Mystic Calling：Stone of Glory

BOOM!

In an instant—

A terrifying, overwhelming force exploded from within the Adamant Dragon Sovereign's body!

A massive surge of energy, laced with dark, corrupted power, surged into the sky, swallowing the heavens in its wake. In midair, a colossal phantom of the Adamant Dragon materialized—its form crackling with raw, chaotic energy.

The aura it radiated was violently destructive, and the moment it appeared, it sent a chill straight into the soul. Just looking at it made your heart clench with instinctive dread.

"Tch… this guy's more trouble than I thought." Ethan narrowed his eyes. He was pretty sure the Adamant Dragon Sovereign hadn't reached full SSS-tier, not true Tier 16 power—but the fact that it could hold its own against him for this long?

That meant its actual combat strength had already stepped into that realm.

Yeah… this was definitely getting annoying.

But more than that—

Ethan had sensed something else.

Buried deep within the Sovereign's body, that berserk, corrupted energy… it carried a strange, almost alien pulse.

It wasn't pure demonic energy.

And it didn't feel like a dragon's aura either.

No—this was something else. Something that felt eerily similar to the power he'd encountered back on the fourth level of the Sky Citadel.

Back then, it had only been a faint trace. But now? It was crystal clear.

Which could only mean one thing—this energy wasn't just some random mutation. It was a higher-tier force, something exclusive to the upper echelons of the Sky Citadel.

"Guess I'll have to beat it out of him first, then dig into the details later…" Ethan muttered under his breath.

Without wasting another second, he launched forward—his body flaring with power as he became a streak of light, rocketing toward the Sovereign.

His fist slammed into the dragon's shoulder—

BOOM!

The impact was cataclysmic. Their powers collided with a thunderous shockwave that tore through the sky, sending ripples through the very fabric of space.

And just like that, the battle exploded into full force.

The two clashed with such ferocity that it was impossible to tell who had the upper hand.

But then—suddenly—

A rift tore open in the air.

Ataneya burst through it like a missile, her fist already cocked back.

With a roar, she drove it straight into the Adamant Dragon Sovereign's skull.

BOOM!

The blow detonated with apocalyptic force, sending the Sovereign flying like a meteor across the sky.

But Ataneya winced, shaking out her hand like she'd just punched a steel wall.

"Damn, My Lord—this guy's body is hard as hell!"

"What about the others?" Ethan asked, eyes still locked on the Sovereign.

"All taken care of!"

"Good. Then let's finish this together. There's something seriously off about this guy's power. Ataneya—no holding back."

"Yes, My Lord!"

Ataneya's expression turned serious. She remembered that strange energy from the fourth level of the Sky Citadel. It had left a deep impression on her—an unsettling, soul-level fear.

Worse, it had the ability to erase parts of her power entirely.

This wasn't something they could afford to underestimate.

BOOM! BOOM!

The two of them shot into the sky, their bodies becoming streaks of light as they zipped through the air, flanking the Adamant Dragon Sovereign and trapping him in a deadly pincer.

But that only made the Sovereign more unhinged.

"ROOOAAARRR!"

"RAAAHHH!"

"You damn bastards! I'll kill you all! ROOOAAARRR!"

A tidal wave of berserk energy erupted from his body, surging outward like a storm, crashing toward Ethan and Ataneya with unstoppable force.

But right then, Ethan and Ataneya didn't even flinch at the Adamant Dragon Sovereign's berserk outburst. Instead, they started shifting their energy signatures, experimenting mid-battle like it was a damn lab test.

And to their surprise—it actually worked.

BOOM!

RUMBLE!

A sudden spark lit up in Ethan's mind. Deep inside him, there was still a trace of the corrupted energy he'd once absorbed from the Skyfiend Overlord. Normally, that power was more of a liability than an asset—hostile, unstable, and constantly clashing with his own.

But now, facing this rampaging, corrupted dragon?

Maybe it was time to fight fire with fire.

Gritting his teeth, Ethan forced himself to draw out that cold, alien energy. It slithered through his veins like venom, and he slammed it together with his own Dragon God power, fusing them by sheer will.

