Mystic Calling：Stone of Glory-Chapter 504: What the hell is this place?

"Clang-clang-clang!"

"Boom!"

Ethan unleashed a surge of raw, overwhelming power—he was going all in, clearly aiming to wipe Karnok off the face of existence.

But just as victory seemed within reach, a thick wave of dark energy erupted out of nowhere. Space itself twisted, forming swirling vortexes that began devouring the surrounding Light Force.

Zzzzzzz...

Before anyone could react—

Karnok was yanked into the vortex!

"You bastards! You’ve slaughtered so many of my followers... One day, I swear, you’ll all pay for this!"

The voice of the Dark Sovereign echoed from within the swirling void, cold and venomous.

And with it came the oppressive presence of several other dark entities—each radiating terrifying power.

The Light Force, which had just moments ago been blazing with dominance, was now being steadily drained away, like a candle flickering in a storm.

"Before that day comes, I’ll storm your palace myself and end you!" Ethan’s voice was laced with fury, his words sharp and unrelenting.

The vortex gave no reply. It simply collapsed in on itself and vanished, leaving behind a heavy silence.

The massive space around them fell still again. Ethan exhaled deeply, finally letting go of the tension in his chest. The power the Dark Sovereign had just unleashed was no joke—if that bastard had actually shown up in person, they’d all be dead by now.

Still, something didn’t sit right with Ethan. With power like that, why hadn’t the Dark Sovereign just descended and finished them off?

"Master!" Seraphina rushed to his side, her face full of concern. "Are you alright?"

Ethan waved her off. "I’m fine. That dark energy just now—can you track it?"

She shook her head, frustrated. "No. It’s too strong. I couldn’t get a lock on it at all."

Ethan didn’t press further. He knew exactly how dangerous the Dark Sovereign was.

The battlefield around them was a wreck—scorched earth, shattered stone, and the lingering stench of burnt magic. It looked like a war zone.

Then, not far off, something caught his eye—a gaping hole in the ground, pulsing with a strange, eerie energy.

Buzz... buzz... buzz...

Curious, Ethan moved closer and activated his system’s analysis function.

The hole wasn’t large, but what lay inside was something else entirely—an entire world hidden within, layered with twisted paths and warped space.

A pocket dimension.

Ding!

"Congratulations, player Valkarion. You have unlocked the independent instance: Citadel of Shadows. This instance contains a unique power capable of defeating the Dark Sovereign. However, entry is restricted to solo players. Danger level: extreme. You may choose to decline."

Ethan’s eyes lit up. A power that could take down the Dark Sovereign? Hell yes.

Without hesitation, he hit "Accept."

Ding!

"Bonus reward granted: Mental Fortification. All your skills now include psychic damage."

That was unexpected—but definitely welcome.

He took a moment to steady his breath, then turned to the others.

"I’ve got something important to take care of. I’ll be back soon. In the meantime, protect Emerald Castle at all costs."

Everyone froze. Ethan had never left them behind before—never gone off on his own like this.

But before they could even ask what was going on, he leapt into the pit.

Buzz!

A strange, dark energy surged up, wrapping around him and pulling him in.

In the blink of an eye, he was gone—transported to a world unlike anything he’d ever seen.

It wasn’t a dungeon. It wasn’t part of the continent. It was... something else entirely.

Time passed—how long, he couldn’t tell.

Eventually, Ethan found himself standing in the middle of a vast forest.

The place was desolate. Nothing but low shrubs stretched out in every direction. No signs of life. No landmarks. Just silence.

If this was where he was supposed to find the power to defeat the Dark Sovereign... well, it wasn’t going to be easy.

Frowning, Ethan released a pulse of his energy, trying to get a read on the environment.

But the moment his power spread out—it vanished. Like it had been swallowed whole. No feedback. No sense of direction. Nothing.

It was like throwing a stone into a bottomless swamp.

