Mystic Calling：Stone of Glory
Chapter 413: That was a nightmare

Chapter 413: That was a nightmare

"Master, so what’s our next move...?" Cicero asked, his voice low and curious.

Ethan hesitated, fingers tapping rhythmically on the table in front of him. He stayed silent for a long moment, lost in thought, before suddenly standing up.

"We’re heading to the Holy Blades Empire."

"The Holy Blades Empire?" Cicero blinked, clearly surprised. "What for?"

"We’re gonna try something," Ethan said with a sly grin. "I’m thinking of shaking them down a bit. If it works, we might actually have a shot at winning this thing. Oh, and get someone to bring Seraphina back. We can’t do this without her."

"Yes, Master. Understood." Cicero nodded firmly.

With that, the two of them left the council chamber.

Not long after, Ethan gave Elynn a few quick instructions, then took off with Cicero, heading beyond Sylvanwood—past the Holy Griffon Empire—and straight toward the Holy Blades Empire.

Originally, he hadn’t planned to move out so soon...

But just like how the Greenwave Empire had pressured Maelthorak into action, this situation was forcing his hand too.

And after what Astharel had said earlier, he realized he couldn’t afford to wait any longer.

His target: the Holy Blades Empire.

More specifically, its ruler—Wisdom Angel Cain.

...

High above the earth, dozens of Gold Dragons soared through the sky, clearing a path with their sheer presence. In the center of the formation, Ethan stood atop Cicero’s back, gazing down at the devastated land below.

He was quiet, his expression grim.

Truth be told, he’d been through this region before.

Back when he and Cicero had first left Sylvanwood for the capital city of Dunmire, they’d passed through here. But now?

It was a wasteland.

Charred earth stretched as far as the eye could see. The scars of war—and senseless destruction—were everywhere. The sight twisted something in his gut.

And it wasn’t just him. Even Cicero looked shaken.

"Those damn Black Dragons..." Cicero growled, his eyes cold and burning with rage. "If I run into them, Master, I swear I’ll tear them apart myself."

"This... all of this was their doing?" Ethan asked, sighing heavily.

"No doubt about it. That stench in the air, the black flames—it’s their dragon breath. I’d recognize it anywhere."

...

"These are definitely the marks of Black Dragon fire. Wait... hold on..."

Cicero suddenly paused mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing.

Then they lit up with a sharp gleam. "Master, I think I’ve found them."

"Where?" Ethan asked, instantly alert.

"East," Cicero replied without hesitation.

"Then let’s go check it out." Ethan nodded, his eyes flashing with a dangerous glint. "If they’re there, we’re not letting them get away."

"Cicero!"

"Yes, my honored Master!"

"Summon the Gold Dragon army!"

A chorus of thunderous roars echoed through the sky.

"Let’s go. Time to wipe out those filthy, disgusting Dungeon bastards!"

A deafening rumble tore through the heavens as Cicero, along with a full force of 80 Gold Dragons, surged eastward with terrifying speed and power—straight toward the presence Cicero had sensed.

These Gold Dragons were a reward Ethan had received from the system back in the Plane World, when the Ebonite Colossus Kaiin had been born.

And now, it was time to put them to use.

...

Meanwhile, not far to the east...

In the ruins of what used to be a bustling town, the forces of the Dungeon faction were running wild—pillaging, destroying, and leaving nothing but devastation in their wake.

Elegant buildings crumbled into rubble. Towers collapsed, walls shattered.

Above, Black Dragons and Red Dragons circled like vultures, spewing fire and corrosive breath down onto the earth below.

Flames erupted everywhere—raging infernos that devoured everything in their path. Corpses were charred beyond recognition, some even melted into the scorched ground. The heat was unbearable, the air thick with smoke and death. The entire place looked like a scene straight out of the Inferno.

Everything was ruined.

Everything was burning.

Thud... thud... thud...

Heavy footsteps echoed through the wreckage. Two massive, monstrous figures emerged from the smoke and ash.

And they weren’t just any monsters—they were both 11th-Tier Manticore heroes.

One radiated a deep, ominous violet glow.

The other burned with a fiery crimson aura.

"Rhazgor, are we really still doing this?" the violet Manticore, Vorgath, growled, his voice laced with bloodlust—but also boredom. "Ugh, it’s always the same. No resistance, no challenge. It’s pathetic."

"Vorgath, be grateful we’ve still got scraps like this to play with," Rhazgor, the crimson Manticore, replied coolly. "Haven’t you heard? The Castle faction’s been pulling out. They’ve already abandoned this empire."

"This place is our hunting ground now... though, yeah, it’s getting a little stale."

But just then—something changed.

A sudden shift in the air. A ripple of power.

"My Lord!"

The panicked cries of Red and Black Dragons rang out from above.

Not that they needed to say anything—both Rhazgor and Vorgath had already felt it. A wave of terrifying magical energy was rushing toward them, fast and overwhelming.

"What the hell is this...?!" Rhazgor snarled, his eyes wide. "That magic... it’s insane!"

"Look! Gold Dragons!" Vorgath shouted, his body tensing. "No—wait. It’s not just them... there’s more. Way more!"

He could see the Gold Dragons now, glinting in the sunlight as they tore through the sky—but his instincts screamed that something far worse was coming.

Something monstrous.

Something beyond reason.

"There’s something else up there... something terrifying!"

"Everyone, listen up!" Rhazgor roared, trying to mask the fear in his voice with fury. "Kill those damn Gold Dragons! Rip them apart!"

But even as he gave the order, Vorgath’s pupils suddenly shrank to pinpricks.

"C-Crimson Ultimate Hero?!"

The words hit like a thunderclap.

Rhazgor froze, his entire body going rigid. He whipped his head around to stare at Vorgath.

"What did you just say?!"

"It’s a Crimson Ultimate Hero, Rhazgor!" Vorgath shouted, his voice trembling. "There’s a Green Dragon hero with them—and he’s awakened. Twice! That power... that pressure... it’s unreal!"

They might’ve been maniacs, but they weren’t idiots.

They knew exactly what a Crimson Ultimate Hero meant.

And a twice-awakened Crimson Ultimate Hero?

That was a nightmare.

An enemy like that... they didn’t stand a chance.

Not even with hundreds of 13th-Tier Red Dragons.

Not even with dozens of 14th-Tier Black Dragons.

They were still going to die.

And it was going to be ugly.

...