Mystic Calling：Stone of Glory-Chapter 311: This isn’t a normal fight

Unlike the surface world, the Dungeon might be rich in resources and teeming with valuable nodes, but its environment is brutal—like a vast desert stripped of life. You’d be hard-pressed to find even a single patch of green, let alone any sign of thriving plant life.

But that’s not the whole story.

There are exceptions.

Right now, deep within the first layer of the Dungeon, there’s a region that defies the norm. A low, dead volcano rises from the scorched, ash-gray earth. The air here is stiflingly hot and heavy, thick with the choking stench of sulfur. It’s the kind of place that feels like it was abandoned by life itself.

And yet—at the volcano’s summit, the scene flips completely.

Lush greenery bursts forth in stark contrast to the wasteland below. Towering trees stretch toward the sky, massive plants crowd the terrain, and the whole area pulses with the raw, vibrant energy of nature. It looks like a hidden forest oasis, a place that should be peaceful, serene—like something out of a poem or a painting.

But right now?

It’s a war zone.

The entire mountaintop is engulfed in chaos. Fire, destruction, and bloodshed are tearing through the once-tranquil greenery. The air is filled with the roar of battle, the clash of claws and steel, the screams of dying creatures.

Surrounding the volcano on all sides, an overwhelming force of Dungeon units is launching a full-scale assault on the green summit. The attackers include swarms of 12-Tier Venomspike Manticores, Dark Hydras, and Shadow Matriarchs, alongside 13-Tier Red Dragons and Shadow Dragons. And towering above them all—literally and figuratively—are the 14-Tier Black Dragons, the apex predators of the Dungeon.

The numbers are staggering.

There are nearly 800 to 1,000 Royal Units at Tier 12 alone. Over 300 Legendary Units at Tier 13. And the 14-Tier Black Dragons? Around 150 of them. That’s not just a powerful army—it’s a force of annihilation.

With that kind of firepower, they could easily steamroll Emerald Castle. No contest.

Right now, Emerald Castle is little more than a hollow shell—impressive on the outside, but weak within. Unless they can recall every Hero Unit, rally all their forces, and throw everything they’ve got into a last-ditch defense, they don’t stand a chance.

But the defenders of the volcano aren’t going down without a fight.

Hundreds of 14-Tier Phoenixes and 13-Tier Firebirds are holding the line, unleashing waves of flame and fury in a desperate counterattack.

Phoenixes. Firebirds.

These aren’t just any creatures—they’re elite units from the Conflux faction, one of the neutral powers in the world of Glory Lords X. The Firebirds are 13-Tier Legendary Units, and the Phoenixes? 14-Tier Mythic Units, radiant and terrifying in battle.

In the world of Glory Lords X, there are three major factions: the Light Alliance, the Dark Alliance, and the Neutral Forces like Conflux.

The Conflux faction, like the Tidesworn, falls under the umbrella of the Neutral Forces. But in terms of overall strength? Conflux is a cut above. It’s a powerhouse that can go toe-to-toe with the Forest faction—one of the top-tier forces in the entire world of Glory Lords X.

That’s why the Firebird and the Phoenix—Conflux’s signature units at Tier 13 and Tier 14 respectively—are no joke. These aren’t just flashy names; they’re some of the strongest units in their class.

Aside from their Tier and the natural racial advantages that come with being part of the Conflux faction, Firebirds and Phoenixes are incredibly similar in a lot of ways.

For starters, both are completely immune to Fire Magic. Not resistant—immune. And both have the legendary ability to resurrect themselves from death, reborn in flames. On top of that, they’re among the fastest units in their respective Tiers, making them absolute nightmares to pin down in open combat.

But that’s not all.

They’re also fire magic prodigies—masters of flame. Their control over fire isn’t just limited to spellcasting, either. Their basic attacks? Area-of-effect. That’s right—even their regular strikes hit multiple enemies at once.

This is a hallmark of the Conflux faction. Almost all of their units have some form of AoE built into their basic attacks. It’s part of what makes them so dangerous in large-scale battles. When armies clash and numbers matter, AoE damage gives you a serious edge over factions that rely on single-target power.

And that’s one of the key reasons why Conflux outclasses Tidesworn in overall combat effectiveness.

Because when it comes to war, especially when both sides are evenly matched, being able to hit more enemies at once is a game-changer. No question about it.

That said, even with all their strengths, the Firebirds and Phoenixes are still at a disadvantage here.

Why?

Because they’re up against the 14-Tier Black Dragons.

And Black Dragons are monsters—literally and figuratively. They’re widely recognized as one of the top three Mythic Units across all factions. These beasts are walking disasters.

Their most terrifying trait? Complete immunity to all magic Tier 5 and below.

That alone is a hard counter to Phoenixes, whose entire combat style revolves around fire magic. It’s like trying to burn a stone wall—it just doesn’t work.

And that’s not even the worst of it.

Black Dragons are brutal in close combat. They’re fast, they hit like a freight train, and they’re tanky as hell. Thick scales, massive health pools, and no real weaknesses. They’re built to dominate.

So when Phoenixes go up against Black Dragons, they’re already fighting with one wing tied behind their back. Their magic is useless, their speed advantage is neutralized, and their AoE attacks don’t mean much when the enemy shrugs off the damage like it’s nothing.

And to make matters worse, this isn’t a hit-and-run skirmish. It’s a defensive stand.

The Phoenixes are stuck holding their ground. They can’t retreat, can’t reposition, can’t use their speed to outmaneuver the enemy. One of their biggest advantages—mobility—is completely off the table.

Which means, like it or not, they’re being pushed into a corner.

As for the Firebirds going up against Red Dragons and Shadow Dragons? Yeah, it’s pretty much the same story.

When it comes to Shadow Dragons, a one-on-one fight with a Firebird is more or less even. They’re on the same Tier, and their base stats and abilities don’t give either side a huge edge. It’s a fair fight—brutal, but balanced.

But against Red Dragons?

That’s a whole different beast.

The matchup is basically a scaled-down version of the Phoenix vs. Black Dragon situation.

Red Dragons are like mini Black Dragons—still terrifying, just a little less overwhelming. And Firebirds? They’re the little brothers of Phoenixes. The names and Tiers might be different, but the natural advantage-disadvantage dynamic is still there. The elemental mismatch, the stat gap, the combat style clash—it’s all the same.

Almost identical, in fact.

So yeah, if you’re just looking at the matchups, the Firebirds and Phoenixes are already fighting an uphill battle. But it gets worse.

Way worse.

Because even if you ignore the elemental counters and natural disadvantages, there are two massive problems they can’t get around:

Numbers.

And the 12-Tier Royal Units.

Let’s talk numbers first.

The Dungeon side has a clear numerical advantage in both 13-Tier and 14-Tier units. They simply have more troops—more Red Dragons, more Shadow Dragons, more Black Dragons. And on top of that? They’ve got nearly a thousand 12-Tier Royal Units backing them up.

That’s a whole extra army.

Meanwhile, the Firebirds and Phoenixes? They’ve got nothing to match that. No reinforcements, no lower-tier support units—just them, holding the line alone.

Under normal circumstances, those 12-Tier Royal Units wouldn’t be a big deal. Firebirds and Phoenixes could wipe the floor with them. They wouldn’t even blink.

But this isn’t a normal fight.

They’re already at a disadvantage. Already outmatched. And now they’ve got a thousand more enemies crashing down on them like a tidal wave.

That’s not just a problem—it’s a death sentence.

It’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

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