The Lord Has Returned

Chapter 31 - First Strike

The battlefield was chaos.

I didn't have time to think. I didn't have time to process what was happening. The moment the first wave of Voldemort's army broke through the trees, everything turned into a blur of sound and motion.

"Archers, fire!" Thalia shouted, her voice cutting through the mayhem. Arrows rained down from the Hunters as they fired, the arrows glowing with celestial bronze. The deadly projectiles sliced through the air and struck down several Death Eaters in the front line, but more kept coming, pouring out of the trees like a flood. Their wands crackled with dark magic, shooting curses that whizzed past us, leaving nothing but scorched earth in their wake.

I grabbed Will's arm, pulling him closer. "Stay near me!" I yelled. He nodded, his eyes determined but worried.

Together, we joined the fray. My power surged, shadows swirling around me as I called them to my side. With a snap of my fingers, a wave of darkness shot toward the advancing enemies, knocking them back. But it wasn't enough. There were too many.

Leo's explosives were already going off around us, blasting holes in the enemy's ranks. The ground shook with each explosion, the sound deafening. But still, they came, their numbers seemingly endless.

I scanned the battlefield quickly, looking for a way to turn the tide. At the edge of the field, I saw Angelos—her golden eyes unfurled as she darted across the sky, her scepter flashing as she cut down enemies left and right. She was everywhere at once, moving faster than anyone could follow, but I knew it wouldn't be enough. She couldn't fight them all.

"Over there!" Will shouted, pointing toward the massive dark figure leading the charge—Voldemort himself, riding on a monstrous, winged serpent. His eyes burned with rage, and his wand crackled with power. He was here, in the flesh.

I gritted my teeth. I didn't care how many of his followers I had to fight. I was going after him.

"Will," I said, my voice low, "We need to take him down, now."

He looked at me, fear flashing in his eyes. "You're sure?"

"I'm sure," I replied, before pulling him into a shadow with me.

In an instant, we disappeared, traveling through the shadows toward the heart of the battlefield. As we emerged, I immediately felt the cold presence of Voldemort's magic wash over me. It was like a physical weight, crushing my chest.

We landed a few feet from the serpent, its massive eyes glaring at us. Voldemort was watching us, his pale face twisted into a sneer.

"You," he spat. "I should have known you'd come for me."

I clenched my fists, summoning the shadows around me. "You're not welcome here, Tom," I growled. Will moved beside me, his medical kit forgotten for now as he grabbed a sword from the ground. He looked ready to fight, but we were outmatched. We were facing the Dark Lord himself.

Voldemort flicked his wand, sending a burst of dark energy at us. I threw up a shield of shadows just in time, the blast ricocheting off it and sending a shockwave through the ground. Will stumbled, but I caught him.

"Careful!" I warned.

Voldemort raised his wand again, but before he could cast another spell, Thalia's voice rang out from behind us. "Get down!"

We ducked as an arrow streaked through the air, glowing with a brilliant blue light, and struck Voldemort's serpent right in the eye. The creature howled in pain, rearing back, and Voldemort cursed, his focus shifting for just a moment.

That was all the time we needed.

Will and I rushed forward, using the shadows to close the distance between us. As we neared Voldemort, I used the last of my energy to conjure a wave of darkness that surrounded him, trapping him in an impenetrable cocoon.

But Voldemort wasn't easily caught. His face twisted with rage as he struggled against my shadows. "You think you can defeat me?" he hissed. "I've conquered death itself."

With a wave of his hand, the shadows exploded outward, sending us flying backward. I landed hard on the ground, pain shooting through my body. I barely had time to catch my breath before Voldemort was standing over me, his wand raised.

Will appeared at my side, but we were out of time.

"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort roared.

I closed my eyes, bracing for impact—but it never came.

Instead, there was a blinding flash of light. When I opened my eyes again, Angelos stood between us and Voldemort, her aura glowing like the sun. The curse had bounced off her shield, dissipating into the air.

"Not today, Tom," she said coldly, her voice filled with authority. "You're going to have to do better than that."

Voldemort's eyes flickered with annoyance, but I could see the uncertainty in his expression. He was caught off guard.

Angelos raised her sword, its golden edge gleaming in the light. "The gods are with us. And you will not win this fight."

I slowly rose to my feet, my body aching from the blast, but I wasn't going to let that stop me. Not now. Not when we were so close.

The battle was far from over. But this? This was the moment that would decide everything.