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Chapter 282: The 422nd Quidditch World Cup
🕑 Added 2025-01-30 17:04:20 +0000 UTCTime passed by the second.
As the afternoon wore on, a sense of excitement quietly spread throughout the camp.
By dusk, even the silent sunset seemed to tremble with anticipation.
In the midst of this extreme emotional buildup, Ino slowly opened his eyes, and before him floated a small flame, resembling the moment a match ignites.
Sensing the changes within the flame, he disappeared from the spot.
...
Backstage.
Unlike the original story where he was busy with fraudulent betting, Ludo Bagman, the Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, was like an ant on a hot pan.
The audience was about to enter, and the star of the opening act had yet to appear.
He knew very well that if this got messed up, he didn't know what would happen to the other party, but his tenure as department head would likely be over.
If he embarrassed the entire Ministry of Magic of England, even if he miraculously kept his position, his future would be bleak.
At that moment, there was a soft sound in the air.
Ludo turned around and was almost moved to tears at what he saw.
"Thank heavens! You haven't forgotten! I was scared to death with you not showing up..."
"Sorry, I overslept a bit!" Ino softly explained.
"That's a minor issue! A minor issue!" Ludo said with lingering fear, wondering how the other party could sleep at such a time.
"There's still an hour to prepare. The event staff will play the music in twelve areas simultaneously based on your signal. Remember! The red firework spell—they only recognize that."
Ludo repeated the agreed arrangements once more.
Ino silently nodded in response, then walked towards the dressing room. Since he was going to perform, he had to change into something more suitable.
Meanwhile.
Ludo's expression finally relaxed. Everything seemed to be going smoothly so far, and now he had to prepare for his own part.
...
An hour later.
The stage, which could accommodate a full 100,000 people, was packed to the brim.
On the top level, in the central box.
Ludo stood up and looked at Fudge, who nodded with a smile. He then began to speak:
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the 422nd Quidditch World Cup!"
As Ludo's voice fell, thunderous applause erupted from the crowd.
"Alright! But before the match, we have a little surprise prepared for you. We hope you enjoy it!"
Strictly speaking, Ludo was not a good host.
His opening left Ino with a huge challenge, akin to the 30-second ad before a binge-watch session—nobody likes it.
Although no one in the stadium had complained yet, the atmosphere in the 100,000-seat stadium had subtly changed.
Fudge instinctively frowned, casting a sharp glance at Ludo, regretting having this fool do the opening.
Seeing his minister's expression, Ludo also belatedly realized the issue.
Logically, after his opening, the mascots should come on stage, so whether it was cold or not didn't matter, since the mascots were meant to warm up the crowd.
But now... Glancing around, Ludo lowered his head guiltily.
Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control.
"Moo~"
A deep and melodious sound rang out, echoing throughout the stadium.
Accompanied by the sound of waves.
"Look at the sky..."
"Merlin's beard..."
As the first person noticed, more and more people looked up at the sky.
In the pitch-black night sky, a thirty-foot-long whale, glowing and shimmering, suddenly appeared.
The night was like an ocean, and the silver whale swam freely, accompanied by its mournful singing and the faint sound of waves.
In such a scene, everyone could feel a sense of depth and vastness, as if they were in the endless sea.
Wizards are emotional and empathetic.
In just a few seconds, accompanied by the melodious sound of waves, the entire Quidditch stadium seemed to have experienced a tide, and the restlessness gradually disappeared.
Everything quieted down.
...
At this moment, under everyone's gaze.
The whale in the sky slowly swam down until it was sixty feet above the ground.
When it reached this position, the sound of waves and the whale's singing quietly disappeared.
Although the sound disappeared, people's eyes were locked on the whale, or rather, on the young man standing on the whale's back.
With the starry night sky as the backdrop, and a silver giant whale underfoot, shimmering with brilliance. Even in this magical world, this scene left everyone present feeling awe-struck.
Seeing the change in the atmosphere, Ino also let out a sigh of relief.
He had been set up by Ludo badly, so after the latter's opening speech, he had no choice but to change his entrance method on the fly.
A silver Patronus combined with a Boggart that could fly freely, a clever combination that barely managed to control the scene.
