As Aizen in Naruto and Joined a Chat Group Chapter 423: How Can You Be Sure I’m Not the Heir?

Ron remained oblivious to the fact that he was being shadowed, his sole focus on reuniting with his companions as swiftly as possible.

Hermione’s distressed cry flashed before his eyes, and the red-haired youth appeared on the verge of tears. "Hey, give me a hand! I think I’ve pulled a muscle!"

"Behind you!" Harry’s warning followed, his gaze also locking onto Ron and the colossal reptile lurking behind him. "Ron, it’s right behind you! Hurry, run!"

What?

Heeding Harry’s urgent shout, Ron spun around, his expression one of stunned disbelief. The sight that greeted him was a grotesque, horrifying visage. "Good heavens!" he shrieked, the pain of his strained muscle completely forgotten as he bolted toward Harry and Hermione with all his might.

Roar.

Perceiving that its quarry had recognized its presence, the fire lizard let out an enraged roar, its cavernous maw gaping to snap at Ron.

"Stupefy!" At that precise, life-threatening moment, Hermione produced her wand and unleashed a stunning spell directly at the fire lizard’s eyes.

Having familiarized herself with fire lizards through her reading, she was aware that their scales possessed formidable resistance to magic. Only their eyes presented a vulnerability, serving as their sole weak point.

Bang.

The spell struck the fire lizard's cornea, the immobilizing effect of the charm momentarily halting its advance.

Ron, who had been fleeing, narrowly escaped with his life, collapsing behind a boulder and gasping for air. He truly believed his end was imminent, recalling the putrid stench emanating from the lizard’s gaping maw.

"Look out, it’s coming for you again!" shouted Harry Potter.

Although the fire lizard’s cornea had been petrified, such an injury was inconsequential to its predatory instincts. It did not rely solely on vision for hunting; thus, even with one eye impaired, its hunting capabilities remained unaffected.

"Move, Harry!" Hermione yelled, yanking Ron to his feet and pulling him towards the left in a roll.

Crash.

The fire lizard’s immense bulk slammed into the rock formation that had served as their cover, sending fragments of stone scattering in all directions.

"Blast it, it’s heading your way!" Harry’s warning reached Hermione just as she noticed the enormous lizard charging towards them on its thick, powerful legs.

However, escape was no longer feasible at this juncture; even if she could evade the beast, Ron would certainly be caught.

"Stupefy!" In a desperate maneuver, Harry Potter also drew his wand, directing a stunning spell at the fire lizard. Yet, with the creature’s back turned to him, the spell proved ineffective against its tough scales.

"Blast it, blast it all!"

Anxiety clouded Harry Potter’s eyes. The thought of witnessing his friends perish before him filled him with dread. He frantically cast every spell he could recall, yet none could halt the lizard’s relentless charge.

"No!" Ron’s eyes welled with terror, his heart consumed by a crushing wave of regret.

He ought never to have suggested following Professor Zickrein, nor doubted the professor’s wisdom. Most certainly, he should not have persuaded his friends to venture into the Forbidden Forest. The peril here was extreme, potentially lethal!

The fire lizard’s jaws parted, revealing chunks of raw meat clinging to its teeth. Ron braced himself, certain he was about to suffer the same fate.

"Found you. It seems I’m in luck." Suddenly, a composed voice emerged from the adjacent bushes. Simultaneously, a bolt of dark blue light streaked forth, striking the fire lizard squarely in the abdomen.

Snap.

The fire lizard's entire body became encased as if in plaster, freezing it instantly in place.

"Is that… a petrifying spell?" Hermione stammered, her gaze fixed on the blue-haired young man emerging from the foliage.

He held a dark green wand, clad in a black wizard’s robe, a gentle smile gracing his handsome features as he strolled toward them.

"Professor Zickrein!" Harry Potter swallowed hard, a profound sense of relief washing over him after their brush with death.

"It is you." Gerald offered a smile, observing the young wizards before him. "I don’t recall today being a special occasion. What brings you here?"

"We… we came here to…" The relief previously etched on Harry Potter’s face evaporated instantly, replaced by a profound sense of dread.

He was ruined. How could he possibly explain this predicament? Not only had they skipped class, but they had also followed a professor into the Forbidden Forest! An investigation would undoubtedly lead to their expulsion!

"I apologize, Professor Zickrein," Hermione interjected, taking the lead and speaking in a subdued tone. "We misunderstood you, and I have failed to meet your expectations and trust." Her eyes began to glisten with unshed tears.

Her conscience would not permit her to deceive Gerald. He had clearly placed great value in her, and yet she had committed this inexcusable act, influenced by her friends’ urging.

"Misunderstood?" Gerald inquired, feigning ignorance. "I am curious, what sort of misunderstanding occurred?"

"We… we believed you were the Heir of Slytherin!" Ron blurted out, deciding candidly confessing was the only course of action.

"Slytherin’s Heir?" Gerald chuckled. "You say Slytherin’s Heir? How… intriguing."

"I am truly sorry, Professor Zickrein," Ron expressed, head bowed in sincere repentance. "We should never have doubted you."

"No, it’s not wrong to have doubts," Gerald stated, shaking his head as he turned his steps toward the fire lizard. "Everyone is permitted to doubt, be it myself or anyone else. However, the crucial element lies in your subsequent actions after doubting."

Much to the shock and utter astonishment of Hermione, Ron, and Harry, a sphere of dark flame materialized within Gerald’s palm.

"Heavens above, what form of sorcery is this?"

"Black flames? How can fire be black?"

Ron and Harry were rendered speechless, their attention completely diverted from Gerald’s words.

"If one were to rashly pursue a suspect, such an action would inevitably lead to a perilous outcome," Gerald remarked, his hand, enveloped in black fire, caressing the fire lizard. In an instant, the massive reptile was incinerated into nothingness.

Well, not entirely reduced to ash. Its clear, gleaming heart, at least, was perfectly preserved.

Gulp.

Witnessing this spectacle, Hermione and the others widened their eyes, utterly dumbfounded. A perilous magical beast, which was rumored to require a dozen Aurors to subdue, had been transformed into usable magical components in the blink of an eye.

"Furthermore, what makes you so certain that I am not the Heir at this moment?" Gerald inquired, a smile gracing his features as he surveyed them.

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