[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-mystic-calling-stone-of-glory":3,"chapter-mystic-calling-stone-of-glory-mystic-calling-stone-of-glory-chapter-648":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Mystic Calling：Stone of Glory",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1242254,1669,"Chapter 648 648: Rise of the Goblin Legion","mystic-calling-stone-of-glory-chapter-648",648,"\u003Cp>Ethan's chest heaved as that wild, unfamiliar energy from the Sky Citadel continued to surge through him, crashing around like a storm trying to tear him apart from the inside out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tried to suppress it, but the moment he attempted to forcefully absorb the power, his body reacted violently—rejection, like his very cells were screaming in protest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he changed tactics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of trying to absorb it, he redirected it—converted it into output.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He activated a summoning skill he'd picked up back in the Dungeon, channeling the excess energy into a summoning circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vmmm—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A portal of light flared open, and a goblin stepped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this wasn't your average goblin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its entire body was etched with glowing energy patterns, and the pressure it gave off was heavy—like a mountain pressing down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan's eyes narrowed. The base template might've been a low-tier goblin, but the Sky Citadel's energy had forcibly \"leveled it up.\" Its power was way beyond what it should've been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So it works after all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes lit up, and he kept channeling the energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just a few seconds, a whole swarm of \"goblins\" appeared—each one no lower than Tier 15.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their movements were stiff, their expressions blank—clearly lacking full intelligence. But on a battlefield, that didn't matter. As long as they could follow orders, they were more than enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Sycaron stepped up beside him, his expression solemn. \"My Lord, too many of my kin have fallen… May I summon warriors of my own race?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan blinked, then pulled up his status panel. It didn't take long to spot the issue: as a Celestial Dragon, he didn't have a Creature Dwelling to recruit units from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He frowned, but before he could say anything, a system prompt rang in his ears:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding! Hidden Quest Triggered — \"Celestial Dragon: Awakening Recruitment\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To unlock the Lord's ability to recruit Celestial Dragons as units, the current Lord must personally defeat a Tier 17 Sky Citadel Guardian (non-support unit), obtain a Hatch Core, and complete the Awakening Ritual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Note: This challenge must be completed solo!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan's eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seriously?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was only Tier 16 right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they wanted him to take on a Tier 17 Guardian—alone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was practically suicide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the quest had already been triggered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No backing out now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let out a long breath. \"Sycaron, not yet. But when the time comes, I swear—I'll help you rebuild your people.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He offered the reassurance, then lifted his gaze to the sky above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the higher-ups from the Sky Citadel could descend into the lower realms, then there had to be a way to go the other direction too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he could find a Tier 17 Guardian and take them down, he might just be able to unlock the system's \"reproduction\" function.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, going up against someone a whole tier above him was a death wish on paper—but he wasn't exactly empty-handed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those energy-infused goblins were already summoned in bulk. If he used them right, they could form a relentless wave of attrition. Maybe not enough to win in a head-on clash, but definitely enough to wear the enemy down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that thought, Ethan's eyes turned cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stay here and wait for my signal. I'm going to scout ahead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next moment, he unleashed his power and tore open a rift in space itself, stepping through with his summoned goblins in tow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The Eighth Layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was nothing like the realms below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Massive palaces floated in the air, suspended in a sky crackling with thunder. Elemental energy surged through the atmosphere, so thick and intense it made every breath feel like fire in the lungs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Ethan stepped into the Eighth Layer, it felt like his blood ignited—boiling with raw power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the sky above cracked with a deafening roar. Every bolt of lightning in the heavens converged into a single point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From that blinding light emerged a short, stocky figure—but the pressure it radiated was suffocating, like a mountain pressing down on his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Intruder? You've got a death wish.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Guardian's voice was cold as ice. He raised his arm, and a surge of violent energy exploded in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan didn't flinch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a flash, he closed the distance and clamped down on the Guardian's arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A terrifying suction force erupted from his palm, ripping straight into the Guardian's core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wha—?