Simultaneous Transmigration: From Japanese Anime to American Comics

Chapter 70-71: The First Encounter with the Dark Lord

Boom!

The doors to the Great Hall were pushed open, and Professor Quirrell, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, hurried in with a panicked expression.

This scene felt all too familiar to Chu Yang.

"Troll! There's a troll in the dungeons!" Quirrell shouted before dramatically collapsing onto the floor.

The entire hall went silent for about two seconds before a chorus of terrified screams erupted as students fled in panic.

"Silence!"

Dumbledore stood up from his seat, and his commanding presence restored order among the frightened students.

He spoke slowly, "Prefects, take the students back to their dormitories. Teachers, come with me to handle the troll."

Under Dumbledore's direction, the students exited the hall in an orderly fashion.

Before leaving, Chu Yang took a special look at Quirrell, who was still lying on the floor pretending to be unconscious.

One had to admit, his acting skills were top-notch.

No one questioned his cowardice and weakness.

Quirrell had once interrupted his teaching career at Hogwarts to travel to dangerous places in order to gain experience in defending against the Dark Arts.

From that perspective, Quirrell wasn't truly cowardly.

However, it was during that very journey that he encountered the fragmented soul of Voldemort.

Quirrell couldn't resist Voldemort's temptations and eventually joined him.

Quirrell became a temporary vessel for Voldemort, bringing him back to Hogwarts and attempting to steal the Philosopher's Stone, which could restore his master.

Not only did he fail, but he also lost his life in the process.

In Chu Yang's eyes, Quirrell was a pitiful man.

Had he not encountered Voldemort, he might have become a well-loved professor.

Some had remarked that if Quirrell's resolve had been stronger, he wouldn't have met such a tragic end.

But how many people could truly maintain their principles under the temptation of the "Dark Lord"?

Chu Yang gave him a sympathetic glance.

Quirrell planned to use the troll as a distraction so he could steal the Philosopher's Stone from the third-floor corridor.

However, a terrifying three-headed dog guarded the area, making success impossible.

To be safe, Chu Yang decided to quietly follow Quirrell during his attempt.

Meanwhile, on his way to the dungeons, Dumbledore sensed something was wrong and ordered the other teachers to handle the troll while he returned alone.

No one believed Dumbledore would flee from a mere troll. There had to be something more serious going on.

When Dumbledore arrived at the third-floor corridor, Quirrell had already retreated after failing to bypass the three-headed dog. Still, Dumbledore detected signs that alerted him to the presence of something more sinister.

"Dumbledore, I saw Professor Quirrell leaving just now."

Chu Yang stepped out from the shadows, almost giving Dumbledore a heart attack.

After regaining his composure, Dumbledore immediately asked, "Are you sure it was Professor Quirrell?"

"Yes," Chu Yang explained. "I stayed behind a bit longer and noticed that Professor Quirrell, who was supposed to be unconscious, quickly left after everyone else. His behavior was highly suspicious, so I followed him here."

"When he went inside, there was a lot of commotion. It seemed like something inside chased him away."

Hearing this, Dumbledore's expression grew complex. Ever since Quirrell returned from his travels, Dumbledore had sensed something off but hadn't given it much thought.

Based on Chu Yang's report, Dumbledore now suspected that Quirrell had been influenced by Voldemort.

Thinking about how Quirrell had once been his student filled Dumbledore with sorrow.

But he quickly composed himself and turned his gaze to Chu Yang, his eyes filled with admiration.

Not only had Chu Yang keenly observed Quirrell's abnormal behavior, but he had also managed to secretly monitor Quirrell without being detected. His psychological resilience and abilities were extraordinary.

Over the past few months, Dumbledore had grown accustomed to Chu Yang's impressive actions. In fact, he was starting to forget that Chu Yang was merely a backup for the future savior, Harry Potter.

Chu Yang asked, "Headmaster Dumbledore, something seems off with Professor Quirrell, doesn't it?"

"He's indeed facing some challenges," Dumbledore responded vaguely, still debating whether to tell Chu Yang about Voldemort.

Chu Yang had proven himself so capable that Dumbledore considered abandoning the vague guidance he had been giving and instead providing him with more practical information.

Before Dumbledore could make up his mind, Chu Yang preemptively bowed and said, "In that case, I trust you'll handle the situation well."

He was joking. It was one thing to occasionally show his presence, but actually helping fight Voldemort? No way.

Chu Yang couldn't help but grumble inwardly. He might help destroy a Horcrux or two in secret, but going head-to-head with Voldemort? Not a chance.

While Dumbledore was still in a daze, Chu Yang quickly stepped onto the rotating staircase and disappeared from sight.

At that moment, Professor Quirrell, having failed to steal the Philosopher's Stone, quietly returned to the dungeons.

He pretended to have just woken up in front of the others.

