Boom!
Grindelwald stepped out of the shattered remains of the Wizarding Bank of America, his expression cold and impassive. Behind him, the massive building crumbled into dust, disintegrating under the force of his unleashed magic. The once-imposing structure was now nothing but a pile of rubble, the air thick with dust and the acrid stench of destruction.
The saints, standing nearby, lowered their heads in a mixture of fear and reverence. None dared meet Grindelwald's icy gaze. Their expressions were grim, seething with anger and resentment.
"Damn goblins!" one muttered under his breath, his tone venomous.
"Not just the goblins," another hissed. "Those spineless wizards who allowed themselves to be controlled by them—they're the true disgrace!"
The saints were staunch believers in wizard supremacy. To them, wizards were the pinnacle of existence, standing above all other beings—Muggles, magical creatures, and even the very laws of nature. Wizards were gods, and anything threatening that divine status was an abomination to be eradicated.
For the saints, the idea of wizards submitting to goblins was the ultimate betrayal. To use goblins as cannon fodder in battles against other wizards? That was sacrilege, a stain on the honor of wizardkind.
Grindelwald's face remained stoic, but his mind raced. The events of the day had given him much to consider. The goblins' rebellion was unexpected and troubling. He had long anticipated that the wizarding world would face challenges from within, but he had underestimated the goblins' capacity for subversion.
Their use of magic-enhanced firearms—deadly weapons combining goblin ingenuity with Muggle technology—was proof of their alliance with Muggles. This alliance posed a new and unique threat, one Grindelwald hadn't foreseen.
For years, Grindelwald had prided himself on his ability to glimpse the future, to predict and manipulate the course of events. But today's encounter had shaken that confidence. The goblins had somehow obscured themselves from his visions, their growing influence hidden from his sight.
This was no coincidence.
Grindelwald's sharp mind worked through the implications. The goblins had developed a means to shield themselves from prophetic insights, a power strong enough to evade even his far-reaching abilities. That alone made them a formidable threat.
Still, Grindelwald found himself oddly exhilarated. The wizarding world was becoming more unpredictable, more challenging. In the past, only Dumbledore had managed to block Grindelwald's glimpses of the future, using Hogwarts' protective enchantments. Now, others were emerging—Rohart, the goblins, and perhaps more to come.
"The world is growing more interesting," Grindelwald murmured to himself, his lips curling into a faint, almost predatory smile.
At a temporary base of the Wizards Bank Association of America, chaos reigned. Goblins hurried back and forth, their movements frantic.
"Chenos, Chenos!" Nass, a short goblin in an impeccable suit, waved his ornate staff as he called out to the vice president of MACUSA. "Grindelwald has attacked! Do you understand what this means? Look at what you've caused!"
Chenos, a lean wizard with a sharp jawline and piercing eyes, sighed and raised a hand to calm the agitated goblin. "Nass, please. Who could have predicted Grindelwald would come here? And as for Ilvermorny, you know how isolated that school is. Even your kind hasn't been able to infiltrate it effectively."
Nass's face flushed with anger, his chest heaving as he struggled to suppress his fury. Goblins had suffered heavy losses in the attack, and their headquarters had been reduced to rubble. Yet, Nass knew better than to let his rage sever ties with Chenos. The wizard, for all his flaws, was a crucial ally.
"Fine," Nass muttered begrudgingly. "But don't forget, Chenos, it was our resources that put you in power. Without us, you wouldn't have climbed so high in MACUSA."
Chenos gave a tight-lipped smile, his tone conciliatory. "And I haven't forgotten, Nass. Grindelwald's rampage is a temporary setback. Once this is over, I'll ensure the Magical Congress grants your banks exclusive privileges across America. Tax exemptions, legal protections—you name it, it's yours."
Nass's eyes gleamed at the mention of profits. Despite his earlier anger, the goblin couldn't resist the allure of Galleons.
"Very well," Nass said, his tone cooling. "But remember, we expect results."
Chenos nodded, his mind already racing with plans to consolidate his power. As the son of a Muggle politician, he understood the delicate dance between influence and ambition. Grindelwald's attack, though devastating, presented an opportunity.
With the current president of MACUSA gravely injured, Chenos was poised to ascend to the top. All he needed was the continued support of the goblins and a few strategic alliances.
"Don't worry, Nass," Chenos said smoothly. "Grindelwald won't go unchecked for long. Dumbledore is still alive, and he won't allow Grindelwald to wreak havoc in America. Once Dumbledore steps in, Grindelwald's days will be numbered. And when I become president…"
Chenos's voice grew impassioned, his words carrying the weight of a promise. "America will dominate both the Muggle and wizarding worlds. Together, we'll build a nation that surpasses even Britain in magical supremacy."
Nass nodded, satisfied for the moment. But behind his sharp eyes, the goblin's mind continued to calculate. Chenos was useful now, but if the tides turned, Nass wouldn't hesitate to betray him for the right price.
On the battlefield, chaos erupted as MACUSA's forces clashed with Grindelwald's saints. Spells filled the air—blinding flashes of light and explosions of sound as curses and counter-curses met in a deadly dance.
"Expelliarmus!"
"Avada Kedavra!"
The saints, bolstered by their combat experience and dark magic, initially held the upper hand. Their coordinated attacks cut through MACUSA's ranks with brutal efficiency.
But then, a new force entered the fray.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Gunfire echoed across the battlefield. Goblins armed with magic guns emerged from the shadows, their weapons spitting enchanted bullets that tore through wizards' defenses.
Bodies began to fall, blood pooling on the ground as the battlefield descended into chaos. The saints, caught off guard by the goblins' ambush, were quickly overwhelmed. What had been a decisive victory turned into a devastating loss.
The surviving wizards from MACUSA stared in shock at the goblins. For centuries, goblins had been seen as little more than servile creatures, restricted from using wands and largely dismissed as non-threatening. But now, armed with powerful weapons, they were a force to be reckoned with.
Falzan, a muscular goblin clad in crimson robes, stepped forward, his voice booming. "By order of Vice President Chenos, we are here to aid in resisting Grindelwald's dark forces!"
The MACUSA wizards exchanged uncertain glances. Chenos's name was well-known, and his reputation lent credibility to the goblins' claim. Still, the sight of goblins wielding such power was deeply unsettling.
One wizard stepped forward cautiously. "What's the situation at MACUSA? How are the president and vice president holding up? And how far has Grindelwald progressed?"
Falzan's expression darkened, and his voice turned sharp. "I don't have all the answers, wizard. If you want details, come with us to the temporary base and speak with Vice President Chenos directly."
The wizard hesitated but ultimately nodded. Together, the group used Apparition to leave the battlefield, heading toward the base.
At Ilvermorny, Grindelwald sat in the headmaster's chair, his gaze cold and piercing. Across from him stood Philo, a loyal saint, his posture stiff with anxiety.
"Philo," Grindelwald said, his tone deceptively calm. "Why have so many saints fallen in just three days?"
Philo swallowed hard, his voice hurried. "Sir, we've investigated. The resistance from MACUSA is part of it, but the real problem is the goblins. They've allied with Muggles, using weapons called gun—enhanced with magic, no less."
Grindelwald's eyes narrowed, his anger simmering beneath the surface.
Philo pressed on, his voice trembling. "Don't worry, sir. Given time, we'll hunt down every last one of those goblins and deal with them."
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