Mystic Calling：Stone of Glory
Chapter 346: A true, ancient, terrifying dragon

Chapter 346: A true, ancient, terrifying dragon

BOOM!

A deafening roar cracked through the sky.

Storm clouds churned violently above, magic energy surging like a tidal wave. The dark, swirling tempest that had been coiling around Cicero suddenly exploded outward, expanding at a terrifying speed.

In mere moments, the storm had already stretched to a staggering 500,000 feet in diameter—and it wasn’t slowing down. It kept growing, fast—700,000 feet... a million... 1.2 million...

Even 1.5 million feet—and still climbing.

"What the hell..."

"So fast! I can’t believe it’s already broken past 1.5 million feet... Looks like Cicero’s awakening is gonna blow Seraphina’s out of the water," Ethan muttered, eyes narrowing before a wide grin spread across his face.

The stronger Cicero became, the better it was for him. More power, more potential—it all played into Ethan’s plans. Of course he was thrilled.

Honestly, if he could get a few dozen more awakenings like this, he’d welcome them with open arms.

Bring it on.

Meanwhile, the massive shift in the magical atmosphere didn’t go unnoticed.

On the western side of Emerald Castle...

Seraphina was helping Elynn and the others clean up the battlefield—clearing debris, reshaping the terrain, tying up loose ends.

But the moment she felt the surge of magic from Cicero’s awakening, she froze. Her eyes lit up with excitement and joy...

Then her expression darkened.

She let out a dramatic sigh, puffing her cheeks in frustration. "Ugh, he caught up to me again! So annoying..."

Elynn, standing beside her, couldn’t help but laugh. "Come on, Princess Seraphina, don’t be mad. Don’t forget—Cicero’s your brother! Even if he’s stronger than you, it’s not like he’d dare beat you in a fight, right? I mean, I doubt he’s got the guts! Hahaha..."

"Mind your own business!" Seraphina snapped, her cheeks flushing red as she playfully shoved Elynn. The two of them broke into a lighthearted scuffle, teasing and laughing like old friends.

It was clear—these two were tight. As part of Ethan’s elite Hero Unit, they were more than just comrades. They were like sisters.

This playful, girlish side of Seraphina? She rarely showed it, even around Ethan. But with Elynn, it came out naturally—like it had many times before. That said everything about how close they really were.

...

Elsewhere, in the serene, flower-filled glade known as Unicorn Glade...

Thandor, a powerful elder of the Green Dragon clan, suddenly looked up, eyes flashing with sharp light.

He’d felt it.

"What in the world...?" he murmured, brows furrowing. "Why is the pressure from this magical surge so intense? And the range—it’s already past 1.5 million feet? Is Cicero’s potential really that high?!"

He was clearly stunned.

Even a little impressed.

Thandor had seen more than anyone in Emerald Castle. He knew exactly what it meant for someone’s Divine Power to reach that kind of range during a second awakening.

No exaggeration—geniuses like this were rare, even among the elite of the Forest Faction.

"I thought those two siblings were just your average Green Dragon Hero Units... but damn, they just keep surprising me."

"What a shame they were raised outside our clan. If they’d been born among us, they’d be rising stars in the Forest Faction by now..."

He sighed, shaking his head.

"But still, I should talk to them. Let them know it’s time to fully commit to the faction. That’s the only real path forward. Better that than wasting their talents—or worse, dying in vain."

"These days, everyone wants to challenge the factions, to become the next king..."

"But how many actually make it?"

"Even we—Crimson Ultimate heroes—have to face reality eventually."

...

At the same time—

As the minutes ticked by, Cicero’s second awakening was finally reaching its climax.

RUMMMMMBLE...

The storm overhead began to die down, the howling winds easing into a low, ominous hum.

Then, a massive vortex formed in the sky.

At its center, something began to take shape—a colossal, crystal-clear emerald, glowing with an otherworldly light.

It was nearly identical to what had happened during Seraphina’s awakening.

VMMM—

Moments later, the swirling magical energy in the sky—thick as fog and crackling with power—suddenly surged toward the emerald, pouring into it like a tidal wave.

Cracks began to spiderweb across its surface, glowing with blinding intensity.

BOOM!

With a thunderous crack, the emerald shattered.

And from within it—

A monstrous dragon claw tore through the shards.

Then came a pair of wings—massive, dark green, and wide enough to blot out the sun.

And finally, the full form of a titanic beast burst forth.

A dragon.

A true, ancient, terrifying dragon.

"Hell yeah!" Ethan’s eyes lit up, his voice full of awe and excitement.

Hovering in the sky now was a massive dark green dragon, easily over 10,000 feet long. Its wings stretched wide, casting a shadow that swallowed the land below. The sheer pressure rolling off it was suffocating—like gravity itself had doubled. Just looking at it made your skin crawl and your soul tremble.

It didn’t just look powerful.

It looked divine.

Like a god of destruction had descended from the heavens.

FWOOOSH!

Suddenly, the dragon’s massive body shuddered. A soft glow enveloped it, and its form began to shrink, folding in on itself as if being drawn inward by the light.

Then—

With a flicker of space, the dragon vanished from the sky.

A heartbeat later, it reappeared—rushing down toward Ethan like a meteor.

And then, with perfect control, it landed gracefully on the open ground right in front of him.

BOOM!

The light faded.

Standing in its place was a man—his short, emerald-green hair shimmered with a radiant glow, pulsing with raw magical energy. Orbs of pure magic, like miniature stars, floated around him, orbiting his body in slow, deliberate arcs. Each one radiated a divine presence, as if the very essence of the arcane had taken physical form.

He looked almost holy.

This was Cicero.

From a human perspective, he was tall—just over 6’5"—and his physique was flawless, like it had been sculpted by the gods themselves. Every line, every proportion, was perfect. Golden ratio kind of perfect.

But more than that—he was different now. Completely different from the Cicero of before. This wasn’t just a power-up. This was a transformation.

And when Ethan met his eyes—

He froze.

A chill ran down his spine. His breath caught in his throat. Those eyes... they weren’t just powerful. They were transcendent. Looking into them felt like staring into the heart of the universe—beautiful, infinite, and utterly overwhelming. For a moment, the world itself seemed to dim around him.

"Cicero... is this really your power now?" Ethan whispered, his voice dry, barely audible.

He swallowed hard.

This was... insane.

Unreal.

Goddamn, he thought. He’s on a whole other level now...

"I apologize, Master," Cicero said quickly, his voice calm and respectful. "I’ve only just completed my second awakening. I’m still not in full control of this power. Please forgive the disturbance."

Then, without hesitation, he stepped forward.

Lowered his head.

And dropped to one knee before Ethan.

"Green Dragon Cicero, at your service," he said solemnly. "Your strength... your kindness... they humble me. From this day forward, I stand with you."

Ethan blinked, caught off guard for a second.

Then he chuckled and reached out his hand. "Alright, alright. Get up already."

He pulled Cicero to his feet with a grin.

At the same time, he opened up Cicero’s new status panel—his fingers moving instinctively as the interface shimmered into view. His eyes scanned the data, sharp and focused, eager to see just how far Cicero had come.