Mystic Calling：Stone of Glory

Just moments ago, the Thunderstorm Wings had been radiating wild, untamed power—lightning crackling, wind howling like a hurricane. But now… they suddenly calmed.

The elemental energy pulsing from them dimmed, the once-blinding arcs of lightning and swirling gales fading into a quiet hum.

"Seraphina," Ethan called out sharply, eyes locked on the wings. "Spread your wings. Now!"

Without hesitation, Seraphina obeyed. Her massive dragon wings unfurled with a thunderous snap, shimmering with venomous energy and ancient power.

Ethan's fingers flew across the system interface, manipulating the data streams in real time. He compressed the rejection energy within the Thunderstorm Wings, forcing it into a manageable state. Then, with surgical precision, he aligned the wings' neural pathways with Seraphina's own.

A surge of power exploded outward.

BOOM!

CRACK-KA-BOOM!

The fusion had begun.

Seraphina's face twisted in pain as the raw elemental force surged into her body. The Thunderstorm Wings weren't just attaching—they were becoming part of her. The storm and lightning clashed violently with her venomous core, and for a moment, it looked like her body might reject the graft.

But Ethan had already compressed the energy to its absolute limit. It wouldn't destroy her. It would hurt like hell—but she'd survive.

And then… it was done.

The storm settled. The air grew still.

Seraphina's breathing slowed, the pain on her face gradually fading. Her expression shifted—first to relief, then to something else entirely.

Power.

"Master…" she said, her voice low and trembling with excitement. "I feel it. My strength—it's more than doubled. If I face a stronger enemy now… I might actually win."

Ethan let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He gave her a satisfied smile, then turned away, cradling the Celestial Dragon Egg in his arms.

He needed to figure out what exactly was inside this thing.

But before he could take a step, the system chimed in his mind.

Ding!

Congratulations, Player Valkarion, on acquiring the Celestial Dragon Egg.

New Dungeon Unlocked: Draconic Ascension Pool.

Please proceed to the Draconic Ascension Pool to complete the mission.

A flood of rewards and mission details filled his vision, scrolling rapidly through his mind.

Ethan's eyes lit up. Jackpot.

He spun around and grabbed Seraphina's arm. "Come with me. This might be your chance to level up again."

Before she could even respond, Ethan opened a rift in midair—a swirling portal of light and energy—and pulled her through.

In the blink of an eye, they were somewhere else entirely.

The space around them was strange, almost dreamlike. It wasn't large, but the energy here was overwhelming—wild, divine, and ancient. It felt like the sky itself had been condensed into this place.

They were floating high above the clouds.

In the distance, nestled within the mist, was a mountain valley suspended in the sky. From within it radiated a sacred, almost holy energy. The moment Seraphina arrived, her blood began to boil—literally. Her body trembled, her wings twitched, and her eyes locked onto the valley like a predator sensing prey.

It was calling to her.

Without a word, she bolted forward, wings slicing through the air as she shot toward the valley.

"Wait—Seraphina!" Ethan called out, startled. He hadn't even had time to analyze the area, and she was already diving headfirst into it.

But before he could chase after her, the Celestial Dragon Egg in his arms began to vibrate violently.

WUMMMMMM—

A strange hum echoed from the egg, and then—without warning—it slipped from his grasp and shot off into the sky, following the same path Seraphina had taken.

Ethan's eyes widened. "Oh, come on—seriously?!"

Ethan groaned in frustration, muttering under his breath as he blinked forward in a flash of light, chasing after the runaway dragon and egg.

It didn't take long for him to catch up—he arrived at the heart of the floating valley, and the moment his feet touched the ground, he froze.

This place… it didn't feel like part of the world they knew. It was like stepping into a pocket dimension, a self-contained realm brimming with life and power. Strange plants and creatures thrived all around, and even the air felt charged with energy. Ethan could feel it in his bones—every breath he took made his mind sharper, his body lighter. Even the tiniest blade of grass radiated a kind of spiritual vitality that made him feel more alive.

Seraphina was already at the center, standing at the edge of a glowing pool. The water shimmered with a chaotic swirl of elemental energy—lightning, wind, fire, even traces of venom and shadow. It was beautiful… and terrifying.

Ethan's instincts screamed danger.

He rushed over. "Seraphina! That energy's way too unstable. Your body might not be able to handle it!"

Seraphina's expression was tight, her jaw clenched. "I know. But I can't stop it. My body's not listening to me—it's the wings. They're pulling me in."

Ethan's eyes widened. He turned his gaze to the Thunderstorm Wings on her back, and sure enough, they were glowing—pulsing with a strange resonance that matched the energy coming from the pool.

Before he could react, the wings surged with power.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

CRACK-KA-BOOM!

A violent force yanked Seraphina forward. Ethan lunged to grab her, but the moment he touched her arm, the energy from the wings lashed out, wrapping around both of them and dragging them into the pool.

BOOM!

CRASH!

RUMBLE!

The moment they hit the water, the world exploded.

Ethan's body screamed in agony. It felt like his muscles were being torn apart, his bones shattered, his blood boiling. The elemental energy of the pool wasn't just wild—it was primal, ancient, and unforgiving.

But then… something shifted.

The dormant power inside him—power he hadn't even fully understood—began to stir. It rose to meet the chaos, merging with it, adapting. His body stopped breaking. It started evolving.

His level ticked upward.

HUMMMMMM—

Ethan's eyes snapped open, a grin spreading across his face despite the pain. "Holy shit… this place is insane."

If he could endure this—if he could stay submerged long enough—he might walk out of here with a power boost unlike anything he'd ever imagined.

Screw the pain.

He took a deep breath and plunged his entire body into the Draconic Ascension Pool.

Seraphina, still writhing at first, began to feel it too. The agony dulled, replaced by a strange, euphoric warmth. Her blood felt like it was on fire, but in the best way possible. Her venomous core was absorbing the elemental chaos, refining it, strengthening it.

She glanced at Ethan, saw him fully submerged, and followed his lead—sinking into the pool until only the tips of her wings broke the surface.

HUMMMM…

HUMMMM…

HUMMMM…

And then, the Celestial Dragon Egg began to glow.

It floated above the pool, spinning slowly, golden runes blooming across its surface like blooming flowers. The air around it shimmered with divine energy, and the egg began to hum with a sound that resonated deep in the soul.

Cracks started to form—tiny at first, then spreading like spiderwebs across the shell.

It was hatching.

Ethan looked up, eyes wide with excitement. "Hell yes…"

...