The speed and sharpness of Sectumsempra made it a spell of extreme concealment. Alan had rarely seen anyone capable of deflecting it directly without relying on a Protego charm. In fact, he suspected that if their roles were reversed, he might not have managed it with such effortless grace.
Upon seeing Alan deflect his curse, Thunderbird felt a chill of realization. This young man's strength was formidable. His own spells were cast using a unique method that imbued them with an exaggerated impact; they were heavy, powerful things that would overwhelm an ordinary wizard. To move such an evil spell off course required not just perfect timing, but immense magical reserves and physical coordination.
*This young man cannot be underestimated. If I want to end this quickly... I must use my full strength from the start.*
Thunderbird and Alan reached this conclusion simultaneously after their first exchange.
"Fiendfyre! Flying Petals!"
"Thunder Carnival!"
They roared in unison.
Thunderbird waved his wand in a sharp arc. As the tip cut through the air, it created friction like a striking match, emitting dazzling sparks. Following the trajectory of his wand, a vast expanse of Fiendfyre erupted around him. These flames didn't just burn; they took the form of falling leaves and delicate petals, spinning toward Alan in a lethal whirlwind.
On the other side, Alan surged his magic, stirring wisps of active silver-blue plasma. The energy flowed around his body like liquid, rising and falling with the rhythm of his breath. The static caused his hair to stand on end, giving him the appearance of a descending god of thunder.
Alan raised his wand and pointed it at the palm of his other hand. The gushing current exploded outward, forming tiny, star-like shimmering lights that encircled him like an asteroid belt. He snapped his wand toward Thunderbird, and these star-like electrons activated, streaking through the deep night sky like a fine shower of meteors.
The Fiendfyre petals and the Wild Lightning of the Thunder Carnival collided in mid-air.
The scene looked like two Gatling guns spraying fire at one another, with every bullet consciously seeking its target. Electrons and sparks twisted and fought; the roar of flames and the crackling of lightning reverberated across the cliffside.
On one side, the electrons emitted strands of current that acted like sharp blades, tearing through the Fiendfyre with the precision of a Diffindo. Even the all-consuming cursed fire struggled to resist, being annihilated by the silver electric light.
On the other side, the Fiendfyre petals transformed into a vicious beast, opening a ferocious maw to swallow the electrons whole. Despite the lightning thrashing inside its belly, the energy was eventually smothered, becoming nourishment for the flames.
As sparks eliminated electrons or electrons annihilated sparks, the survivors grew stronger. Tiny electrons merged into ball lightning, and faint sparks swelled into fierce beasts before resuming their deadly struggle. Thunderbird and Alan stood like two generals, commanding their elemental armies while constantly condensing magic to replenish their front lines.
While they fought their high-level duel, Bird Snake suffered. The power of their spells was ridiculously high, and the range of the elemental activity was vast. Their battle occupied a massive area; any Inferi he summoned was instantly destroyed if it was even grazed by a stray electron or a lick of Fiendfyre.
Even the scattered debris from the collisions caused severe damage to the undead. Because the duel was happening so close to Bird Snake, nearly half of his resurrected army was wiped out by the collateral damage.
*So you two are showing off, while I, the summoner, am getting beaten up by my own side.*
"Thunderbird! Your spells are too powerful; my army can't even form!" Bird Snake frantically signaled through his mask. "Move the battlefield! Lure him away! If you keep this up, the site will be destroyed and the operation will be a total loss!"
Thunderbird frowned. He could feel his Fiendfyre was beginning to gain the upper hand, and he believed that with a little more persistence, he would break the young wizard. However, the mention of the operation gave him pause.
The scale of this transport was massive. He had intended to use the London distraction to ensure a smooth shipment, but this oversight was proving costly. If this batch was seized, he would have no face left at the Club.
He had quickly noted that, including Alan, only fifteen Aurors had attacked. Although his side had lost half their men in the initial ambush, with the support of the Inferi, they could still win—provided they didn't take too long. If Ministry reinforcements arrived, they were finished.
*Damn it!* Thunderbird glared at Alan. If it weren't for this boy holding him back, he could have swept through these Aurors with ease. But the kid's strength was outrageous; he had never seen lightning magic that could actually contend with Fiendfyre.
Gritting his teeth, Thunderbird decided he couldn't risk burning the goods. He waved his wand forcefully, conjuring two final clusters of Fiendfyre petals before turning and rushing toward the forest at the edge of the cliff.
"Kid, you've got talent," Thunderbird shouted as he ran. "These useless fools are only in the way. If you're not afraid to die, follow me and I'll show you what real combat looks like. Otherwise, I'll just have to turn my attention to these troublesome Aurors."
"As you wish," Alan sneered, dispelling the remaining flames and pursuing him into the trees.