Chapter 16 Battlefield Instruction

Seeing the students' pale faces, Professor Tewell didn't explain. Instead, he smirked and waved his wand.

"All right, leave your books on the desks, everyone grab your wands and stand at the back."

The students suddenly found themselves able to speak, but they didn't dare to question loudly as before, only whispering in small groups.

"Can we run away now and seek help from Headmaster Dumbledore?"

"With so many of us here, Professor Tewell wouldn't dare to do anything, right?"

"He said he won't kill us, but that doesn't mean he can't harm us, like losing an arm or something!"

The students moved to the open space at the back, with Professor Tewell standing facing them, about fifteen feet (approximately 4.5 meters) away.

"Don't worry, this is a simple duel, just me against all of you."

As he waved his wand, the ground softened, feeling like stepping on a mattress, and a thin membrane appeared around them, enveloping them gently.

Some students tentatively touched it and found the membrane tough but softly catching their fingers. This discovery eased their minds.

The professor didn't actually intend to knock them down.

"As you can see, the ground is now soft, so even if you fall, it won't hurt, and the membrane around you is for protection."

Professor Tewell gripped his wand, performing the dueling etiquette.

"As long as you defeat me, not only will your deductions be waived, but your houses will also gain an additional twenty—"

"Stupefy!"

A red light suddenly shot out from the group of students, swiftly flying towards Professor Tewell, accompanied by Roger Davies's confident words.

"Professor, the duel has begun, hasn't it?"

But Professor Tewell chuckled lightly and effortlessly deflected the stunning spell with a flick of his wand.

"Very good approach. When facing a formidable opponent, ambush or catching them off guard is your only secret to victory."

"However, be prepared for counterattacks from your opponent."

Before Davies could react, he was instantly bound by a rope and hung upside down from the ceiling.

"Instead of standing there dumbfounded."

Listening to Davies's screams, the students tightened their grip on their wands, their palms sweating with nervousness. But as soon as someone took the lead, more joined in. Besides, Professor Tewell was only eighteen, not much older or stronger than them, right?

For a moment, the students chanted spells chaotically, various colored lights flickering in the classroom. Spells hit the membrane, dissipating.

"I'm glad you have such courage, but remember, don't stand there foolishly when casting spells. Even a pig wouldn't be that stupid, there's plenty of space around for you to run!"

Tewell casually suspended a girl who stood still, this time properly.

The students were furious but realized the importance of moving around. However, this decreased the accuracy of their spells significantly. Tewell didn't even need to defend; he just needed to take a couple of steps to dodge, demonstrating the importance of correct positioning.

"Don't hesitate when casting spells; decisiveness leads to faster incantations. Even if it's dodged, you can swiftly attack again. Are you treating this like playing house with three-year-olds?"

With a wave of his hand, he blocked incoming spells and cast a binding charm, restraining two people.

"That's a good idea. Two people forcing movements with spells, while one focuses on attacking. But remember to protect yourselves; otherwise, you'll be naked pigs!"

"Professor, pigs don't wear clothes to begin with."

"So you don't even know how to cast protective spells?!"

A barrier curse flew out, knocking the Weasley twins and a student named Lee Jordan out, only to be caught by the membrane outside, still unable to escape the fate of being hung up.

Hearing Tewell's sarcastic remarks, the remaining students were infuriated, but they also consciously and voluntarily became more organized.

Some released offensive spells, some tried to block the flying ropes, while others looked for opportunities to force Tewell into difficult movements.

"Very good, it seems you have grasped the secret of outnumbering your opponent, but you have forgotten the most important point—"

The students paused, then heard Tewell chant the first spell.

"Wingardium Leviosa."

It was the levitation spell they learned in their first year, but they didn't feel the sensation of floating, nor did they see anything floating.

Just as they were puzzled for a second, a tremendous pressure instantly filled every cell of their bodies!

The young wizards who had learned Muggle knowledge knew instantly what this feeling was.

Gravity had become stronger!

Except for the students hanging from the ceiling, the rest collapsed powerless on the soft ground, unable to move even their fingers.

Tewell intentionally controlled the output of magic, simply making them lie on the ground, then systematically hanging all the young wizards from the ceiling.

If someone came in and saw this scene, they would probably think he had some unspeakable fetish.

So Tewell—

Closed the door.

He found a chair and sat down, watching the spectacular scene in front of him.

"To be honest, I'm very disappointed in you," he shook his head.

"You've mastered very few spells; the most common are obstruction and disarmament curses, with only standard spell casting as the highlight.

"But your spellcasting skills are almost nonexistent; you only know how to stand still and cast. You must remember, combat is not turn-based, but instantaneous, life or death."

"And finally, a group of people who seem to be scattered, only realizing coordination under the opponent's hints."

"We will inevitably encounter opponents stronger than us, and at that time, cooperation should be your first thought. Spreading out will only result in each of you being picked off one by one."

"It's simply a failure within failure. Dealing with a group of pigs would be less of a hassle than dealing with you."

Tewell listed a bunch of their shortcomings, which only made them more infuriated as he spoke.

The young wizards were only bound, not gagged, so of course they could speak up to retort.

"It's clearly because you, Professor, are too unfair!" George weakly kicked his legs.

"If we had enough practice time and coordinated well, it would definitely be you hanging up in the end!" Fred was also annoyed, swaying back and forth.

The classmates echoed loudly.

They had lost, but it was understandable since Tewell was a professor, and they were just third-year students. Losing face by admitting it wasn't a big deal.

But Professor Tewell's words were truly infuriating, calling them pigs. Didn't he know that pigs were the least magical creatures?!

The students, filled with anger, kept accusing Tewell, but learning from past experience, they didn't dare to go too far, just murmuring their complaints quietly.

At that moment, a faint voice sounded.

"I think I'm about to have a stroke. Can you please let me down first..."