MM Racing Chapter 200 Newt, Master of Fantastic Creatures
Chapter 200 Newt, Master of Fantastic Creatures
Chapter 201 (5k long chapter) Newt, the Master of Fantastic Creatures
Now, Ludo shouted, letting everyone know that Krum was going to meet the Thunderbird in the Clouds.
But then they saw that the creature spread its wings, which looked like clouds hanging from the sky, and with its golden eyes and lightning claws, it was truly awe-inspiring.
Looking at the broom next to Krum, it was an old Comet model, with scattered wooden branches and a scorched yellow broom tail, looking like an old thing that had been taken off the kitchen beam.
Karkarov, unable to contain himself, turned his head and shouted from the referee's stand:
"I say, Mr. Scamander, at least get Krum a fire crossbow!"
"That broken broom is probably older than Dumbledore himself!"
An elderly man with white hair, sitting upright in the back row of the professors' seats, was taken aback upon hearing this. He rubbed his hands and stammered:
"But if we use fire bolts, Mr. Krum's flying speed will probably be faster than Frank's."
"Oh, Frank is the name of that Thunderbird. I rescued it from an Egyptian trafficker when I was young..."
Reader, please hear the explanation: Newt Scamander, in his early years, also attended Hogwarts and was taught by Dumbledore. He was originally a member of Hufflepuff House.
Despite his seemingly dull and taciturn nature and lack of social skills, he once accomplished several earth-shattering feats.
Grindelwald impersonated the Minister of Security of the Magical Congress of America, teaching him to expose the deception in public; later, he attempted to use the zombie Qilin to deceive the world and seize the position of president of the International Wizarding Federation, but was also thwarted by him.
All of the Dark Lord's schemes to wreak havoc on the magical world ultimately failed because of this man, proving that good and evil are truly irreconcilable.
Karkaroff, however, had no interest in listening to these old stories. His eyes were fixed on Krum in the arena, and he kept complaining.
"Then you might as well not have given him that broken broom at all. I really don't know what you're thinking..."
"I must have been out of my mind to participate in this so-called Three Kingdoms Championship..."
He kept rambling on and on, saying mostly unpleasant things.
Newt was kind and reserved by nature, and seeing his rudeness, he didn't take it to heart and simply kept quiet.
Unfortunately, Haig, who was sitting to the side, had already seen this situation. As one should know, he had always respected Newt, the master of magical creatures, the most.
Seeing him treated with such disrespect, he was instantly filled with rage, and his long beard stood on end.
A palm the size of a fan slapped down on his shoulder, making him shrink a third.
With force exerted by his five fingers, it was as if an iron clamp had locked onto his shoulder blade. If he had just added a little more force, he would have broken his tendons and bones!
Hagrid roared like thunder, "Don't you know what it means to respect your elders, Mr. Karkaroff!"
"Or are you questioning one of the world's greatest masters of magical creatures!"
Karkarov felt a sharp, piercing pain in his shoulder, his bones creaking, and he hurriedly grimaced and begged for mercy.
"Calm down, big guy! I'm just asking for advice, you know?"
Hagrid withdrew his hand when he saw that the man had given in. Maxim glanced at the burly man and thought that although he was a bald, rough man, he had a certain masculine air about him at that moment.
From the high commentary platform, Lu Duo saw that both the man and the beast in the arena were in position, and immediately picked up a golden egg and threw it with all his might.
The golden egg drew a golden line and flew straight into the whirlwind created by the thunderbird.
"Finding the golden egg means victory!"
"I hereby declare the match open!"
Before Ludo could finish speaking, the thunderbird suddenly flapped its wings and slashed down.
Without hesitation, Krum leaped onto the old broom and soared into the sky.
The students in the audience had never seen such a scene before, and they all cheered and raised their arms, their voices shaking the heavens. Some shouted that they wanted to see Krum perform the "Lonski feint" again, while others jokingly called the golden egg a "golden thief that can't move."
The stadium erupted in cheers; where was the tense atmosphere of a three-way battle for supremacy? Those unaware of the situation would simply think the Quidditch World Cup had reopened.
Nakrum dashed left and right in mid-air, using all his skills, just to get close to the golden egg in the whirlwind under the Thunderbird's wings.
Unfortunately, the broom he was riding was too old and worn out, and its speed was less than one-tenth or one-twelfth of that of the Thunderbird. The raptor's huge wings flapped, and it treated Krum like a toy, sweeping him around in the air, leaving him in a very sorry state.
