Mystic Calling：Stone of Glory-Chapter 821: Tier 29

Ethan's eyes lit up—not with anger, but with sharp awareness and interest.

"So that's how it is…"

This power wasn't a one-off.

If he could fully break it down—

It could trigger a fundamental shift in his own abilities.

The second attacker lunged at him.

Ethan didn't give him the chance.

His power surged, swallowing the enemy in an instant.

A heartbeat later—

The body tore apart.

Energy unraveled.

The bloodline was ripped clean from the core.

That strange, twisted force poured into Ethan without resistance.

He closed his eyes and took a slow breath.

As the energy flowed through him, it brought a strange, subtle smoothness—not violent, but like an invisible lubricant easing the friction between his internal systems.

Bloodline, energy, mental force…

Parts of him that had always operated separately were now syncing, meshing together like gears finally locking into place.

"Just as I thought."

Ethan opened his eyes, calm and focused.

This wasn't a burst-type power.

It was a catalyst—something that made his entire system run more efficiently.

Without hesitation, he pulled up the system interface.

Scan—full battlefield sweep.

Data streamed across his vision. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Within seconds—

Hundreds of faint but eerily similar energy signatures lit up across the map.

They were scattered along the battlefield's edges, carefully avoiding the main clash.

Targeting stragglers. Logistics units. Isolated squads.

"…Parasites."

Ethan's gaze darkened.

These weren't part of Narlost's core combat force.

But they were the most dangerous kind—

The ones who drained, disrupted, and broke morale from the shadows.

He didn't hesitate.

His figure vanished in a flash.

A second later—

The sky dimmed.

A massive energy field dropped silently over the area, like an invisible hand sealing it off completely.

Space compressed. Escape routes vanished.

Hundreds of Narlost operatives froze as they realized something was wrong.

"W-Wait!"

"Lord! We didn't come here by choice—!"

"We're just grunts! We were forced into this!"

The pleas came fast, overlapping in panic.

Ethan hovered above them, expression unreadable.

He didn't bother figuring out who was speaking.

It didn't matter.

What mattered was—

Their existence alone was a threat.

He raised his hand.

Power gathered in his palm, fast and dense.

Dozens of Energy Discs formed in the air, gleaming like silver blades.

Then—

They dropped.

Screams erupted all at once.

Their defenses crumbled like paper under the assault.

Bodies shredded. Flesh dissolved. Energy ripped from their cores.

There was no suspense. No struggle.

Just execution.

Ethan's body absorbed a massive wave of foreign energy in a short span.

His power surged.

Muscles tightened. Senses sharpened. His blood felt like it was boiling.

But he knew—

It wouldn't last.

This power was like a stimulant.

Potent. Addictive.

But temporary.

"Enough."

Ethan growled, voice low and sharp.

He forced the unstable energy inside him to compress and merge, locking it down through sheer will.

Dozens of Energy Discs formed again, slicing outward in a sweeping arc.

Enemies too close didn't even have time to react—they were shredded into pulp on the spot.

Even a few lord-tier enemies, who tried to intercept him, had their heads lopped off before they could blink.

Across the battlefield—

Panic finally broke through the Narlost ranks.

"Th-That's the lord of Emerald Castle?!"

"How the hell is he this strong?!"

"Isn't there anyone who can stop him?!"

A moment of silence followed.

Then—only despair.

Because they all knew—

Every high-tier combatant who could've stepped in was already tied up.

And Ethan?

He was operating outside the main frontlines.

A precision blade, cold and merciless.

If he was allowed to keep moving freely,

The entire battle would collapse.

And that wasn't even the worst of it—

Emerald Castle's Sky Fortress was still hovering above, fully operational.

Those ultimate annihilation cannons hadn't even fired yet.

Once they joined the fight—

The consequences would be catastrophic.

Right then—

Behind Krothys, space twisted unnaturally.

A figure appeared without a sound.

The next instant—

Lightning exploded.

The figure turned into a bolt of thunder, tearing through space as it shot straight toward Ethan.

BOOM!!

A storm of violent lightning detonated across the sky,

Warping space itself with the sheer force.

Ethan's pupils contracted. He snapped his head up.

A voice followed, deep and commanding, laced with an overwhelming pressure that brooked no argument.

"You actually forced me to show up. Impressive."

"But—"

"This is where it ends."

Ethan instinctively stepped back.

At the same time, his system interface flared to life in his vision.

Scan complete.

And for a moment—his mind went blank.

[Narlost Empire — Emperor: Aurelkar (Avatar)]

[Tier: 29 (Early Stage)]

An avatar.

Just a projection of power.

But that cold, merciless number hit like a hammer to the chest.

Tier 29.

Even at early stage—

It was far beyond what Emerald Castle could handle head-on.

Ethan knew it.

This wasn't a gap he could close by pushing harder.

But right now, he had no way out.

He clenched his jaw and forced every ounce of power from his body.

Bloodline, energy, mental force—he mashed them together, rough and raw.

A massive energy sphere formed in his palm.

No hesitation.

He hurled it straight at Aurelkar's avatar.

BOOM—!

The energy shot forward like a meteor, screaming through the air.

Aurelkar didn't even flinch.

He glanced at it—cold, bored.

Not a trace of concern.

Only pure, undisguised contempt.

He raised a single finger.

A tide of golden lightning surged out, crashing head-on into Ethan's attack.

For a split second—

The two forces held in midair.

But the balance didn't last.

Cracks began to spider across the surface of Ethan's energy sphere.

One. Two. Dozens.

Then—

It shattered.

BOOM.

Aurelkar's laugh rumbled out, low and cruel.

Golden lightning danced across his body,

And his power began to shift—refining, condensing.

Becoming even more pure. Even more overwhelming.

"In my eyes," he said coldly,

"You're nothing but insects—not even worth remembering."

"Die."

The lightning fell.

The world trembled.

Even space itself groaned under the weight of it.

...

Ethan's brow tightened.

For the first time, he felt it—clear and undeniable.

He wasn't the one who could win this fight.

And yet, as Aurelkar's lightning came crashing down, he braced himself anyway.

If he could buy even a second for Emerald Castle to breathe—

He'd take the hit.

But then—

The sky lit up.

Not with lightning.

But with a radiance so pure, so holy, it made the body instinctively bow in reverence.

"—Just an avatar."

A calm, commanding voice echoed from above.

"And you dare raise a hand against our master?"

"Fool."

Light poured down like a waterfall.

The power of an Angel slammed into Aurelkar's projection with divine force.

BOOM—!

Thunder shattered.

Golden blood sprayed across the sky.

...