The person is at Hogwarts, but the system is in Middle-earth!

Chapter 89 Pre-battle Preparations: Even Medusa would be moved to tears!

The May sunshine finally dispelled the gloom that had shrouded Hogwarts for months. The grass around the castle turned lush and green, the surface of the Black Lake shimmered, and giant squid lazily basked in the shallows with their tentacles.

On the second floor of the castle, in an abandoned spellcasting classroom.

"Zzzzt!"

The sound of duct tape tearing echoed in the empty room.

Rowe sat at his dusty desk, in front of him a frying pan and a pile of broken shards from some unknown place (probably Filch's contraband storage room).

[Forging in progress: Aegis Shield/Mirror Reflection System]

【Craftsmanship Level: Master Level】

Materials: Teflon-coated stainless steel (frying pan) + shattered illusion (lens) + industrial-grade adhesive (strong tape)

[Enchantment Attributes: +100% Refraction of Vision, +50% Petrification Resistance, Immune to Mental Pollution]

"Stay steady...like setting a Silmarillion..." Rowe murmured to himself, his fingers as steady as a rock.

He carefully picked up an irregularly shaped lens, applied a thick layer of glue to the back, and then pressed it heavily into the center of the bottom of the pan.

"Sizzle!"

He then tore off a large strip of silver tape and used it to seal the edge of the lens tightly.

"It's done."

Luo Wei let out a long sigh and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He raised the "shield" and adjusted its angle to face the sunlight. Sunlight streaming through the classroom windows struck the mirror, refracting countless dazzling spots of light that danced wildly on the ceiling.

[Equipment successfully crafted: Light Reflection Shield]

[Quality: Rare (Blue)]

[Comment: Although it looks like a piece of performance art, it contains ancient wisdom for resisting the petrifying gaze. Even Medusa would weep upon seeing it.]

"Will this... actually work?" Ron sat on the old box beside him, looking at the tattered, rickety frying pan with a complicated expression. "It looks like a failed prank by Fred and George. I mean, what if the tape comes undone and the lens falls off and hits your foot?"

"Ignorance is bliss, Sam."

"This is more than just a shield; it's a culmination of the wisdom of the ancient Greek hero Perseus, combined with the defensive tactics of the Gondorian shieldbearers. When facing Medusa or our Smaug (the basilisk), looking directly into its eyes means death. This shield allows us to observe the enemy's movements through reflection without direct eye contact."

"This is called an 'indirect aiming system'," Rowe added. "Modern tanks all use it."

As he spoke, he pulled two dark objects from his pocket and tossed them to Harry and Ron.

"Here you go! This is your lifeline."

Harry caught it hastily and realized it was a pair of sunglasses. No, to be precise, it was a pair of goggles. The lenses were so black they were almost completely opaque. The frames were widened with rough leather, like some kind of windproof goggles or pilot's equipment.

"Put it on, Ringbearer." Rowe's voice turned serious. "This is the Void Gaze I found at a dark magic alchemy shop in Knockturn Alley" (actually, it was an industrial-grade welding goggle he bought at a Muggle hardware store, which he then slightly modified with Transfiguration). It filters out 99% of harmful light—including deadly intent.

[Equipment Delivery: Anti-Demon Eye Goggles]

[Special Effect: Visual Occlusion / Downgrades "Instant Death" to "Petrification"]

[Negative effects: Visibility brightness -80%, Hit rate -30% (It's better to shoot blindly than to die)]

Harry hesitated before putting on the heavy goggles. The world instantly went dark, with only a faint white light visible through the window.

"I can't see very well..." Harry said, adjusting his glasses. He felt like he was blind. "How am I supposed to fight like this? I can't even see the tip of a wand."

"That's good that you can't see clearly." Rowe was stuffing various bottles and jars into the inside pocket of his robe. "Fighting in the dark is a must for rangers. The basilisk's vision is instant death magic, like nuclear radiation. This lens is our lead plate. Remember, never take it off when you're facing that basilisk. Unless you want to become like Hermione, or a ghost like Myrtle."

The mention of Hermione instantly sombered the atmosphere in the classroom. Even the bright sunlight seemed to dim.

Since visiting Hermione, the trio had been like giants without brains; though their limbs were still strong, they were always confused. They had secretly investigated the abandoned girls' bathroom on the second floor countless times. Although they hadn't found the exact entrance switch, Lowe was convinced that it was the "West Gate," the entrance to the Moria Mine (the secret chamber).