The onlookers all turned away and covered their faces, unable to bear to look closely.
Karkaroff lost all interest in looking at it and cursed, "What does this broken broom have to do with courage?"
"Give up," Newt said matter-of-factly. "Give up Quidditch, the game he's best at, in front of everyone."
"The rocks and caves on the field are more useful tools than that flying broomstick."
Hagrid chimed in from behind, "Mr. Scamander thoroughly investigated these warriors before setting up their special challenges."
Upon hearing this, Karkarov was struck dumb, instantly realizing the purpose of giving Krum a flying broom before the match – it was a trap to lure him into a snare!
His throat tightened and he swallowed twice, his eyes wide open like saucers.
That's a really ruthless move... not only killing someone, but also destroying their spirit?
Meanwhile, on the field, Krum, having been thoroughly outmaneuvered by Thunderbird, gradually realized that his old broom couldn't unleash the full potential he had ever learned.
Hearing the cheers of the students in the stands, he steeled his heart and suddenly swooped down with his broom.
Just as it was about to hit the ground, it threw the broom aside, rolled to the ground, and ran quickly toward the whirlpool containing the golden egg.
At the same time, he waved his wand, and the scattered rocks on the ground rose up and rushed straight towards the Thunderbird.
When the students saw that Krum had abandoned his flying broom, an uproar broke out, and sighs of disappointment swept across the entire hall.
It should be understood that this trial was meant to test courage. Since Krum was willing to set aside his pride and give up his flying broom, he had already passed the test.
The Thunderbird's golden eyes flickered slightly, glancing towards Newt, then deliberately created an opening, tossing the golden egg down before flapping its wings and flying back.
Krum won the golden egg, and Ludo shouted in a booming voice.
"Let's congratulate Mr. Krum! He has passed the test!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the judges on the bench raised their placards to show their scores.
Without hesitation, Karkaroff gave a perfect score of ten, while the others only gave seven or eight points, apparently because they thought Krum had lingered too long on that old broom.
Either the breadth of knowledge is too thin to bear the empty fame, or the wisdom is insufficient to grasp the key points. Regardless of which one it is, it will ultimately fall into the lower category, and naturally it will be difficult to get a high score.
As soon as Krum withdrew, Ludo shouted again like a drumbeat: "Next up is—Cedric Diggory!"
Cedric had been standing at the entrance of the passageway for quite some time, having already taken in the entire previous contest.
Upon hearing the roll call, his chest heaved like a bellows. He took a deep breath, gripped his wand tightly, and headed straight for the center of the arena.
At this moment, several black-robed wizards were waving their staffs and performing magic. Amidst the flying sand and stones, the damaged terrain was restored in an instant, and a golden egg was seen steadily placed in a stone mortar.
The leading wizard suddenly took off his hat and shook it lightly, and a strange beast leaped out of the hat.
Do you know what this beast looks like? Well, look: it has piercing eyes and a white forehead like a tiger, its body covered in five-colored brocade patterns, and its tail is eighteen feet long like a rainbow, stirring up the wind and clouds. Its fangs are sharp and menacing, and its tail curls up when it's being cute. It has a touch of playfulness in its ferocity.
The students in the room were all shocked and terrified, whispering amongst themselves.
Dumbledore examined the beast closely, adjusted his glasses, and exclaimed in surprise, "Is that a Zouwu?"
Hagrid, who was watching intently, clutched his chest with his large hand and murmured in response:
"That's right, Professor Dumbledore is Zouwu..."
"China has so many amazing creatures! I read the 'Classic of Mountains and Seas' that Mr. Scamander recommended to me, and it was absolutely wonderful..."
Before he could finish speaking, Ludo gave a command, and a storm suddenly broke out on the field.
Cedric and the Zouwu were locked in combat, their claws and staff flashing in unpredictable motion.
Upon seeing the Zouwu's earth-shattering roar, Furong's face turned pale, and her body trembled uncontrollably.
When I glanced at Harry beside me, I saw that he was sitting cross-legged and as steady as a mountain, and I felt a little more at ease and felt much closer to him.
He rubbed his stiff legs and feet, moved closer to Harry, squatted down, hugged his knees, and quietly asked:
"Harry, do you think Diggory can win?"
Harry clapped his hands and laughed, "This Zouwu is a benevolent and auspicious beast, intelligent and courteous. Seeing that it held back and didn't fight seriously, how could my brother Cedric have been defeated?"
