Chapter 387: Vine and Stone Guardian

Just as he had always struggled with Transfiguration, when he exerted too much control over his transfigured creations, his mental energy always became overwhelmed.

But what if he let go just a little?

What if he gave only a simple command?

So, as Marcus used the Disintegration Charm on the vines and stones entangling him, they completed their own task.

“With rock as foundation, flora and stone flourish together—Vine and Stone Guardian!”

Wizard Sean uttered a long incantation.

The incantation was nearly as lengthy as the one Voldemort used to resurrect himself.

It was also nearly the limit of what Wizard Sean could achieve in Transfiguration magic.

His body staggered instantly, his drained mental energy revealing a terrifying sight.

A hand, as large as a small hill, woven from vines and bound stone, burst from the earth and seized the entire area where Marcus stood in an instant.

Dust flew, stones shattered.

This was neither pure magical transfiguration nor pure material transformation, but a combination of Transfiguration magic Wizard Sean had meticulously studied for nearly half a year.

The area where Marcus stood fell silent; the roaring fire dragon and the striding stone statues vanished instantly—they had merely been tools Wizard Sean used to distract Marcus.

They possessed no “much” real power.

After all, Wizard Sean could only sustain them for a few seconds.

The empty field sank into stillness.

Far away, the beech trees still bore snow, and beneath the rustling snowfall, the tabby cat stood frozen.

The anticipation in her eyes turned instantly to worry.

Not for the young wizard, but for the old wizard who seemed to be in “bad” shape.

“Apparition—Expelliarmus—”

As she worried, the old wizard reappeared, barely escaping.

He stood beside the young wizard, his usual composure gone, replaced only by gravity and deep relief.

Merlin’s beard, another second and he’d have been Marcus’s biscuit.

A flash of red light struck Wizard Sean’s wand, knocking it from his hand.

“Grandpa Marcus is so strong.”

The young wizard made no resistance, plopping down on the ground.

“Ah ha—of course—”

Marcus wiped his face; it was damp.

Good—it was sweat.

“In combat, I can’t teach you much, but remember this: never let yourself be powerless.”

Marcus gradually calmed his emotions.

He calmed the excitement and elation.

A wizard destined to be etched into history had emerged from the McGonagall family; soon, his name would shine as brightly as Merlin’s.

Think of what wizards would say:

“Green’s wand—”

Just imagining it made his smile refuse to fade.

“Is that so? Petrificus Totalus—”

At that moment, Wizard Sean suddenly spoke, holding a brand-new wand—clearly the gift Marcus had just given him.

Wizard Sean held the wand and pointed it at Marcus.

Marcus broke into a cold sweat; he instinctively wanted to nod, but found he couldn’t even blink.

Worse, he realized everything around him had frozen—the snowflakes that should have been drifting past him now hung motionless in midair.

This meant one thing: the young wizard’s Petrificus Totalus was area-wide.

No matter how small the area, it clearly exceeded the scope of a normal Petrification Charm.

Thus, a strange scene unfolded in the field: a young wizard sat slumped on the soft field edge, exhausted, while an old wizard stood frozen, wand in hand, like a statue.

Wizard Sean felt snowflakes settling on his hair, thinking he could indeed stand against elite Aurors.

Marcus seemed to have narrowly escaped, but in truth, Wizard Sean had subtly slowed the incantation’s pace—he was here for practical training, not to meet the old wizard in the borderlands.

If even Marcus, a veteran wizard with years of combat experience, had been caught off guard, other Aurors wouldn’t fare better.

As long as he could restrict the Aurors’ Apparition, Wizard Sean didn’t believe they could face him head-on.

【Master】Transfiguration and semi-master-level Dark Magic had shown Wizard Sean the boundaries of his power.

Moreover, he hadn’t yet summoned Bai Yi or Tila to assist him—this meant his full combat potential had yet to be unleashed.

Fully prepared, Wizard Sean could barely hold his own against a professor.

But only barely—just as professors couldn’t know all of Wizard Sean’s magical techniques, Wizard Sean knew nothing of theirs.

This was the key to winning battles: information asymmetry.

Wizards, as classic high-attack, low-defense types, fought more like a game of counters and responses.

Thus, once battle began, Wizard Sean already held a massive advantage—no one had seen his offensive methods.

Like “Fire Dragon Soaring Wings,” like “Vine and Stone Guardian,” or even Bai Yi appearing in her basilisk form…

Wizards would easily be caught off guard.

As for the Vine and Stone Guardian, it was Wizard Sean’s masterpiece in Transfiguration.

Its strength lay in the intricate magical circuitry he built, akin to a magical creature’s, and in the unique ritual he pioneered.

The matching incantation, the matching wand gestures, the perfected magical circuitry—all gave the Vine and Stone Guardian an extremely high ceiling. So far, Wizard Sean had only manifested part of it: one hand. To go further, he wouldn’t merely be drained of magic—he’d likely collapse.

Probably faint on the spot.

“Brilliant! Brilliant!”

Marcus stumbled as he finally broke free from petrification, but his eyes held no anger or shame at the surprise attack—only pride and satisfaction.

The shadow of war loomed over this land; what could be more joyful than seeing one’s descendant possess the strength and wisdom to protect themselves?

“Green’s beard—”

Marcus gazed at the young wizard, who still had energy left, and seemed to understand—someone had likely held back.

He couldn’t help murmuring.

“What beard?”

Wizard Sean thought he’d misheard.

“Ah—nothing, my dear little one. Lunch should be ready—what would you like?

Lamb or sweet custard pudding…”

Marcus lifted the exhausted young wizard, and only then did he remember: this was still a child who needed their protection.

But with this pace…

“Eat more, my dear little one.”

Marcus said.

Grow quickly—then perhaps the dangers they faced would no longer be dangers at all.

Nothing was more uplifting than a new hope.

Far away, snow fell from the beech tree’s treetops.

Amid the scattered snowflakes, the tabby cat darted away with agility.