Mystic Calling：Stone of Glory-Chapter 104: Animate Dead

"Is that so?" Ethan’s eyes flickered thoughtfully, then he shook his head decisively. "Forget about them. Let’s keep moving deeper."

Since the other side had already noticed them but neither dared to attack nor chose to leave, there was only one explanation—they weren’t strong enough!

But they probably still thought they had a fighting chance.

If that’s the case, Ethan would just wait it out. He didn’t believe they’d simply sit back and watch him claim the Creature Dwellings of Legendary Units within The Lost Realms without doing anything.

And even if they did, he’d still come out ahead.

Let’s see who’s got more patience, then.

"Master, I sense the presence of a Creature Dwelling ahead," Seraphina suddenly spoke up.

"Where?" Ethan’s eyes lit up immediately.

"Over there..." Seraphina stretched out her dragon claw, pointing westward.

"Let’s check it out."

Without hesitation, Ethan headed westward, deeper into The Lost Realms. Soon enough, a massive tree appeared before him. But this tree was clearly long dead—its bark charred black, riddled with holes, and completely devoid of life.

Before Ethan could even ask, Eldorin spoke up awkwardly, "My Lord, this was once a Tier 2 Elf recruitment dwelling, but it’s been abandoned for a long time."

"An abandoned Creature Dwelling?" Ethan paused, feeling a bit disappointed, but quickly waved it off as no big deal.

In the world of Glory Lords X, Creature Dwellings had their own lifespan.

Especially those left unused for extended periods—they gradually became abandoned.

Why?

Simple.

In a way, gold and the six major resources were like the lifeblood of the Glory Lords X world.

Just like how people needed exercise to stay healthy, the world of Glory Lords X maintained its balance and vitality through the continuous cycle of recruiting units and circulating gold and resources.

If a Creature Dwelling remained unused for too long, it lost its purpose and was eventually discarded by the world itself.

"Eldorin, do you know how many Creature Dwellings in The Lost Realms are still active?" Ethan asked, quickly regaining his composure and turning to Eldorin.

"Aside from our Ancient Treant dwelling, there’s also the Tier 9 Treant Guard dwelling and the Tier 13 Ancient War Tree dwelling!" Eldorin replied immediately.

"Only three left?" Ethan frowned slightly, then asked again, "What about Tier 11 and Tier 12?"

"Our kingdom’s Tier 11 units were Chimeras, and Tier 12 were Two-Headed Chimeras. Unfortunately, their lifespans were relatively short, and they’ve long since vanished," Eldorin explained. "In fact, aside from us Treants, all other Creature Dwellings have gradually decayed and become abandoned over the long passage of time. Only our Treant lineage, with our exceptionally long lifespans, has managed to endure until now."

"I see..." Ethan nodded thoughtfully. "Then take me directly to the Ancient War Tree dwelling."

"Yes, my lord!"

Before long, they arrived deep within The Lost Realms, standing before a massive Creature Dwelling. It resembled an enormous Treant, with a large opening at its base, radiating a mystical forest glow that seemed to form a gateway.

However, at this moment, the entrance was covered by a faint, shimmering barrier.

It looked as if it had been sealed or isolated somehow.

"This Creature Dwelling... has put itself into slumber?" Cicero asked, startled.

"Self-slumber? What’s that supposed to mean?" Ethan asked, puzzled.

"Creature Dwellings possess a basic form of consciousness," Cicero explained. "If someone tries to forcibly recruit or attack them without gaining their approval—or worse, if the dwelling senses hostility—it may choose to enter a state of self-induced slumber."

Hearing this, Ethan’s brows knitted tighter, and he turned to Eldorin, clearly expecting an explanation.

"Please rest assured, my lord," Eldorin quickly reassured him. "As King of the Treants, I have the ability to awaken the Sacred Tree!"

"Good." Ethan’s expression relaxed slightly. "Then go ahead and wake it up."

"Right away!"

Eldorin nodded and approached the Ancient War Tree dwelling. He began chanting softly, a mysterious glow spreading from within him. Moments later, something extraordinary happened!

Rumble!

With a thunderous roar, the massive tree rooted firmly in the ground suddenly began to rise, slowly standing upright!

Whoosh!

At the same instant, a brilliant burst of light shot outward, rapidly expanding before Ethan’s eyes. Immediately afterward, a system notification rang clearly in Ethan’s ears:

"Player Valkarion has discovered the Tier 13 Legendary Unit—Ancient War Tree dwelling: Sacred Ancient Tree. Do you wish to occupy it?"

"Occupy!" Ethan confirmed without hesitation.

"Ding!"

"Congratulations! Player Valkarion has become the second player in Glory Lords X to occupy a Creature Dwelling (the first was also Valkarion, the Green Dragon’s Dragon Cliff, but due to a system error, no reward was issued). Reward: 100,000 Light Alliance Reputation, 15 million gold coins, 100 units each of Wood, Ore, Mercury, Gems, and Sulfur, and 200 units of Crystal!"

"Alert: Player ’Valkarion’ has reached 186,000 Light Alliance Reputation. You may now claim the noble title of Earl at any capital city within the Light Alliance factions (Castle, Forest, Tower)."

...

At the same time, information about the Ancient War Tree’s Creature Dwelling popped up right in front of Ethan’s eyes.

