Chapter 658 Speculation Of Caresius
Evan grasped the essence of what Caresius was implying, revealing contradictions and conflicts within the vampires.
Despite being a nominal leader, he could not govern the thoughts of his entire clan, especially given Voldemort's compulsion...
Thus, the vampire clan was susceptible to division, with one faction falling completely under Voldemort's dominion.
It was no surprise that Voldemort allowed Caresius to infiltrate Hogwarts, presumably to sideline him temporarily and take advantage of the other vampires.
Indeed, as Caresius mentioned, bad news seemed to arrive incessantly.
The vampires were exceedingly potent, not inferior to the elite Death Eaters, and Voldemort, having secured their loyalty, stood even stronger and more formidable to oppose.
"What will you do if they truly align with Voldemort?" Evan inquired.
"To be fully loyal to the Dark Lord, they have simply made another choice and will seek to address the issue from a different perspective. Though I do not condone it, I cannot blame them, nor do I have the right to impede them," Caresius stated, shaking his head. "Evan, you still do not grasp the extent of what we face as a family. Do you remember the figure you saw in my memory before?"
"Of course!" Evan nodded, furrowing his brow as he recollected the beast.
During the initial Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson, he utilized Protego to deflect Caresius' Legilimency, glimpsing a hidden memory deep within his mind. The ancient image resurfaced in Evan's mind.
It depicted an endless abyss, encircled by black rocks.
The unevenly stacked black rocks led to endless darkness at their peak.
Within the infinite darkness lurked an immense alien monster, akin to a fusion of the most fearsome creatures in the world.
It was of a dark purple hue, comprised of piles of decaying flesh.
In the middle, there stood a humanoid figure whose features were indiscernible. Vaguely, one could make out that it bore many things akin to barnacles.
It exhibited characteristics reminiscent of astonishing magical beasts like dragons, basilisks, Manticores, among others. Yet, these incredible creatures were all spurious. It was as if someone were blending the bodies of hundreds of eerie animals and disjointing them, then haphazardly piecing together the flesh.
This kind of horror resembled a nightmare monster. Once seen, it would be unforgettable for a lifetime.
Evan speculated that this could be a form of malevolent god.
He also recalled Caresius mentioning that the monster was the fate he and his family must confront... a destiny from which there was no escape.
"As you can see, that creature and the malevolent god in the statue are of the same kind!" Caresius uttered slowly. "But they are not identical. They are fundamentally distinct... if I am not mistaken, it might be what the Dark Lord aspires to become."
"WHAT?!" Evan was taken aback. Voldemort aimed to transform into that monster! But why did Caresius suggest that?
Evan paused, contemplating it from another angle. That is to say, the dreadful monster in Caresius' memory was once a human's transformation.
It was not a pure malevolent god born of chaos, but a creation brought forth by a wizard.
It could not be true!
This fact was too chilling. Humans could metamorphose into malevolent gods!
Nonetheless, it was not inconceivable. From the depths of the school, traces of Slytherin indicated that Herpo the Foul had been transformed into a malevolent god through dark magic. Eventually, he was split into three distinct parts by Salazar Slytherin: the eyes, the brain, and the body. The eyes were obliterated, and the brain and body remained missing.
So, could it be that the monster in Caresius' memory was the body of Herpo the Foul?
In other words, combining the clues in Caresius' words, Evan pondered an even more terrifying possibility...
"You are very astute, Evan, but too feeble; there are matters unsuitable for you to know," Caresius remarked, evading the questions lingering in Evan's mind. "You only need to understand what foes you may face if Voldemort succeeds. Confronting such a dreadful monster, do you have the confidence to vanquish it?"
Evan shook his head. He feared that no one could defeat the malevolent god, not even wizards as powerful as the ancient sorcerers. All they could do was seal the malevolent god in the void at the cost of self-destruction.
"If that is truly Voldemort's goal, we can stop him," Evan said.
"You still do not understand. There are things you cannot stop... unless you can kill the Dark Lord now!" continued Caresius, shaking his head and closing his eyes. "But this is impossible. In this case, my people and I need your help. In the current situation, only he can save us from that dreadful fate. Some say it's a curse left by Salazar Slytherin, while others believe it to be a blessing..."
There was a moment of silence. Evan did not press on with questions, though he didn't grasp everything. It was evident that Caresius wasn't about to reveal all the secrets.
Through this conversation, Evan learned a great deal, yet it also raised further inquiries.
"Choose, Evan!" Caresius opened his eyes and stated firmly, "Tell me, what will you do after learning this? Do you want Voldemort to regain his strength as per the original plan, or stop him? Your response will determine if we shall continue collaborating..."
Halting Voldemort would only forestall his return this time, and procrastination wouldn't fundamentally solve the issue.
As long as the Horcruxes exist, he shall not perish.
Evan couldn't destroy all the Horcruxes now, and Harry couldn't do much about the fragment in his head.
Furthermore, Voldemort could keep splintering his soul and creating more Horcruxes if he wished. He was distraught enough as it was.
Voldemort, who already knew some of the malevolent god's secrets, would grow even more formidable upon his return.
At that moment, Evan would be defenseless, all his advantages squandered.
But if Voldemort was not stopped and allowed to return successfully, he would undoubtedly harness the malevolent god to do something.
As per Caresius' words, he could ascend to a malevolent god and achieve supreme power.
In the face of such a fearsome monster, Evan believed no one could overcome him!