Infinite Horror: The Strongest Zhongzhou Team

"Next, let us welcome the warriors from Northern Europe, the representatives of Durmstrang Academy of Magic!"
And their principal, Igor Karkarov!

The words fell to the ground.

This time, a completely different atmosphere emanated from outside the gate.

The heavy, uniform sound of footsteps approached from afar, carrying a peculiar sense of discipline and coldness.

When the doors opened again, the atmosphere in the auditorium became even more somber.

Harry and his friends saw a group of tall, strong boys with matching hairstyles walk in.

Each of them wore a heavy, dark brown fur cloak, the edges of which were trimmed with dark red fur.

Each person wore a serious, even somewhat fierce, expression as they gripped a short, eagle-headed club.

These boys' steps were heavy and powerful, each step seemingly treading on everyone's heartbeat.

Then, the sound of the short stick hitting the ground was even more peculiar, as if it could resonate with one's heartbeat.

A performance that was incomprehensible yet extremely unique appeared before everyone's eyes.

When we arrived at the center of the auditorium.

The students at Hogwarts started screaming.

The short sticks that had previously only produced strange sounds now burst forth with a bright ring of sparks as they touched the ground.

When dozens of short sticks hit the ground at the same time, the Durmstrang students were as if they were surrounded by a swarm of sparks.

Students with better eyesight can even see that these short sticks leave a ring of charred marks after touching the ground.

Everyone was speechless with astonishment.

"Is that Krum?"

"Oh my god, is it really him?"

“Victor Krum?”

Which Quidditch legend?

"Why is he here too?"

"So, both Seekers from the Quidditch World Cup final are now in our academy?"

As the Quidditch star appeared, suppressed screams began to erupt.

You could say that if this weren't the college auditorium...

If it weren't for the row of professors and deans in front of them, these students might have already rushed out.

Compared to Harry Potter, who only appeared once in the finals.

Krum is a true legend.

The opponent was someone who single-handedly led his team through numerous challenges to reach the finals.

Without a doubt, he possesses the skills of a top Seeker in Quidditch.

After all, it almost defeated the entity that possessed the artificial intelligence Moss and the protagonist's halo.

Beside Krum at that moment was a middle-aged man with a hooked nose, a goatee, and eyes as sharp as a hawk.

It was none other than Principal Igor Karkaroff, whom Dumbledore had just mentioned.

His gaze swept across the entire Great Hall, lingering for a moment on Harry Potter at the Gryffindor table, his expression complex and unreadable.

Harry looked up and saw this scene.

However, Harry didn't know this headmaster from any other magic school, so he couldn't understand why the other person would do this.

When the opening performance ended.

The fiery snakes that had been moving on the short sticks of dozens of people disappeared into the air.

Durmstrang's students also quietly walked to their seats.

One left and one right.

This contrasts sharply with the elegance and lightness of Beauxbatons.

As they sat down, the cloaks made a dull rustling sound, conveying a chilling and austere atmosphere.

Ron shrank back and whispered to Harry beside him:
"They look...not someone to mess with."

Harry nodded in deep agreement.

After all, they had faced off on the field.

Krum, who was the center of attention, seemed completely oblivious to the changes around him, simply sitting there quietly.

It seems they've long been used to this.

Dumbledore looked at the representatives from both houses, who were now seated, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

He cleared his throat, preparing to announce the last and most mysterious guest.

"Finally, and also the most unique participant in this semi-final competition,"

Dumbledore's voice was full of solemnity.

"Let us give a warm round of applause to welcome Mr. Cheng Xiao, the sole representative of the Eastern Magic Academy, who has traveled from afar and is full of ancient wisdom and mysterious power!"

I heard the word "only".

The auditorium fell silent instantly, quieter than ever before.

All eyes were focused on the main entrance, filled with intense curiosity and anticipation.

The girls in Beauxbatons peered out curiously, while the boys in Durmstrang glanced sideways.

The reason why these two schools have this expression is very simple.

