, glancing back at the suspended Chloe within the orrery. Hardening his resolve, he appeared behind Fattier, grabbing his shoulder. "I'm sorry, but today, even if I have to break every bone in your body, I won't let you have your way."

"Why go through all that trouble?"

Without warning, Fattier rammed his head into Hoffa's.

Crack.

The sound of something breaking filled the air.

Hoffa stumbled, dazed, while Fattier's head bled profusely as he fell backward, his forehead caved in. He lay motionless on the ground.

Hoffa's heart sank. Terrified he'd gone too far, he dropped to his knees, pressing a hand to Fattier's neck. The flesh was soft but icy cold, with no pulse—a corpse preserved in frost.

"Fattier? Hey, don't die on me!"

Panicking, Hoffa shook his shoulders, sweat beading on his forehead. He had never intended to kill Fattier. Not once.

"Die?"

Piercing blue eyes snapped open.

Despite the massive hole in his chest and the crushed forehead, Fattier wasn't dead. Instead, he suddenly grabbed a steel pipe from the ground and drove it into Hoffa's chest with terrifying speed.

Before Hoffa could react, Fattier gripped his shoulder and apparated them both.

When they reappeared, they were atop the massive orrery.

"Do you know what it feels like to be unable to live or die?"

"Do you know what it's like to have your soul trapped outside your body?"

"Do you know the agony of endless regret and torment, day after day?!"

Electric arcs danced wildly around them as Fattier pinned Hoffa down against the rotating metal bands of the orrery. His disheveled hair framed a face eerily similar to Aglaia's, but twisted into a mask of madness.

Coughing up blood, Hoffa stared at the gaping hole in Fattier's chest and the caved-in skull. At last, he understood why Fattier showed no fear of death.

Another Mance.

Grindelwald had cursed Fattier with the Deathless Curse. His soul had long been claimed by Death itself.

Meanwhile, the massive orrery began to churn violently. The slimy, metallic surface of its rotating bands started creeping over Hoffa's body, binding him in place.

Laughing maniacally, Fattier hissed, "I might not be able to kill you, but you won't stop me. Once I activate the Arrow of Time, you'll be ripped apart in the temporal maelstrom. Even if you survive, you'll disintegrate into fragments in the distorted timeline."

Hoffa tried to tear away the metallic restraints, but the substance clung to him like a living organism, greedily absorbing his energy. No matter how fast he healed, the metal devoured it faster. His strength ebbed away.

"Damn it, Fattier! Can't you just listen to me for once?!" Veins bulged in Hoffa's neck as he strained against the restraints.

"Too late. I gave you a chance, but you wasted it!"

With a malicious grin, Fattier pushed Hoffa deeper into the writhing metal, leaving half his body submerged.

Then, he apparated back to the control panel, where he donned the remaining pieces of the alchemical equipment.

Encased in the boiling metal, Hoffa tried to shift into his nightingale form, but the restraints left him completely immobilized.

In the distance, Fadier, unimpeded, completed donning his equipment. Hopping on his single leg, he approached the control panel and placed his hand firmly on the lever. His expression was one of resolute determination.

Slowly, the lever was pulled counterclockwise. Starlight shimmered on the dial, rearranging and redistributing itself with a steady tick-tock.

The massive astrolabe began spinning faster. Within its floating structure, Chloe's face was consumed by countless threads of crackling electricity.

Seeing the situation spiral out of control, Hoffa, near despair, ceased his physical struggle. Instead, he mustered all his strength and shouted, "Look at yourself! Is this what she would want to see? If you bring her back, how will you face her in this state?"

Fadier's hand hesitated for a moment but quickly resumed its movement. Gritting his teeth, he declared with unwavering resolve, "She will understand me. She will understand all the sacrifices I've made!"

"Understanding doesn't mean she'll accept it!"

Hoffa roared back, "What if she can't bear it? What if she, like me, ends up jumping into a lake to escape?!"

"She won't! She's not as foolish as you are!"

Fadier squeezed the words through clenched teeth.

