Chapter 14: The Wrath of Old Man Willow

The Hobbits who witnessed the spectacle stared with wide, disbelieving eyes, as if caught in a waking dream. On the highlands, Rory Brandybuck, the Master of Buckland, watched the lone figure of the Wizard with a mixture of profound shock and burning intensity. His astonishment was palpable. He knew Kael was a Wizard, but he had never imagined such power. Under the dazzling display of formidable magic, Rory watched as Kael moved through the swarming Huorns as if taking a leisurely stroll. Wherever he went, nothing could stand in his way. Rory now deeply regretted not having cultivated a friendship with this Wizard earlier. He felt a pang of envy towards Drogo Baggins, that lucky fellow, who had been able to host the Wizard for so long. Their relationship must be close, he mused, even if they weren't yet firm friends. With such a powerful Wizard as an ally, no one would dare underestimate him. An idea began to form in Rory's mind. Perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad thing to encourage his daughter, Dora, to interact more with that remarkable man. As time wore on, Kael found himself panting, his movements growing sluggish with exhaustion. He had lost count of how many Huorns he had subdued. The petrified trees now stood like a dense, silent army, transforming the once-open grassland into a crowded, artificial forest. Having defeated so many Huorns, Kael was utterly drained. His throat was raw, his voice a hoarse whisper, and his magic reserves were dangerously low. But the result was undeniable. He had single-handedly repelled the Huorns' relentless assault, preventing them from breaching the High Hay and invading the peaceful lands of the Hobbits. As the Huorns' attack finally ceased, Kael did not relax his guard. Rumble! The ground began to vibrate violently. A colossal creature emerged from the depths of the Old Forest, crushing everything in its path, carving a wide, destructive road through the dense woods. Under the flickering firelight, the creature's true form was revealed. It was the Old Man Willow, the ancient heart of the Old Forest. The Willow's exterior was charred and blackened, its branches withered and yellow. In the swaying darkness, it looked like a monstrous beast baring its fangs, exuding an overwhelming malevolence, and emitting a harsh, low hum that grated on the ears. Kael's eyes narrowed. The Old Man Willow actually came out! Its trunk was already enormous, but its roots were even more terrifying, almost ten times the size of its body, like a giant octopus waving its thick, writhing tentacles, sweeping aside any trees that dared to block its path. Kael immediately felt an invisible gaze lock onto him, filled with a murderous intent. Its source was, without a doubt, the Old Man Willow. He finally had confirmation: he was its target. He tensed, every muscle coiled, ready for the impending battle. The Old Man Willow did not stop. Its countless massive roots gripped the earth, propelling it forward with terrifying speed. It reached the High Hay and, with its massive roots, tore through the hedge as if it were a piece of paper. The Hobbits gasped, their faces filled with terror and despair. The horror of this Old Man Willow was a hundred times worse than that of the other Huorns. How could they possibly stop it? Kael, facing the ancient Huorn directly, felt the pressure multiply tenfold. "Protego! Petrificus Totalus! Petrificus Totalus...!" He immediately cast a Shield Charm, then continued to roar out spells, his voice raw and ragged. With each incantation, he could taste the metallic tang of blood in his throat. Even so, the Petrificus Totalus could only hold the Old Man Willow for a few fleeting moments before it forcefully broke free, swinging its huge roots and willow branches at Kael, striking the shimmering shield with brutal force. Under the continuous blows, the shield protecting Kael grew increasingly dim, showing signs of shattering at any moment. The Hobbits watching the desperate struggle felt their hearts leap into their throats. Kael was in a dire situation. This Old Man Willow not only possessed an absurdly high magical resistance, but its physical attacks were also incredibly powerful. Each blow was devastatingly heavy, and even the Shield Charm wouldn't last much longer. Seeing the situation grow critical, he shouted towards the highland where the Brandybuck family was gathered. "Quickly, throw the oil barrels and wine barrels towards me!" Hearing Kael's desperate cry, the Brandybuck family members looked to their patriarch, Rory, for his decision. Rory Brandybuck, his eyes fixed on the fierce battle below, unhesitatingly ordered all barrels of oil and wine to be launched towards Kael's position using the catapults. "Fire!" With a command, the catapults launched, and one by one, the wine barrels soared through the air like cannonballs, landing accurately around Kael and the Old Man Willow. "Wingardium Leviosa!" Kael's dry, hoarse voice rang out, and the falling barrels instantly stopped in mid-air. Then, with a flick of Kael's finger, they smashed onto the Old Man Willow, drenching it completely. "Incendio!" A small flame erupted from his fingertip. With a flick of his wrist, the flame flew out and landed on the oil-soaked Old Man Willow. The ancient Huorn was rapidly engulfed in flames, transforming into a towering, roaring inferno. The dazzling firelight illuminated the entire Buckland so brightly that it could be seen clearly from Bywater on the opposite bank of the Brandywine River. The Old Man Willow let out a piercing, agonizing shriek, its branches and roots thrashing wildly, attempting to extinguish the flames, but to no avail. The fire, like a living entity, clung to it, burning ever more fiercely. The scorching heat caused the surrounding grass and leaves to curl and wither, sending waves of intense heat washing over the battlefield. Kael watched the Old Man Willow struggling madly in the sea of fire, his face devoid of emotion. But his vigilance was at its absolute peak. He was wary of the Old Man Willow's dying retaliation. Wuwuwu! The Old Man Willow's roots and branches rapidly carbonized in the immense fire, crackling and emitting a mournful, wailing sound. A pair of invisible eyes, filled with hatred and resentment, stared fixedly at Kael. The huge crack on the trunk opened wide, like a giant, gaping mouth. A bizarre and piercingly sharp melody emanated from the crack, drifting throughout the entire Old Forest. The melody was filled with a potent, dark magic, suppressing all other sounds, making it seem as if only this eerie, haunting tune existed in the entire world. Kael's expression changed, and he quickly clamped his hands over his ears. But it was useless. The melody bypassed his blocked ears, the demonic sound pouring directly into his brain, echoing relentlessly in his mind. His thoughts and consciousness gradually became chaotic and blurred, as if another will was attempting to seize control of his body. Slap! Kael slapped himself hard, trying to stay awake. But the effect was minimal, his consciousness still gradually fading. He gritted his teeth and plunged his left hand into the fire. "Ahhh!" The intense, searing pain made him cry out, and his previously hazy consciousness instantly returned. Kael temporarily regained his clarity, but the Hobbits present were not so lucky. Under the hypnotic effect of the demonic sound, their eyes became hazy and vacant. One by one, like mindless puppets, they began to approach the burning Old Man Willow. Kael's face drained of color. If these Hobbits got close to the Old Man Willow, they would either be crushed to death by the furious, dying Huorn or burned alive by the raging inferno. The Old Man Willow wanted everyone to be buried with it. *** (End of Chapter) [Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!] [www. [email protected]/meowthtl] [+300 Power Stones = +1 Bonus Chapter] [+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter] [Thank You For Your Support!]