Thinking this, but he didn't miss the hard-earned opportunity, and gently waved his wand as everyone watched.
In the sky, two silver mist figures appeared, one large and one small, and in an instant, they transformed into figures riding broomsticks.
Although their faces couldn't be seen, from their shapes, it was obvious that one was an adult and the other a child.
"Child, I am very old. There isn't much I can teach you! But in this brief journey of life, I have raced with the wind countless times and flown side by side with the clouds. What I chase is not just the Golden Snitch but the undying flame of striving within me."
"But isn't the match about chasing the Golden Snitch?"
The old and tender voices alternated, with Ino using a theatrical opening, entirely to guide everyone's emotions.
"Yes, the match is about chasing the Golden Snitch! But Quidditch is not..."
"Then what is Quidditch?"
"It is the unyielding and uncompromising spirit of wizards. Whenever wizards face misfortune and setbacks, they remember Quidditch and the struggle on the pitch..."
A few brief lines reignited everyone's hearts. Why did they love Quidditch?
It was never for the high prize money or the so-called fame, but for the indomitable spirit in their bones.
With this spirit, ancient wizards defeated dragons, drove away giants, quelled goblins, and even Dementors had to curl up in Azkaban...
Just like Sir Cadogan of Gryffindor, who charged at a dragon with no wand and a melted sword.
Though it seemed foolish, it essentially reflected the resilience and struggle within wizards.
For their dreams, wizards would stop at nothing.
...
As the dialogue ended, the silver mist figures in the sky disappeared.
In their place was another scene, a clear picture.
In the picture, in ancient times, countless wizards resisted danger, facing dragons, giants, Dementors, Venomous Tentacula...
But no matter what enemies they faced, the wizards held their wands tightly, choosing to fight and resist.
Quickly, these images vanished.
"Incendio!"
As a cluster of red fireworks representing hope appeared, rhythmic music filled the stadium.
With the rhythm of the music, a voice echoed throughout the venue.
"The cup of life. This is the one..."
"Here we go! Allez allez allez! Go go go..."
A Muggle song from the future, played four years early in England.
No matter what people were thinking or discussing before, at this moment, many had only Quidditch on their minds.
The lively rhythm and straightforward lyrics made everyone feel the passion and desire for victory, sensing the fighting spirit within wizards.
...
The first verse ended.
But soon, with the start of the second verse, everyone subconsciously sang along with the beat.
"Go go go! Allez allez allez!"
Simple phrases, cheerful rhythm, even wizards who didn't understand English could sing a few lines.
Many wizards from Africa's Uagadou transformed single-hand drums with Transfiguration, beating out the most primitive rhythms, singing of harvest and peace around the fire.
Music and emotion.
Singing and sentiment.
At this moment, an invisible torrent gradually converged.
Feeling something, Ino slowly raised his head, and a faint flame appeared in the sky a hundred feet above.
In this cluster of flames, he clearly felt the contained emotions, a familiar feeling arose...
The flames from the Caucasus Mountains he had seen before, belonging to Prometheus, praising courage, resistance, wisdom, and self-sacrifice.
Also, in this flame, there was the redemption of fairy tales.
But now, joy was reinfused into the flame!
With the emotions of 100,000 wizards converging, the flame in the sky suddenly expanded, revealing the silhouette of a phoenix with a wingspan of over two hundred feet.
Facing such a colossal figure, the wizards below not only weren't afraid but felt a sense of familiarity and closeness.
"Chirp~"
With a melodious, lingering cry, Ino's figure gradually rose into the sky.
Since his goal was achieved, it was time to leave.
Excess is as bad as deficiency, as the saying goes.
Tonight's protagonist was always Quidditch, and that wouldn't change no matter what.
...
In the sky.
Although the silver whale and red phoenix drifted away.
With the powerful entrance of the Bulgarian national team, the enthusiasm was reignited.
Bulgarian players flew around the field on their brooms in a triangular formation.
Immediately, a phalanx of red flags appeared in the grand stadium, echoing their presence.
Following closely was the Irish national team, with a phalanx of green shamrock flags appearing.
Thousands of flags waving together, red and green alternating, turned the entire stadium into a sea of joy.
