HP: god of potions

A/N be prepared for a lot of lore drops.

Chapter 115

Before that despair could fully take hold, the air shifted. It was subtle at first—a deep, resonant hum, as though the fabric of reality was vibrating. The warmth of Rachel's domain dimmed, not out of failure but as though it willingly receded in deference to something greater, something older. A pressure descended upon the battlefield, so profound it felt as if the world itself was holding its breath. The crystalline beauty of the terrain began to warp. Patterns emerged—geometric shapes, fractals, and spiraling golden symbols that shimmered faintly in the air. The ground beneath them pulsed with an ancient rhythm, each beat resonating with the essence of creation itself.

Viridian froze, his molten gaze widening as realization dawned. The very air around him seemed heavier, infused with something beyond comprehension. His memories stirred, fragments of a primeval timeline locked deep within his essence. He knew this presence—this power that transcended his destruction. "The domain of alchemy…" His voice, once a booming force of chaos, now trembled with disbelief. "Impossible. How did you already awaken your domain?"

The question hung in the air like a whisper against a storm. Gray stepped forward, his eyes glowing with quiet intensity. His every movement seemed deliberate, his form wreathed in an aura that defied definition. It wasn't light, nor was it shadow—it was an ever-shifting amalgam of elements, colors, and energies, as though the very building blocks of existence swirled around him in harmony. "That is why you were unaffected by destruction," Viridian said, his molten form flickering. His words were desperate, searching for understanding. "You—"

Gray interrupted him with a sigh, his voice calm yet carrying an unshakable weight. "It's ironic, isn't it? The only thing constant in this universe is change." In an instant, Gray was in front of him. The movement was so fluid, so precise, that it was as though the universe itself had bent to his will, erasing the distance between them. Viridian barely had time to react before Gray's hand plunged into his chest—not flesh and blood, but the very essence of his being. The world around them seemed to ripple, reality distorting as Gray's hand didn't merely pierce Viridian's form. It reached deeper, beyond the physical, into the intangible heart of his domain.

Viridian's roar of agony echoed across the battlefield, a primal sound that carried the weight of millennia. But his struggles were futile. Gray's grip tightened, and when he spoke, his tone was almost mournful "Destruction is part of alchemy, as is birth and evolution". With a swift motion, Gray pulled back, and in his hand was Viridian's domain—a swirling mass of dark, chaotic energy, crackling with the raw force of annihilation. It pulsed violently, fighting against Gray's grasp, but the shifting energy around him seemed to absorb its fury, harmonizing with it, taming it.

Viridian's body collapsed, his molten form cooling into a lifeless, ashen husk. The ground beneath him fractured, the remnants of his power dissipating into the air like smoke caught in the wind. For a moment, the battlefield was still, the weight of what had transpired settling like a shroud. Gray looked down at the pulsating essence in his hand. His gaze was unreadable—calm, yet filled with a depth of thought that betrayed no emotion. With a flick of his wrist, the domain vanished.

He turned, his eyes meeting Rachel's. She stood there, the crystalline beauty of her domain still shimmering faintly around her. Her expression was unreadable, but the small smile on her lips spoke volumes. There was amusement there, yes, but also something deeper—a quiet respect, perhaps even admiration Gray exhaled, his thoughts briefly drifting. "Yeah, fuck Hermione," he thought wryly, the absurdity of the moment clashing against the gravity of what had just occurred.

For that brief instant, the world around them faded away. The shattered battlefield, the remnants of destruction, the pulsating domains—all of it seemed to dissolve into nothingness. It was just the two of them, standing in the midst of eternity, Nothing else mattered.

-scene change-

The aftermath of Viridian's demise was marked by a stillness that seemed to envelop the battlefield. The air, thick with residual energy from the clash of three domains, shimmered faintly with traces of celestial light, alchemical flux, and the raw remnants of destruction. The ground bore the scars of their collision, cracked and charred, and the surrounding environment was eerily silent, as if holding its breath. Suddenly, four figures materialized in the ruined clearing, their presence commanding and undeniable. Althea was the first to speak, her voice calm and commanding as her violet eyes swept over the battlefield.

"There were three domains that clashed here," she stated, her tone carrying an air of certainty.

Elise, standing with her arms crossed, tilted her head and responded.

"Of course, we know that. Who else would be able to take on Viridian alone and survive using a domain? But as she spoke, her voice faltered, and her sharp green eyes widened in realization. "Wait… was one of the domains used here… a domain of alchemy? The words hung in the air like a thunderclap, and the silence that followed was deafening. Althea sighed heavily, a silent confirmation that answered the unspoken question in their hearts "It's too fast," Imari said, breaking the silence, her dark eyes narrowing. "It's only been four years, and he's already awakened a domain? At this point, isn't it confirmed that he is back? I don't mean the little cat, but the snake. That damn red snake, the world eater, he is back"

Althea shook her head slowly, her expression grim but thoughtful.

"No. If it were the snake, we'd already be dead. You know how much he hates us. This one…" She paused, glancing at the remnants of the battlefield. "This one is different. He's nonchalant, deliberate. Not to mention, he's with the daughter of Trigon, Raven. If it were the old snake, he'd already be chasing after Hermione., you know how much he loves her"

The others nodded, the logic undeniable, but Cao Shen spoke, his voice low and cold. "If the old snake isn't back, then there's no way a mere sixteen-year-old could awaken a domain. That snake definitely did something after shattering the Prime Timeline." Althea sighed once more, her silver hair catching the faint glow of residual energy. "The question is," she said, her voice heavy with thought, "what did he do to allow an alternate version of himself to progress this fast?"

Their conversation was interrupted as they all suddenly knelt, their heads bowed in reverence. From the distance, a portal formed, swirling with golden and silver light, its edges crackling with ancient energy. From within stepped Jamal, a seemingly unassuming young man with dark skin and sharp, intelligent eyes. He wore the Hogwarts uniform, slightly disheveled, and carried an air of casual confidence that seemed at odds with the reverence the women showed him.

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A/N so.....