Chapter 17: Graveyard

A lantern. I retrieved it from the luggage bag, unscrewing the lid. In the next moment, I poured a quarter of the blue liquid from a glass flask into the lantern, sealing the flask and returning it to the bag. A spiritual stone followed, finding its place inside the lantern.

The last element—a matchstick. Striking it alight, I swiftly tossed it into the lantern, securing the lid immediately.

Pale blue flames burst to life inside the lantern. Swiftly, I positioned it on the ground and shed my coat. The pocket watch found its place on the loop of my belt, and the matchbox slipped into my trouser pocket. The coat was neatly placed beside the grave.

Securing the luggage bag, I fastened its straps around my chest from the back, making me look like a tourist. Lantern gripped in my left hand and flare wand secured in my right, I ensured the pistol's hammer was aligned. After a deep breath, I stepped into the passage.

I stroked my chin thoughtfully, surveying the dimly lit surroundings. Limited visibility in the darkness forced reliance on the lantern's feeble glow. Hastening my pace, I rested my palm on the wand and began a murmured incantation, an evident spell enchantment.

Deliberately prolonging the enchantment, I descended the steps. Ultimately, I stood before a door-like structure, the gateway to my sought-after discovery. With deliberate sluggishness, I withdrew my wand from the sling, maintaining the chant. After a brief moment, I proclaimed, "Igris!"

The wand's tip gleamed brightly, casting a radiant light that pierced the room. In an instant, a flare shot towards the wooden door, triggering an explosion that shattered the entrance, unveiling what lay beyond.

A smile appeared on my face, this was a magical feeling, at least from the perspective of a person like me who came from Earth. But at that second fatigue hit me.

'At max, I can use it two more times.'

With this in mind, I silently entered the room. The sight that unfolded before my eyes should have filled me with repulsion, yet an odd serenity overcame me. It was an unusual calmness that settled in my gaze, rendering me completely indifferent.

Upon entering the room, the stench of decaying flesh assailed my nostrils. I raised the lantern slightly, providing a dim light to better survey the surroundings.

The room was spacious, twice the size of my living room. It was a plain space, adorned with hooks attached to the ceiling. The lantern's feeble light allowed me to discern the silhouette of a person suspended from these hooks by the neck. Despite significant decay, ample flesh and muscle clung to the body. One eye had vanished entirely, while the other dangled loosely in its socket.

Various perforations marred his body, with wriggling worms visible within these cavities. Surveying his form from head to toe, my attention was drawn to the inscription on the hook: "The Undead Worm."

As I ventured deeper into the room, five more bodies came into focus, each bearing similar conditions:

-The Blood Worm -The Poison Worm -The Puppet Worm -The Magic Worm -The Ailment Worm

After navigating past these grim sights, the figure I sought finally emerged in my view. Seated on a chair, he exuded an air of majesty. His body showed no signs of decay, clad in the robe of a wizard, with a well-groomed beard and brown hair. His face bore an indifferent expression, while his emotionless eyes, tinged with a dominating glint, occasionally shifted, making this scene look very creepy.

This was the lone hunter, the nightmare of many, The Pale Wolf of the First Wizarding War!

The grip on my wand intensified. Even with numerous precautions, there remained a chance of death. Yet, my mind stayed clear and calm, contemplating the best decision to make.

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Slowly, I resumed my chanting while advancing toward The Pale Wolf. My eyes shifted to the table in front of him, revealing an item resembling an envelope.

As the incantation persisted, I extended my wand slowly in The Pale Wolf's direction. 5 centimeters. That was the distance remaining before entering the trap-triggering area.

5 centimeters... 4 centimeters... 3 centimeters... 2 centimeters... 1 centimeter!

In a swift reflex, my body reacted. As soon as the wand crossed the safe distance, the previously unfocused eyes of The Pale Wolf abruptly sharpened. However, before The Pale Wolf could make a move, I swung my arm, hurling the lantern directly at his face.

