Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

Silverwood Realm, Forest of Nature.

On a scorched plain just outside the forest's edge stood a menacing black tower, six stories of jagged obsidian that seemed to claw at the sky. Gates opened on all four sides, each one a gaping maw disgorging an endless stream of demonic monsters. Like beasts unleashed from their chains, they swarmed into the forest, drawn to the rich scent of life within the gathering places of other creatures.

In their place, a returning tide of demonic monsters flowed back into the tower, some hauling resources, others herding slaves, their bodies already twisting and corrupting from demonic influence.

The sheer number of demonic monsters suggested the tower's interior was a world of its own.

Within a vast chamber on the fourth floor was an unholy sanctum, a desecrated chapel to forgotten gods. There were no candles; the grand altar and surrounding effigies were all shrouded in an oppressive, impenetrable darkness.

Rize stood by a tall, arched window, looking down on the ceaseless activity of the demonic monsters below. From this specific vantage point, he could see the entire panorama outside the tower, yet not a single ray of sunlight could penetrate the gloom of the room.

Suddenly, a shimmering portal of violet light tore open the air behind him. An unusually large Cyclops strode through it, stomping angrily to Rize's side.

"Rize. You ruined my fun. You'd better have a damn good reason for this."

Hebika, a Cyclops lord, had been in the middle of enjoying the spoils of war when Rize had summoned him. He had just forced a Wood Elf to carry his spawn. The elf was strong; Hebika had been looking forward to seeing how many powerful offspring she would produce.

"According to our agreement, the female spoils of war are yours to do with as you please," Rize said without turning around, his own form remaining an indistinct silhouette in the shadows. "That is your right."

He paused. "But you also have an obligation: to breed more demonic monsters for the church and to secure more resources for the war effort."

Rights and obligations. The two were always intertwined.

"So? Spit it out. What do you want?" Hebika growled. He was a Cyclops—hot-tempered, bloodthirsty, and prone to rage. He didn't have the patience for the labyrinthine mind games of a Mist Wraith like Rize.

"Hebika, the resources your offspring have been bringing back have dwindled these past few days. You should go out and see for yourself. I feel compelled to remind you that if we fail the task given to us by the High Priestess, we might find ourselves becoming the next sacrifice."

Rize and Hebika were both Legendary level powerhouses, but they were also merely priests in the Cult of the Four. Above them was a High Priestess, an arch lord whose power was absolute.

After the initial conquest of the Forest of Nature, she had moved on to other war zones, leaving the two of them in charge of pillaging this territory. Now, with the forest not yet fully pacified, their returns were already diminishing. As the one responsible for strategy, Rize had to address it.

"Our demonic monsters report a forbidden zone deep within the forest. Any who enter it never return," Rize's voice was a low whisper, far more serious than before. "I need you to lead a force yourself, Hebika. Clean out the Forest of Nature. We need to pick up the pace."

"Is that a threat, Rize?" Hebika sneered. "The Wood Elf Tribe is in ruins. All their Legendary warriors are dead. What trouble could a handful of stragglers possibly cause? Or are you just jealous? Did you see a particular bitch you wanted for yourself?"

At the vile term, Rize finally turned, his shadowy form coalescing as he fixed a cold, chilling gaze on the Cyclops.

"Do you really think everyone is like you, Hebika? Your mind filled with nothing but depraved games to play with your victims? Have you already forgotten about the next war zone? The glory we could earn? The secret technique for ascending to arch lord that the church offers as a reward?"

The raw venom in Rize's tone made Hebika pause. He could sense this wasn't just a casual complaint. And the mention of the secret technique for ascension had struck a nerve.

"It's a trivial matter. You don't need to order me around like one of your minions," Hebika grumbled. He was tempted, but Rize's attitude still infuriated him. They were partners of equal rank, not master and subordinate.

"If you don't want me breathing down your neck, then meet your quotas. Frankly, the less I have to see of you, the better."

"You don't need to worry about the mission," Hebika snarled. "Tomorrow, I'll lead the charge myself and crush every last little mouse hiding in that forest."

He turned and stormed back through his portal. Rize was right about one thing; he didn't want to be here either.

As the violet light faded, Rize sighed, his voice a wisp of cold air. "A race of morons who only know how to think with their loins."

Emerald Dream Realm, Dragon Crucible.

Pop. Pop. Pop.

Elara was utterly bored. She blew a stream of lazy bubbles, idly watching the glowing dragon runes peel off the walls of her chamber. Strangely, whenever the ambient energy or the runes drifted near her, her body seemed to automatically repel them.

The Dragon Crucible had absolutely no effect on her.

Not that she cared. She could sense that the life energy swirling around her was… impure. It was nothing compared to the pure world essence her daddy had given her.

"I wonder how my little brother Pallas is doing," she muttered to herself, a mischievous glint in her eye. "I really want to pinch his chubby cheeks. When my little dragon wakes up, I'm gonna go find him and pinch them so hard."

She glanced over at her Inferno Dragon, which was curled into a tight ball, greedily absorbing the life energy and dragon runes. The little guy had been ecstatic upon entering the chamber and had almost immediately fallen into a deep, transformative slumber.

"My little dragon's aura is getting stronger and stronger. Daddy was right, this Dragon Crucible is really good for him," she whispered. "When we get out, I'll test his new power against Pallas's black dragon. Heh heh, and then I'll beat Pallas up, too."

Pop. Pop. Pop.

A happy little smile spread across her face as she went back to her bubble-blowing, lost in her happy thoughts.

In another chamber, Pallas and his black dragon were both in a state of deep hibernation. A massive, translucent phantom of a giant had materialized around Pallas's small body. With its mouth wide open, the phantom was inhaling the life energy and dragon runes of the chamber, consuming everything.

If one looked closely, a faint, intricate mark was slowly beginning to form on Pallas's forehead. It was still indistinct, but it already carried the faint, unmistakable aura of an ancestor soul—the same power his father, Orion, possessed. His bloodline was awakening.