Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

Marina gazed at the three Sea Race Nests in her hands, an eyebrow arching in amusement. As the avatar of Lady Seraphina, she had seen every treasure the oceans had to offer, but even she was impressed.

The shells used to construct the Nests weren't just rare; they contained pocket dimensions capable of nurturing living creatures. Such artifacts were treasures even among the merfolk, rarely if ever leaving their possession.

"Orion, don't tell me you have another Sea Race demigod wife in some other world," Marina said, her eyes flashing with a mix of suspicion and playful curiosity as she looked up at him.

"A gift from an ally," he replied. "He knew I was planning a naval campaign and shared some of his best assets."

To be honest, Kraken had gone all out to help him. He had truly come through, Orion thought, mentally cataloging the units. The three Nests would spawn Deepsea Razorgills, Specter Mahis, and Abyssal Chitin-Warriors. The Razorgills were massive beasts, perfect for taking on large sea monsters and pulling transport duty.

The Specter Mahis were an upgraded version of the Ocean Hunter, deadlier individual fighters that could form a lethal underwater blade formation when swarmed. The Abyssal Chitin-Warriors were amphibious, humanoid soldiers from the deep, possessing decent intelligence and melee skills. It was a perfect starter kit for conquering a sizable chunk of the ocean.

"Your ally is very generous," Marina remarked, her tone light.

Orion just smiled. He didn't have a choice. Among all his contacts, Kraken was his only friend from a Sea Race.

Marina carefully stored the Nests and leaned against his chest. A comfortable silence settled between them as they continued to watch the vast expanse of the sea.

***

Silverwood Realm, Augurath Sanctuary.

Over half a month had passed by the time Aerin, Tangere, and Caesar arrived at the Black Tower. In that time, the Forest of Nature had been completely purged of demonic monsters. Small squads of Shield Warriors and Elven archers were now conducting a final sweep, mopping up any stragglers.

With the threat gone, the Wood Elves who had been hiding in the deep woods emerged and pledged their loyalty to The Stillness, accepting Orion's rule. There was, of course, some dissent. But after Clymene made a decisive and brutal example of the most vocal opponents, the rest of the Wood Elf race fell in line.

Aerin played the role of the compassionate diplomat throughout the process, earning a great deal of respect and support from her people. She convinced them that Orion's rule was a far better fate than the enslavement and slaughter offered by the demonic monsters. The scattered Wood Elves needed a powerful protector, and Orion, the man whose armies had driven back the darkness, was the obvious choice.

"The situation's changed," Orion said, getting straight to the point. "There are things you need to know."

The four of them sat around a circular table laden with fruit, wine, and roasted meat.

"We drove out the demonic monsters and secured a huge swathe of territory, including the Forest of Nature and this tower," he began. He had brought Aerin, Tangere, and Caesar into this, but the next phase would involve the Clown and the Witch. If his original allies continued, their status as Awakened would eventually be exposed, making them prime targets for assassination.

"But according to the intel we've gathered, we've pissed off a major faction called the Cult of Four. This Black Tower we're in right now? It's one of their invasion fortresses."

He let that sink in.

"The Cult of Four has plenty of arch lords and demigods. With your current power levels, you're not equipped to be on the front lines of this war."

His tone was flat, unsparing. Aerin and Caesar were still just Alpha-level. While not exactly cannon fodder, they'd be nothing more than lambs to the slaughter against an arch lord.

"Whatever you say, boss. We're with you," Caesar said immediately. He knew his own limits. He was leagues below Orion and couldn't hope to hold his own in the same conflicts.

Orion gave Caesar a nod of approval before turning his gaze to Aerin and Tangere. They both nodded in agreement.

"Good. Then here's the plan for you all." Orion picked up his goblet, took a small sip, and looked directly at Aerin.

"First, Aerin. Your Wood Elf race has submitted to me, so I'm granting the Forest of Nature to you as a fiefdom. It's a win for you both."

To advance to the lord-tier, Aerin needed her own territory. The Forest of Nature was the ancestral home of the Wood Elves, so giving it to her not only fulfilled her needs but also restored her people's heritage. Orion was convinced the forest would be most productive under their care.

"The soil is rich, the elemental energy is dense, and the Wood Elves are masters at cultivating magical plants. It will become a stable breadbasket for all of us," he added. "Caesar, Tangere—as participants in this campaign, you'll get a share of all future resources produced there."

The two men nodded, waiting for him to continue. Aerin, however, was visibly moved. Orion had essentially conquered the Forest of Nature and handed it to her as a gift.

"Caesar," Orion continued, "you can take one-third of the territory between the Forest of Nature and the Black Tower. Build your own city, develop your own domain."

A third of that land was a massive area, enough for at least three major settlements. In one cross-realm invasion, Caesar had just tripled the size of his holdings.

"Boss, that's… that's way more than I earned. But I'll take it."

Orion nodded, then turned to the last man at the table. "Tangere, the other two-thirds of that land is yours. Any objections?"

Tangere shook his head. Having been there for the entire invasion, he knew exactly how vast that territory was. This new land alone was larger than his entire existing domain.

Just as he began to process the sheer scale of his reward, Orion's voice cut in again.

"I have a second option for you, though. If you're interested."

Tangere's eyes narrowed. He had a feeling this was the real offer. "I'm listening."

"Our enemy is powerful. I'll be bringing in several demigod allies to help with the next push. We're going to take a lot more land," Orion explained. "Naturally, they'll be taking a bigger slice of the pie."

He leaned forward slightly. "If you want more than what I just offered, I suggest you integrate your armies directly into my command structure. Double down on this war."