Mystic Calling：Stone of Glory-Chapter 812: The Rules Don’t Start Until Here

"So…"

"You're the real gatekeeper."

Ethan rolled his shoulders.

The next instant—

He vanished.

When he reappeared, he was already high in the sky.

Power erupted from within him all at once, like countless awakened torrents crashing down toward his opponent.

But—

The man didn't move an inch.

He simply looked up, the corner of his mouth curling into something close to a cruel smile.

"Foolish."

Before the word even finished—

BOOM!!

A pulse of terrifying power exploded from the golden core in his chest.

Darkness, death, and destruction surged into the air, condensing into a massive warhammer.

At first glance, it looked unremarkable.

But a closer look revealed black lightning coiled around its surface.

Not ordinary energy—

But annihilation thunder, capable of tearing through the very structure of laws.

The moment it formed, the air around it began to fracture.

"True power…"

"Isn't something a scavenger like you could ever understand."

But Ethan's eyes didn't waver.

If anything—

His fighting spirit only burned hotter.

He raised his hand.

Energy gathered at his fingertips, stretching and shaping into form.

A moment later, a massive energy longbow materialized in his grip.

VMMM—!

The first arrow tore through the sky.

The gatekeeper sneered and swung his warhammer, shattering the arrow head-on.

The second and third followed in rapid succession.

Hammer shadows danced, blocking most of the shots.

But—

Ethan's firing speed kept climbing.

So fast, the air didn't even have time to scream.

No matter how strong the opponent's power—

Gaps began to show.

And in that exact moment—

Ethan's body turned into a streak of light, shooting straight into the sky.

The air split behind him.

In the blink of an eye, he appeared behind Sombrus.

"Sombrus."

His voice was low, but carried the weight of judgment.

"Today is the day you die."

As the words fell—

BOOM!!

A torrent of raw power crashed down without restraint, slamming into Sombrus's back.

He didn't even have time to react before he was smashed into the ground, dirt and stone exploding on impact.

RUMBLE—!

Ethan didn't let up.

Wave after wave of destructive force erupted from his body, condensing midair into massive energy spheres that rained down one after another.

This wasn't a fight.

This was a beatdown.

Sombrus's power was real.

But his body—heavy, sluggish—had long lost its agility after years of bearing the golden core.

He couldn't dodge.

He could only take it.

No one knew how long it lasted—

But when the final blast hit, the entire battlefield had collapsed into a massive crater.

Ethan descended slowly.

He hovered in front of Sombrus, gaze calm and tightly controlled.

"Tell me."

"That golden energy in your chest—where did it come from?"

His tone was even, but somehow more terrifying than any threat.

"Either you talk…"

"Or I rip it out right now."

Sombrus's eyes went wide.

Only now did he truly realize—

He wasn't the hunter.

He was the prey.

Before he could even gather his thoughts, Ethan's fist came down again.

BAM!

The strike landed dead center on his chest.

The crack of breaking ribs rang out sharp and clear. Half his torso caved in on impact.

"AAAHHH—!!"

A scream tore through the air.

Sombrus could no longer maintain even a shred of composure.

He collapsed to his knees, trembling all over.

"I'll talk… I'll talk!"

For the first time, his voice carried real fear.

"That golden energy… it comes from the deepest part of the mine."

"There's… a golden lake down there."

"You can only draw it into your body after absorbing large amounts of the red ore… it's the foundation…"

He spoke in broken fragments, like he was repeating some forbidden knowledge he'd been warned never to say aloud.

Ethan listened in silence.

Then nodded once.

He reached out and clamped a hand around Sombrus's throat.

"I see."

His voice held no anger.

Only confirmation.

"You opened the source."

"That makes you part of the contamination."

The moment the words dropped—

Ethan's power surged.

No wasted motion.

A clean, decisive slash split Sombrus in two.

The blood never hit the ground—evaporated instantly by the lingering energy.

This wasn't vengeance.

It was cleanup.

Ethan turned, sweeping his gaze across the entire mine.

"All units, listen up."

His voice echoed through the air.

"Beneath our feet lies a source of golden energy—pure, concentrated."

"This isn't just a resource. It's a core capable of rewriting the rules."

"Now—"

"Get underground. Extract it."

The order dropped.

No one hesitated.

Excitement, tension, anticipation—all flashed across their faces. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

One by one, figures dove into the mine's fissures, descending fast.

Whoosh—

Whoosh—

Whoosh—

Not long after—

They reached the deepest chamber.

And every single one of them froze.

Before them—

Lay a golden lake, quietly flowing.

Its surface shimmered like liquid light.

Pure. Warm. And pulsing with a power that made your heart skip a beat.

Just breathing in the golden mist hanging in the air—

Was enough to send energy surging through their bodies, resonating uncontrollably.

Ethan stared at the lake, eyes practically glowing.

The blood-red crystals above had already been insane—brutal, forceful, like they cracked open your potential and shoved it back in.

But this…

This was different.

This power was quiet—but far more dangerous. Like a pot of golden broth that looked calm on the surface, but held blistering heat just beneath.

It didn't roar. It didn't shake.

It just touched you—and made it clear: the rules start here.

"Now that's more like it," Ethan muttered, unable to hide the thrill in his voice.

He reached down and scooped up a handful of the golden liquid. It flowed through his fingers like something alive—too warm, almost unnervingly so. For a second, it felt like it was… recognizing his body.

Then he drew it into himself.

—And the pain hit instantly.

Not just burning.

It felt like invisible blades were prying open his bones, scraping through the marrow, then slamming shut again.

The shock tore through every nerve, like his entire body was being broken into pieces—only to be rebuilt from the same fragments.

Ethan grunted, staggering back several steps. The ground beneath his feet cracked from the force.

He clenched his jaw, forcing the raging energy inside him to settle—not by suppressing it, but by guiding it into place.

The pain lasted only a moment. Short, like a punishment—but sharp enough to remember forever.

Then it receded.

And in its place came a fullness he'd never felt before.

Power, drawn tight like a bowstring. Steady. Dense. Razor-sharp in its clarity.

Every muscle felt like a newly forged weapon. Even his breathing carried weight.

"Damn," Ethan exhaled, the word laced with satisfaction.

He raised a hand, and the system interface unfolded before him.

[Scanning: Spatial Structure]

[Result: Independent Spatial Node]

[Status: Transferable]

Ethan stared at the last line, eyes lighting up even more.

"So you're not just a mine," he said softly. "You're a portable world."