That's the news they just learned about as well.

The originally agreed-upon top three suddenly became the top four. How could they not have some doubts?

The two principals, who were already seated, stared intently at the gate, eager to see what was going on with this extra college.

Because of the sudden silence.

The creaking sound of the door opening was unusually clear.

But then the two doors slowly opened.

Even when it was turned up to its maximum, nothing happened.

There was no cool floral fragrance, no butterflies, no heavy footsteps, not even a single person...

However, some people who had already guessed this lowered their expectations even further.

Sure enough, a small figure appeared on the horizon in the center of the gate.

Once the first person discovered it, a second person followed, and subsequently, more and more students saw this special entity.

A child sucking on a pacifier?

Wearing a black suit?

Colorful hair?

baby?

There was no one behind him.

There was no one around.

"Is this a baby?"

"Just one person?"

"Wait, he looks so familiar!"

"I remember now. Is this the exchange student from back then?"

Those below fourth grade were all surprised to find that the other person was someone who looked like a baby but was definitely not a baby.

Those in fourth grade and above all thought of the group of people they had met back then.

Naturally, he also recalled that there was a special person among them.

These people came suddenly and left suddenly.

Especially the first graders who enrolled with them back then, which is now the fourth grade.

They remember it vividly.

However, Cheng Xiao's appearance now seems rather unremarkable compared to before.

This was the first thought that crossed the minds of the other two colleges upon seeing the infant Cheng Xiao.

Otherwise, do you really think Beauxbatons and Durmstrang are art schools?
Did they come all this way just to perform?
It's all to intimidate Hogwarts, the host.

The principle of "a good start prevents a hundred more" applies to both the East and the West.

The two principals naturally couldn't do anything.

However, there are no restrictions for students.

At this moment, apart from his somewhat different appearance, Cheng Xiao doesn't seem to have anything special about him.

However, amidst the great attention of the world...

The baby moved. He took a step forward from the doorway.

With the first step taken.

Everyone heard a soft "poof" sound.

A gasp rang out.
It turned out that a bright golden flame had appeared on the baby's forehead.

As Cheng Xiao continued to advance step by step.

The color of the flames became purer and purer, and at the same time, they grew larger and more intense.

It even made a crackling sound like dry tinder burning.

But when they got halfway there...

The flames, as brilliant as gilded gold, had completely enveloped Cheng Xiao.

Upon witnessing this scene, both the Slytherin and Gryffindor students instinctively shifted their bodies to the side, fearing that the flames might ignite their clothes.

His consciousness told him to do it, but his body had a desire to get closer.

It was as if the flames were drawing them in.

Only Harry and his two companions knew that the flames on Cheng Xiao's body were not something they understood.

It couldn't even light a piece of paper.

On the contrary, it possesses a peculiar ability to heal and restore.

However, the three of them never witnessed what happened next.

He also showed the same shocked expression as everyone else.

Even after being enveloped in golden flames, the flame did not stop advancing.

Instead, it continues to grow larger, just like before.

As the flames grew larger, the black figure, about the size of an infant, began to grow in sync.

After taking a few more steps, it finally reached a normal size.

Snapped!
A crisp stomping sound rang out.

The brilliant, gilded flames instantly surged upwards at their master's command.

After the flames were stripped away.

A tall, straight black figure with his hands in his pockets was left on the ground.

A well-tailored black tuxedo perfectly accentuated Cheng Xiao's tall yet robust physique.

Coupled with her multicolored hair, most of the women present couldn't help but let out a soft "wow."

Hermione and Ginny had strange expressions, because neither of them expected that the sleazy baby they had been seeing all along would actually be such a handsome guy.

Yes, that's the nickname Harry and his friends secretly gave Cheng Xiao.

If we were to say who in the entire auditorium had mixed feelings, there would be one other person.

This is Zhang Qiu, who was taken advantage of on the train.

At this moment, the sixteen-year-old girl's face was as red as a boiling kettle.

