Mystic Calling：Stone of Glory-Chapter 256: The situation’s changed

Far, far away from the Five Sea Kingdoms, deep beneath the surface of a remote stretch of ocean, an enormous and breathtaking palace complex sprawled across the seafloor—an awe-inspiring marvel of underwater architecture.

At this very moment, deep within the heart of that grand palace, a towering, terrifying figure was striding purposefully through the shadows—a 12-Tier Naga Swordmaster, radiating a fearsome aura with every step.

He moved swiftly into a massive undersea canyon, a place that practically screamed danger. The atmosphere was thick with menace, the kind of place that warned intruders to turn back or face the consequences.

And it wasn’t just the eerie vibe. The water itself was saturated with an overwhelming pressure—an oppressive force so intense that even this mighty 12-Tier Naga Swordmaster, a being of immense power, couldn’t ignore it. His brow furrowed slightly, discomfort flickering across his otherwise stoic face.

This wasn’t just any 12-Tier Naga Swordmaster. He was a Hero Unit—like Thalric of the Crimsonstar Kingdom. A Legendary Hero, marked by the rare and coveted orange-tier status.

If even someone like him felt the weight of this place, it spoke volumes about how dangerous it truly was.

As he pressed deeper into the canyon, something massive loomed into view—a colossal, deep-blue Kirin, its size rivaling that of a small mountain. The creature exuded raw, terrifying power.

"Sea King Maelthorak," the Naga Swordmaster said respectfully, bowing his head as he spoke.

So this was Maelthorak...

One of the Ten Sea Kings of the Tidesworn faction.

A true Crimson Ultimate Hero of the elite Kirin race.

The Tidesworn faction might not rank among the top-tier powers of the world, but even so, it was a force that most kingdoms—hell, even empires—could only dream of challenging.

And the clearest symbol of that power? The Ten Sea Kings.

Each one of them was a Crimson Ultimate Hero—not just any Crimson Ultimate, but the ten strongest within the entire Tidesworn faction. Only those ten had the right to bear the title of Sea King.

Which meant Maelthorak wasn’t just strong—he was a monster among monsters.

But even monsters have their scars.

Thousands of years ago, Maelthorak had clashed with Nomarg, the Thunder King of the Tower faction—a being just as powerful as he was. Their conflict escalated into a full-blown war, culminating in a brutal showdown between two Crimson Ultimate Heroes.

On paper, they were evenly matched. But Maelthorak’s water-based powers were at a natural disadvantage against Nomarg’s lightning. In the end, he lost.

And he didn’t just lose—he was wrecked. The injuries he sustained in that battle were catastrophic, and even now, after all these years, they hadn’t fully healed.

In fact, they were getting worse.

His strength had plummeted. He wasn’t even half as powerful as he’d been at his peak. And for a Sea King, that kind of weakness was dangerous—not just for him, but for his entire domain.

Over the years, his territory had shrunk by at least a third. If it weren’t for the sheer strength of his loyal forces holding the line, he might’ve already lost his title.

That’s why he had his eyes on Kyros—back when Kyros was still in his egg stage.

Only a massive infusion of Primordial Force from Crimson Ultimate Heroes could heal him—could save him from the slow death his wounds were dragging him toward.

And Kyros wasn’t just any source of power—he was one of Maelthorak’s own kind.

Which meant the healing would be even more effective...

"Kairos? What are you doing here?"

Maelthorak lifted his massive, fearsome Kirin head, his deep blue eyes narrowing as he looked at the Naga Swordmaster with a flicker of confusion.

Lately, the main world had been anything but peaceful. The Inferno and Dungeon factions had officially declared war on the Light Alliance, and the chaos was spreading fast—dragging even the Tidesworn into the fray.

They hadn’t had much of a choice.

The Light Alliance alone? Their odds of winning were maybe one in ten—if that.

And if they lost? ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

The entire main world would be torn apart, pillaged, and drowned in blood by the Inferno and Dungeon maniacs.

That was something the Tidesworn absolutely couldn’t allow.

Most of the oceans in the main world belonged to them. The continents? Those were Light Alliance territory. But to the lunatics in Inferno and Dungeon, there was no difference between land and sea. They’d burn it all the same.

If the Light Alliance fell, everyone would suffer.

So the Tidesworn had no choice but to join the war.

Still, it wasn’t time for Crimson Ultimate Heroes to step in just yet. For now, Maelthorak had only sent out some of his Ocean Lords and orange-tier Legendary Heroes to support the front lines.

Kairos, the Naga Swordmaster standing before him, was one of those elite warriors.

So why was he back?

Had something changed?

Was the situation worse than they thought?

"Sea King Maelthorak," Kairos said quickly, as if reading his thoughts. "The front lines are under heavy pressure. Overlord Aurclim has issued a direct summons. He wants you there in person."

"Overlord Aurclim?" Maelthorak’s expression darkened instantly. "It’s that serious?"

Galen wasn’t just some high-ranking officer—he was one of the Tidesworn’s Overlords. A being on par with the Inferno Overlord or the Dungeon Overlord. And the war had only just begun. Their region wasn’t even supposed to be a primary battlefield.

So how the hell had things escalated this fast?

Kairos nodded grimly. "Word is, an Inferno Overlord has taken command of the naval front personally. And Fortress faction’s been stirring up trouble too—nothing major yet, but enough to be a pain in the ass. That’s why Overlord Aurclim moved early. He’s already on-site and has summoned the three Sea Kings closest to the front—including you."

Maelthorak’s pupils contracted sharply. "An Inferno Overlord..." he muttered, voice low and heavy. "Alright. I understand."

He began to rise, his massive form shifting with a deep rumble through the water.

But before he could fully stand, Kairos spoke again.

"Lord Maelthorak—there’s one more thing. About that... other matter. We’ve got news. But the situation’s changed."