Moonlight Holy Sword Amulet

Tyron shook the blood off his hands with a motion as natural as if he'd just slaughtered a chicken.

He bent down and pulled the silver-gray ritual sword from the burly man's gradually stiffening fingers.

Though the blade was stained with blood, the magical fluctuations within it were still palpable.

"What do you think you're doing?!"

Virgil barked, his face dark enough to drip water.

Tyron wiped the ritual sword on the dead man's clothes, casually tucked it into his own belt, tilted his head slightly, and said with utter matter-of-factness:

"According to Chapter Three, Article Seven of the Imperial Wizard Duel Codex, the victor has the right to claim spoils from the defeated."

"This sword is now my trophy."

Just as Virgil was about to lose his temper, Locke and Kathy, who had finally snapped out of their shock, stepped forward and shielded Tyron behind them.

Locke sneered, his eyes sharp as he fixed them on Virgil:

"That's right, it's the rule."

"What? You people from Blazing Sun Wizard Tower lose the match, lose the duel, and now you can't even follow the most basic duel etiquette?"

Kathy, though still trembling, pressed her lips tight and nodded firmly in support.

Seeing this, Joyce and Virgil's faces turned ashen.

They stared hard at the sword at Tyron's waist—not because they cared about the 830 Purple Gold Coin magical artifact, but because of their pride.

Finally, Virgil ground his teeth and forced out through clenched jaws:

"Let's go!"

With that, he led the apprentices of Blazing Sun Tower away in disgrace, not even bothering to collect the burly man's corpse.

As they retreated, thunderous cheers and applause erupted from the crowd.

The match ended in a complete victory for Cain Wizard Tower.

Tyron silently pulled out a body bag and said to Ike, who stood there stunned and wide-eyed: "Come on, give me a hand."

Meanwhile, at the top of Cain Wizard Tower.

This was the nerve center of the entire tower, and the spot with the widest view.

Makley clutched a silver mirror engraved with intricate patterns, barely concealing his excitement as he hurried down the long corridor and pushed open the heavy obsidian door.

"What's wrong?"

Moke, who had been reading documents behind his desk, looked up slightly.

This third-rank archwizard, over three hundred years old, had hair as white as snow and a face etched with the furrows of time, but his eyes remained deep as the sea, radiating a chilling wisdom and authority.

Makley strode over, placed the silver mirror on the table, and infused it with a thread of magic.

Hum!

Ripples spread across the mirror's surface, and a clear holographic image projected into the air.

It was the full recording of the match and duel that had just taken place outside the Rune Shop.

Moke watched in silence.

From Tyron pulling out the Bone Flute to stun the crowd, to his cleverly sharing the credit with Locke and Kathy, and finally to the thrilling duel and counter-kill.

When Tyron sliced off the burly man's head with one clean cut, Moke's snow-white brows lifted slightly.

Only when the image ended and the cheers of the crowd faded did Moke nod slightly, a hint of satisfaction crossing his face.

"I know these two children—they're descendants of the Sara and Hoffman families, and your students."

Moke pointed at the young man standing in the shadows with a humble smile in the image:

"Is this one yours too?"

Makley nodded respectfully, a trace of pride slipping into his voice:

"Yes, Great-Grandfather."

"His name is Tyron Arthas Magnus. I discovered and trained him myself."

"I can say without hesitation that he is the best student of this cohort."

"He possesses outstanding logical thinking, a phenomenal memory, and... loyalty and reliability."

Moke set down his quill and asked with interest:

"What makes you say that?"

Makley took a deep breath and concisely reported everything that had happened over the past week.

Old Jack's death and funeral arrangements, Tyron's astonishing speed in learning Runic Studies, his exceptional work efficiency, and his seasoned skill in handling interpersonal relationships.

When he finished, the surprise in Moke's eyes deepened.

He looked down at the young man in the silver mirror again, as if trying to see through the image and into his very soul.

"So young, yet with such depth and cunning?"

"Are you sure... he hasn't been possessed by some old monster?"

Makley shook his head, his tone firm:

"That possibility is almost zero."

"I used the token talisman my father left me to conduct a close-range scan on him."

"No signs of soul disturbance were detected, nor any inconsistency between consciousness and spirit."

"There are only two possibilities for this: either he's a pure genius, or the old monster parasitizing him is on a level so high we can't detect it—and can't afford to provoke it."