Instantly, his Dragonfang Spear began to crack—black-gold fissures spiderwebbing across its surface like it was about to shatter under the strain.

CRACK—!

The spear exploded in his hands, bursting into a storm of energy shards.

But instead of fading, those shards spun in midair, converging into a violent black-gold shockwave that sliced through the sky like a blade.

It slammed into the Adamant Dragon Sovereign's back—right between the shoulder blades.

The impact was brutal. His massive body jerked forward, scales cracking, flesh tearing.

Ethan's eyes lit up. "It worked…!"

He didn't hesitate. "Ataneya! Now! Hit him hard!"

Ataneya didn't need to be told twice.

"RAAAHHH!"

"Die already!"

All ten of her tails flared out behind her, glowing with terrifying power. She gathered it into her hands and brought it crashing down—right into the gaping wound Ethan had just opened.

The force of the blow punched straight into the Sovereign's body, tearing through muscle and bone like a wrecking ball.

And in that same moment—whoosh—Ethan shot forward again.

He reached out, grabbed the Sovereign by the throat, and unleashed a surge of raw power.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

His energy poured through his arm like a tidal wave, slamming into the Sovereign's neck with crushing force.

At the same time, Ataneya's power was still drilling into the wound on his back.

The two forces met inside the Sovereign's body, colliding and spiraling through his insides like a storm of destruction.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Explosions erupted from within him, one after another.

Each blast tore off chunks of scale, sent blood spraying into the air. His massive body convulsed violently, and the sky itself cracked from the shockwaves.

Under the relentless assault, the Adamant Dragon Sovereign's defenses finally began to crumble. Scales peeled away in sheets, bones cracked with sickening snaps.

"Impossible! How are you breaking through my body?!"

His scream echoed through the sky, raw with disbelief and rage. It made your skin crawl just hearing it.

"Why?" Ethan sneered. "You really thought borrowing power from those Skyfiend bastards would make you invincible?"

He unleashed another wave of energy, locking down the space around the Sovereign, sealing him in.

At the same time, a torrent of power surged into the dragon's body—forcing its way inside.

And then it happened.

The corrupted energy inside the Sovereign, the same power he'd taken from the Skyfiends, had never fully merged with his own Adamant Dragon Primordial Force. They'd always been at odds, barely held in check.

Now, with Ethan's attack disrupting the balance—

That fragile harmony shattered.

His internal energy spiraled out of control.

"Finally… got him," Ethan exhaled, relief washing over him.

But just as he let his guard down—

The Adamant Dragon Sovereign's body flickered—and in a flash, he grabbed Ethan's arm.

And then—

That wild, unstable energy surged out of him and into Ethan's body like a flood.

"If I'm going down… I'm taking you with me!" the Sovereign roared, face twisted with madness and hate.

"Shit—!" Ethan grunted, pain exploding in his chest. The berserk energy tore through his arm like fire and acid, racing into his bloodstream, trying to rip him apart from the inside.

His face darkened—but he didn't panic.

Instead, he clenched his jaw and roared back, unleashing his Dragon God power in full force. He locked the invading energy down, crushed it with sheer will, and began to absorb it.

"If you want me to die with you—then I'll devour your madness instead!" Ethan growled, his body erupting in golden light, blazing like a furnace on the verge of meltdown.

The energy inside him churned violently. His bones groaned under the pressure, echoing like thunder as if they were being reforged in hellfire.

Just then, Ataneya appeared at his side.

Her tails spread wide, and without hesitation, she reached out—channeling the berserk energy into herself to share the burden.

The moment it hit her, her body trembled violently. Cracks split across her scales and skin, blood seeping out in thin lines.

She was clearly in agony—far more than Ethan.

"My Lord… I can take it!" she gritted out, voice hoarse but unwavering.

Ethan's eyes narrowed, a flicker of emotion flashing through them.

"Be careful," he said lowly. "If it gets too much—pull back. Don't throw your life away."

…