Chapter 102: Fierce Battle

As Grindelwald’s words fell, Vida decisively cast a Stunning Spell toward Xiwen.

Xiwen immediately raised his left hand to his chest, and the Ring of Laggador, already prepared, instantly wrapped around his arm, blocking Vida’s Stunning Spell.

“Armor protection!”

After blocking Vida’s first spell, Xiwen did not hesitate. He immediately began chanting the Incantation of Iron Armor.

Under Xiwen’s control, the Ring of Laggador intertwined with the Iron Armor spell, merging the two. The combined magic swiftly spread over Xiwen’s robes, forming a cloak that radiated golden light—this was the recently mastered combined spell, the Laggador Protective Shield!

Lemay sighed softly, turning to his wife with a hint of nostalgia. “It’s been ten years since we last fought…”

Though he spoke with sentiment, his hands moved swiftly, summoning a massive white protective shield that enveloped the three of them in the center of the opera house’s hall.

Mrs. Lemay also drew her wand, but instead of facing the enemies, she pointed it at Xiwen.

With a puzzled look, Xiwen watched as she waved her wand, pulling him from a distance to stand before the Lemays.

“Nick!” Mrs. Lemay called out urgently.

Lemay quickly reached into his bag and pulled out a top-shaped object, trying to activate it.

However, his expression soon darkened. He shook his head at his wife and Xiwen. “They’ve set a magic restriction on the Door Key.”

At that moment, Grindelwald approached at a leisurely pace. With a casual flick of his wand, he tore open a gap in the powerful protective magic Lemay had set.

“Mr. Lemay, now that we’re in Paris, how could you think we didn’t come prepared?” Grindelwald stepped through the breach into the protective shield, smiling at Xiwen and the others.

Without further words, Lemay and his wife immediately launched two powerful spells at Grindelwald. Yet, with a flick of his hand, he deflected their spells toward the surrounding shield, shattering the white protective barrier they had just created.

Grindelwald then waved his hand, and a group of Saints waiting outside the opera house burst inside, encircling the three.

“Mr. Lemay, Mrs. Lemay, and Mr. Rozier. At this point, haven’t you made your decision yet?” Grindelwald parted his followers and approached Xiwen and the others.

“Xiwen, you don’t need to be so stubborn. Only Lord Grindelwald can save the future of the magical world!” Vida spoke calmly, raising her wand and pointing it at Xiwen and his companions like the Saints around her.

“Now, put down your wands!” another Saint shouted sharply.

Lemay sighed bitterly and threw his wand to the ground. “Actually, Albus advised me months ago not to leave the safe house. But I’m old and have no other hobbies—I just love opera and couldn’t resist going out. Gradually, I stopped heeding his warnings…”

Mrs. Lemay also lowered her wand, speaking softly, “It’s just a pity we dragged little Xiwen into this.”

“It’s alright, Mrs. Lemay,” Xiwen shook his head, crouching down and placing his wand on the ground.

“The Path of Transcendence”

As he crouched, hidden beneath the golden cloak formed by the Laggador Protective Shield, he whispered quietly, audible only to the Lemays, “I have a way to temporarily trap Grindelwald. Once I act, I’ll need you two to take me away from here immediately.”

The Lemays showed no visible reaction to Xiwen’s words.

“How do you plan to get us to New Mungarde?” Lemay deliberately raised his voice to attract Grindelwald and the Saints’ attention.

Hearing Lemay, Grindelwald laughed lightly.

He then clapped his hands and said to one of his followers behind him, “Abernathy!”

A man holding a wand nodded and walked toward the opera house’s main hall.

Soon, a pitch-black carriage resembling a hearse was drawn into the magnificent Garnier Opera House.

Eight eerie flying horses pulled it. They resembled reptiles—emaciated, with dragon-like faces, wide bat-like wings, and white, pupil-less eyes.

“This carriage was arranged by the American Magical Congress when they wanted to transfer me to Europe. For your pleasant journey, I specially brought it along. Mr. Lemay, I wonder if you find this mode of travel satisfactory?” Grindelwald’s face bore a bold, flamboyant smile as he looked at the Lemays.

Xiwen folded his hands inside his coat sleeves and slowly formed hand seals, preparing his next spell.

At the same time, he feigned curiosity and glanced back at the carriage Grindelwald had mentioned.

Yet, all Xiwen saw was a hearse-like carriage and eight reins mysteriously floating in the air.

“Where are the horses?” Xiwen was momentarily stunned, scrutinizing the carriage inside the hall.

However, his spell was ready, and now was clearly not the time to dwell on such questions.

Xiwen suddenly turned around and thrust his hands forward. With his motion, a giant ripple made of countless transparent mirrors surged rapidly toward Grindelwald.

Finally, with the secondary soul within this body fully matured, Xiwen could independently cast the Mirror Space spell without relying on his spirit form!

Grindelwald waved his hand and launched a spell, but it was reflected back by the mirrored surface, nearly hitting a Saint standing nearby.

The Lemays reacted just as quickly. As Xiwen acted, they retrieved their wands using the Wandless Recall Charm and cast several spells to stun the Saints not covered by the Mirror Space.

Xiwen formed hand seals again and completely closed the spatial barrier of the Mirror Space, causing Grindelwald and the other wizards to vanish inside the opera house.

Since arriving in this world, lacking a Dimensional Ring had meant Xiwen could only cast half of the Mirror Space spell, leaving a shattered mirror-like spatial barrier as an entry and exit point.

This time, however, to trap Grindelwald, Xiwen managed to use the full Mirror Space spell for the first time in this world!

“Hurry, I don’t know how long I can hold Grindelwald!” Xiwen quickly picked up his wand from the ground and said to the Lemays.

Mirror Space was not omnipotent. With his current mental strength, Xiwen could only create a dimensional realm about the size of the Garnier Opera House. Though Grindelwald might waste some time unfamiliar with the spell, it wouldn’t be long.

Without a Dimensional Door to enter or exit, the last resort would be to annihilate the entire Mirror Space!

Upon hearing Xiwen’s words, Lemay nodded. He took a cloth from his bag and tossed it into the air.

The cloth unfolded and quickly transformed into a flying carpet about the size of a bed. Under Lemay’s control, the carpet swiftly carried the three toward the opera house’s exit.

As expected, many Saints guarded outside the Garnier Opera House. Seeing Xiwen and the others emerge, they moved forward to block their way.

Fortunately, after so many years without fighting, the Lemays seemed to have regained their old rhythm. One spell after another shot from their wands, overwhelming the blocking Saints without exception.

Driven by the flying carpet’s speed, the three soon saw the opera house’s exit—the outermost range of the Door Key’s magical restriction.

Xiwen instinctively exhaled in relief.

Yet, the next moment, all three gasped sharply.

Grindelwald’s defiant figure was already leaning casually at the opera house’s entrance, as if waiting for them to arrive!

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