Bang!

The glass of the lantern shattered upon impact with The Pale Wolf's head. Flames immediately engulfed his face. Swiftly, I grabbed the envelope and stashed it into my pocket.

"Screech!" A piercing scream echoed, a sound utterly inhuman. His left eye began to move rapidly, and cracks spiderwebbed across the left side of his face.

In the next moment, his eyes exploded, revealing wriggling worms and dark masses emerging from the narrow cracks around the eyeball socket. Pus and blood oozed from the left side of his face.

"Screech!"

"Screech!"

"Screech!"

Numerous screeches reverberated behind me. It seemed The Pale Wolf had triggered the other dead bodies. Fortunately, it had been ten years, and during that time, these worms had weakened significantly.

In fact, the other worms had already lost most of their abilities and were nearly useless. The only formidable one resided within The Pale Wolf.

In that moment, I swiftly twisted my leg, turned around, and with a quick flick, untied the straps. The luggage bag sailed through the air, landing amidst the gathering bodies. Pointing the tip of my wand towards it, I uttered, "Igris!"

A flare erupted towards the bag. The subsequent explosion was extensive, almost as if my aim was uncannily accurate. These weakened bodies were highly susceptible to flames, and the fire rapidly consumed them.

Even without actual bombs, the spell's impact was heightened by the explosives. As anticipated, the flames surged after the explosion, enveloping the bodies.

Once again turning back, I found The Pale Wolf right in front of my face, his mouth agape, revealing black teeth. A foul odor emanated from his breath, assaulting my nostrils.

Swiftly, my mind raced, contemplating the next move. In a fraction of a second, I made the decision and drew the pistol from the sling. Luckily, I had already aligned its hammer, saving crucial moments.

I discarded my wand to the ground and tilted my face slightly. His face collided with my shoulders, his teeth grazing my skin. Swiftly, I seized his neck with my right hand, forcing him onto the table.

Without hesitation, I thrust the pistol barrel into his mouth and pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The recoil jolted my arm, and although the bullet hit its mark, the dead body's neck erupted with swarming worms. They crawled onto my arm, biting and grotesquely burrowing into my flesh. With a swift swing, I flung them to the ground.

The reanimated body lunged at me, but I evaded by falling to the ground. Rising quickly, I aimed the gun at it and pulled the trigger, yet this time I missed as the recoil caused a slight bounce.

The body closed in rapidly. I swiftly pulled the trigger three times, with the first two shots missing their mark, but the third finding its target.

"Screech!" It howled, charging at me. Reacting swiftly, I dodged to the side, firing at its leg. Discarding the pistol, I threw a punch, connecting with the body.

Persisting, I continued to land punches on his cheek relentlessly.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The fifth punch sent him sprawling to the ground. Without hesitation, I seized his leg and hurled him into the flames. The room, constructed from some highly flammable wood, ignited swiftly as the flare's magic took hold. Most of the worms, dormant due to the decade-long slumber, perished almost instantly due to their weakness to flames. This particular one, however, was only in a semi-dormant state.

His desperate attempt to escape the flames and attack me was futile. I swiftly kicked his chest, propelling him back into the blazing inferno.

"Screeeeeeeeeeech!" The haunting screech echoed in the room as his body succumbed to the engulfing fire.

Walking towards the flair wand, I put it back into the sling. It was time to get out of here.

This was the true end. Maybe it was because of the weakness of the worm; the body had instantaneously turned into ashes.

The thing that was left behind was a ring and something circular structure near it. These two items were barely visible due to the flames.

The flames danced around me as I swiftly retrieved the ring and the circular structure from the ashes. With determination, I charged into the fiery vortex, seizing both items, and within ten seconds, I made my way back to the staircase.

...

"Huff! Huff!"

Currently, I was lying on the ground of the graveyard, my body aching. There were burn marks on my body, and parts of my clothes were burnt.

This could be considered as my first battle right? Well, the gains weren't bad at all.