If I bring Uther, I can claim the Silver Hand Warhammer!

"I'm not all that confident myself." Rod flashed a suitably humble smile.

"If it hadn't been for that chance encounter with the Titan Keeper, I'd probably still just be a poor kid who knew a few rudimentary Holy Light spells."

"No need to belittle yourself, Rod." Uther's voice was steady and sincere, carrying even the encouragement of an elder.

"Your experiences alone are a thrilling legend. To earn the favor of a Titan Keeper and the recognition of the Holy Light is proof enough of your talent and character.

May I ask whether that great Keeper entrusted you with some special mission?" In Uther's view, since the Titan Keeper had bestowed such a precious treasure upon Rod, Rod must have been burdened with an important task.

If he needed assistance, Uther himself and the Knights of the Silver Hand would not hesitate.

Rod met Uther's gaze, weighing his options at lightning speed.

If he said there was a mission, would this first-generation paladin really lead the Silver Hand to help him?

Should he have the Silver Hand help deal with the Burning Legion, or find a way to strengthen himself?

Dealing with the Burning Legion was unrealistic for now. The Knights of the Silver Hand did not have that kind of strength, and the Burning Legion had not yet descended.

Strengthening himself, however, was an option. Find elite monsters... kill them, and obtain wilderness resource rewards...

Where near Lordaeron currently had powerful bosses and elites?

Rod suddenly thought of Tyr's Tomb near the Tirisfal Glades. There were three artifacts there, as well as a powerful monster.

No, this was still the early stages of the Third War. The Blade of the Black Empire, Lady Salasta, probably had not yet appeared in Tyr's Tomb.

That weapon would be brought there in the future by a priest of the Twilight Church named Fashan, but that would happen during Legion. Where the weapon was now remained unknown.

So there were only two artifacts inside at present: the Silver Hand Warhammer and Ashkandi, the weapon of Sthoradin, the first human emperor.

It was just as well that the Blade of the Black Empire was absent. That weapon was far too sinister, and Rod had no desire to take it for now. Of the remaining two weapons, one belonged to a paladin and the other to a warrior.

Although the Silver Hand Warhammer was the artifact weapon for Holy paladins—that was, the healing specialization—in the game, you would be dead wrong if you thought its attack power was weak.

Its offensive power was even fiercer than Ashbringer's. After all, it had been the weapon of Tyr, a Titan Keeper.

As for the other weapon, its symbolic significance outweighed even its power. It had, after all, been the sword of the first human emperor.

But in Azeroth, there was no such thing as inheriting a throne through a king's weapon. It was not as though whoever obtained Emperor Sthoradin's weapon could inherit his position.

After all, they did not even acknowledge Emperor Sthoradin's bloodline, much less someone who merely held his weapon. Still, that saved him plenty of trouble. Even if Rod obtained the weapon, it would not cause much of a stir.

Rod really wanted to see Arthas's expression when he returned and found that the Silver Hand Warhammer had emerged early and fallen into the hands of Uther the Lightbringer. You think Frostmourne is impressive? I'll show you something even better.

Rod's true target was the monster beneath the tomb: Zakaz, the Faceless One who had driven Tyr to his death.

Killing that thing would certainly yield a rich harvest. He had no idea what wilderness rewards he would receive, but he should strengthen himself before heading to Kalimdor.

Rod decided to bring Uther and that damn Jaina with him to kill this Faceless One general.

In his prime, Zakaz had been able to drive Tyr, wielding the Silver Hand, to his death. Rod absolutely could not handle him as he was now. But after being sealed for ten thousand years, Zakaz would not have much strength left.

What was more, Emperor Sthoradin had entered the place thousands of years ago and grievously wounded the Faceless One general with Ashkandi.

Even if he was revived, little of his strength would remain. With Uther the Lightbringer's power, plus Rod and Jaina, it would be enough to kill him.

Besides Zakaz, there were other Faceless Ones and shadow creatures within Tyr's Tomb. These were monsters formed from the shadow power left behind after Zakaz's death. Some of those elites might even yield wilderness resources.

After giving it some thought, Rod decided to go big.

"That's right! Lord Uther, that Titan Keeper truly gave me a mission, and the Holy Light also gave me a revelation. By coincidence, both objectives are in the same place," Rod said.

Watch me fool you all with the Holy Light!

Jaina and Uther immediately became interested and both gestured for Rod to continue.

"First, the Titan Keeper told me that more than ten thousand years ago, Titan Keeper Tyr fought an earth-shattering battle against two powerful Faceless Ones in the Tirisfal Glades...

Tyr successfully defeated the two Faceless One generals, leaving one dead and the other fleeing. The monster that was killed was called Zakaz, while the one who escaped was named Kith'ix...

Later! After Tyr fell, his Keeper companions built him a magnificent tomb and left Tyr's weapon there—the warhammer known as the Silver Hand." Rod recounted the ancient tale.

"What an epic story. There are indeed records of it in our human history, though they are vague and unclear.

And the reason our Knights of the Silver Hand bear this name is related to Tyr's weapon as well. Rod, are you certain Tyr's weapon is there?" Uther asked.

"Lord Uther, the Silver Hand Warhammer is there. And what I'm about to say is the second matter.

The Holy Light's guidance told me that more than two thousand years ago, Sthoradin, the first human emperor, visited Tyr's Tomb. At the time, the Faceless One general Zakaz was about to revive.

The human emperor fought at the cost of his life and successfully sealed him away. But now, over two thousand years have passed, and the seal has weakened. If nothing unexpected happens, Zakaz will revive in less than ten years at most!

The Holy Light gave me a revelation, telling me to find a powerful paladin to inherit the Silver Hand Warhammer, while the Keeper's mission was for me to destroy the monster called Zakaz.

Among all paladins today, I believe the only one qualified to inherit the Silver Hand Warhammer is none other than you, Lord Uther," Rod said.

Uther was stunned. He looked around at the surrounding terrain. Could this truly be a coincidence?

They were already near the Tirisfal Glades. Lordaeron City was still five or six days away, while the Tirisfal Glades were only two or three days away.

Could this really be the Holy Light's guidance, telling him to inherit the Silver Hand Warhammer?

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