"What the hell is this place?" Ethan muttered, scanning his surroundings with a confused look. He turned in a slow circle, trying to pick up on anything—any clue, any landmark—but the landscape offered nothing but eerie silence and unfamiliar terrain.

It was clear now: this was a completely separate instance world. A pocket dimension. And whatever power or allies he had outside—none of it mattered here. His strength, his army, even his magic—temporarily useless.

Ethan took a deep breath, steadied himself, and started walking forward with purpose. If this place really held the power to defeat the Dark Sovereign, then there was no room for hesitation.

"Raaawr!"

"Graaah!"

He’d barely taken a few steps when two bizarre-looking beasts emerged from the shadows ahead. Their bodies were twisted and unnatural, radiating a strange mix of dark energy... and light?

Ethan narrowed his eyes. That combination didn’t make sense.

Before he could figure it out, the creatures lunged at him, snarling, their fangs gleaming with a sickly sheen that made his skin crawl.

But Ethan didn’t flinch.

He raised his hand and launched a blast of energy—only to watch it fizzle out mid-air, vanishing like smoke in the wind.

"Shit," he muttered.

With no other choice, he charged in, relying on brute force. Fists, kicks, elbows—pure physical combat.

The beasts were tough. Their hides were like armor, and they barely flinched under his blows. But right now, this was all he had.

As the fight raged on, a thunderous roar suddenly tore through the forest. The ground trembled. Trees shook.

Then—whoosh—a massive dragon burst out of the trees and landed with a crash right in front of them.

"What the hell do you think you’re doing?" the dragon bellowed, its voice deep and furious. "How dare you disturb my rest!"

Its presence was overwhelming. The power rolling off it was similar to the two beasts—but far, far stronger.

The two creatures that had been attacking Ethan immediately dropped to the ground, trembling like terrified birds. They didn’t even dare look up.

The dragon’s eyes locked onto Ethan.

"You. Who are you? I don’t recognize you. You’re not from here... Are you an outsider?"

Ethan hesitated. The dragon’s aura was suffocating, and in this place, his powers were still unreliable.

But he stood his ground. "Yeah. I’m from outside."

The moment the words left his mouth, the dragon lunged.

Its jaws opened wide, aiming to swallow him whole. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Shit!" Ethan cursed, heart pounding. He turned and bolted into the forest, sprinting as fast as he could.

He didn’t know how long he ran—minutes? Hours? Time felt warped here.

Eventually, he stumbled upon a cave tucked into the side of a rocky hill. Without thinking, he dove inside.

Panting, drenched in sweat, he staggered deeper into the cave—only to stop dead in his tracks.

There, nestled in the back of the cavern, was what looked like a nest. And in the center of it sat a massive egg, glowing faintly with a strange energy.

Beside it, a small pool of crystal-clear water shimmered in the dim light.

Ethan’s throat was dry, his muscles aching. He didn’t care what the water was—he dropped to his knees and started drinking.

Gulp... gulp...

The moment the water hit his stomach, a surge of pure, potent energy exploded through his body. It raced through his limbs, lighting up every nerve.

"What the...?"

Ethan’s eyes widened. He could feel it—his strength returning. Not just returning—adapting. His power was syncing with this world.

He focused, testing it. Yes. His energy was no longer being swallowed by the environment. He could use it now.

But the system stayed silent. No notifications. No guidance. It was like it had gone dormant the moment he entered this place.

Still, Ethan couldn’t help but grin. That spring had just given him a serious edge.

He leaned forward, ready to drink more—but the pool was already dry.

"Figures," he muttered, sighing.

Just as he was about to leave, a low rumble echoed through the cave.

Rrrrmm...

The egg.

Cracks spiderwebbed across its surface.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

With a final shatter, the shell burst apart—and out tumbled a creature unlike anything Ethan had ever seen.

It looked like a baby dragon... but there was something else in its form. Something mythical. Kirin-like. Ethereal.

The little beast locked eyes with Ethan—and immediately bared its teeth, snarling like it had just spotted its mortal enemy.

...