Hearing this, Furong became even more confused, her delicate brows furrowing slightly as she asked, "But what does this have to do with courage?"
"What does this have to do with courage?"
Meanwhile, Karkarov stared intently at the field with a gloomy face. He saw Zouwu pretend to run away, then suddenly turn around and chuckle as it flicked its long tail, lightly brushing and teasing Cedric's face.
"Is this thing even half as dangerous as that Thunderbird?!"
"Don't get agitated, Karkaroff," Dumbledore reassured him. "In fact, the Zouwu is no less dangerous than the Thunderbird. It can travel through space, but Hogwarts' restrictive spells prevent it from doing so."
Upon hearing this, Karkarov's forehead veins bulged, and he angrily retorted, "Doesn't that mean it's not dangerous?"
"And do you think I'm blind? This Zouwu is clearly holding back!"
Hagrid crossed his arms and exhaled a puff of white breath. "You're right, Mr. Karkaroff, but this is Diggory's test of courage."
Newt hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Uh...yes, I've investigated Diggory. After all, we're both from Hufflepuff, so I can guess what he's thinking."
"His upbringing was quite ordinary, but also quite excellent, without any particularly striking flaws—in short, I'd say he has a very sensitive soul..."
Karkaroff, feeling utterly fed up with hearing this, cut to the chase impatiently, saying, "Please get to the point, Mr. Scamander."
"You're sending a harmless magical creature, deliberately letting it pass, to guard the golden egg. Aren't you intentionally giving Hogwarts special treatment?"
Newt took a deep breath. "I heard that Mr. Harry Potter created a club called the Boxers at school, and Diggory was just an ordinary member of that club."
"I believe Mr. Diggory is well aware of the impact a brilliant performance from him would have on Mr. Potter, who would be the last to enter the fray."
"Subordinates shouldn't always steal the spotlight from their boss."
Upon hearing this, Karkarov's eyebrows furrowed, and he smacked his lips repeatedly.
Maxim pondered for a moment and said, "This reason doesn't seem very convincing, Mr. Scamander."
"Oh, my dear Mrs. Maxim," Dumbledore patted her on the shoulder and laughed, "you just don't understand Hufflepuff."
Indeed, those of the same origin share a common understanding. As Cedric and Zouwu fought fiercely, they noticed something amiss and began to hesitate, glancing repeatedly toward the entrance.
Later, he simply started to feign engagement, his moves becoming increasingly unconvincing. Seeing this, the Zouwu became even more enthusiastic about his performance.
One feinted lunge like a willow swaying in the wind, the other dodged like a drunkard staggering, making the audience yawn repeatedly.
After nearly half an hour of grinding, Ludo had to remind him repeatedly in his impatience. Finally, Cedric steeled himself, unleashing three beams of magical light with a roar, shooting straight at Zouwu like shooting stars.
Seeing that he was serious, the Zouwu also mustered its strength to fight back.
In just a few exchanges, Cedric spotted an opening, performed a somersault, and snatched the golden egg into his arms.
Without turning around, he swung his staff backward, striking the Zouwu squarely in the forehead.
The beast immediately collapsed with a mournful howl, its cry echoing across the surrounding area. The stands erupted in thunderous cheers and thunderous applause.
The judges all gave their scores, but they were all stingy, none of them giving a high score. Even Dumbledore only gave it eight points.
Immediately afterwards, the wizard who had released the beast earlier leaped onto the stage, holding a feathered long pole and gently shaking it, the bells jingling.
Upon hearing the sound, the Zouwu immediately scrambled to its feet and leaped towards the colorful feathers on the pole.
The wizard casually removed his hat and waved it, and the beast transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into the hat.
Seeing Cedric leave, Fleur, supporting Harry's shoulder, straightened up, lightly stamped her feet to warm herself, and forced a composed smile:
"It's my turn next."
"Can you wish me good luck, Harry?"
Harry clasped his hands and said, "Do good deeds and don't worry about the future."
Upon hearing this, Furong was taken aback, her smile gradually fading. After pondering for a moment, she turned and walked towards the center of the arena.
She waited in the center of the field for a while, when suddenly a dark cloud drifted in.
Upon closer inspection, they turned out to be a hundred or so buoyant conch shells, all suspended in mid-air by a floating spell!
These monstrous creatures were covered in slime and reeked of a foul stench. As soon as they appeared, the crowd in the stands covered their faces with their sleeves.