"Then she wouldn't have come to save me! Do you think your daughter is someone who would cower in the shadows, living a life of shame and compromise?"

Fadier was momentarily taken aback, his grip on the control lever faltering.

"Do you even understand her?"

"Do you understand her?!"

Hoffa's voice was hoarse now, his body sinking deeper into the seething metal that bound him, his strength fading rapidly.

Yet Fadier didn't pull the lever further. His face twisted with a mix of anger and remorse, as if battling his inner demons.

Seeing the conflict in Fadier's expression, Hoffa felt an overwhelming sense of relief. At least this man hadn't entirely lost his mind.

"I know it hasn't been easy for you, all these years. I know you've been trying to atone for your mistakes."

Hoffa's tone softened, gentle yet firm, like a flight attendant speaking to a hijacker. "But raising a student like that isn't solely your fault. It's a flaw of this era. Help me, Fadier. I promise you—"

His voice became more earnest. "I swear on my life, I will bring Aglaea back. But not like this!"

"What can you do? What can you possibly do?" Fadier's voice rose sharply, filled with anguish. "She's dead! Dead is dead! I killed her with my own hands!"

Fadier's voice, laced with despair, seemed to echo through the vast chamber.

Suddenly, the giant astrolabe unleashed a blinding arc of electricity. A few slow-moving mountain trolls, unable to escape in time, were struck down, their bodies disintegrating into skeletal remains, consumed entirely by the terrifying machine.

Hoffa raised his voice even louder. "If Death itself has taken her soul, then I'll go to Death's domain and bring her back. I promise you!"

The extreme expression on Fadier's face gradually softened. His shoulders sagged, and his gaze shifted to the brilliant stars above the clock face and the massive rotating astrolabe in the distance. For a moment, he was at a loss for words.

Hoffa's heart pounded as he watched, holding on to a fragile thread of hope. By now, he could barely resist the bizarre, devouring metal of the Time Arrow. All he could do was pray his words had reached Fadier.

"You promise?" Fadier's lips trembled after a long silence.

"I promise, I promise." Hoffa took a deep breath to steady himself. "Fadier, trust me. Don't go back to the past. Let's stay here, in this moment, in this time, and face Grindelwald together."

"Can we really do that?"

Fadier murmured, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Trust me. Trust me," Hoffa pleaded, repeating himself over and over.

Finally, after an excruciatingly long pause, Fadier's hand released the control lever of the Time Arrow. In that instant, his body sagged as though the weight of the world had lifted from his shoulders. He let out a long, weary sigh. "Maybe… maybe she was right."

He leaned against the iron railing, taking slow, halting steps toward Hoffa. His expression was aged and filled with sorrow. Closing his eyes in pain, he whispered, "I'm sorry, Bach."

"I've grown old."

Seeing that Fadier had come to his senses, Hoffa finally breathed a sigh of relief. His heart, which had been hanging by a thread, felt like it had crashed back to earth, as though he had stepped off a runaway roller coaster and returned safely to the ground.

At that moment, his sweat-soaked gray hair clung to his forehead. He wanted to struggle free from the mysterious metal bindings, to escape this bizarre restraint. But his body, still recovering, refused to cooperate.

"Save the sentiment for later. Help me get out of this first, and then we can figure things out," Hoffa said.

Fadier rubbed his eyes, bracing himself against the railing as he limped toward Hoffa.

Just then, a slow, deliberate clapping echoed from the shadows.

Clap!Clap!

Clap!

Clap!

Clap!

Clap!

Both men turned toward the sound. A bald woman emerged, descending the stairs with a sly smile.

After finishing her applause, she picked up the hem of her gown with one hand and let her slender fingers trail along the metal railings, producing a rhythmic ting-ting-ting sound.

"What a spectacular performance, Hoffa," she said with a mocking smile. "You've almost made me want to be a person like you."

As she stepped closer to Fadier, her smile grew colder. "But tell me, does killing so many people and offering a simple apology truly redeem your father-in-law?"

(End of Chapter)

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