[{"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-857":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},1242413,1669,"Chapter 857 857: Even a Lion Doesn’t Hunt with Half Its Claws","mystic-calling-stone-of-glory-chapter-857",857,"\u003Cp>Ethan froze for a second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then it hit him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…He can just leave like that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time, he truly realized—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arkhadon wasn't just escaping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was actively shifting his spatial frequency, hiding himself completely within the fabric of space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn't teleportation in the usual sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Direct manipulation of space itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That thought sent a chill crawling down Ethan's spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A second later, rage drowned out reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a roar, he slammed his energy greatsword into the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chunks of stone exploded outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed in the direction Arkhadon had vanished and let loose a string of curses—loud, vicious, and completely unfiltered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't hold back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tirade went on for quite a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one dared approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energy still rippling off the Powered Combat Armor was wild and unstable, spreading in waves like the eye of a storm that hadn't yet passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Getting close now would mean getting hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when Ethan finally pulled his power back, disengaged the armor, and let the energy settle—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did the others cautiously gather around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boss… that was insane.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We've never seen a fight like that before.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That Powered Combat Armor… it's a damn miracle. If we could get our hands on one…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone swallowed hard, eyes locked on the armor like it was a holy relic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others were barely holding back their fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That Arkhadon bastard had to be from the Narlost Empire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When we're strong enough, we're gonna hit their capital and make them pay—twice over.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anger. Awe. Hunger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air buzzed with emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the end, almost every gaze landed on the same thing—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Powered Combat Armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't just gear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan took a deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forced the fury in his chest to settle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he spoke again, his voice was calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Relax.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I've already ordered the lab to start mass production.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Won't be long before each of you has your own Powered Combat Armor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ripple of barely contained excitement swept through the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ethan raised a hand, cutting it off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That said—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't expect the armor to do all the work for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If your own strength isn't up to par, you won't be able to bring out its full potential.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze swept across them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steady. Unyielding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you want to be worthy of it—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then push yourselves to the limit first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence fell for a beat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, all at once, a surge of fighting spirit lit up in everyone's eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No more words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They turned and sprinted toward the mining zone—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Diving headfirst into training and absorption, like their lives depended on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan still stood atop the high city wall, eyes fixed on the sky above—still churning, still unsettled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clouds rotated slowly, and the lingering energy turbulence drifted like aftershocks that refused to fade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His brow remained furrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew all too well—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arkhadon wasn't the kind of man to swallow defeat quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he definitely wasn't the type to shoulder the consequences alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once he returned to the Narlost Imperial Palace, everything that happened today would be laid bare before the Narlost Sovereign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when that happened—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wouldn't just be one or two elites coming next time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would be the will of an entire empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, Emerald Castle wasn't ready to withstand that kind of force head-on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they'd just driven back the First Champion—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was only a localized victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this escalated into full-scale war—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the smallest gap in preparation could mean total annihilation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan slowly exhaled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Time…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He muttered under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…is running out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>. . .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far away—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Narlost Imperial Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A colossal temple forged from dark gold and obsidian loomed over the capital like a mountain pressing down on the city itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath its towering dome, the throne sat alone at the top of a long flight of steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurelkar sat upon it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze alone made the air in the grand hall feel thick and suffocating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a single courtier dared lift their head to meet his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How rare.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurelkar spoke slowly, his voice low and cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My First Champion of Narlost—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Arkhadon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Returning to my throne… in defeat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below the throne—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arkhadon knelt on one knee, his forehead nearly touching the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never felt pressure like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't the failure itself that terrified him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the fact that this failure came while carrying his title.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was tight, restrained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Our assessment of Emerald Castle was… severely flawed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They are not low-tier rabble.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Especially their lord… his power is enough to face me head-on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hall fell into dead silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurelkar slowly rose to his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wave of pressure burst outward, thick and tangible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Space groaned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The palace's defensive runes flared to life all at once, barely holding back the force spilling from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The true presence of an emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even you… couldn't suppress him?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurelkar's gaze narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was no longer about underestimation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long pause, he raised his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Send the order.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mobilize the full army.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Activate—Doomsday Ark.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the words fell—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire hall froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several high-ranking commanders looked up at once, eyes wide with barely concealed shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn't a conventional weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Narlost Empire's ultimate war construct, designed to erase civilization-level targets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was never deployed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless the threat was truly apocalyptic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arkhadon's head snapped up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You would mobilize the full might of the Empire… just to crush Emerald Castle?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn't that—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't finish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurelkar was already staring down at him, eyes cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even a lion doesn't hunt with half its claws.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone was calm—but absolute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If the enemy has proven themselves a real threat, then probing and attrition are no longer options.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sending more men to die one by one—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That would be true stupidity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light from the throne stretched long across the steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What I want is—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Total annihilation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence fell over the hall once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one dared speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because they all understood—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn't a border skirmish anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An imperial war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was about to begin.\u003C\u002Fp>",1043,"2026-06-05T15:15:51.880Z",1,"novelbin.me","6285b476635a08bf84ec579584f525453702b1f02604caf0ac0920ddb5443294","mystic-calling-stone-of-glory-chapter-858","mystic-calling-stone-of-glory-chapter-856",1138,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmystic-calling-stone-of-glory-cover.jpg"]