Mystic Calling：Stone of Glory-Chapter 248: Please… go see our homeland for me…

Aside from a mountain of blueprints for Diamond Golem, Bronze Golem, Gold Golem, and Iron Golem creature dwellings...

There was nothing else?!

Ethan’s face twitched in frustration.

Just then, a pained cry echoed from the nearby valley—it was Karnak.

"Lord Thalrun!"

Ethan’s attention snapped toward the sound. He sighed, shaking his head with a bitter smile. The Diamond Golem, Thalrun, was clearly in bad shape—too badly wounded to hold on much longer.

"I’m... I’m fine..." Thalrun forced a smile, though his movements were sluggish. He glanced at The Tidebreaker, Paxton, then at Kyros, and finally, as if making a firm decision, clenched his jaw and looked straight at Ethan.

"My lord... I have something I need to say to you."

Ethan hesitated for a moment, then nodded and walked over to him.

Seeing this, Paxton gave a weary smile, as if he already knew what was coming, but said nothing.

"I am Thalrun of the Diamond Golems. It’s an honor to meet you, my lord," Thalrun said slowly as Ethan approached.

"No need for formalities. I’m Valkarion, Lord of Emerald Castle. Nice to meet you," Ethan replied.

"Lord of Emerald Castle... I have a favor to ask of you." Thalrun took a deep breath.

"Go ahead."

"I want to ask you to help my people return to the main world. Please!" Thalrun bowed deeply, his voice filled with sincerity.

"The entrance is right here, isn’t it? Can’t they just leave?" Ethan asked, puzzled.

"They can’t..."

Thalrun gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "Back when we were forced to leave the main world, our souls were marked by another realm. So even if the entrance is right in front of us, we can’t cross through it."

In the world of Glory Lords X, each realm has its own laws and world will. Crossing between them isn’t something you can just do freely. It requires a price—either through creature dwellings or other special means.

Otherwise, it’s impossible.

"So what do I need to do?" Ethan asked.

"I’ll have Karnak, Arbachel, and the others form a contract with you. Then, with a little help from the honorable Lord Kirin, they should be able to pass through the entrance and return to the main world... But I have one more request." Thalrun’s tone shifted, his eyes filled with a quiet plea as he looked at Ethan.

Ethan frowned slightly but nodded. "Go ahead. What is it?"

Thalrun hesitated, then gritted his teeth and said, "If possible... I’d like the contract to have a time limit. Five hundred—no, a thousand years. After that, could you release them?"

"Our dream has always been to return to the Tower faction... and fight for it once more!"

By the end, Thalrun’s voice was trembling with emotion.

As Metal Golems, their personalities and emotions were simpler, more direct—pure, even.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that all these years, they’d been longing for the day they could return to the Tower faction and fight for their homeland again.

But Thalrun also knew—Ethan wasn’t going to help them out of the kindness of his heart.

So without hesitation, Thalrun said, "In exchange, I offer you my Heart of Diamond... and the Primordial Force of my Crimson Ultimate Hero form."

The moment those words left his mouth, Ethan, Karnak, and the others all froze. Their pupils shrank, and their faces turned pale.

"Lord Thalrun, you—!" Karnak couldn’t hold back anymore. He rushed forward, visibly shaken.

The Heart of Diamond was the core of a Diamond Golem’s power—losing it meant death.

"Karnak," Thalrun said calmly, "I’m already at my limit. Rather than letting my Heart of Diamond and the Primordial Force of my Crimson Ultimate Hero form just fade back into the world... I’d rather use them for something that actually matters."

His voice was steady, but his body was clearly failing.

The truth was, he didn’t have much time left.

First, he was already burdened with old wounds—and now, after this battle, he’d taken even more serious damage. The new injuries stacked on top of the old ones, making things exponentially worse.

Second... he was old.

Metal Golems live a long time—no doubt about that. But that doesn’t mean they’re truly immortal.

Thalrun had been alive for hundreds of thousands of years. Literally.

And honestly? He was tired. He’d lived long enough.

So no, he wasn’t afraid of dying. Not anymore.

But before he went, there were still things he needed to do—things that mattered.

Like helping his people fulfill their dream of returning to the Prime World. Making sure they could carry on his legacy. Rejoin the Tower faction. Maybe even see their homeland one last time...

Watching all this unfold, Ethan stood silently, eyes fixed on Thalrun.

Truth be told, his emotions were all over the place. He felt a deep respect for the old golem.

Sacrificing yourself for others—it’s easy to say, but when it comes down to actually doing it? That takes something rare.

And Thalrun... he was doing it. No hesitation. No regrets. Just pure, selfless resolve.

"B-but..." Karnak’s voice cracked with emotion. He wanted to protest, to say something—anything—but Thalrun cut him off without missing a beat.

"That’s enough. Step aside. Or are you saying you won’t even listen to me now?"

"N-no, I... I just..." Karnak’s voice faltered. He looked like he wanted to argue, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to go against Thalrun’s will. Shoulders slumped, he stepped back in silence.

Meanwhile, Thalrun turned to Ethan. His body was clearly weakening, his voice growing faint.

"Lord of Emerald Castle... this is all I have left to give. Please..."

"You don’t have to say another word," Ethan interrupted with a sigh, his tone firm. "I’ll do it. And forget the thousand-year contract—ten years is enough. After that, they’re free to choose their own path. I won’t force anyone to stay."

At those words, a look of peace washed over Thalrun’s face. He smiled—genuinely, gratefully.

"Thank you..."

His voice was soft, fading. At the same time, his body began to glow—bright, crystalline, almost blinding.

The sight sent a wave of emotion through the gathered golems—Bronze, Gold, Diamond, Iron... even Karnak and Arbachel stood frozen, overwhelmed.

If they could cry, they would’ve been in tears.

Thud. Thud. Thud...

One by one, they dropped to their knees, bowing low, voices trembling as they cried out:

"Lord Thalrun!"

"Live well, all of you... and please... go see our homeland for me..."

His voice faded, softer and softer, until it was gone.

And when the blinding light finally dimmed, Thalrun’s body had vanished completely.

In his place remained a terrifyingly powerful aura—the Primordial Force of a Crimson Ultimate Hero.

And at the center of it all... a heart made entirely of diamond.

...