Mystic Calling：Stone of Glory
Chapter 353: Betrayed

Chapter 353: Betrayed

"Yeah, no mistake—it’s definitely Sacred Withered Earthwood... but that area’s already brushing up against the outer perimeter. Given the current situation, it’s not exactly the best time for us to start mining there."

"Oh, and one more thing, Master," Cicero added. "I checked out the dungeon entrance in the eastern sector. It’s completely abandoned now. Looks like it was a one-time-use kind of thing—once it’s discarded, it’s done for."

"Well, that’s good news for us," Cicero nodded thoughtfully. "But even so, the situation’s still pretty damn tight."

"In that case..." Ethan’s eyes flashed with resolve as he turned to Cicero and Seraphina. "Cicero, Seraphina—come with me. We’re heading to the heart of Sylvanwood."

"Right now?" Cicero blinked, caught off guard. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Should we bring someone else along? Maybe even a few more people?"

Even though he’d already undergone his second awakening—and was technically stronger than Seraphina now—if they were talking about going up against someone like Thandor, who was even more powerful than the Shadow Dragon Vorundar...

Well, whether it was just him or even with Seraphina backing him up, he honestly didn’t feel confident at all.

He wasn’t worried about himself—if he died in battle, so be it. That just meant he wasn’t strong enough. But Ethan? Ethan was different. In Cicero’s heart, he’d rather be torn to pieces than let Ethan suffer even the slightest harm.

"No need for that," Ethan said, shaking his head without hesitation. "Don’t forget who I am here. If I don’t go, or if I show up with a whole army making a big scene, the only ones who’ll look weak are us—Emerald Castle. And you guys."

"Besides, if he really wants to come after us, even bringing the whole army won’t change a damn thing. We’d still be dead. Let’s face it—King-tier powerhouses from the major factions? We’re not in a position to take them on. Not yet."

"So let’s just go with the flow."

"And hey—who knows? Maybe this’ll actually turn out to be a good thing."

"...Got it," Cicero nodded firmly. "Then let’s head out now. This is something we need to settle sooner rather than later. Seraphina, let’s move."

"Right!"

Seraphina stepped forward without hesitation.

"Elyra, Auremax, everyone—take a breather. Seraphina, Cicero, and I will be back soon."

Waving to the gathered Hero Units and Ace Units, Ethan leapt onto Cicero’s back as the latter shifted into his Green Dragon form. With a powerful beat of his wings, they soared into the sky, heading straight for the heart of Sylvanwood.

Deep within the dense, ancient forest of Sylvanwood lay a place that felt almost sacred—like a hidden sanctuary untouched by time.

It was breathtaking.

At the center of this mystical region was a shimmering lake, its surface rippling with soft waves. The water glowed with a kaleidoscope of colors, and the air around it pulsed with raw, potent magical energy. It felt like a place where gods might rest—a dreamlike, ethereal realm.

Surrounding the lake were clusters of crystals—no, not just any crystals. These weren’t ordinary Dragonblood Crystals. They were something more. Something rarer. Something stronger.

The Draconic Force and magical energy radiating from them were leagues beyond what normal Dragonblood Crystals could offer—several times stronger, maybe even dozens of times.

And unlike the usual single-colored Dragonblood Crystals, these were multicolored—shimmering with all five hues of the elemental spectrum.

One look, and it was obvious—these were on a whole different level.

Clack, clack, clack...

At that very moment—

Thandor, the mighty elder of the Green Dragon clan, was submerged in the shimmering lake, his massive dragon form half-hidden beneath the glowing surface. His eyes, ancient and sharp, slowly narrowed as he gazed toward the three figures approaching through the mist. He could already hear their footsteps echoing softly across the sacred ground.

His gaze flickered, thoughtful.

"So... you’ve come," he said lazily, his voice deep and resonant—like a seasoned man who’d seen too much, worn down by time but still unshakably powerful.

As the three figures stepped out of the thick fog, their faces became clear.

It was Ethan, Seraphina, and Cicero.

"So this is what a King-tier aura feels like from one of the major factions..." Ethan thought, his chest tightening under the sheer pressure radiating from Thandor. It was suffocating—like standing at the edge of a cliff with a storm bearing down on you.

But he forced the feeling down, kept his composure, and smiled.

"We’re here, Elder Thandor."

Thandor let out a low chuckle, a flicker of memory flashing in his eyes. "Want to hear a story? Maybe... why I’m here?"

"We’d be honored," Ethan replied, lowering himself to sit by the lakeside. He casually picked up one of the crystals scattered near the water’s edge, his eyes widening in surprise. "What is this? A Dragonblood Crystal? No... it’s different."

"That’s a Prismatic Dragonblood Crystal," Thandor said with a faint smile. "An evolved form of the regular kind. It’s a Level 5 Special Resource."

He paused, then added, "A long time ago, I was badly wounded—nearly died, in fact. I needed these crystals to heal. So I stayed here... for tens of thousands of years."

"Tens of thousands?!" Ethan blinked, stunned. "That serious?"

"Oh, yeah," Thandor said quietly. "I was on the brink. But I got lucky—I survived. My body’s mostly healed now... but the wounds inside?" He tapped a claw gently against his chest. "Those still haven’t gone away."

"...Wounds inside?" Ethan echoed, confused.

But Thandor’s gaze had already shifted—past Ethan, toward Seraphina and Cicero. His eyes softened, filled with something between nostalgia and sorrow.

"You know... I used to be just like you," he said, voice low. "My master back then—he was a new Lord too. I followed him from the moment I was born. We built everything from scratch. Grew stronger together. Went through hell and back. We came so far..."

He paused.

"...And then one day, he betrayed me."

"B-Betrayed you?!"

The words hit like a thunderclap.

Ethan, Seraphina, and Cicero all froze, eyes wide in disbelief.

This was Thandor they were talking to—a King-tier powerhouse of the Forest faction. In the world of Glory Lords X, he was practically a living legend, a ruler in his own right.

And yet... he was saying his own master had betrayed him?

What the hell had happened?