[Sacred Ancient Tree]

Allows you to recruit Tier 13 unit: Ancient War Tree.

Available for recruitment: 2/1 (Upon initial capture, one additional recruitment slot is granted.)

Recruitment Date: January 1st (calendar month)

Recruitment Cost: 20 million gold coins, 1000 crystals!

"Holy crap..."

Seeing the system reward and the recruitment cost for the Ancient War Tree, Ethan’s jaw practically hit the floor, and he sucked in a sharp breath.

A hundred thousand Light Alliance reputation points?

Fifteen million gold coins, plus 100 units each of wood, ore, mercury, gems, sulfur, and 200 units of crystals?!

"This reward is insane!" Ethan couldn’t help but grin excitedly.

Right now, what he lacked most was money and crystals. But now? It was like ordering takeout when you’re starving—delivered straight to your doorstep. Talk about a windfall!

"Looks like I can finally afford those Green Dragons from the Dragon Cliff!" Ethan’s face lit up with excitement.

With Cicero’s talent skill and the Green Dragon Scepter’s 40% recruitment cost reduction, the price for recruiting a single Tier 13 Green Dragon dropped to less than ten million gold coins and just 480 crystals.

Still expensive, sure.

But at least now, it was within the Emerald Castle’s treasury budget!

As for the new Legendary Unit—the Ancient War Tree... Ethan glanced at its recruitment cost again, his mouth twitching uncontrollably. He shook his head with a bitter smile and quickly looked away, pretending he hadn’t seen it.

Twenty million gold coins and a thousand crystals?!

What kind of joke was that?

Even if he emptied Emerald Castle’s entire treasury, he still wouldn’t be able to scrape together that much cash. Better just forget about it for now. Clearly, this new Legendary Unit was just eye candy—completely out of reach!

Just then, Seraphina and Cicero both suddenly turned their heads, staring intently back in the direction they’d come from.

"What’s wrong?" Ethan asked, puzzled.

Boom! Boom! Boom...

Before he could finish speaking, massive, terrifying figures descended from the sky, landing heavily right in front of Ethan. These huge creatures were none other than the Tier 13 Legendary Units—Red Dragons.

But something was off. These dragons weren’t at all what Ethan had imagined. Their bodies radiated a thick aura of death, as if staring straight into the abyss itself.

They weren’t alive.

Even worse, their bodies were torn and battered, barely a patch of intact flesh visible. Yet despite their horrific state, their eyes remained utterly empty, devoid of any emotion or life.

"Corpses?" Ethan frowned deeply.

"Tier 4 dark magic—Animate Dead?" Cicero muttered uncertainly, clearly troubled.

At that very moment, a striking figure appeared atop one of the Corpse Red Dragons.

Long, pointed ears, a slender figure, and a cold yet breathtakingly beautiful face. Her eyes were deep and mesmerizing, shimmering with a kaleidoscope of colors—an elf!

This was definitely an elf!

"Could she be a Dark Elf from the underground world?" Ethan wondered, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. Dark Elves were known as rulers in the subterranean realms, so it wouldn’t be strange if they commanded Tier 13 Red Dragons. But the problem was, these weren’t living dragons—they were corpses!

"No, wait, my lord! She looks more like a Night Elf!" Eldorin suddenly exclaimed, his expression shifting dramatically as he stared at the newcomer.

"A Night Elf?" Ethan was momentarily stunned.

"My lord, Night Elves are a branch of the Sylvan Elves, part of the Light Alliance. The original masters of these Lost Realms were Night Elves as well... But the aura around her isn’t purely Night Elf. Could she be a hybrid between Dark Elf and Night Elf?"

"But... aren’t Dark Elves and Night Elves sworn enemies?" Eldorin murmured, clearly confused and unsettled by this revelation.

"Are you two done gossiping yet?"

At that moment, the elf woman spoke coldly, her icy gaze locking onto Ethan. "Half-Elf mongrel, leave this place immediately! This Ancient War Tree recruitment point belongs to me. Don’t force me to declare war on you!"

Ethan paused briefly, then chuckled lightly. "You can’t even earn its recognition, yet you’re making demands? Don’t you think that’s a bit ridiculous?"

The Night Elf’s expression darkened, her voice turning even colder. "I’ll ask you one last time—are you leaving or not?"

Ethan crossed his arms casually, not bothering to reply, simply watching her with a mocking smile.

Seeing this, the Night Elf clenched her teeth in fury. "Fine! You’ve brought this upon yourself!"

"Attack! Kill them all!"

Roar! Roar! Roar!

Only then did the five eerily silent Corpse Red Dragons beneath her finally unleash terrifying roars, spreading their wings and charging ferociously toward Ethan.

"ROAR!"

At the same time, Seraphina beneath Ethan let out a furious dragon roar of her own.

She was clearly enraged by their provocation!

"Master, please allow me to fight! I’ll tear them to pieces!"

Ethan smoothly jumped down from Seraphina’s back, smiling calmly. "Leave the Night Elf alive. As for the rest, they’re all yours."

"Understood..."

Seraphina nodded immediately, her eyes blazing fiercely as she glared at the approaching enemies.

By now, the five Corpse Red Dragons had already closed in, launching their vicious assault straight at her!

...