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Guardian's expression twisted in shock. He was Tier 17, sure—but his role leaned toward energy support. His reserves were vast, but his offensive capabilities were limited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He'd assumed the tier gap would be enough to crush Ethan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn't expected to run into a predator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan wasn't just resisting—he was stealing his power, draining it like a dam bursting open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let go of me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Guardian roared, thrashing wildly. He finally managed to unleash a blast that knocked them apart, staggering backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ethan didn't give him a second to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lunged again, slamming into the Guardian like a battering ram, pinning him against a stone pillar of the floating palace. The suction resumed, even stronger than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why?!\" the Guardian screamed, panic creeping into his voice. \"Why can you control Sky Citadel's power?! How are you stealing it from me?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face was blank, focused. He just kept draining, devouring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All around him, the summoned goblins resonated with the energy, their bodies glowing, their tiers visibly rising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"AAAAAHHH!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Guardian's scream tore through the thunderclouds. Moments later, his body shriveled and crumbled into dust, scattered by the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan exhaled slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…I actually did it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Tier 17 Guardian—an entity that should've been untouchable—had just fallen to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to look behind him. The goblins had all leveled up—most by a full tier. The strongest among them had even broken through to Tier 16, SS-rank peak—on par with elite heroes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he could even process the new power coursing through him, the sky twisted violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vortex tore open above, and a flood of figures came crashing down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leading them was a presence that hit like a tidal wave—Tier 16, SSS-rank, mid-stage. A monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You again… you damn insect!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man's voice was a low snarl, his eyes burning with fury. \"You dare trespass into the Eighth Layer? Did you really think Sky Citadel was unguarded?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan's expression hardened. He raised his hand and pulled up the system panel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A string of data appeared:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draconiel — A pure-blooded dragon, infused with the divine essence of an angel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's said that Sky Citadel once captured a Seraph, extracted its bloodline, sealed it, and fused it with a new power—corrupting it. Its Primordial Core was refined into the \"Holy Light Core.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draconiel consumed that core. Now, within his dragon body, the essence of an angel burns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dragon's body is nearly indestructible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An angel's divinity transcends order and light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The forced fusion of the two created a forbidden existence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he breathes, the air ignites with both thunderous fury and purifying holy fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His scales shimmer with golden radiance—until they explode in a storm of draconic destruction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He doesn't look like a creature born of nature…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looks like a weapon—crafted by Sky Citadel from blood and divine fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that, Ethan's wariness spiked. He quickly retreated behind his goblin army and issued a command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Attack! Kill them all!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And damn, these goblins were useful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were tons of them, and they hit hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was starting to feel a little cocky—like maybe, just maybe, he could take on Sky Citadel head-on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fool!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"RAAAHH!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go! Kill them all!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draconiel's eyes narrowed, a flicker of disdain flashing across his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his staff—and the army behind him surged forward like a tidal wave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both sides clashed with a thunderous impact that shook the entire layer. Even Ethan had to take a step back from the shockwave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his eyes never left Draconiel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That bastard radiated power—raw, overwhelming. And he wasn't just strong—he was fast, too. He wielded spatial magic with terrifying precision, able to tear open rifts and teleport in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan took a deep breath, his body crackling with lightning. He let the energy spread across his skin, ready to bolt at a moment's notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, it might've looked cowardly—but he couldn't afford to die here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he fell, Emerald Castle would fall with him. And Sky Citadel would wipe it off the map in no time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The goblins, though—they were monsters in their own right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even just chucking rocks, they could seriously injure the enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they weren't afraid to die. Some of them even grabbed enemies and self-destructed, taking them down in a blaze of glory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With troops like this, winning the battle wasn't impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Sky Citadel's forces were high-tier across the board. Taking them down wouldn't be easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The space around them suddenly rippled, violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>",1481,"2026-06-05T15:15:47.573Z",1,"novelbin.me","bd70a2d29395785d5b24fe4e9b751f264b76728aa77409b903f877345082f212","mystic-calling-stone-of-glory-chapter-649","mystic-calling-stone-of-glory-chapter-647",1138,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmystic-calling-stone-of-glory-cover.jpg"]