Chapter 274: Regretful Dementors, and the Crumbling Farum Azula

After finishing his instructions to Bellatrix, Voldemort turned his attention to the kneeling Death Eaters.

"My loyal friends," he proclaimed, his voice echoing through the fortress halls, "I have returned. And I am stronger than ever before."

With a casual flick of his hand, a surge of deathly power shot forward.

One of the prisoners in the crowd—clearly driven insane by prolonged Dementor torment—was struck instantly. His body collapsed into gray ash, dispersing into the cold air.

The Death Eaters felt their hearts seize.

They instinctively lowered their heads even further.

Voldemort continued calmly, "This time, I will overturn the entire wizarding world. Will you still stand by me?"

The Death Eaters responded in unison:

"We swear eternal loyalty to you, Dark Lord!"

They were not mad.

They understood the implication behind his question.

If even one of them dared to refuse, the fate of the man who had just turned to ash would be theirs.

"Excellent."

Voldemort nodded in satisfaction before shifting his gaze toward the other prisoners.

"And you?" he asked. "What is your choice?"

He gestured toward the kneeling Death Eaters.

"Join them... or remain here?"

Every prisoner whose mind remained intact immediately chose submission.

They knelt, swearing allegiance.

The meaning was obvious.

"Remain here" did not mean continued imprisonment.

It meant annihilation.

And Voldemort soon proved that interpretation correct.

With another sweep of his hand, deathly power flooded outward.

The remaining prisoners—the mad, broken ones still standing—were consumed and reduced to dust.

If Dementors could speak, they would have lamented.

So much "food" destroyed.

They now deeply regretted not devouring those souls earlier.

Voldemort did not care.

To him, Dementors were expendable tools.

A Test of Loyalty

Bellatrix stepped forward once more.

"My Lord, allow me to depart and carry out the task you assigned."

"Go," Voldemort replied. "Do you require assistance?"

"No," she answered fervently. "I alone am sufficient. I will bring you Sirius Black’s head."

Without further word, she turned and departed—despite lacking a wand on this isolated island.

Voldemort watched her leave.

Then he selected two men from among the Death Eaters.

"Rabastan. Rodolphus. Follow her. Do not let her notice. Assist if necessary."

"And if she shows any sign of betrayal... send her to join her cousin."

The two he chose were Lestranges—Bellatrix’s own in-laws.

They had stood beside her when the Longbottoms were tortured.

They hesitated.

"My Lord," Rodolphus ventured carefully, "you suspect Bellatrix may betray you? She is not such a person."

Voldemort’s red eyes flicked toward them, expression unreadable.

"You will do as I say."

Cold sweat broke across their backs.

They bowed quickly and hurried after Bellatrix.

A New Base

One bold Death Eater asked, "My Lord, what are our next orders?"

Voldemort paused briefly.

"We leave. Then we plan."

He dissolved into black mist, enveloping everyone present and transporting them away from Azkaban.

He needed a base of operations.

Overturning the wizarding world was a long-term ambition.

But first—

He had to fulfill Death’s command.

The consequences of failure were unimaginable.

He dared not test them.

That task hung over him like the Sword of Damocles.

Voldemort had learned from defeat.

Recklessness had nearly ended him.

And this time—

He would be careful.

In his mind, Arthur was the greatest threat.

Anyone capable of destroying multiple Horcruxes was no simple opponent.

Thus, Voldemort resolved to proceed cautiously.

What he did not know—

Was that Arthur barely regarded him as a serious adversary.

Destroying those Horcruxes had been little more than convenience.

Even now, though aware of Voldemort’s return, Arthur chose to watch quietly.

He had no intention of informing anyone.

To him, Voldemort’s resurgence was entertainment.

He wanted to see what chaos the Dark Lord could still stir.

What amusement he might provide.

What Arthur did not realize—

Was that this time, Voldemort’s target was him.

Return to the Lands Between

For now, however, Voldemort’s schemes were set aside.

After helping Melina adapt to modern life, Arthur brought her back to the Lands Between.

From afar, the Erdtree still burned.

Arthur paid it little mind.

Melina sensed nothing unusual.

It was her first time burning a tree.

She had no frame of reference.

And having severed her connection to the Erdtree, she could no longer feel its state.

Arthur assumed the outer thorns simply had not finished burning.

He had no immediate plans to enter the Erdtree anyway.

His current objective lay elsewhere.

The Crumbling Farum Azula.

Destined Death awaited release.

The only uncertainty—

Would that power belong to him?

Or to Melina at his side?

Arthur tightened his grip on her hand.

He activated the teleportation mark she had left upon him.

The world shifted.

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