Witcher at Hogwarts

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Ethan got up from the canine's lifeless body. His expression shifted abruptly as he heard rapid, heavy footsteps echoing above.

Instantly, he moved like lightning, retreating from the noise and pressing himself tightly against the stone wall.

With practiced speed, he uncorked a bottle of Thunderbolt potion and downed it in one swift gulp. The concoction surged through his body, amplifying his strength and agility.

Suddenly, several dog-like creatures with long, matted white fur dropped from the shafts above, landing with eerie precision. Their glowing eyes quickly locked onto Ethan, who remained poised in the corner.

The pack leader let out a piercing shriek, and without hesitation, the others followed, lunging toward him in a savage rush.

Ethan reacted instantly, yanking the pins from two bombs and hurling them at the charging creatures.

The first bomb didn't detonate on impact but slammed into the ceiling above them, bursting into a wave of thick, oily liquid that splattered down onto the pack.

A sharp smell of kerosene filled the room, and droplets clung to the creatures' fur and noses. The leader snarled, shaking its head against the overpowering stench, its sensitive nose wrinkling in disgust.

Then, the second bomb exploded directly in their midst. The detonation sent a shockwave of fire and shrapnel tearing through the closest canines, shredding them into a gruesome spray of blood, organs, and limbs that splattered across the stone chamber.

The survivors fared little better. Covered in kerosene, they were instantly set ablaze as flames ignited their fur. In mere moments, the creatures turned into living torches, their long hair making them prime fuel for the firestorm around them.

Despite their diminished sense of pain, the burning beasts let out guttural, agonized howls. Yet, even as their flesh crackled in the flames, they refused to back down, their smoldering bodies still lunging for Ethan with terrifying determination.

Momentarily taken aback by their relentless will, Ethan steadied himself and raised his hand crossbow. With precision, he loosed several bolts, each finding its mark in the skulls of the burning creatures. One by one, they crumpled to the ground in a heap of smoldering remains.

But it wasn't over.

More Canines dropped from the vents, landing on all fours, their glowing eyes locked on Ethan. They sprinted toward him like feral arrows loosed from a bow.

Ethan exhaled sharply, preparing for the next wave.

The first one pounced, but Ethan was ready. A searing flame erupted from his outstretched palm, engulfing the creature mid-leap. The temperature of the blast was so intense that the canine turned to ash before it even hit the ground.

Ethan barely had time to move before the next one lunged. Its massive jaws snapped down where his neck had been just a heartbeat earlier, the hot breath from its gaping maw filling the air with a rancid stench.

Ethan could almost feel the sharp teeth grazing his skin as he twisted away, narrowly avoiding the lethal bite.

Cold sweat broke out across his body, realizing just how close he had come to death. The reaper's scythe had nearly grazed his neck. If that canine had sunk its teeth into him, he wouldn't have survived—no healing potion could have saved him in time.

Ethan forced the canine back with a fierce swing of his sword, positioning himself for another confrontation.

His grip tightened around the hilt of his blade, and his eyes locked on his adversaries. The canine circled cautiously, their glowing eyes scanning him for any sign of weakness.

Ethan raised his Sword across his chest, preparing for their next move. His left hand, however, moved swiftly through the air, tracing a rune.

"Aard!" he shouted, and a powerful shockwave erupted from his palm, slamming into the leader.

The force sent the creatures flying, disrupting their formation in an instant.

Seizing the moment, Ethan darted forward with quick, precise steps, taking advantage of their scattered positions. His movements were swift but draining, pushing his body to the edge of its endurance.

With a sharp whistle of wind, his sword cleaved through the air, slicing down on a canine that hadn't yet reacted. The blade struck deep into its back, severing its spine. Blood spurted from the wound, splattering across Ethan's face.

The creature let out a final, pitiful howl before collapsing, motionless.

But Ethan had no time to rest. His keen peripheral vision caught sight of more canines dropping from the vents, charging straight at him. The one he'd knocked down earlier had already recovered and was lunging back into the fight.

Ethan swung his sword again, but something went wrong just as he drove the blade into another's neck. The sword sank deep, piercing through arteries as blood poured from the wound like a waterfall.

But when he tried to pull the sword free for the next attack, it stuck—lodged in the thick muscle and bone of the creature's neck.

His heart raced. In a battle this fierce, even a split-second mistake could be fatal.

And it was.

A sharp pain exploded in his right shoulder. He whipped his head around just in time to see the snarling face of a dog man; its jaws locked onto his shoulder.

The basilisk armor he wore held—for now. But the sheer force of the creature's bite sent waves of agony through his body as though his shoulder blade was being crushed.

Ethan gritted his teeth and slammed his free fist into the canine's nose. Canine noses were sensitive, and he hoped this would make it release him.

The creature groaned but clamped down harder, its teeth pressing dangerously close to breaking through the armor.

Ethan's breath came in sharp gasps as he struck again, this time with all his strength. His fist connected solidly with the canine's nose, sending a spurt of blood from the creature's face.

With a pained wail, the canine finally released its grip.

Ethan didn't hesitate. In the same motion, he whipped out a dagger and thrust it upward with precision, the blade driving through the creature's chin and deep into its brain.

The canine twitched once, then went limp, collapsing at Ethan's feet.