Chapter 174

In the wizarding world, there are many terrifying beasts and magical creatures roaming about, but among the most bizarre and deadly is the Basilisk, also known as the King of Serpents. Basilisks can prey on most living creatures. They can grow to enormous sizes and typically live for hundreds of years. A Basilisk is hatched from a chicken egg incubated by a toad. The way it kills is astonishing—not only does it possess deadly venomous fangs, but its gaze can also instantly kill anyone who looks directly into its eyes. Spiders instinctively flee from Basilisks, for the serpent is their natural mortal enemy. Conversely, the crow of a rooster is fatal to a Basilisk—upon hearing it, the creature will flee in terror.

Night falls over the Forbidden Forest.

Deep within its tangled depths, a clearing holds a large pit. Within the pit, a dark mass squirms and shifts.