Chapter 60.5- Doom Days

“Our turn, I guess” I said, turning to Volkov. The Russian wizard gave ke a long look, seeming to contemplate all the possible responses before settling for a curt “Indeed”. Not a particularly loquacious one this Aleksander Volkov fellow. Or at least, not particularly loquacious when it came to me— not a fact I could blame him for. We were about to due, weren’t we? Everything that needed to be said between us would be said on that stage.

I walked forward, moving straight ahead for hth tunnel that lead to the stage. Vozlkov followed. By the time we had reached, both Okonkwo and Cece were gone. The former celebrating her victory, and the latter receiving medical attention, no doubt. That was the dichotomy of lie in this world. This was not like my old one where power could be shared, given, or granted. Here, there was only one type of power that mattered, and those who had it would always be superior to those who didn’’t. It was refreshing in a way.

It meant I just needed to keep my head down and do my bit and I’d make it all the way to the top here. That hadn’t been guaranteed in my first life. Keeping our head down and doing the work was almost certainly one way to guarantee that you never made it to the top. The Associates who made partners were never the highest billers, or the hardest workers. They were those who grew their book by spending time out of work, finding clients, bringing business too the firm, that sort of thing. And the Partners who stood out from the rest were just the same.

In this world though, a muggleborn girl with no renown could lead a revolution that tears down the very nature of one of the largest magical societies in the world and then birth a dynasty of her own.

“Aleksander Volkov. Any relation to the Natasha Volkov?” I asked. Because while I doubted it was a very rare surname, it was still quite the coincidence.

“She is my Great—grandmother” He said. I clapped my hands together. Excellent.

“Then I hope we can become friends after this is over.” I said.

“I will not hold your inability to best me against you, Harry Potter” He said confidently and I cackled. Well, that was one way to go about getting things started.

The wheel spun, landing on water. Been a while, I thought to myself. How many rounds had it been since I’d fought in the water environment?

“Contestants, Begin” The referee called.

Our opening salvos missed each other by a hair’s breadth as we danced about the arena, sending spells quick as lightning. Volkov’s reflexes were nothing to scoff at, as he managed to either dodge or block every spell I sent his way.

In the same vein though, I managed to keep ahead of his own attacks. The first to make a mistake would be the one to lose, it seemed to be. I tilted my head to the side to avoid what would have been a particularly painful bludgeoner before returning fire with three gouging curses. Each one took a chunk out of the stage as Volkov practically slid to the side. For a man his size, he was impressively agile. It was like watching a pick up truck drifting around corners on a canyon road.