Ethan examined the brand seared into his palm. The mark was sun-shaped—a circle surrounded by small triangular rays. Though simple in form, it radiated incredibly intense vitality. Blood flowing through the branded area became scalding hot and energetic.
This golden radiance, like sunlit wheat fields, reminded Ethan of Felix Felicis.
[While the Sun Brand exists, it will provide magic power containing powerful light force]
Changing magic attributes? Ethan pondered thoughtfully. With a casual wave, his light brown wand transformed into a paintbrush. As Ethan channeled magic power through it, golden paint gradually seeped from the brush tip—more dazzling than gold itself, radiating a brilliant halo.
Success! Ethan's heart leaped with joy. His cobalt-blue eyes reflected the golden hue as he murmured with satisfaction, "Such a holy color truly matches me perfectly!"
The goblin leader lying at his feet, not yet dead, thought bitterly: Humans are truly creatures without self-awareness.
"Ancient magic recovered. What remains is finding it a suitable container." Ethan straightened up easily, looking up at the two pitch-black giant wolves still dominating the sky, waving with a cheerful smile. "You've worked hard, my darlings."
[Grrrrr...] The two wolves made low, rumbling growls from deep in their throats, full of impatience and violence, sounding like rocks and earth tumbling down mountainsides. They stared down at Ethan with blood-red eyes, radiating bone-chilling pressure.
"Be good now," Ethan said softly, his smile widening. The black wolves' threatening momentum gradually weakened under his gaze. Finally, they slowly closed their destruction-craving eyes. With wet, flesh-merging squelching sounds, their bodies fused back together, retreating into an embryo-like state, shrinking into the blood-red canvas and transforming into a blood-dripping card that flew back into Ethan's waiting hand. He pocketed it with satisfaction.
The darkness spreading across the sky gradually dispersed like retreating storm clouds. A dim, weakened sun reappeared in the heavens. The sun's essence never truly perishes. What the Split Wolves had devoured was merely the sun's reflection in their world. Therefore, their fury and hatred would continue endlessly until the actual fireball was extinguished.
Just then, Ethan realized that within his visible range, all vegetation had withered and everything had fallen silent—their life force replenishing him with considerable magic power.
Suddenly, a clear, cheerful shout came from above. Luna drove her pitch-black Hippogriff in a diving arc, flying directly toward Ethan. Before the creature even landed, she jumped down like an excited cannonball, launching herself into his arms.
"Haha." Ethan caught Luna securely, hugging her tightly, and couldn't help laughing at her enthusiasm. Her pale golden long hair felt smooth as silk against his face, her whole body radiating a warm sunshine scent—warmer even than the ancient runes.
"So cool! So cool! So cool!" Luna excitedly repeated several times, her cheeks flushing an adorable pink. She looked up with sparkling blue eyes at Ethan—reminding him of twinkling little stars scattered across the night sky.
"How did you do that just now? It was amazing!" Luna cried out softly, excitedly bouncing in place with her arms spread wide like wings. She only had eyes for Ethan, as if nothing else in the world existed. "Whoosh—the whole world went black! We can do this at the wizard village back home! It'll be so fun!"
"I'll teach you when we get back," Ethan promised with a smile, suddenly hissing and frowning in pain. Looking down at his palm, he saw the Sun Brand radiating a ring of charred black flesh around its edges.
Mm... the human form is truly fragile.
"Oh dear, you're burned," Luna said with immediate concern. She grasped Ethan's injured hand with both of her small hands, her pale, slender fingers gently pressing on the Sun Brand with surprising gentleness.
"Oh—!" Ethan's eyes widened slightly in surprise, feeling moon-like cool magic flowing from Luna's touch into his palm. The searing pain instantly vanished, replaced by soothing relief.
"Phew" Luna pursed her lips, blowing air on the wound seriously like a mother tending a child, then smiled happily with her eyes curved into crescents. "There! Now the pain flew away on wings"
Ethan suddenly felt that the human form wasn't entirely useless after all.
Just then—[...]—heavy, labored panting came from beside his feet. Ethan and Luna looked down at the dying goblin leader sprawled on the ground. He looked like a grotesque costume malfunction—red dragon scales peeling away, bloody flesh melting and collapsing, with the goblin leader's original small body nested inside like a corpse in a coffin, emanating decay like rotting compost.
