Chapter 327 Herpo The Malevolent
"~" exclaimed Harry and Ron excitedly.
"Yes, although the specific location is not yet clear, it is definitely a map," confirmed Evan.
Evan combined the stones, which simply outlined mountains, rivers, oceans, and canyons.
While a large portion of the stone was missing, the key position was still there.
Upon the map lay an endless cloud. In the center stood an altar of a temple. The emblem on it was the pattern on the plate Evan saw in the underground ruins.
The horrible monster floated above the altar, with its disproportionate red eyes and tentacled head being the most striking features.
Due to the cover of the altar, they could not see its entire body.
The exposed part resembled an octopus expanding countless times at the top.
Beneath were countless horrible and distorted human beings struggling and pleading in pain.
Souls were being ripped from their bodies and ruthlessly devoured by the monster above.
"Is this the monster you encountered underground?" inquired Harry.
Through this map, he felt an unprecedented evil.
Evan nodded. The shape of the temple altar was almost identical to what he had seen on the rocky wall with the mysterious dark wizard.
It was no wonder that Salazar had found the monster here.
"The Temple above and this monster give me an unsettling feeling," said Ron tremulously. "It's like encountering Dementors, that sensation when all happy memories are sucked away."
"I feel the same. The monster's eyes seem to be fixed on me all the time," said Harry. "But it's just a map. Where exactly is this place?"
"It should be somewhere in ancient Greece, with the sea and canyons, but there is no clear reference around it," Evan observed carefully and remarked, "When Hermione informs us about the identity of the Dark Wizard, perhaps we can deduce it."
Harry nodded and continued to palely gaze at the monster in the middle of the map.
"I don't understand. Even if we know the identity of the Dark Wizard and the specific location of the temple, what good would it do for us?!" Ron suddenly exclaimed, looking at Harry and Evan with horror. "You're not planning some crazy exploration trip to that place, are you?"
Evan didn't know how to respond. Ron was right.
In that situation, dealing with Voldemort alone was enough to give him a headache, exploring an older and unknown dangerous existence made no sense.
He didn't want to get into any strange trouble, especially one that might be far beyond their capabilities.
He also pictured Ron giving up in that manner, but couldn't quite pinpoint why, he was almost certain it had to do with the vampire girl named Elaine.
Perhaps that was the issue his family faced. Evan shook his head with a bitter smile as he thought of the confused and weak girl, in her loose, tattered wizard robe and her bright burgundy eyes.
He had already recognized Slytherin's locket in him, and she had said she would come back to find it.
What if she returned and sought help again?
It also seemed to have something to do with Slytherin's Secret Treasure Key.
If that were the case, then it wouldn't just be simple assistance but collaboration. However, whether the powerful vampire family could accept Evan's current strength remained a mystery.
Ultimately, it was always the same; Salazar Slytherin was the most troublesome.
"We should give up. It's beyond our capabilities," Ron continued to persuade, "Harry, that monster is not someone you know, you and him..."
"If that wicked monster truly exists, we should find a way to destroy it," Harry hesitated and said, "Whatever Slytherin's purpose may be, maybe the clues we have are the key to destroying it..."
There was no doubt that Harry always displayed extraordinary courage and responsibility when taking risks and fighting against evil.
"Harry, don't be foolish," said Ron, stepping back. "We don't have to deal with this. It's not good for us."
"But we can't just ignore it. We should inform Dumbledore and Sirius about it," said Harry, "But first, we should investigate."
"But..." Ron hesitated.
"Harry is right, and I agree. There's no harm in investigating. Perhaps this is related to Slytherin's Treasure Key," said Evan, "And through this adventure, my magic grew so rapidly. Surely yours did too; this is not something bad for us."
Ron seemed to want to say something, but at that moment, Hermione burst into the room from the outside hallway with a huge old book in her arms.
"Look, I found it, this is the book. I must have seen the dark wizard in it," she began to quickly flip through the pages, reading aloud.
"Well, I should have guessed you three would be like this. Let's see who this dark wizard is and make a decision," sighed Ron hopefully, "maybe we don't have to do anything. The magic left by Salazar Slytherin may have already erased it, so..."
"Shut up, Ron!" shouted Hermione.
Ron fell silent, watching as Hermione quickly flipped through the ancient book's pages.
A few minutes later, she found it and exclaimed joyfully, "I found it, I found it!"
"Can we talk now?" Ron asked irritably.
Hermione ignored him and pointed to the book in front of her. "Herpo the Foul, the ancient Greek dark wizard, the most powerful and influential dark wizard in magical history, one of the last ancient wizards and the earliest known dark wizards today. At the same time, he is also considered the first wizard to breed a Basilisk, making him very well-known."
"The Basilisk?" Harry said in amazement, recalling the entirely green snake that burst into the Common Room through the pipes and wreaked havoc.
In the Battle of the Chamber of Secrets, he was also bitten by its fangs and nearly died there.
"Everything adds up. We all know Salazar left a Basilisk to his Heir in the Chamber of Secrets," said Evan, "Remember what it says on the stone. He brought the monster and the spoils of that adventure back to Hogwarts. Obviously, the basilisk was one of the spoils of that adventure."
The dark wizard who created the dreadful monster with eyes was none other than Herpo the Foul!