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Spending just half a day exploring Durmstrang sounded like a pipe dream. On his first afternoon at the school, Harry only had time to visit the alchemy laboratory Grindelwald had prepared for him and take a quick look at the library.
The massive library, occupying the 11th to 29th floors of the central tower, boasted a collection even richer than Hogwarts'. However, this wasn't Durmstrang's original heritage—it was the result of more than a decade of tireless collection efforts by Grindelwald. The sheer breadth of knowledge housed within it was staggering. Even now, over three hundred staff members were dedicated to meticulously cataloging the books, ensuring that visitors could locate the references they needed as quickly as possible.
What defines professionalism? This is professionalism.
Every detail within the school sent a clear message to Harry—this was what a true higher institution of learning looked like. His previous education was outdated, and reform wasn't just a matter of words. It required a complete overhaul from the ground up.
Unlike new students, who had to undergo three weeks of military-style training, exchange students like Harry were given more flexibility. The new students, mostly around twelve or thirteen years old, were blank slates, and the intense training was meant to imprint the Durmstrang identity upon them. In contrast, exchange students, who would only be staying for two or three years, weren't held to the same rigorous standards. Instead, they were given a full month to familiarize themselves with the school and its curriculum. While others were busy exploring different subjects out of curiosity, Harry had a clear goal in mind.
Potions was a must, though Snape hadn't required him to take courses in his other areas of expertise—Curses, Poisons, and War Potioneering. Harry only needed to enroll in War Potioneering, which met twice a week. In addition, he would assist Snape as needed and drink a specially formulated potion, adjusted by Snape to suit his current physical condition.
As for the rest of his schedule, Harry selected the combat courses that intrigued him the most, along with one of the newest elective subjects—Advanced Firearms. This course was part of a joint initiative between Durmstrang and Koldovstoretz, focusing on the study and development of new firearm-based magical applications.
A few months ago, during the dueling tournament, Big Ivan had mentioned that Soviet wizards had devised a new cannon-like form of spellcasting. The change in caliber not only enhanced the power of individual spells but also played a crucial role in composite spellcasting. Durmstrang had contributed just as much to this field, with its major breakthrough being the development of spell carriers.
"I'm pleased to see so many of you here for my Advanced Firearms class. I am Noren Skoti, one of the instructors for this course."
Standing at the front of the vast lecture hall was a young scholar with fair skin and naturally wavy golden hair. However, her youthful appearance was of little relevance—the fact that she stood at this podium was proof enough of her expertise. The two gold-trimmed badges on her chest signified that she had been granted the rank of First-Tier Senior Professor by Durmstrang. This credential was beyond dispute; fewer than a thousand individuals had earned it, despite Durmstrang's faculty and research staff nearing thirty thousand.
"This field of study is relatively new, having been under research for only six years. However, thanks to the collaboration between Koldovstoretz and Durmstrang, progress has been rapid. The research has already yielded mature results, which are now officially in use and incorporated into both schools' curricula."
The young professor spoke with confidence, unshaken even by the presence of her colleagues—several other faculty researchers seated in the front rows. Without hesitation, she transitioned smoothly from her brief introduction into the main topic of the lecture.
"The current advanced forms of firearm wands can be categorized into seven types: submachine guns, shotguns, rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, designated marksman rifles, and handheld launchers. In terms of functionality, these seven types are sufficient to meet various combat demands. However, as warfare evolves and battles become more complex, firearms—an integral part of a wizard's arsenal—must also advance to keep pace with modern magic and spellcasting systems."
"In this research, we have further expanded firearm classifications to address the demands of war. This has been a key focus of Koldovstoretz's magical research division, where they have introduced the concept of artillery-based spellcasting as an extension of firearm technology."
"And now, allow me to demonstrate."
Skoti raised her right arm. Her slender limb was as smooth and pale as fine jade, but the moment she clenched her fist, taut, explosive muscle definition surfaced beneath her skin. In an instant, heavy armor materialized, encasing her arm. At the front of her fist, a 23mm-caliber cannon barrel extended forward, gleaming with a silvery sheen.
"Codename: Zu-23-2. A 23mm dual-barrel system. In terms of raw spell power, it provides an amplification exceeding that of a heavy sniper rifle by up to forty times. Additionally, it boasts a high rate of fire. While it sacrifices mobility and demands greater magical energy consumption, it remains one of the most effective artillery configurations for battlefield defense among modern wizard armaments."
"For wizards capable of bearing an additional 150 kilograms of weight, light artillery configurations can be wielded similarly to conventional firearms. Meanwhile, heavy artillery variants require a load-bearing capacity of at least 300 kilograms—a design tailored specifically for the physical capabilities of Soviet wizards."
"For those who do not undergo specialized physical enhancements, firearm research focuses primarily on refining and upgrading models within the seven core categories—essentially, the iterative evolution of firearms."
After retracting the cumbersome artillery mechanism, Skoti tapped the podium, drawing the attention of those still captivated by the display.
"Unlike artillery, these refinements may not seem as dramatic. The firearms under the seven core classifications are already quite diverse. According to our latest statistics, the total number of firearm subtypes across these categories has surpassed 8,000. Simply adding more models would have little impact on battlefield versatility. However, modifying and upgrading existing firearm designs can result in significant power enhancements."
"Unless one opts for artillery-based advancements, which fundamentally alter a wizard's spellcasting mechanics, altering a firearm wand's structure too drastically can actually weaken a wizard's performance. Every iteration of a spellcasting medium is meticulously tailored to a wizard's casting style. Change, in itself, is not always beneficial."
"Therefore, our chosen approach is to focus on personalized firearm modifications and upgrades—in other words, the development of firearm attachments."
"In fact, wizards have been engaging in this practice for a long time, though they never systematized or researched it. Magazines and spell cartridges were originally created to optimize spell sequences, marking the first custom upgrade in firearm wand history. They were also the earliest firearm attachments."
"But today, we can do much more than that."
(End of Chapter)