Ritual Sword and Ritual Wizard

Amid the applause and praise, Locke's expression was radiant, as if that victory had truly been the result of his careful planning.

Even Kathy, usually introverted and self-effacing, looked at the approving gazes around her, and a hint of indescribable joy crept onto her perpetually lowered little face.

It was a long-lost pride, the pride of a victor.

She knew this glory wasn't hers, but the feeling was really good.

Yet, this pleasant atmosphere didn't last long.

The applause had barely faded when a coarse, malicious voice crashed down like a bucket of cold water.

"Since the match is over, let's settle the score from earlier!"

"Kid! On behalf of the Blazing Sun Wizard Tower, I formally challenge you to a duel!"

Everyone turned to look.

The burly apprentice who had spoken rudely before stepped forward with a sneer, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Tylen like a wild boar eyeing its prey.

Locke and Kathy's expressions shifted instantly.

They knew exactly what he was thinking: since he lost on skill, he'd use brute force to reclaim face.

It was the most primal, most effective method.

Kathy glanced at Tylen, who remained calm beside her, then, as if making up her mind, gritted her teeth and mustered the courage to step in front of him.

She tried to keep her voice from trembling, demanding loudly:

"Can't win the competition, so you resort to violence?"

"Are people from the Blazing Sun Wizard Tower... so sore of losing, so crude?"

Joyce across from them sneered at that, crossing his arms and retorting sarcastically:

"What does this have to do with winning or losing the match?"

"Didn't he himself agree to duel us earlier? All smug, spouting nonsense like 'do I have to pay for killing someone.'"

"What? Scared now? Hiding behind a woman like a turtle?"

"Huh?"

Kathy, never good at socializing or debating, was stunned for a moment.

She blinked her big eyes, looked back at Tylen with a bewildered expression, then shrank her head again, unsure how to retort.

Just then, the burly man continued his loud provocation, spittle flying:

"What's the matter, little weakling?"

"Weren't you just so cocky? If you don't dare to duel, then kneel down, kowtow to me, and loudly admit that all you apprentices from Cain Wizard Tower are nothing but trash who can only talk!"

At that moment, from the crowd of onlookers eager for drama, someone suddenly started stirring things up:

"Fight! Get fighting!"

"Yeah! Carving bones in a contest is nothing! A wizard should settle things with magic duels!"

"Fight! Let's see what you're really made of!"

With the bystanders fanning the flames, the atmosphere instantly turned explosive.

Locke frowned deeply, keenly sensing the problem here.

The other side had clearly come prepared, aiming to crush Tylen completely this way and humiliate Cain Tower in the process.

He first shielded Tylen behind him, then said to Virgil across the way:

"Virgil, what's the point of having these low-level apprentices brawl like wild dogs?"

"If you really want to settle who's better, how about you and I give it a try?"

Virgil seemed to have anticipated Locke's move.

He spread his hands, wearing that fake smile, and said:

"Sara, that's no fun."

"Everyone knows you have noble elven blood. At your age, who can match your magic control?"

"I heard you could cast second-circle spells at thirteen. How could a mere mortal like me be your match? I concede, alright?"

His words were flawlessly evasive.

He directly attributed the power gap to an uncontrollable factor like "bloodline," then played weak, making it seem like Locke was bullying the weak with his bloodline advantage.

And since the other side had already "conceded" publicly, Locke couldn't press further without losing his noble composure.

Just as Locke was left speechless, Tylen's calm voice rang out again:

"Does it have to be a fight to the death?"

Tylen stepped out from behind Locke, looking sincerely at the burly man:

"We all came here seeking knowledge. Can't we just get stronger together in peace?"

This drew a burst of laughter from the surrounding crowd.

The burly man laughed even harder, nearly doubling over, then his face twisted into a sneer as he said arrogantly:

"Want peace? Fine!"

"If from now on, every time you see me, you kneel down and call me 'big brother,' then I'll be peaceful with you!"

Tylen sighed, his tone carrying a hint of resignation and compromise:

"Alright, since you insist... I accept your duel."

Hearing this, Kathy quickly grabbed Tylen's sleeve and said anxiously:

"You... be careful, okay! This guy looks really strong!"

Locke also whispered a reminder:

"If something feels off, just surrender immediately. No big deal."

Tylen smiled at them both and nodded, signaling them to relax.

Then he stepped forward, walking to the center of the open space.

The surrounding apprentices and passersby quickly spread out, forming a circular arena about twenty meters in diameter.

The two stood facing each other, roughly six meters apart.

The burly man sneered and casually pulled a silver-gray metal short sword from his bosom.

The sword was about thirty centimeters long, its blade engraved with complex dark red patterns, exuding an unsettling bloody aura.

"A magical tool? A Ritual Sword!?"

Seeing this, Kathy gasped in shock.

What shocked her wasn't the Ritual Sword itself, but how a low-level apprentice could possess one.

Locke's expression also turned grim:

"Even though it's just the lowest-grade common quality, this means this guy is a Ritual Wizard!"

Ritual Wizards, as the name implies, are a school of wizards who focus on ritual magic as their core practice, strengthening themselves by performing various mysterious ceremonies.

They can use ritual magic to offer sacrifices and worship to the gods, thereby receiving blessings and growth from them.

This is a fairly popular school of wizardry nowadays.

Because wizards of this type grow extremely fast in the early stages, especially those ritual magics that enhance physical fitness and Mental Power—their effects are often immediate.

For apprentices who haven't yet mastered powerful spells and have scarce mana, an opponent with such strong close-combat ability is practically a nightmare.

Tylen looked at the Ritual Sword in his opponent's hand, feeling a slight weight in his heart.

His mind quickly flashed through information about wizard magical tools. Wizard magical tools are divided into five categories, each with different basic effects.

Magic Wand: Increases control over mana during spellcasting, thereby increasing casting speed.

Magic Staff: Increases resonance ability with Spell Models, thereby expanding the spell's range of effect.

Ritual Sword: Allows the user to quickly perform rituals by inscribing runic arrays, using the sword as a medium.

Alchemy Hammer: Enhances a wizard's affinity with various alchemical materials, improving alchemical reaction efficiency and success rate.

Soul Dagger: Can cut and attack spiritual bodies, serving both as a research tool and a weapon.

"There's no such thing as a cheap magical tool. Even this cheapest common-grade Ritual Sword costs over 800 Purple Gold Coins."

"This guy may be a low-level apprentice, but I didn't expect him to already own a Ritual Sword."

Just as Tylen was still analyzing the situation, the burly man had already made his move.

He suddenly gripped the Ritual Sword tightly, and the sharp blade instantly cut into his palm.

Blood flowed along the patterns on the blade, instantly activating some mysterious power.

Hum!

A mass of faint, blood-red patterns, like living things, rapidly surfaced beneath the burly man's skin and crazily spread across his muscles.

Level 1 Ritual Magic: Blood Boiling Technique.

Using his own blood as a sacrifice, borrowing the power of the "Blood Queen," consuming 2 points of Mental Power to strengthen his physical body for five minutes.