"You're pretty fast, Mr. Foley."
When Grindelwald reached the grand entrance of the Magical Congress building, every wizard who had dared to challenge him lay stunned or magically bound on the polished floor. Despite his overwhelming power, Grindelwald had deliberately avoided lethal spells. Instead, he used stunning and binding charms—carefully calculated choices to avoid inciting public outrage.
His true enemy wasn't the Magical Congress or ordinary wizards. It was the Statute of Secrecy and the entire ideology that upheld it. Killing fellow wizards, even those who opposed him, would harm his reputation and alienate the very people he hoped to persuade.
"Not bad, huh?" Tom Foley grinned, stepping forward with deliberate confidence.
Grindelwald's piercing gaze shifted to Tina Goldstein. "Ah, Miss Goldstein. You always seem to be where you're not wanted."
Tina, though facing a wizard whose name struck fear across continents, lifted her chin and replied steadily, "I only go where I'm needed."
Grindelwald gave a faint smile, but his focus quickly moved to Newt Scamander.
"After you were captured last night," Grindelwald said, "your teacher sent several letters in quick succession. He was quite emotional... claimed you were his favorite student, a pure soul incapable of harming Muggles."
He paused, letting the weight of his words linger. "Tell me, Newt—why does Albus Dumbledore favor you so?"
Newt raised his wand defensively. "I can't answer that," he said honestly. "Because I don't know."
Grindelwald's expression hardened. "Is that so? Then die with your ignorance."
With a sharp flick of his wand, Grindelwald unleashed a blast of green light.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Carl winced instinctively at the sheer intensity of the curse. Just moments ago, Grindelwald had spared dozens. But when it came to Dumbledore's favorite, he didn't hesitate to cast the Killing Curse.
Luckily, Newt dove to the side in time, narrowly avoiding the lethal blast. Tina reacted just as quickly, launching a Disarming Charm at Grindelwald, which forced him to shift his stance and block her magic with an elegant wave of his wand.
But Grindelwald's troubles didn't stop there. Carl had already pulled a chakra-infused spear from the small cloth pouch at his waist. With lightning speed, he lunged, stabbing forward with the spear in his left hand while simultaneously casting a Stunning Spell from his right.
Grindelwald deflected the spell easily, but the spear was another matter. Its speed and erratic movement were unnerving—even to him. Realizing he couldn't dodge it in time, Grindelwald used a non-verbal spell with his free hand, freezing the spear mid-air.
Snarling, he countered with a wave of black magic, forcing Carl to release the weapon and retreat. Carl's movements were unorthodox, almost inhuman—his body swaying and twisting with the fluidity of a seasoned martial artist. He dodged each spell by mere inches.
It was true that Carl's magical ability, despite his knowledge, hadn't yet reached the level of elite Aurors like Tina or experienced wizards like Newt. His magical education was less than three months old, bolstered only by Tom's memories, combat training with Muggle mercenaries, and old Manu's guidance.
Still, he had one distinct advantage: his body. Blessed with powerful chakra, his agility, strength, and endurance outclassed almost every wizard in the room.
He'd also prepared meticulously. Hidden in his enchanted pouch were hundreds of spears, ready to be summoned at a moment's notice. Falling back, he began using the spears as long-range weapons, hurling them with great precision at Grindelwald.
Grindelwald, forced to multitask, had to use his free hand repeatedly to deflect Carl's spears while using his wand to defend against Tina and Newt's coordinated magical assaults. It was a chaotic battle of light, metal, and movement.
Grindelwald's magical prowess still exceeded them all. His wandwork was swift and refined. Even while fending off three attackers, he found time to launch deadly counterattacks. Newt and Tina had to constantly retreat and reposition.
But Carl was the wild card. His relentless physical aggression and mobility allowed him to dodge even complex spells and stay in the fight. While Tina and Newt paused between attacks, Carl kept moving—casting magic, throwing spears, diving, rolling, leaping. Even mid-flip, his aim was unwavering.
Grindelwald, irritated, decided to end the stalemate. With a sudden flash, he once again cast the Killing Curse. Newt and Tina were forced to scatter.
With both his hands now free, Grindelwald raised them and used the same devastating magic he had unleashed on the Aurors earlier.
Carl felt his body being lifted into the air by an invisible force and slammed hard into the ground. His arms were forcefully bound behind him, locked by complex magical restraints.
"Break!"
With a ferocious roar, Carl activated his chakra-enhanced muscles. He stomped his feet down, anchoring himself, then flexed with full force. His bones creaked, his muscles bulged, and the magical restraints—designed for ordinary humans—snapped like twine.
This was why magical creatures were immune to many control spells: their sheer power. Carl's strength, amplified by chakra, rivaled even the giants and magical beasts.
Grindelwald, witnessing Carl tear through his magic with brute strength, blinked in astonishment. A rare expression of genuine surprise.
He hadn't underestimated Carl's agility—but his raw physical force? That was beyond expectation.
Before Grindelwald could act again, Carl was already on the move, grabbing another spear and hurling it with ferocious speed. More followed in rapid succession.
Tina and Newt, regaining their composure, resumed their assault. The battle was once again a tense stalemate.
Though the three couldn't overpower Grindelwald, they had succeeded in keeping him contained within the Congress building—crucial, because once he left the premises, he could Apparate and vanish.
They needed only to delay him. Long enough for President Picquery and a new wave of Aurors and elite enforcers to arrive and trap him.
Each spell, each spear, and each heartbeat bought them that time.