Mystic Calling：Stone of Glory

"My Lord, don't worry—I can still hold on!" Ataneya gritted her teeth, completely ignoring the pain tearing through her body. She kept drawing in the Adamant Dragon Sovereign's power, refusing to stop.

To her, this wasn't just a battle—it was an opportunity. If she could fully absorb the Sovereign's strength, her physical body would evolve to a whole new level. And with that, her overall power would skyrocket.

VMMM!

VMMM!

VMMM!

RUMMMMMBLE…

But it didn't take long before the energy inside her reached a terrifying threshold. The sheer volume of Adamant Dragon power she'd taken in was pushing her body to the brink. Any more, and she'd be torn apart from the inside out.

"Damn… looks like it's too much after all," Ethan muttered, a flicker of regret in his eyes. He'd been hopeful—if Ataneya could pull this off, it would've been a massive leap forward for her.

But now… it looked like she was just short of making it.

"If it's not gonna work, then forget it…" he murmured, already preparing to step in and stop her. No matter how valuable the power was, her life came first.

But then—

Something changed.

THUMP!

RUMMMMMBLE…

Just as Ethan moved toward her, Ataneya's body suddenly erupted with radiant golden light.

And then—

Behind her, a new tail began to form.

It shimmered with brilliance, glowing brighter and brighter.

VMMM!

The tail was bathed in golden light, etched with glowing runes that pulsed with raw power. Waves of energy rippled outward from it, shaking the air.

"This… no way—holy shit, she actually did it?!" Ethan's eyes went wide, stunned. He'd been sure she was about to collapse—but somehow, she'd pushed through.

Talk about a lucky break.

And as the light intensified, Ataneya's body began to change.

Her physical strength surged, her energy levels skyrocketed.

And then—her Tier stabilized.

She'd done it.

She'd broken through to SSS-tier.

Tier 16.

"Hell yeah! I can't believe that actually worked!" Ethan let out a long breath, finally relaxing. With a grin, he turned back to Ataneya, and together, they focused on finishing the job—draining the last of the Adamant Dragon Sovereign's power.

It didn't take long.

The Sovereign's body withered rapidly, his massive frame shrinking and drying out until all that remained was a shriveled husk, floating lifelessly in midair.

All around them, the world was in ruins.

The sky was cracked with spatial rifts, the ground torn and scorched.

Every last one of the berserk Adamant Dragons had been wiped out.

The corrupted energy that had once filled them was gone—scattered into the wind, leaving behind only a thick, lingering aura of raw power.

The entire Plane World that had once belonged to the Adamant Dragons was now saturated with energy—wild, chaotic, and unclaimed.

Just then, a crisp system notification echoed in Ethan's mind.

DING—

The cold, mechanical voice rang out clearly:

[Congratulations, Player Valkarion. You have obtained dominion over the Adamant Dragon Plane World—you are now the Master of this realm.]

Ethan blinked, eyebrows lifting slightly.

Master of an entire Plane World… On paper, that sounded like a massive reward. But when he looked around, all he saw was devastation—shattered earth, a sky riddled with cracks, and swirling void storms tearing through the air.

This wrecked, broken realm… was this really a reward?

But then, he felt it.

A different kind of presence in the air—thick, potent, and pure. The lingering Primordial Force of the fallen Adamant Dragons. It hadn't dissipated. In fact, it was gathering, pooling across the ruined landscape like a hidden treasure trove.

Ethan's eyes narrowed, a quiet murmur escaping his lips. "So that's it… That's the real value here."

This wasn't just leftover energy—it was a goldmine. A rare, powerful essence that could be used to strengthen the body, enhance physical resilience, and forge warriors beyond the norm. If used right, it could become the foundation for an entirely new generation of elite troops.

A name flashed through his mind—Sycaron. The Celestial Dragons.

They were born with bodies capable of channeling and adapting to multiple energy types. If they could absorb this Adamant Primordial Force…

Their power would evolve. Radically.

A slow grin tugged at Ethan's lips. "This broken Plane World… might just be the opportunity we've been waiting for."

Without hesitation, he issued the command for his forces to withdraw. Spatial portals opened across the battlefield, and one by one, his troops were safely evacuated.

Then, raising his hand, Ethan summoned the full force of his dominion. Power surged outward, wrapping around the entire Adamant Dragon Plane World—and with a thunderous pulse, he sealed it away.

With that, the battle for the Sky Citadel was finally over.

At least for now.

The higher-tier beings from the upper levels of the Citadel wouldn't be showing up anytime soon.

Back at Emerald Castle, Ethan wasted no time.

He summoned every dragon under his command.

"You all carry the blood of dragons," he said, standing before them. "I'm going to give you a chance to gain a new kind of power. But I don't know if your bodies can handle it. So starting now—we test."

"You'll enter the Adamant Dragon Plane World and absorb the lingering Primordial Force. It's called Adamant Essence."

"But listen carefully—if it becomes too much, stop immediately. Don't push yourselves. I'll pull you out. But if you can endure it… I'll give you more. Enough to push your bodies to the next level."

A heavy silence followed.

Then—

ROAR!

"O Great My Lord!"

"You can count on us, My Lord! We won't fail!"

ROAR! ROAR!

The dragons erupted in excitement.

They knew exactly what Adamant Essence was. If they could absorb it, their bodies would become tougher, stronger—monstrous even.

And if they could fuse it with their own innate powers?

The results would be devastating.

"My Lord, let us go first! We Celestial Dragons will not disappoint you!" Sycaron stepped forward without hesitation.

If anyone understood the Adamant Dragons, it was him.

His Celestial Dragon forces had clashed with Skyfiends, Fiend-Dragons, and countless other dragonkin across multiple Plane Worlds. And the Adamant Dragons?

They were one of the few enemies that had left a lasting scar.

They'd been crushed in those battles. Outmatched. Outclassed.

So now, given the chance to claim the Adamant Dragons' power for themselves?

Sycaron wasn't about to let it slip away.

Ethan nodded. "Go."

With a wave of his hand, the portal to the Adamant Dragon Plane World opened wide.

ROAR!

ROAR!

ROAR!

Without hesitation, Sycaron charged through the portal, leading the way.

The Celestial Dragons followed right behind him, no longer holding back, no longer afraid.

And soon, dragons of all kinds—every bloodline, every faction—rushed in after them, eager to claim their share of the Adamant Essence.

Ethan watched them go, nodding once… then sighing.

Because now, the real work began.

For him.

He wasn't about to let his people die chasing power.

From this point on, he'd have to monitor everything—every fluctuation, every surge of energy, every sign of collapse.

Because if anyone started to lose control…

He'd be the one to pull them back from the brink.

...