Click.
The door had barely swung inward when…
"Roar!!!"
A thunderous roar ripped through the air.
Bang!
A dark brown paw, the size of a grown man, slammed against the translucent white barrier Tom had erected.
"Roar!!!"
Bang, bang, bang…
Foiled in its initial attack, the Zouwu flew into a frenzy, its paws a blur as it hammered against the barrier, each blow a futile display of rage.
Tom ignored the kitten's tantrum, his gaze sweeping across the room.
The interior was far larger than the exterior suggested, thanks to some Undetectable Extension Charms.
The walls were scarred and battered, the floor a chaotic mess. Amongst the debris, Tom spotted mangled, thick iron bars – the remnants of a cage that had once held the magnificent beast.
Turning his attention back to the Zouwu, he observed its stunning golden fur, its powerful brown paws, and the vibrant, red, feathery tail that pulsed with life. Its development was impressive.
Even as a sub-adult, it was already nearing the size of a fully grown Zouwu.
Tom tilted his head, noticing a chain around the Zouwu's neck. Golden light pulsed from the fur beneath it, revealing complex runes etched into the metal.
An alchemical creation, designed to suppress the Zouwu's innate ability to traverse vast distances in an instant.
Looking up at the Zouwu's massive, feline head once more, Tom noticed a disturbing detail – its left eye appeared to be injured, sealed shut. Only the right eye remained open and alert.
Sensing Tom's scrutiny, the Zouwu bared its fangs, its maw wide enough to swallow a man whole, and roared again, "Roar!!!"
Newt Scamander, who was standing behind Tom, clapped him on the shoulder, "Are you sure you can handle this? Should I go and calm the kid down?"
"Tch, watch and learn."
Tom impatiently shrugged off Newt's hand, his gaze hardening as he locked eyes with the Zouwu.
Meeting Tom's emerald green snake eyes, the Zouwu's pupils constricted sharply. It scrambled back into a corner of the room, a bizarre combination of flying, swimming, and running all at once.
Even as it retreated, it couldn't resist lashing out with its massive tail, though it only succeeded in striking the shimmering white barrier once again.
Even with its spatial abilities sealed, its affinity for space was undeniable.
Tom thoughtfully observed the Zouwu's peculiar movements.
Then, drawing the Elder Wand from his pocket, he announced, "Alright, little kitty, playtime is over."
With a sweeping gesture, Tom slashed the ground with the Elder Wand, and crimson Fiendfyre erupted.
Blazing...
The Fiendfyre coiled and twisted, forming into a monstrous serpent, devouring anything in its path, rapidly encircling the Zouwu.
"Ugh ~ Hah ~"
The Zouwu crouched low to the ground, its one good eye fixated on the inferno, a low growl rumbling in its chest.
But the fear in its eyes was unmistakable.
A slight smile played on Tom's lips.
BOOM!!!
With another flick of Tom's wand, the Fiendfyre exploded outward, expanding at an incomprehensible rate.
In mere seconds, the abandoned factory was reduced to smoldering ashes.
Caught completely off guard, Newt Scamander and the Aurors outside instinctively raised their arms in a desperate attempt to shield themselves from the raging inferno.
But as the shock wore off, they realized they were completely unharmed.
Looking around, they found themselves surrounded by a sea of flames!
Looking more closely, they saw a colossal serpent of fire, hundreds of meters tall, coiled around them and the charred ruins, with the Zouwu trapped inside.
"Holy crap..."
Henry and the others craned their necks, their mouths agape, their eyes wide with disbelief as they stared up at the terrifying crimson serpent.
"We're all wizards, but why is your style so… different?"
Tom was oblivious to their thoughts, and frankly, he couldn't care less.
His focus was solely on the terrified kitten before him.
At the sight of the Fiendfyre's head, larger than itself, the Zouwu buried its head beneath its paws, whimpering softly.
As Tom approached, he could hear a faint "woof woof woof…" sound.
Hearing Tom's approach, the Zouwu pressed its paws down harder, peeking upwards, revealing only its large, frightened eyes.
Slowly, Tom advanced, his black trench coat billowing in the wind, a faint smile gracing his handsome features, but his emerald green snake eyes shone with an unsettling glint.
Towering behind the human, the enormous fire serpent loomed, its golden-red eyes staring down at the Zouwu without emotion.
"Woo woo woo…"
So terrifying!
It's just a big cat that hasn't even reached adulthood yet, why is everyone picking on it!
Paralyzed with fear, the Zouwu could only watch helplessly as Tom approached and extended his left hand.
Am I going to die...?
"Ugh..."
The Zouwu's one good eye twitched violently.
It felt the gentle touch of a hand on its forehead.
A gentle touch…
Looking back at Tom, his smile seemed different now.
"Good boy, it'll be over soon."
Tom smiled gently, then reached for the Zouwu's neck with his right hand.
Snap...
Clang!
The moment Tom's right hand made contact with the shackles, a flash of golden light erupted from the Zouwu's neck, and the chain shattered into pieces!
"..."
The Zouwu's eyes widened, staring intently at Tom, as if trying to burn his image into its memory.
Seeing this, Tom knew his plan had succeeded.
Some things seem innate for some people.
First, overwhelm with absolute power, instilling fear in the heart of this big cat. Then, offering just the right amount of care and warmth, creating a stark contrast… An indescribable feeling.
For a simple creature like this dim-witted big cat, it's most effective.
...
Amidst the scorched ruins.
"The Fiendfyre… is gone."
Henry murmured softly, surveying the scene.
Looking into the distance…
The once ferocious Zouwu was now lying docilely on the ground, allowing Tom to sit upon its head.
Newt Scamander stared at Tom with a peculiar expression. This guy's way of taming magical creatures was just too…
Tom ignored Newt's assessment of his methods. Instead, he conjured a cat toy out of thin air and dangled it in front of the Zouwu.
The Zouwu's eye widened, its attention instantly captured by the toy, and it lunged for it.
Of course, it missed.
The Zouwu leaped and bounded, desperately trying to catch the elusive toy, while Tom remained firmly seated on its head.
After a while, Tom put the toy back in his ring with a flourish and patted the large head beneath him. "Do you remember where those guys are? I'll go get them for you."
"Awoo… Awoo!"
Hearing Tom's words, the Zouwu's expression turned fierce, clearly remembering those who had captured it.
Then, golden light flared from the fur on its neck, and it let out a mighty, "Roar!!!"
Space twisted and distorted, and the Zouwu vanished, "flying" away at impossible speed.
"They… are gone."
Even though they knew of the Zouwu's abilities, witnessing it firsthand was still unbelievable.
---