Moke listened, then let out a thoughtful "Mm."

He lifted his head, gave Makley a deep look, and a meaningful smile curled at the corner of his mouth:

"I always thought you kept to yourself, not much interested in these power struggles."

"But it turns out you've perfectly inherited your father's knack for handling people."

Makley smiled but said nothing, merely bowing his head respectfully.

Moke's fingers tapped rhythmically against the obsidian tabletop, producing a steady, hollow sound.

"He truly is a rare talent."

"From his performance just now and what you've told me, this kid will not only achieve great things academically in the future, but he's also a deft hand at political maneuvering."

"So, what are your plans?"

"Promote him directly to your core apprentice? Give him the best resources?"

Makley shook his head, a cold rationality flashing in his eyes:

"No."

"That would only make him a target for everyone."

"Besides, my test of this kid isn't over yet."

"His basic qualities and abilities have been assessed. What remains... is his core character."

Makley raised his head, his gaze burning as he looked at Moke:

"So, I'd like to request a 'Moonlight Holy Sword Amulet' from you."

"After the exam, I'll send him directly to the hunting team outside the city for a month."

"Give him ample funds and authority, and put him in charge of purchasing and processing Magic Beast carcasses for the Wizard Tower."

"I want to see if, after achieving a major feat but receiving no reward—instead being exiled to suffer outside the city—he'll harbor resentment and disloyalty."

"I also want to see if, when he holds vast sums of money and power with no oversight, he'll grow arrogant, fall into greed, and start deceiving his superiors."

Hearing this, a flicker of contemplation passed through Moke's wise eyes.

"Human nature is not meant to be tested."

"What if he really does fall into corruption?"

Makley's voice turned icy and ruthless:

"Then that only proves he's a master of disguise, a thief of immense capability."

"Even if he achieves great things and earns countless merits in the future, he'll never feel any gratitude or bring any benefit to our Wizard Tower."

"I'll personally nip him in the bud."

Moke was silent for a moment, then said calmly:

"This is a high-stakes gamble."

Makley took a deep breath, his gaze resolute:

"But if he passes the test..."

"I hope he can earn the right to enter the 'Holy Sword Dungeon' this year."

Moke pondered for two seconds, then let out a long sigh:

"Your political skill and talent for managing people—truly identical to your father's."

"Very well."

Makley was overjoyed and quickly bowed:

"Thank you, Great-Grandfather! I will not let you down!"

Moke turned and walked to an obsidian bookshelf on the side, pulling open a hidden drawer.

From it, he retrieved a pendant shaped like a cross.

It was an exquisite silver broadsword, its blade engraved with countless dense runes, emitting a faint, cool glow like moonlight.

"May the moonlight bless you and your student, child."

Moke handed the amulet to Makley, his eyes filled with honor and pride.

The Moonlight Holy Sword is the emblem of Cain Wizard Tower, and the source of their glory.

A thousand years ago, during the third Abyss Expedition, the saint who received the guidance of the Goddess of the Moon—Ludwig.

He wielded the Moonlight Holy Sword, leading the Pure Holy Sword Squad like a blade thrust into the heart of the Abyss.

They slaughtered countless Demonic Beasts of the Abyss, and in the end, to cover the retreat of the main force, they remained forever in that dark world.

The ancestor of the Kane Family was Ludwig's adjutant.

For his merits in that battle, he became a regional lord, and gradually developed into the Cain Wizard Tower of today.

And this Moonlight Holy Sword Amulet was forged from the shattered fragments of that ancestral holy sword.

Each fragment contains the bloodline imprint of the Kane Family and the blessing of holy moonlight.

The bearer not only receives the protection of moonlight but can also resonate with the direct bloodline.

When facing fatal danger, the amulet's power can even be triggered, allowing a wizard of the direct bloodline to instantly descend beside the bearer in a spiritual avatar.

Just as Makley was about to leave, Moke suddenly spoke up to remind him:

"Don't forget to warn your student."

"Do not try to probe the great power within the amulet with Mental Power. That is an extremely dangerous act."

Makley paused mid-step, turned back, and smiled:

"It's better not to tell him about that."

"More often than not, the more you warn someone, the more curious they become, the more they want to try."

"Instead, when he remains ignorant, he'll think nothing of it and treat it like an ordinary accessory."

With that, Makley gave a bow, turned, and strode away.