29 Attack on Refinery

Lucas stepped off the airplane at Jack Brooks Regional Airport, his pristine sneakers hitting the tarmac with a soft thud. The hot Texas sun beat down on his back, making him grateful for his cocoon of frost magic. He stretched his arms above his head, feeling the satisfying pop of his joints after the long flight. Time to kick things into high gear, he thought.

He reached into the magically expanded pouch at his hip, a souvenir from his run-in with the Ebon Hand. His fingers brushed against the smooth, woven texture of the flying carpet, and he pulled it free with a sharp tug. This should make the trip a lot quicker, he reasoned, unfolding the carpet and letting it hover a few inches off the ground.

With a focused intent and visualization, Lucas channeled his will through the wand holstered at his side. In an instant, he Apparated straight up into the air, the world blurring around him before snapping back into focus. He landed on the flying carpet with a slight wobble, the fabric dipping under his weight before stabilizing.

Southeast, he thought, picturing the sprawling expanse of the Port Arthur oil refinery. That's where I need to go. He leaned forward, urging the carpet onward with a mental command. It surged beneath him, the wind whipping through his messy black hair as he rocketed towards his destination.

As he flew, Lucas's mind thought of the implications of what he was about to do. This isn't just about Port Arthur, he reflected, his brow furrowing in concentration. It's going to have a ripple effect across the whole country, maybe even the world.

He pictured the chaos that would follow in the wake of his actions. Gas prices would skyrocket as the supply of refined oil dwindled. The cost of everything from food to consumer goods would climb as transportation and manufacturing costs soared. It's going to be a shock to the system, but it's a necessary one.

Lucas's plan extended far beyond the borders of the United States. He envisioned similar strikes against refineries in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, a coordinated assault on the global fossil fuel industry. It's going to be painful in the short term, he admitted to himself, but the long-term benefits will be worth it. For me, and for the planet.

His investments in renewable energy and clean technologies were poised to explode in value as the world scrambled for alternatives to oil. The groundbreaking research he had published, which had already begun to reshape the energy landscape, would cement his position as a visionary leader in the field. I'll have the resources and the influence to shape the future, he thought, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

But it wasn't just about personal gain. Lucas genuinely believed that breaking the world's dependence on fossil fuels was crucial for its long-term survival. Less pollution, less environmental destruction... If I'm going to live forever, I need a world that can sustain me.

As the Port Arthur refinery came into view, Lucas felt a twinge of something that might have been guilt. The massive complex sprawled across hundreds of acres, a labyrinth of gleaming metal pipes, towering storage tanks, and flickering gas flares. People are going to lose their jobs because of what I'm about to do, he considered. Families are going to struggle to make ends meet.

He shook his head, pushing the thought aside. It's unfortunate, but it's a price that has to be paid. Short-term sacrifice for long-term gain. The world will be better off in the end, even if most won't see it that way.

Lucas took a deep breath of pure air as he cast Misty Breeze, a precautionary measure against any stray flames, and glanced at his Wristband of Air Purification, ensuring it was securely in place. Can't be too careful, he thought, reinforcing his personal shield with another layer of protective magic.

Satisfied with his preparations, Lucas guided the carpet lower, skimming over the maze of pipes and storage tanks. He spotted a worker in a bright yellow hard hat and reflective vest, a notepad clutched in his hands as he made his rounds. Lucas sent out a delicate mental probe, carefully extracting the information he needed about the refinery's layout and operations.

I know most people would consider this wrong, Lucas admitted to himself as he navigated towards the massive cylindrical storage tanks that loomed on the horizon. They'd call me a monster, just like they would do if they found out what I did to Dudley or the assassin I tortured. But I'm not going to let others hold me back on my path to power. I'm not really Harry Potter, despite being in his body, throwing my life away for some nebulous greater good. I'm Lucas, and I'll do whatever it takes to achieve my goals.

Lucas retrieved his Elemental Sphere from his pocket, the orb's smooth surface cool against his palm. He could feel the power thrumming within, eager to be unleashed. This is it, he thought, his heart pounding in his chest. The moment of truth. Time to show the world what I'm capable of.

He urged the flying carpet higher, gaining altitude until the sprawling expanse of the Port Arthur refinery was laid out before him like a miniature city. Towering storage tanks gleamed in the sunlight, their silver surfaces reflecting the cloudless blue sky. A network of pipes and catwalks crisscrossed the complex, connecting the various processing units in a dizzying web of steel and concrete.

Lucas could see tiny figures moving about the facility, workers going about their daily tasks, unaware of the chaos that was about to be unleashed upon them. They have no idea what's coming, he considered, a grim smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. They're just cogs in the machine, slaves to the fossil fuel industry. But not for much longer.

He focused his will on the vast sea in his mind, visualizing the bedrock of the ocean floor contained within. In his mind's eye, he pictured sharp spikes of rock, harder than diamond and sharper than any blade. With a mental command, he sent them shooting towards the storage tanks below.

The spikes pierced the tanks' thick steel walls as easily as a needle through cloth. Lucas could hear the sharp, metallic screech as the rock tore through the metal, leaving jagged holes in its wake. That's just the beginning, he thought, his eyes narrowing in concentration. Time to turn up the heat.

