Guess who the prey is now?

Ethan looked ahead.

In that place shrouded in thick fog, a pine forest stood silently.

The evergreen needles are grayish-green, like knights who have lived through many years, exuding a sense of solemnity and tranquility.

Every now and then, a bird's cry could be heard from within.

The other three houses, Durmstrang, Beauxbatons, and Ilfamoni, are already present.

Durmstrang was all boys, all big and burly, wrapped in thick brown coats, looking like a group of bears from a distance.

The leader was a young man who looked to be in his twenties.

He was physically robust, with a buzz cut and thick, dark eyebrows.

His stern face revealed a kind of unintelligent toughness and recklessness.

"That's Durmstrang's ace, Viktor Krum."

Penelope whispered the introduction beside her.

"If you're interested in Quidditch, you'll definitely know him. He's incredibly powerful not only in the skies but also on the ground. Especially in Durmstrang, where there's an open attitude towards dark magic."

Ah, one of the warriors in the Triwizard Tournament in the original work.

Ethan nodded.

Now that we've gathered two warriors, what about the third...?

Sure enough, at Beauxbatons School of Magic in France, Ethan spotted a tall figure.

Actually, he didn't need to go out of his way to look for it.

Because most of the boys around her were staring at the girl as if they were possessed.

Her long, silky silver hair was tied high behind her head, and she had a pair of sparkling blue eyes.

Her small, palm-sized face was like a finely sculpted doll, but it shone with an air of pride and confidence, like a royal flower.

She was visibly surprised when her eyes met Ethan's.

Then he tilted his head and began talking to his companion.

“That’s Fleur Delacour,” Penelope said. “She’s a quarter Mage and a regular in magazines. She’s beautiful, but also very skilled in magic.”

Ethan looked at Hibiscus carefully for a few moments.

Yes, it is indeed very beautiful...

His skeletal structure was also very attractive, but Ethan didn't find it particularly "crazy attractive".

At this moment, Furong turned her head again, smiled and waved to him.

Just as Ethan was about to reply, he heard a soft "tsk" from beside him.

I turned my head to look.

Upon seeing the Slytherin prefect, Gemma Farley frowned impatiently.

His cold, arrogant eyes were filled with disdain and disgust. He didn't even glance at them, and murmured softly:

"Fairy..."

It seems that "noble princesses" who uphold pure bloodlines look down on marriage with fairies.

"On the other side are Iphamoni from the United States," Penelope dutifully introduced. "They are skilled in fire magic. Although there are no particularly outstanding characters, each of them is quite powerful."

She sighed, bit her lower lip, and a look of seriousness appeared in her eyes.

"This time, all the schools have unanimously brought out their top players... It's foreseeable that the competition will be extremely fierce."

"It will be quite difficult to win a prize."

As she spoke, she looked at Ethan with concern and said:

"Ethan, are you really not going to team up with us? We have Sean on our team, but he's reformed."

"..."

Sean looked away with trembling hands, his fingers poking at his glasses almost touching his eye sockets.

"No need, thank you, senior."

Ethan chuckled and shook his head.

At this moment, a loud voice rang out:

"Outstanding students from various schools, our challenge is about to begin!"

"Now, I, Ludo Bagman, the Director of Sports at the Ministry of Magic, will explain the rules of this competition."

"In this Secret Realm Search Challenge, contestants must traverse the perilous Corruption Swamp to reach the ruins of Halbo, located in the due north direction."

Ethan mentally reviewed the map.

indeed.

We are currently located directly below the Herpo mansion.

I guess it's to lower the difficulty.

Otherwise, finding a mansion in the vast sea of ​​trees would probably take more than a month.

"Once you arrive successfully, you will need to find the items we have marked with magic within the manor."

"It is the key to the door. Once you infuse it with magic, it will take you back to where you started."

"That means the challenge has been successfully completed."

"Rank them according to the order in which they are returned."

"Note that once the top ten finishers are determined, we will immediately terminate the competition. Your Aurors, who have been monitoring you throughout, will bring you back."

After Ludo Bagman finished speaking, he took out his exquisite water bottle and took a sip of water.

Then, smiling, he looked around and said:

"Any other questions?"

Viktor Krum raised his hands and said gruffly:

"Why is there a child at Hogwarts? Is there no one else at Hogwarts?"

"Huh?" Ludo Bagman was taken aback, then chuckled awkwardly, "Uh, there's no rule that first-year wizards can't participate..."

"But he's not even in our league," Krum frowned, glancing at Ethan. "He's not even qualified to compete."

Ethan smiled but didn't reply.

He tilted his head and carefully examined the Quidditch hero, memorizing his appearance.

However, it's clear that Krum isn't the only one who thinks this way.

He just said it out loud.

The other contestants looked at him as if he were a chick mixed in with a flock of swans.

Only the Hogwarts players remained silent.

Gemma Farley kept a cold expression, completely ignoring the curious stares.

Penelope patted Ethan on the shoulder and whispered, "Do your best."

"But you also need to show them your strength, Ethan!"

Ethan looked up, saw the encouragement on his senior's face, nodded and smiled, "Yes, of course."

He assured that this would be the most interesting edition of the Secret Realm Search Challenge ever.

The competition has officially begun.

According to the rankings drawn by each school before the competition, Hogwarts was the second to depart.

But when it was their turn, Ethan said he wanted to be the last one to leave.

Everyone was extremely surprised.

I don't understand what Ethan is trying to do with this!

Penelope wanted to say something, but in the end she just pursed her lips and walked into the forest with her teammates.

The figure quickly disappeared into the thick fog.

"Ha, trying to desert now, huh? What a coward!"

The two Slytherins mocked.

But under Gemma's stern reprimand, he finally shut his mouth and reluctantly followed.

Even the person in charge, Ludo Bagman, came over to advise him:

"Dude, the earlier you leave, the better. You're the last one to set off, and you're alone... isn't that just making things harder for yourself?"

Departing late?

Ethan smiled at Ludo Bagman.

You really don't know I opened the entire map.

Seeing that Ethan's attitude was firm, Ludo Bagman shook his head.

Muttering to himself, "These young people nowadays are really unconventional," he walked to a nearby recliner.

When they reached the last school, Beauxbatons also entered the forest.

Ethan waited for another ten minutes or so.

He nodded and said in a low voice:

"It's almost time."

"It's time to begin."

In the midst of the conversation.

With a flick of his wrist, he produced the large, purple-grade card—

Cerberus, the Corrupt Cerberus!

In an instant.

Thick fog billowed, and birds took flight in fright from the woods.

An incredibly hot and terrifying aura swept outwards from Ethan's center, instantly melting and vaporizing the surrounding frozen snow!

The referees and Aurors around him all looked at Ethan in astonishment.

Even Ludo Bagman, who was already lying on the recliner, straightened up.

The next second—

"roar!!!"

With a deafening roar, the earth and rocks crumbled.

A massive, pitch-black figure, as if breaking through the barriers of this world, leaped violently out from beside Ethan!

It enveloped them all!