[Ding, congratulations host for completing a special mission.]
[Would you like to claim the mission reward?]
The System's voice echoed in Tom's mind just as Voldemort turned to ashes. Then everyone present witnessed something strange: Tom stood there stunned for a few seconds, before dissolving into black mist and vanishing.
No one paid it much mind; they were rather relieved, as it was Tom Riddle after all.
Back to Dumbledore.
"Ahem… Harry, where's the Philosopher's Stone?"
Dumbledore looked at Harry kindly, extending his right hand.
"What Philosopher's Stone?"
Harry looked back with a puzzled expression and lied, "I've never seen a Philosopher's Stone in my life!"
"...Sigh."
Dumbledore sighed helplessly. He'd have to speak with Tom later to see if he could retrieve it.
...
Tom's office on the fourth floor of Hogwarts Castle.
A wisp of black mist flew into the room through the window and reformed into Tom's appearance.
"System, claim the reward."
[Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining the spell: Ancient Magic — Strike]
[Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining the spell: Ancient Magic — Ward]
[Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining the spell: Ancient Magic — Cast]
[Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining the ancient magic rune: Thanatos's Gaze.]
Ancient Magic wasn't complicated; it was simply the ultimate application of magical power.
The names indicated the purpose of these spells, but what of their true potential?
I shall test them when the opportunity arises.
The usage instructions for the first three spells appeared directly in Tom's mind, allowing him to master them instantly.
But what he received in the end…
[Ancient Magic Rune: Thanatos's Gaze]
[Description: Thanatos is the god of death in ancient Greek mythology. He possesses the supreme power to control life and death. This magic rune contains divine power from Thanatos. By sacrificing a certain price, it can achieve the miraculous effect of reversing life and death.]
[Price: Ten years of lifespan]
[Effect: Absolute death, resurrection]
[Note: Divine power of different levels cannot negate the rune's effect]
[Does the host wish to fuse with this magic rune?]
"…"
This seems…extraordinary.
However, Tom trusted his system would not betray him. "Fuse."
As Tom made his choice, a faint gray light appeared.
The light wrapped around Tom's left hand, spreading with golden threads.
Soon, ancient and mysterious gray patterns were etched onto Tom's left forearm, embellished with spreading golden threads.
Finally, the glimmer and golden threads converged in Tom's left palm, forming a gray eye pattern with golden pupils.
After the rune fully materialized, it vanished completely.
But Tom could still sense that it was there.
Looking at his ordinary left palm, Tom suddenly gave a strange laugh, "Lanlock, huh? Immune to Avada Kedavra, huh?"
Then I wonder if you can be immune to my Avada Kedavra Pro Max Supreme Deluxe Edition... Hehehehe...
Dumbledore, who had just entered, quietly observed Tom's sinister laughter, a laugh that certainly did not befit any good person. "…"
Tom looked up and saw Dumbledore regarding him kindly.
"…"
The two stared at each other awkwardly for a moment.
Then Tom, looking exasperated, said, "Do you not know how to knock?"
"I did knock, but you did not hear me."
Dumbledore shrugged indifferently.
Tom did not bother to argue with the old man. "Get to the point, or get out!"
"Tom, um… the Philosopher's Stone…"
Dumbledore began meaningfully.
Hearing this, Tom raised an eyebrow. "What Philosopher's Stone? Never heard of it! It's not with me!"
Dumbledore had anticipated this response. He suspected the Philosopher's Stone was not with Tom, but that wasn't his primary concern.
Dumbledore's expression turned serious. "Tom, you are aware… of… him. He will inevitably return."
He'd initially thought Voldemort's remnant soul was completely dead, but he had received new intelligence that Voldemort's remnant soul possessed some knowledge regarding Horcrux creation in his youth.
In other words, Voldemort's remnant soul might not be entirely deceased.
"So? What do you want?"
Tom was curious. What did Dumbledore mean by all this?
Dumbledore looked at Tom intently. "I hope you will ensure Harry returns to the Dursleys."
...
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
Harry, who was playing with the Philosopher's Stone, suddenly shivered.
"What's happening? Is someone plotting against me?!"
Harry looked around suspiciously for a while, relaxing only after confirming he was safe.
...
Back with Tom.
Hearing Dumbledore's words, Tom chuckled. "Of course."
(Harry: How can you be so selfish?!)
"But I have one more condition."
Tom suddenly remembered something he had recently acquired.
"What condition?"
Dumbledore was both puzzled and wary. Would this boy make things difficult?
"I require phoenix blood, and the most accessible phoenix at the moment is..."
Tom trailed off; he trusted Dumbledore would understand.
"Fawkes."
As Dumbledore spoke, a burst of flame ignited in the air, and then Fawkes appeared.
Touching Fawkes perched on his shoulder, Dumbledore spoke gently, "I must trouble you once more."
Hearing this, Fawkes tilted his head in confusion.
But Dumbledore said nothing more, simply raising his wand and gently extracting blood from Fawkes' leg.
"Screech!"
Fawkes cried out, then began angrily pecking at Dumbledore's head.
"Ouch! Ouch!... Is that sufficient now?!"
Dumbledore tried to protect his head.
"Naturally."
Tom smiled with satisfaction, retrieved a test tube, and used magic to guide the phoenix blood into it.
"Then Harry..."
"Find an excuse to tell him yourself; I will not interfere."
Tom admired the fiery red blood in the test tube, ignoring Dumbledore being pecked by the bird.
"…"
Dumbledore said nothing more. He had anticipated this, and it was a small price to pay; his objective was achieved.
Thinking this, Dumbledore quickly turned and left; he still needed to soothe Fawkes.
Bang.
Hearing the office door close, Tom conjured another potion out of thin air. The liquid inside the transparent container was equally clear.
"Do not disappoint me."
---
I have promised you a one-of-a-kind story and a relentless upload schedule, and as you can see, I am a man of my word.
Now it is your turn to help us break into the Top 10 and dominate the rankings. Don't just be a silent reader; smash that vote button and let your voice be heard in the comments section below!