He channeled his fire magic through the Elemental Sphere, visualizing tongues of flame erupting from the tips of the earth spikes. In an instant, the tanks were engulfed in a raging inferno. The sudden heat was intense, even from Lucas's vantage point high above the refinery. He could feel the scorching air impact his cocoon of frost magic, could feel his Wristband of Air Purification work overtime to convert the acrid stench of burning oil and melting metal into pure air.

It's working, he thought, a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins. The tanks are going up like kindling. But I'm not done yet.

He sent another barrage of earth spikes into the heart of the refinery, targeting the cracking towers and distillation units. The spikes tore through pipes and machinery, releasing jets of superheated steam and toxic chemicals into the air. Lucas could hear the hiss and roar of escaping gases, could see clouds of noxious fumes billowing up from the damaged equipment.

And then, with a deafening boom that shook the very earth, the first tank exploded. A massive fireball erupted into the sky, the shockwave nearly knocking Lucas off his carpet. He watched in awe as the flames consumed the tank, the intense heat warping and melting the steel into twisted, blackened ruins.

One down, he thought, a fierce grin spreading across his face. Dozens more to go.

He continued his assault on the refinery, raining down earth spikes and fireballs with ruthless precision. Explosions rocked the complex, each one larger and more devastating than the last. Storage tanks ruptured and collapsed, spilling millions of gallons of crude oil onto the ground in a thick, black flood. Pipes burst and shattered, spraying jets of flaming liquid in all directions. The air was filled with the deafening roar of the inferno, punctuated by the screams of the workers caught in the chaos.

Lucas could see them now, tiny figures running frantically through the burning refinery, their clothes and skin scorched by the intense heat. Some were engulfed in flames, their bodies thrashing and writhing as they were consumed by the fire. Others were trapped beneath collapsed structures, their desperate cries for help drowned out by the roar of the blaze.

Collateral damage, Lucas thought, a ripple of something that might have been guilt appearing in his mind. It's unfortunate, but it's unavoidable. They're just pawns in the game, sacrifices that have to be made for his benefit.

He pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand. The refinery was in ruins now, a twisted, blackened skeleton of its former self. Thick, oily smoke billowed into the sky, blotting out the sun and turning the day into an eerie twilight. The ground was slick with spilled oil and chemicals, the air heavy with the stench of burning fossil fuels.

It's done, Lucas thought, grimly satisfied. The Port Arthur refinery is no more. And this is just the beginning.

He guided the flying carpet away from the burning ruins, the wind whipping through his hair as he gained speed and altitude. In the distance, he could see the flashing lights of emergency vehicles racing towards the refinery, their sirens barely audible over the roar of the flames.

They're too late, he mused, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. The damage is done. The world will never be the same.

As he flew towards Sabine Lake, Lucas's mind was already planning his next move. This is just the first step, he thought, his eyes gleaming with a fierce determination. I'll hit refineries all over the world, cripple the fossil fuel industry on a global scale. And when the dust settles, I'll be there to pick up the pieces, to shape the future according to my vision.

He Apparated back to the airport, reappearing alongside a plane that was already hurtling down the runway. With a focused thought, he Apparated again, landing on the aircraft's wing with his carpet securely stuck in place.

Through the oval windows, he could see the passengers' faces contorted in shock and horror as they stared towards the distant refinery, now a raging inferno that painted the sky an ominous orange. Lucas waited for a gap in the seats, then Apparated inside, his arrival muffled by a swirling cocoon of wind magic.

He slipped into an empty seat near the back of the plane, exhaling a shaky breath as the aircraft lifted off, its wheels leaving the tarmac behind. Around him, the other passengers were in a state of panic, their voices rising in fear and confusion.

"Did y'all see that?" a middle-aged man in a business suit demanded, his face ashen. "The whole refinery just went up in flames!"

"Oh my God, I think I saw someone on fire," a young woman sobbed, her hands trembling as she fumbled with her seatbelt. "What's happening? Are we safe?"

"It has to be a terrorist attack," another man declared, his voice tight with anger. "No way something like that happens by accident."

Lucas tuned out their chatter, his gaze fixed on the plume of smoke that marked the destruction he had wrought. It's done, he thought. The first domino has fallen. There's no turning back now.

As the plane carried him away from the chaos, Lucas allowed himself a small, secret smile. The world is going to change greatly because of this, he pondered, and it will be because of me. Hah, I probably have had a much greater impact on the world than Voldemort by now. He really was a third-rate Dark Lord, wasn't he? Especially in comparison to someone like Gellert Grindelwald. I wonder if the Magical World would consider me a Dark Lord as well if they knew I was responsible for this and was planning to do much more? 

He leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes as the adrenaline began to fade, replaced by a bone-deep weariness. Let's rest for now, he told himself, because there's still so much work to be done. This is only the beginning.

Outside, the smoke from the burning refinery stretched across the horizon like a black scar, a harbinger of the upheaval to come. And in the midst of it all, Lucas van der Berg, also known as Harry Potter, slipped into a dreamless sleep.