Trolls weren't particularly strong, at least not against professors like McGonagall and Flitwick.

One was the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, and the other was a former Dueling Champion. A whole group of trolls would have been no challenge for them, let alone just one.

Quirrell didn't need to do much. Standing aside and screaming to maintain his cowardly image was enough.

With a single Petrificus Totalus, McGonagall and Flitwick easily subdued the troll.

"What a beautiful Petrification Spell," Quirrell said weakly, his face pale.

McGonagall shook her head with a sigh, clearly not in the mood to speak with Quirrell. She turned and left, with Flitwick following close behind.

Quirrell narrowed his eyes, glaring maliciously at their departing backs when Voldemort's voice suddenly echoed in his ears.

"I need..."

Meanwhile, Chu Yang didn't return to the dormitory as instructed. Instead, he snuck out of the castle and headed toward the Forbidden Forest.

Ever since moving the Whomping Willow to the Forbidden Forest, Chu Yang hadn't had the chance to check on it. He was curious about its growth.

At this time of night, Hagrid was still on patrol, so to avoid running into him, Chu Yang took a longer route that bypassed the groundskeeper's hut.

The winter night was eerily quiet, with only the crunch of snow beneath his feet breaking the stillness. It was unnervingly silent.

If not for his Observation Haki, which kept his senses sharp, Chu Yang wouldn't have dared to venture out at this hour.

Suddenly, a cold wind swept past, and Chu Yang felt a chill on the back of his neck. Instinctively, he scanned his surroundings, sensing that something was watching him from the shadows.

Although his Observation Haki didn't detect any unusual presences, Chu Yang's sixth sense was warning him of danger.

The next moment, a terrified and panicked cry echoed through the Forbidden Forest!

"What was that?!" Chu Yang quickly turned toward the source of the sound, but all he saw was darkness.

The cry sounded like that of a horse, but it was higher-pitched and sharper.

Despite sensing danger, Chu Yang decided to investigate. For some reason, the cry lingered in his mind, as if it were specifically calling for him.

With a light push off the ground, Chu Yang leapt onto a thick branch and began to dash between the trees like a Konoha ninja.

Anyone witnessing this would have been shocked.

As he made his way through the forest, Chu Yang heard more sorrowful cries, spurring him to pick up speed.

Finally, near a lake at the center of the Forbidden Forest, he saw a cloaked figure and a bloodied unicorn struggling to resist.

The unicorn was badly injured and losing strength rapidly due to blood loss.

As for the mysterious figure attacking the unicorn, Chu Yang recognized him instantly.

Professor Quirrell.

Or rather, the Voldemort who was still without a body and had to parasitize others.

Quirrell was merely a temporary Horcrux and host.

"How unlucky…" Chu Yang muttered. He had just been thinking about avoiding Voldemort, but fate had other plans.

The unicorn let out another pitiful cry, causing Chu Yang to halt in his tracks as he prepared to leave.

Now that he had witnessed this, he couldn't just stand by and watch the unicorn die.

Although Chu Yang disliked trouble, he wasn't afraid of it.

"Damn it, I didn't even bring my wand today," Chu Yang grumbled as he cracked his knuckles, his bones popping audibly. After a quick warm-up, he muttered, "Looks like I'll have to play druid for a bit."

With that, Chu Yang pressed his hands into the snow, and chakra surged from his body, transforming into a boundless force.

"Wood Release: Tree Wall Barrier!"

A series of trees and vines erupted from the ground between the unicorn and Quirrell, creating a natural barrier that separated the two completely.

The sudden attack startled Quirrell, who quickly retreated to avoid the towering trees.

The unicorn seized the opportunity, kicking its hooves frantically and running deeper into the forest.

Voldemort, barely surviving by feeding on the unicorn's blood, was furious at the sight. He screamed into Quirrell's ear, "Who is stopping me?!"

Hearing his master's rage, Quirrell was both angry and terrified. When he turned around, he saw a young man in wizard robes standing across the small lake.

Both Voldemort and Quirrell were stunned. How could a young man suddenly appear in the Forbidden Forest?

It was deep into the night, and the Forbidden Forest was pitch black, so dark that one couldn't see their hand in front of them. Chu Yang, without carrying a lantern or any light source, was barely visible in the dim lighting. Quirrell couldn't see Chu Yang's face clearly; he could only deduce from his silhouette that he was a young man.

To prevent Voldemort from pulling any tricks, Chu Yang didn't intend to engage them in close combat. Instead, he prepared to use Wood Release to fight Quirrell from a distance.

Separated by a lake, they stared at each other from afar. Though they couldn't make out each other's features, the chilling tension in the air was palpable.

Quirrell's cloak billowed out as he floated eerily like a ghost from a horror story, heading toward Chu Yang.

"Too slow."