Ethan silently stepped back two paces, wondering whether to deliver the final blow but feeling somewhat disgusted by the prospect.
"I lost..." Ranrok spoke slowly, his incomplete eyes staring unblinkingly at Ethan. If not for this suddenly appearing [Lamp], I would have won easily... After a long while, Ranrok shifted his fading gaze toward the blue sky, gradually revealing itself through dispersing dark clouds, sighing with hoarse yet relieved acceptance:
"To be defeated by a powerful warrior like you... I can die with dignity... Finally, dying like a glorious warrior—not dishonoring this magnificent life I led—"
ROAR! Suddenly, a vicious snarl! A wolf-like shadow leaped over Ethan and Luna's heads in a blur of motion! In the goblin leader's rapidly fading vision, a vicious wolf head with bared fangs suddenly appeared!
Ranrok's eyes widened in horror, watching helplessly as the beast opened its jaws impossibly wide, lunging toward him!
"No—I don't want to be killed by a beast—Get away from me! You barbaric animal—AHHH!" Screams rang out, incessant and agonized. Finally, weakening until they abruptly stopped with terrible finality.
Splat.
An eyeball rolled to Ethan's feet, still twitching. Ethan glanced down sideways—that bloodshot pupil told the story of the deceased's extreme unwillingness, bitter resentment, and primal fear frozen in death. Ethan indifferently withdrew his gaze, without the slightest pity for the miserably dead goblin leader.
He looked at the werewolf, wildly tearing into the corpse with savage abandon. Initially assuming it was Professor Lupin, but after careful identification, Ethan said with genuine surprise, "Miss Eve Black?" He simultaneously raised his hand protectively to shield Luna behind him.
Hearing her name, those fluffy wolf ears twitched sharply, then the creature slowly turned around. That blood-covered face stared directly at Ethan—bright green eyes. Indeed Miss Eve Black, now completely transformed into werewolf form.
She leaped up with predatory grace, landing lightly and swiftly before Ethan, constantly sniffing at his scent with her wet black nose. Ethan kept Luna safely blocked from approaching, slowly extending his hand with palm open toward Miss Black in a calming gesture. "Don't be afraid. It's me—Light."
"Awoo." The blood-stained werewolf called out joyfully, raising her fluffy forehead to nuzzle affectionately against Ethan's palm like a loyal dog greeting its master.
"I see," Ethan murmured as realization dawned. All the scattered clues suddenly connected! "The one making those notes in the sealed Necronomicon, researching ancient magic to cure werewolves all along—was your father..."
As the words fell, as if violently stimulated by the mention, Miss Black's eyes suddenly became fierce and wild! "ROAR!" She suddenly raised her claws toward Ethan in attack—
"Stupefy." A pleasant, calm voice rang out beside him. A ghostly blue spell shot from Luna's wand, hitting the werewolf like being wrapped in soft moonlight. The claws stopped midair, frozen, then limply collapsed as the werewolf fell unconscious.
Ethan raised his eyebrows, looking with pleased surprise at Luna still holding her wand steady. Ordinary Stunning Spells can't knock down werewolves. But she's Luna—naturally, she can't be judged by common sense.
Ethan smiled warmly. "Well done, Luna."
Luna returned a sweet, satisfied smile.
The other students and professors rushed over to the scene. Professor Lupin looked at the unconscious werewolf on the ground, his eyes widening in recognition, then showing deep heartache. If only there were a reliable method to completely cure werewolves... then many fewer people would suffer needlessly in the world. But Lupin knew this was impossible. Even Ethan could only temporarily suppress lycanthropy—already considered a miracle.
What Ethan actually thought was: If I could cure werewolves, I'd control significant political power. In the original timeline, most joined Voldemort's side out of sheer desperation. My reputation would soar! Making even the Ministry unable to destroy me without massive backlash.
On the other hand, the Necronomicon wasn't finished yet. Ethan had a strong premonition: If I successfully cure Miss Eve Black, that old father's spirit attached to the Necronomicon will give me even more invaluable guidance on the world's hidden secrets and forbidden magic!