Although the Triwizard Tournament was the main topic of conversation at the castle, Noah focused on his own plans. He used his fourth year to continue his research, collecting more data on magical bloodlines and the creatures he might need in the future. Additionally, his shadow clone in the lab continued progressing with experiments and studies, maintaining a constant flow of information that enriched his knowledge of the magical world.
At the end of the Triwizard Tournament, when everything seemed to conclude with Cedric Diggory's victory, events took a darker turn. During the final task, Harry and Cedric were unexpectedly transported to a graveyard through a spell triggered by the Goblet of Fire.
Using a dark ritual, Voldemort returned with a fully restored body, stronger than before, by absorbing Harry's blood, his father's bone, and the flesh of his loyal servant Wormtail. Although Harry managed to return to Hogwarts with Cedric's lifeless body, the details of what happened were hard for many to believe.
News of Cedric's death and Voldemort's return quickly spread throughout the school, and the atmosphere grew tense. Teachers and students argued over what to do. Many at Hogwarts were unsure of Harry's claims, and some remained skeptical, influenced by the Ministry of Magic's refusal to accept the truth about Voldemort's return. However, among those who knew what had really happened, the concern was evident.
Noah, for his part, observed the situation calmly. He knew the tension at the school would only grow as more students and teachers became divided over how to react to the threat. Still, his priority remained his own studies and research.
The atmosphere at the school became somewhat uncomfortable. Some students, especially those from Slytherin, began to speak more openly about Voldemort's return, while others, like those from Gryffindor, were more focused on defense. The houses were more divided than ever, and interactions between students became increasingly tense.
Thus, the fourth year ended, and the summer holidays began.
Inside his laboratory, Noah closed his eyes for a long time as memories began to flood into his mind.
All his shadow clones had completed their studies and dissipated naturally, allowing their experiences to return to Noah.
Taking the young Muggles he had kidnapped years ago, he implanted them with the memories of his shadow clones before dropping them off at their respective homes.
Although they would suffer terrible headaches for the next few weeks, it was better than having no memory of the past four years.
Noah approached a metal table and pulled out a vial of his own blood, placing it on the surface.
Now that his research on genetics was paused and his study of bloodlines was proceeding smoothly under the care of his clones, he decided to immerse himself in the study of magic more deeply.
He had long wanted to visit a particular magical world.
Now that his mana core had stored enough energy to travel, he could finally go there.
"Tsk! I'll have to find a way to increase my mana reserves. Otherwise, it would take me hundreds of years to travel to a mid-level world. I just hope that world can provide me with a way."
All of Noah's mana was produced passively by his magical core, and since there was no ambient mana, he couldn't absorb it to nourish and improve his core.
Focusing, he began to visualize the world he wanted to travel to.
Seconds passed—nothing happened.
Frowning, he focused again, but still nothing worked.
"What the hell?"
He wanted to travel to the world of Black Clover, but for some reason, he couldn't.
He tried a few other worlds but met with no success.
Finally, he sighed in resignation, having failed to open a portal to any magical world he could think of.
"I suppose I'll put the magic studies aside for now."
After thinking for a while, he decided to obtain the ultimate organism that could help in his genetics research.
Focusing once more, he sighed in relief as a spatial vortex began to form in front of him.
---
In the vastness of Antarctica, a group of scientists and workers at a research station found themselves trapped by a storm. The situation wasn't good. They were isolated, and something strange had started happening among them: some members of the team were acting erratically, and worst of all, no one knew who was infected.
The source of this fear was a strange creature that had arrived from outside—a shape-shifting alien life form capable of imitating and assimilating any living being it devoured. No one knew how it had gotten there, but the danger was clear: The Thing could take on the appearance of anyone and control their actions.
To verify who had been assimilated, Blair, one of the biologists, devised a blood test. If the blood reacted strangely to a heat stimulus, it meant the body was no longer human but was being controlled by The Thing.
One by one, the team members submitted to the test, but it wasn't until Bennings' turn that things took an unexpected turn. The moment his blood was tested, something strange happened: his body began to transform. His skin tore apart, and from his body emerged a grotesque, shapeshifting mass of flesh.
The men, trapped and tied to their chairs, could do nothing to defend themselves. They watched in horror as Bennings' monstrosity began to move, writhing and shifting before their eyes, searching for new victims. The fear in the room was palpable, but the sense of helplessness only grew, as they couldn't move or even try to escape. The fate of most of them seemed sealed.
Suddenly, the air began to distort, as if something was happening. A vortex appeared out of nowhere, glowing with a cold light. From it, a figure emerged.
Noah stepped out of the vortex unhurriedly. His silver hair glimmered faintly under the light of the portal, and his green eyes calmly took in the scene.
Everyone was stunned by Noah's sudden appearance, but they didn't have time to process it before what he did next left them even more shocked.
Without saying a word, Noah raised a hand and immediately recited a series of words in a language they couldn't understand.
A radiant aura surrounded the creature, and in an instant, The Thing came to a halt, frozen in place. The monstrosity was suspended, unable to move, as if some invisible force had trapped it.
The men, still bound and terrified, stared at Noah, unsure of what to do. They had no idea how he had managed to control the creature so easily. Nobody knew who he was or where he came from. Yet Noah seemed completely indifferent to the situation they had just witnessed.
"This is exactly what I need," Noah said quietly as he observed the immobilized creature.
Then, he turned his attention to the men still tied to their chairs.
After thinking for a moment, he took out the magic door and opened a portal directly to an alley in New York.
He then cast a memory-erasing spell on them and, with another spell, cut their restraints and sent them through the portal.
Nodding to himself, Noah closed the door and put it away once more.
Back in his laboratory, he resumed his research.
The Thing was contained, but it still writhed, adapting to every stimulus. Without rushing, Noah began to study its biology. The cellular structure of The Thing was completely different from any known organism. There was no DNA as such, but rather a complex molecular network that allowed it to change its physical form and replicate the characteristics of any living being it touched.
Using his spells and advanced tools, Noah dissected it with precision. Every cell he examined revealed a new layer of complexity. The Thing didn't just mimic living beings—it absorbed them, replicating their memories and genetics perfectly. This capacity for adaptation was astonishing, and Noah realized he could learn a great deal from it.
As he reviewed the results of his analysis, Noah understood the creature's true potential. If he could grasp how it worked, he might be able to replicate its abilities and create something entirely new.