Standing at the front of the formation, Furong was hit by the foul air, her delicate body swayed twice, and she almost fainted.
On the referee's stand, Maxim glared, his large hand fanning himself so loudly it made a gust of wind, and angrily demanded, "What does this mean?!"
"Of course, it's a test of courage for Miss Delacour," Hagrid said matter-of-factly. "Mr. Scamander and I both agree that Miss Delacour cares most about her appearance."
"If she wants to get the golden egg, she can't leave her pretty face unscathed."
Seeing Maxim's ashen face, Newt quickly added, "Of course, St. Mungo's doctors are well-prepared. Even if someone is injured, they can be treated immediately, and there will be absolutely no scars on the skin."
Upon hearing this, Maxim's expression softened slightly.
Meanwhile, on the field, Furong found herself utterly disgusted by these filthy, fiery beasts.
However, the carapaces of those venomous creatures were as hard as iron, and the cursed light bounced off them. Moreover, they became extremely ferocious, and poisonous flames flickered in and out of their mouths.
In the midst of their fierce battle, a "sizzle" sound was heard, and a lock of black hair was charred black by the flames.
Furong, having taken this blow, gritted her teeth and completely forgot about the word "thoroughness".
He immediately unleashed his full power, no longer caring about escaping unscathed. With a flick of his wand, sparks flew as he carved a bloody path through the air and finally snatched the golden egg into his hands.
This decisive and swift action showed even greater resolve than the previous two young men.
Cheers erupted all around, and the judges all gave high scores, except for Karkaroff, who was stingy and only gave a seven out of the wand tip.
"Congratulations to our three warriors! They have all passed the first trial!"
On the commentary stand, Ludo, in his hoarse voice, excitedly shouted, "Now let's welcome the last warrior, Harry Potter!"
Harry got up at the sound, stretched his limbs a few times, and strode into the passageway.
Once the view opened up, one could see a sea of people, with the stands packed with teachers, students, and dignitaries from all walks of life.
On the high platform, Fudge from the Ministry of Magic and a group of officials were seated, making quite a grand spectacle.
Harry, seeing this spectacle, secretly rejoiced at the opportunity.
As Harry entered, Karkaroff turned halfway to the side and glanced at Newt, saying:
"Mr. Scamander, I hope the magical creature you've prepared for Mr. Potter will be... a little dangerous."
Newt stared intently at Harry, remaining silent for a long while before slowly speaking.
"In fact, Mr. Potter is a great source of trouble for me."
"He seemed to have nothing to fear, and he had never lost. Even when bitten by a basilisk, he was able to cut off his own arm with extreme decisiveness."
"Fear, retreat—these words have absolutely nothing to do with him."
Maxim looked suspicious. "Excuse me, Mr. Scamander. You wouldn't have forgotten to prepare a magical creature for Mr. Potter, would you?"
Newt was taken aback by this and hurriedly waved his hand, saying, "Of course not, I've just been thinking about what magical creature would be the best match for Mr. Potter."
"Fortunately, I have several Chinese friends who are very willing to lend me some special magical creatures."
Newt rambled on for a while, then stood up, picked up the old leather suitcase at his feet, and strode towards the center of the arena.
Standing before the golden egg, he carefully placed the suitcase upright and unclipped the brass clasp with two clicks.
Seeing the old man's refined manners, Harry immediately clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, "Could this be Mr. Newt Scamander?"
Newt nodded slightly. "Good morning, Mr. Potter."
Just as he was about to begin instructing him on the rules, Harry rushed forward, grabbed his hands, and respectfully said:
"Hearing about someone is not as good as seeing them, and seeing them is even better than hearing about them. I've often heard my brother Hagrid talk about a great expert in magical creatures who twice thwarted Grindelwald's treacherous schemes. He's truly remarkable!"
"It is truly an honor to meet you today!"
It should be noted that Newt is shy by nature, not good with words, and has spent more time with beasts than with people in his life. He has never experienced such a scene before.
He stood frozen in place, his face flushed and paled alternately. He hurriedly withdrew his hand, mumbled something for a while, and finally managed to stammer:
"Hmm...it's nice to see you too..."
"Ahem, please remember this, Mr. Potter. I will open the box when Mr. Bagman announces the start of the match."
"The creature inside the box is extremely dangerous. If you think you can't get the golden egg, be sure to shout Professor Dumbledore's name."
"He might be the only one here who can handle this magical creature."
(End of this chapter)