Chapter 324

Kill Murphy. Of course, Dumbledore had thought of this method.

It's just that this kind of simple and direct violence didn't quite fit his personality, and Murphy wasn't that easy to kill.

"He and we are already in the same position," Dumbledore said. "It's very difficult for me to kill him."

"So, you came here, didn't you?" Grindelwald said.

Dumbledore was silent. Indeed, if Grindelwald was added, the two of them working together would greatly increase the probability of killing Murphy.

But this suddenly made him a little suspicious. Would Grindelwald say such things just to escape?

"Oh, Albus." Grindelwald made a hurt expression. "Are you doubting me?"

"Sorry, Gellert, involuntarily." Dumbledore gave a wry smile.

The problem of suspicion had long been rooted at the bottom of his personality. Just a moment ago, he had begun to doubt Grindelwald's motives.

Grindelwald had foreseen his arrival. Perhaps he had also foreseen the purpose of his coming.

Then, of course, it was very likely that he would use this point to escape from here.

And based on his understanding of Grindelwald, he had sufficient reasons and motives to do so.

"If you are really worried, I can continue to stay here for a while," Grindelwald said. "I have lived here for fifty years. Although it is indeed very boring, I have already started to get used to it. Staying for a while longer is nothing. Anyway, there are probably not many years left."

Although this might be Grindelwald's rhetoric, Dumbledore still felt a trace of guilt.

Finally, he drew his wand and whispered a few spells. Suddenly, the surrounding scenery changed. The room took on an illusory color, and a crimson chain appeared from the floor, the other end firmly inserted into Grindelwald's chest.

"Chain of Soul Imprisonment."

Grindelwald looked at the chain with a complex expression.

This chain not only imprisoned him on the top floor of this tower but also firmly shackled his magic, making him like an ordinary Muggle for these fifty years.

To him, this was almost a humiliation.

He glanced at Dumbledore. "Don't you need me to make a few Unbreakable Vows?"

"We both know that's useless," Dumbledore said.

Grindelwald shrugged.

Fine, at least they had tried back then.

Dumbledore tapped his wand on the chain and finished the last few spells. Only a "crack" was heard, and the chain broke in the middle, then collapsed rapidly toward both ends.

A moment later, Grindelwald was free.

He slowly straightened his back, and his long-lost magic power filled his whole body again, making him unable to control it for a moment. His whole body shone with magic, and dazzling bright light radiated from his eyes and facial orifices.

After a while, the vibration of magic finally calmed down. Grindelwald let out a long breath. He stood in front of Dumbledore, his appearance hadn't changed much, but the whole person seemed completely different.

"Fifty years..." Grindelwald paced in the room. He no longer limped, and his temperament became elegant and confident. "Not a moment went by that I didn't miss magic."

"Do you know what the cruelest thing you did to me was, Albus?"

"You actually deprived me of the power to use magic, making me as incompetent as a Muggle..."

"I really should let you taste that feeling too."

Dumbledore frowned and gripped his wand tightly.

"Of course, you have the Elder Wand now," Grindelwald glanced at the weapon in the other's hand. "However, you don't think that after so many years, I really haven't made any preparations, do you?"

He said, actually drawing a wand from his robe. "Only you can open the Chain of Soul Imprisonment, so no one can release me from here, but sending me some small gifts wasn't that difficult."

"I'm thinking, maybe we should have another duel," Grindelwald said. "Of course, not now. I will re-gather my partners. When I regain my strength... oh, that Murphy Darkholm, I suddenly feel that it might not be impossible to absorb him too. By then, two against one, Albus, even if you have the Elder Wand, you won't have much chance of winning."

He said, raising his wand. "What do you think of my plan?"

"Very convincing," Dumbledore said. "Honestly, I already regret letting you out."

"Oh, you should at least learn to check if the guy on the other side is carrying a wand first."

Dumbledore didn't speak.

Grindelwald was silent for a while, then suddenly narrowed his eyes. "You found out?"

"Then you still dare to release me?"

Dumbledore was noncommittal, but said, "I just made preparations to accept all the consequences of releasing you."

"What if I want to kill you?" Grindelwald raised his wand in front of Dumbledore.

"That is of course something you might do," Dumbledore said flatly. "But for me, that's not too bad an ending."

The expression on Grindelwald's face was like he had been slapped.

The next instant, a fury made his wand tremble. "You locked me here and tortured me for fifty years! Because of that ridiculous responsibility of yours! Because of your cowardice! Because you were afraid of making mistakes again!"

"Fifty years!" Grindelwald's eyes were like a raging fire. "I should have killed you! Killed everyone! I should have destroyed everything you wanted to protect! Burned this damn ridiculous utopia to ashes!"

Dumbledore looked at him calmly. "I know."

"You think I can't bear to kill you? Or do you think I'm afraid of you and don't dare to do it?"

"No, I know you can."

Dumbledore's calm expression seemed to anger Grindelwald. He clenched his fingers on the wand, and suddenly, a dazzling flash flickered at the tip of the wand.

"Boom!" The wall at the top of Nurmengard was suddenly blown to pieces by a massive amount of magic. An entire stone wall was blown away, but the spell deviated by two inches, and Dumbledore was unharmed.

The two of them were silent for a while.

"Fine." Grindelwald suddenly withdrew his wand, as if everything he had just done was a performance. "This was also one of the plans. But it seems it didn't have much effect. I thought you would be more afraid."

"I said, I can accept all the consequences of releasing you."

"Oh, forget it." Grindelwald stepped forward. "Didn't you feel afraid for even a second?"

"... Maybe."

"You've become more boring, Albus."

"Perhaps I have always been a boring person."

"I regret it a little. I should have used a hex on you just now. A dancing spell would have been good. I really want to see you dance a funny dance with that stiff face. That must be very interesting. Shall we do it again?"

"..."

"Alright, alright," Grindelwald came to the broken hole. "Let's do some real work. There is someone still waiting for us to kill."

He said, stepping forward, and fell straight down.

Dumbledore was startled and came to the edge of the break, only to hear Grindelwald's spell from below. "Arresto Momentum!"

He breathed a sigh of relief, but didn't act as exaggeratedly as the other party, instead walking down the stairs just like when he came.

Grindelwald was waiting for him outside the spire, but what made Dumbledore frown was that there was more than one person waiting for him.

A man wearing a black robe, with a hemp rope tied around his waist and a crown of thorns on his head, was standing barefoot opposite Grindelwald, holding something covered in black cloth in his arms.

"Is this your man? Albus?" Grindelwald asked.

Dumbledore shook his head.

And just at this moment, the man raised his head as if he had heard some sound. Then he stepped forward and uncovered the black cloth in his arms, revealing a blank picture frame.

"The Holy Mother wants to speak with you." The man said.

(End of chapter)