Zhang Qiu knew the difference between being taken advantage of by a baby and being taken advantage of by a man older than herself.

Having returned to his normal physique, Cheng Xiao turned around and gracefully bowed to all the students.

He then looked towards the front of the auditorium and walked towards his seat.

His steps were unhurried and silent, yet he exuded an invisible aura.

And that's how the somewhat noisy auditorium was completely quieted down.

Because at the same time that this person was moving forward.

The golden flames suspended in the air began to condense and shrink, until only bright points of light remained.

These random specks of light began to combine and change.

Compared to the previous butterfly and fire snake.

Cheng Xiao thought a lot about how he could make a grand entrance.

He could have just lived a quiet and uneventful life, but the problem is that if he hadn't participated in the Goblet of Fire, it would have been fine; at most, he would have just attracted a little attention.

But now this so-called Oriental Academy has only sent him, making it clear that he's the one participating.

He didn't want to experience any embarrassing moments of pretending to be a fool and then being humiliated, or any situation where he played dumb to fool others.

He had neither the time nor the energy to hang out with students from other colleges.

So after much deliberation, the performance ultimately fell to Moss.

Those points of light hidden within the deathly flames are actually miniature drones evolved from nanomachines.

In terms of big events, Cheng Xiao believes he has seen quite a few since joining the Zhongzhou team.

Take, for example, the moment that the light spot is portraying right now.

The entire dome of the auditorium became a light screen for Moss projection.

Within the light screen, two figures appeared out of thin air, one on the left and one on the right.

A person flies through the air on a sword.

A person walks on air.

Those were two blurry figures with an inexplicable aura emanating from their backs.

But it was this blurry, indistinct silhouette that gave them a powerful, terrifying illusion.

Then, the people from the three groups of magic academies all gasped in shock.

Because this is not an illusion.

A battle they had never heard of before suddenly unfolded.

The dazzling attack methods and unbelievable abilities are almost enough to make them stick their fists out of the screen and punch some people in the face.

When that sword was unleashed, it seemed as if a crack had appeared in the entire sky.

The opposing strike, however, was able to strike first despite being delayed, and was even more powerful.

It was as if there existed a power beyond the reach of knives and swords, a power they did not understand.

Cheng Xiao wasn't kind enough to explain it to these people, because sometimes the more mysterious something is, the better it is.

The light screen faded and eventually disappeared.

Cheng Xiao also walked to the spot reserved for him.

One is located between Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, near the first row.

Cheng Xiao's entire process was smooth and fluid, without a single unnecessary movement.

After the quiet.

The auditorium erupted in belated but even more enthusiastic applause.

The students whispered to each other and talked a lot.

Even the professors and deans couldn't help but discuss it.

"Those two figures look...so different."

Hermione said softly, her eyes gleaming with a thirst for knowledge.

“Who knows,” Ron shrugged, but his eyes were equally full of curiosity.

"But it looks pretty impressive."

Harry also thought of the sword that had appeared on the screen earlier.

Although it was as blurry as the figure, Harry recognized it.

That sword was the one I saw three years ago in the basement just before I lost consciousness.

At this point, Harry had found the answer to the question that Cheng Xiao had not been able to answer.

When the enthusiastic applause ended.

Dumbledore looked on with a satisfied smile as he saw that the guests from the three houses were all settled.

He walked back to the center of the stage, waved his wand, and his voice resounded throughout the hall:
"Welcome! A warm welcome to Beauxbatton, Durmstrang, and the Eastern Magic Academy!"

Your arrival has brought great honor to the ancient castle of Hogwarts!

After he finished speaking, a beam of light appeared on the dean's wand.

On the dome that was originally covered with stars, colorful fireworks rose and bloomed.

The applause erupted once again.

Dumbledore pressed his hands down slightly, signaling everyone to be quiet.

"Now that the guests have arrived, the banquet is about to begin!"
However, before that…

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room, finally settling on an object covered in red velvet in front of the first row.

He stepped forward and gently lifted the red velvet cloth. (End of Chapter)