Mystic Calling：Stone of Glory-Chapter 844: Retreat Was Never an Option

Elira didn't hesitate. The moment she saw the incoming attack, she shot forward like a streak of light. Behind her, a golden phantom of the Divine Sovereign Moth unfurled its wings, radiating brilliance as it expanded into a thick energy barrier that slammed into place just in time.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Each impact thundered like a war drum, shaking the air with every strike. The energy blasts slammed into the barrier with enough force to tear the sky apart, sending shockwaves rippling through the atmosphere.

If Elira hadn't been as powerful as she was, that golden shield would've shattered on the first hit.

Ethan's expression darkened. His eyes locked onto the towering figure in the sky, and he took a deep breath, activating his system scan.

The results made his heart skip a beat.

29Tier. Peak level.

But that wasn't the worst part.

There was no life signature.

This wasn't a living being—it was a mechanoid. And not just any mechanoid. According to the system, it housed a dangerously unstable energy compression core, pushing its power output far beyond normal limits.

Ethan steadied his breathing, then pulled a transparent crystal orb from his inventory. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it into the air.

The orb didn't pulse with energy—just a faint ripple of spatial distortion. But the moment it hovered midair, it shattered.

And from the fragments, a massive figure burst forth.

Golden energy surged outward like a storm, humming with a strange resonance as it swept across the battlefield. The pressure it released was overwhelming, and it charged straight toward the enemy mechanoid.

This was Emerald Castle's latest creation—a War Machine developed by their top researchers.

Unlike traditional mechanoids, this one had no AI. It required a human pilot to function at full capacity. But its size, armor, and raw power were unmatched—built for exactly this kind of threat.

Ethan didn't waste a second.

"Feylora—link up!"

Feylora, already hovering nearby, responded instantly. Her body pulsed with electricity, arcs of power crackling through the air as she floated upward. She was a living energy core, and her output was massive—enough to make the very air tremble.

She and the War Machine were a perfect match. Once synced, their combined energy output multiplied exponentially.

The fusion triggered a shockwave.

Power exploded outward as the War Machine's massive fist slammed into the enemy mechanoid's shoulder. The impact was brutal—one of the mechanoid's many eyes shattered on the spot, fragments scattering like glass.

The sky twisted from the force of the collision. The ground shook violently. The air itself seemed to tear apart under the pressure.

Then—BOOM!

A deafening explosion rocked the mountains, followed by a chain of thunderous crashes that rolled across the landscape like an earthquake.

Ethan didn't hesitate.

He rallied the remaining warriors and charged toward the desert beyond the mechanoid. It looked barren, lifeless—but his senses told him otherwise. Something powerful was hidden there.

As they neared the edge of the dunes, Ethan focused, gathering energy into a massive sphere in his palm.

With a roar, he hurled it forward.

The energy ball struck something invisible—and detonated.

A blinding flash tore through the air, and the illusion shattered, revealing a massive hidden encampment.

Rows of soldiers stood within, their eyes glowing with eerie golden light. They stared at Ethan with cold, mechanical precision.

At the center of the camp, a tall figure floated above the ground. Energy rings spun around him, each one radiating violent, chaotic power.

Ethan's eyes narrowed. His instincts screamed danger.

He scanned the figure—and the system confirmed it.

29Tier. Peak level.

This was no ordinary enemy. This was a commander.

Suddenly, the system blared in his mind, sharp and urgent.

Warning! Target power level exceeds safe engagement threshold. Direct confrontation not advised. Immediate retreat recommended!

But Ethan already knew—retreat wasn't an option.

The enemy was too close. If they turned back now, they'd be overrun.

He exhaled slowly, then surged forward, forming a massive Energy Disc in his hand and launching it straight at the enemy leader.

At the same time, Auri and Idra merged into his body, their energies fusing with his. The combined force pushed Ethan's power to mid-29Tier—strong, but still not enough to match the enemy head-on.

From above, the enemy commander's voice echoed, dripping with contempt.

"You insects dare trespass in my camp? You think you can challenge me? Pathetic."

His aura flared, a crushing wave of pressure rolling across the battlefield like a tidal wave.

Then he moved.

His greatsword lit up with silver light, and in the blink of an eye, his body blurred—becoming a streak of lightning.

He shot toward Ethan like a meteor, tearing through the sky, leaving behind a trail of glowing afterimages. The air screamed in his wake, ripped apart by sheer speed and force.

A flicker of fury flashed through Ethan's eyes. He didn't back down—instead, he surged forward like a bolt of lightning, meeting the enemy head-on.

The moment their bodies collided midair, a shockwave exploded outward, distorting the space around them. The sky itself seemed to twist and tear, as if reality was being shredded by the sheer force of their clash.

Power clashed against power, the impact deafening. The air cracked and screamed under the pressure.

Ethan's strength was formidable—but the enemy's energy didn't waver. It kept pouring out, relentless, like it was being fed by some endless source. Unlike Ethan, whose power—though bolstered by Auri and Idra—still had limits, this guy didn't seem to have any.

Ethan could feel it now. The strain building in his body. The backlash from their collision had rattled him hard. He was thrown back, crashing into the ground and carving a deep trench through the earth before finally skidding to a stop.

He forced himself upright, blood pounding in his ears, eyes burning with anger.

"Ardun!" he shouted, voice sharp. "My people have never crossed your empire. We've kept to ourselves. So why the hell are you camped outside Emerald Castle with a damn army?"

Ardun's eyes narrowed, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. He hadn't expected Ethan to know his name.

But it didn't shake him. His mission was clear—and far from over.

He had been sent here with one goal: secure resources and energy cores. His empire was dying. Their central energy grid was collapsing, and without a new power source, their civilization would fall into ruin.

Emerald Castle, with its dense energy signature and powerful core, was the perfect target.

Ardun's gaze hardened. He had no choice.

"You've got power," he said coldly, lips curling into a smirk. "But it's wasted on you."

As he spoke, the energy around him surged. Above him, a massive spear of pure energy formed in the sky, pulsing with violent force.

With a sharp motion, Ardun hurled it.

The spear tore through the air, leaving a blazing trail in its wake as it screamed toward Ethan like a meteor, its energy signature sharp enough to slice through mountains.