A Unique Defense Against the Dark Arts Class

Chapter 13 A Unique Defense Against the Dark Arts Class

Until he went to sleep, Avada listened to Shabby and his three roommates talking incessantly about the Hufflepuff's achievements in food and the cooking magic that was supposedly left behind by Helga Hufflepuff herself, which almost made him hungry.

Fortunately, a senior student arrived in time to stop this wicked act of spreading food poisoning late at night. He then went to the kitchen and brought back a plate of fragrant, freshly baked cookies…

In the end, Avada couldn't resist the temptation and ate several biscuits with tears in his eyes before going to bed, so much so that he didn't eat much breakfast the next day.

Even worse, the first class this morning was Defense Against the Dark Arts. Avada had just learned from Shaby yesterday that the real Defense Against the Dark Arts class was completely different from what was depicted in the original story: if you're going to defend against dark magic, then you definitely have to fight, right? And if you're going to fight, then you definitely need a strong body, right?

Therefore, Defense Against the Dark Arts not only teaches various curses and knowledge of dark creatures, but also functions as a physical education and combat class. It's quite normal for students to go downstairs and run laps around the Black Lake during class, or to put on protective gear and spar in pairs.

"Hopefully, the first class won't involve any strenuous activity..."

Avada prayed silently as she followed the Hufflepuffs into the Defense Classroom, followed by the Ravenclaws in their blue-lined wizard robes—this reassured Avada considerably, as at least she wouldn't encounter the brave Gryffindors rushing forward during any competition.

When the school bell rang, a tall, thin, and refined middle-aged wizard stepped into the classroom, smiling and waving to the students.

"Good morning, everyone! Although Headmaster Dumbledore introduced me at the beginning of the semester, I'll repeat it again to avoid any of you getting too excited and not paying attention..."

He turned around and raised his hand, and the chalk floated up on its own, neatly writing a name on the blackboard.

"Benjamin Baker, a member of the International Defense Against the Dark Arts Council, is also an adventurer. I have traveled and adventured in Greece, Eastern Europe, and Africa, and have fought against dark wizards and dark creatures many times, so I believe I have some experience in dealing with dark magic and should be able to serve as your professor, teaching you enough and practical knowledge."

"He must be so cool," Avada heard a faint voice coming from Ravenclaw, seemingly a girl: "He's an adventurer, and he's been to so many places! Maybe as cool as Gilderoy Lockhart!"

"When I first joined the company, many senior professors told me..."

Professor Baker ignored the murmurs of discussion below and continued, "They told me that the freshmen should experience the charm of this course in their first class to spark their interest and enthusiasm. So, I specially prepared this..."

He took out a magical prop that looked a bit like a projector from under the podium, then took out his wand, pointed it at his temple, slowly pulled out a white filament of light, and then integrated it into the "projector".

"Everyone, please pay attention."

He tapped the projector with his wand, and the device projected a screen of light into the air, displaying dazzling images:

In the light screen, Professor Baker, wand in hand, is engaged in a fierce battle with a masked man dressed in a magnificent black robe.

The masked man unleashed several blue light blades, forcing Professor Baker to dodge to the side. Then, as if presciently predicting, he emitted a dazzling green light towards the spot where Professor Baker was about to land. At that moment, the ground beneath Professor Baker's feet dissolved like water, allowing him to merge into the earth and avoid the green light.

Then, Professor Baker suddenly appeared behind him and fired a fireball. The masked man quickly raised a shield, but it turned out to be an illusion. The real Professor Baker was standing nearby, invisible, gathering an incredibly powerful spell. Realizing he had been tricked, the masked man immediately unleashed a raging inferno, indiscriminately burning everything around him and forcing Professor Baker out.

The two then engaged in a fierce, head-on battle, sometimes fighting hand-to-hand, wielding their wands and magic like daggers, concealed yet deadly; at other times, they maintained distance, unleashing a torrent of dazzling, powerful spells upon each other. Later, the masked man even summoned a giant dragon, whose steel claws and scorching breath once put Professor Baker in grave danger…

After nearly ten minutes of fierce fighting, Professor Baker proved superior. After slaying the dragon, he cleverly combined the terrain altered by Polymorph with illusion and invisibility to deceive the masked man's charged attack. Seizing the opportunity, he launched a fierce attack and completely defeated his opponent.

The presentation on the screen ended there. Professor Baker packed up the projector and looked at the students below with satisfaction. They were completely mesmerized, their pale faces showing a mixture of tension and excitement, and they had even forgotten to breathe.

Professor Baker clapped his hands to wake them up, and the classroom was filled with a chorus of exhalations.

"Merlin, that's terrifying!"

"When that giant dragon suddenly appeared, my heart seemed to stop for a moment..."

"And that purple beam of light, I was stunned when it hit the professor's shoulder..."

Avada was slightly better off, but he was still incredibly shocked. The battle shown on the screen was comparable to a big-budget blockbuster. The scenes of them shooting at each other at a distance were no less impressive than the battle between Dumbledore and Voldemort in "The Order of the Phoenix," while the close-quarters combat was like the most thrilling martial arts movie, with a fast and sharp pace.

Professor Baker's mental strength was clearly weaker than Dumbledore's, yet he was still incredibly terrifying in actual combat!

Professor Baker let the students discuss for a while before clapping his hands to quiet the classroom. A hint of reminiscence crossed his face as he spoke:

"What I just saw was the most thrilling and proudest battle of my adventure career. Although it certainly doesn't compare to the epic duel between Dumbledore and Grindelwald back then, it still has some commemorative value."

He paused, then continued, "His opponent at the time was a Greek. You may have heard of his title, 'Isred, the Always Ready,' a terrifying dark wizard who once reigned supreme in Greece and nearly became the 'Shadow King.' His name is on the Chocolate Frog picture cards."

"As his name suggests, Ethelred was extremely cautious, and when he was well-prepared, he was almost invincible. At the time, I was investigating his black wizard organization in Greece and had defeated many of his capable subordinates, so he wanted to kill me personally."

"He started laying the groundwork months in advance, investigating my information, spreading false intelligence, sending attacks to wear me down, and using his spies in the local Ministry of Magic to put pressure on me... At the same time, he created an incredibly insidious venue as the battlefield to end me, with anti-Apparition technology, so that once you enter you can't leave, the air is filled with toxins, and the ground is stained with curses..."

"Fortunately, I wasn't completely unaware of his intentions, and many of his methods failed. But even so, I almost died from his traps and his overwhelming personal strength, though I ultimately emerged victorious. It was after this battle that I earned the honor of becoming a council member of the Defense Against the Dark Arts League."

Seeing the excited and admiring looks on the faces of the young wizards below, Professor Baker couldn't help but smile. "Now, I'm sure you all fully understand the charm and effectiveness of Defense Against the Dark Arts. So, let's begin our first lesson—"

"How do I use your wand?"

"Many people may wonder what kind of course this is. Isn't using a wand just holding it, waving it according to the standard procedure, and chanting a spell? That's true in everyday life, but if you encounter a fierce battle, that's not enough."

"How should one hold a wand for the most comfortable and stable grip? What stance should one adopt during combat to cast spells most quickly?"

"These are the most important foundations of Defense Against the Dark Arts, and even seasoned Aurors may not be able to fully grasp their intricacies."

(End of this chapter)