For the past few days, Rowe has been in a state of extreme excitement, preparing for battle. He's been frantically gathering supplies and making plans in the castle, as if he's about to sound the charge at any moment.

"We can't wait any longer."

Just then, there was a rapid knocking on the classroom door.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The three of them jumped up at the same time. Rowe raised the frying pan in his hand instantly, Harry drew his wand (even though he couldn't see anything), and Ron gripped the huge brass kettle tightly.

The door was kicked open.

Neville Longbottom came running in, panting, his face flushed, waving a piece of parchment in his hand.

"Harry! Ron! And Rowe! Professor Sprout... Professor Sprout said..." Neville gasped.

"Calm down, Tree Man." Rowe turned around. "Did the orcs break in? Or did that giant serpent crawl out of the ground?"

""

"No, no!" Neville stammered, his face beaming with barely suppressed joy. "It's mandrake! Professor Sprout said they've started throwing things at each other! They've become moody and aggressive, which means they've matured!"

Lo Wei paused for a second.

His pupils contracted slightly, as if he saw a ray of dawn piercing through the dark clouds. The system interface unfolded before him, and the taskbar burst forth with golden light.

[Epic Event Triggered: Reinforcements Arrive]

[Note: The elven healer in Rivendell (Lady Pomfrey) has obtained the key herb; the countdown to preparing the antidote has begun.]

[Unlock Item: Mandrake Resurrection Potion]

[Battle Impact: All friendly units under the "Petrified" status will soon be released. The White Path Society's power is recovering.]

"Finally..." Rowe breathed a sigh of relief, his tense shoulders relaxing slightly, and the frying pan in his hand drooping. "Rohan's cavalry has arrived. Our mages will soon be rejoining the ranks."

"A wizard?" Ron asked, confused, clearly still reeling from the shock. "You mean Hermione?"

"That's right." Lowe quickly tidied up the things on the table, sweeping the remaining tape and lenses into his backpack. "Once Hermione wakes up, we'll have the most powerful brains, and all the mysteries will be solved. She'll guide us at crucial moments."

"But before that, before welcoming the Queen's return, we have one last thing to deal with." Lowe's eyes suddenly turned cold, filled with murderous intent.

"What is it?" Harry took off his sunglasses and rubbed his eyes, which were red from being pressed against the screen.

"Go see that clown who stole the king's honor."

Outside the Defense Against the Dark Arts office on the second floor, a large group of admirers, mainly lower-grade girls, had gathered.

Gilderoy Lockhart stood in the center of the crowd, dressed in a flamboyant lilac robe, his hair slicked back and exuding a strong lavender scent. He was boasting to a group of girls with great enthusiasm, holding a huge peacock quill pen in his hand.

"...As I said before, that monster was clearly scared off by my reputation." Lockhart grinned, revealing eight teeth, his eyes sweeping over the girls. "Since I increased the patrols, there haven't been any attacks, right? That's an obvious fact. I think that so-called Slytherin heir must have been terrified the moment he saw me and fled back home with his little pet. After all, who wants to face Gilderoy Lockhart's 'curse of death'?"

A burst of cheers and applause erupted from the crowd.

"That's so cool, Professor Lockhart!"

"You are the savior of Hogwarts!"

Harry and Ron stood in the shadows of the corridor, feeling nauseous from the sound. Ron even made a vomiting motion.

"How dare he..." Ron clenched his fists, his face flushed red with anger. "It was us... it was Hermione who was risking her life... and he's stealing the credit! That liar!"

"Let him yell."

Lowe leaned against a pillar, watching the flamboyant clown. In his vision, a red mark was hovering above Lockhart's head.

[NPC Recognition: Gilderoy Lockhart]

[Occupation: Bard (Specialization: Scam/Forgetfulness Spell)]

Title: Liar Weaver/Smooth Speaker

Threat Level: Low (Physical Level) / High (Information Disruption Level)

He's digging his own grave.

"The end of clever talk is near. When the true king returns, when the trumpet of truth sounds, these fleas that live on lies will be the first to be sacrificed."

"He thought he controlled public opinion and that he could deceive people forever. But he didn't know that lies are castles built on sand, and they will collapse when the tide comes in."

"Let's go." Rowe turned around, not looking at the clown again. "We'll go prepare our final supplies. Tonight, or tomorrow night, we'll be entering Moria. Until then, let's not let this clown spoil our mood. Let him enjoy his last bit of revelry."

"When we return from the Chamber of Secrets, with the Basilisk's head..." Harry put his ridiculous welding goggles back on, and through the black lenses, his eyes became firm and cold. "I will personally expose his mask."