LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 6: Battle in the Forbidden Forest
The Forbidden Forest, true to its name, was a dangerous woodland strictly off-limits to Hogwarts students. The deeper one ventured into its depths, the greater the perils that awaited.
While the forest harbored numerous dangerous magical creatures, it also sheltered beings friendly to humans. These benevolent creatures typically dwelt near the forest's edge, closer to civilization, while the most dangerous ones lurked in the uncharted depths.
These dangerous beings would breed prolifically, expanding their territory through sheer numbers. Among them, the Acromantulas - classified as "XXXXX" magical creatures - maintained the largest colony.
Hermione had shared this information from her books, sternly warning Glenn to never venture into the Forbidden Forest.
Yet here Glenn was, targeting these notorious "XXXXX" creatures - the Acromantulas, beings as renowned for their valuable biological materials as they were for their ferocity.
"If Hermione knew I was sneaking into the Forbidden Forest at night to hunt Acromantulas, the poor girl would probably have a heart attack," Glenn mused while methodically checking his equipment.
His strategy was clear: locate isolated spiders and engage them in close combat using cold weapons, initially with all enhancement spells active. If it proved too straightforward, he would gradually remove the enhancements to maximize training effectiveness.
Using firearms would defeat the purpose - dispatching spiders would be far too simple that way.
In magical duels, footwork and dynamic vision were paramount. Glenn, having mastered these skills in his previous life, was even more determined to reclaim and perfect them in this world of magic.
After all, even the most powerful spell was useless if it couldn't find its mark.
His current cane and dagger were far superior to their original forms, having been reforged through alchemy at considerable cost. They now carried a hint of mystical energy, awaiting further enhancement as Glenn's alchemical skills improved. For now, they possessed the simple yet effective property of "Hardness."
The "Phantom Form" was his own variation of the Disillusionment Charm, perfected through consultations with Dumbledore during Hermione's visits. Though still far from the Headmaster's mastery, his version had notably improved, requiring only time and magical power to reach such heights.
Tapping his cane lightly, he explored the surroundings. Several kilometers ahead, the harsh scratching sounds of arthropods reached his enhanced senses - Glenn had reached the outer territory of the Acromantula nest.
After confirming the movements of all nearby creatures, Glenn swiftly ascended a tree. His earlier sensing had detected an Acromantula that would soon pass through this area.
Waving his wand, Glenn began casting enhancement spells: "Hypersense, Wind Walk, Light as Feather, Silencio, Muscle Amplification, Adrenaline, Protego, Phantom Form, Presence Elimination."
As faint lights flickered with each spell, Glenn stowed his wand. He gripped his cane in his left hand, and with a thought, extended its concealed blade. His right hand held a dagger in reverse grip. He crouched on the branch like a statue, ready to strike.
"Rustle... rustle... rustle." The sound of arthropod legs moving through dead leaves reached his ears. Through his enhanced senses, Glenn spotted a horse-sized spider covered in coarse black hair, casually foraging, unaware of the impending danger.
"What a lovely day for hunting~" The Acromantula hummed in spider-language, boldly traversing the forest's main path, mentally browsing its imaginary menu.
Suddenly, its hair bristled - an instinctive warning of danger!
The spider raised its eight thick legs, expanding its form, desperately sensing its surroundings.
Acromantulas were renowned for their keen senses.
But it detected nothing, as Glenn's multiple concealment spells proved too sophisticated to penetrate.
Glenn seized his moment, launching himself like an arrow toward the massive creature below, targeting its head with his readied dagger.
The blade struck true.
The Acromantula's eight eyes dimmed as it stumbled forward, though not completely incapacitated. It thrashed desperately, trying to dislodge Glenn from its head.
Following the blade's trajectory, Glenn slashed sideways and withdrew the dagger, while swinging his cane with his left hand.
A silver flash, and the spider's head rolled to the ground as Glenn leapt clear of the bleeding corpse.
Once the blood flow subsided, Glenn collected the venom in empty vials. Afterward, he used an improved version of "Incendio" - a spell he called "Total Incineration" - to destroy the evidence.
"Scourgify." After extinguishing the flames, he scattered the ashes, eliminated all odors, and covered the area with dead leaves, leaving no trace of the encounter.
Glenn frowned. The ambush had proven too simple for effective training. Besides testing his concealment spells against the spider's senses, the brief combat had barely challenged his other enchantments.
After a moment's consideration, Glenn decided to face an Acromantula head-on for a proper fight.
His steps were light and graceful. Under the effects of "Silencio" and "Light as Feather," only the slightest disturbance in the air marked his passage through the dark forest. He left no trace, truly embodying the saying "leaving no footprints in snow, no trace in the wind."
He materialized before an Acromantula at the colony's edge. Dropping his Disillusionment Charm, Glenn immediately dove forward, evading the spider's sharp, hair-covered legs that had already sensed something amiss and attacked. His dagger sliced through the leg's shell effortlessly, causing the Acromantula to shriek in pain as it launched a simultaneous attack with its fangs and front legs.
The creature was furious - how dare this presumptuous prey wound it?
Glenn blocked an incoming leg with his cane, using the momentum to retreat, dodging the spray of venom. His left arm tingled from the impact.
The strength difference was immense.
Yet fear was absent from his expression. Instead, a hint of wild excitement flickered across his face, his lips slowly curving upward.
"Not enough."
He decisively cancelled all enchantments except for Hypersense and the Shield Charm, having already gauged his limits against the Acromantula.
The battle intensified, becoming a deadly dance of precision and timing. Though slower now, his movements were more fluid and unpredictable.
As the fight reached its climax, Glenn's expression transformed completely. His black curls flew wildly as his mouth stretched into a predatory grin, breathing heavily like a beast.
He even dropped his Shield Charm.
The forest echoed with the symphony of combat - clicking mandibles, slashing blades, and spraying venom. Glenn moved like water through the storm of legs and poison, each movement precise and deadly.
The Acromantula, once the hunter, found itself becoming the hunted. Terror spread through its body as the tiny human before it transformed in its perception into an apex predator.
Every cell in its body screamed for retreat, but it discovered too late that its legs were already in tatters. The massive spider collapsed.
It realized it had become like its own prey - consumed by despair through cruel play.
"So, don't play with your food," Glenn thought with a dark smile.
Through its remaining eyes, it could only watch helplessly as the figure approached, its venom depleted, life slowly ebbing away.
Glenn stepped forward, raising his cane.
His face split into a maniacal grin.
The Number 13 of his past life - black-clad, white-masked assassin - would always end such deadly dances in blood. Had anyone ever seen the expression beneath that mask?
No one had.
Not even himself.
The Acromantula's head fell to the ground in its final moments of terror, while Glenn stood bathed in moonlight, feeling a long-forgotten thrill course through his body.
Who was truly the prey?
Whether others were frightened remained unknown, but the dying Acromantula and the Disillusioned Dumbledore watching from nearby certainly were.
The headmaster was so shocked, he forgot to chew his Cockroach Cluster, dropping it with a soft thud.
Oh no, Glenn thought.
Ah, but I used Silencio.
Never mind then.