Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

Demonic Maggot Nests were a common sight in the Abyss, but for Orion, they were a novelty.

With proper cultivation, the scale of a Demonic Maggot Nest could expand to an astonishing degree. They possessed no offensive capabilities and posed no threat to any intelligent species of a higher tier. It was a peculiar species; to possess the potential for evolution while also serving as a primary food source for other races was truly bizarre.

Heh, it can even seal its own Nest. Interesting.

The open side of the Demonic Maggot Nest Orion was holding had, at some point, been sealed by a layer of fibrous material. Orion found the sight deeply curious. This was a state of self-induced dormancy, a defense mechanism triggered when the maggots sensed danger. Once Orion had his own territory, he could place the nest in a safe area, and it would re-enter its breeding phase.

"The vast world is truly full of wonders," Orion sighed in admiration, storing the Demonic Maggot Nest away and continuing on his way.

Fiend Serpent Caves.

Natural selection was in full swing, a bloody struggle of mutual consumption raging like a wildfire.

Vex was a bloodfiend, having evolved from a demonic maggot.

His opponent was an Alpha-level fiend serpent with red eyes and black scales. At that moment, the serpent had coiled its body around Vex, its jaws gaping as it tried to swallow him whole.

However, as an evolved bloodfiend, Vex's strength was in no way inferior to the serpent's, despite the difference in size. Roaring, Vex's hands clamped onto the serpent's fangs like a vise, preventing its jaws from closing. At the same time, his barbed tail shot out from behind him, punching through the serpent's constricting coils and plunging deep into its throat.

The tail spike pierced the scales, sinking into the flesh and causing the fiend serpent to writhe in agony. It loosened its grip, trying to fling Vex away, but he seized the opportunity. He unfurled his leathery wings, using them both to shield himself and to drive their sharp points deep into the serpent's head.

The fiend serpent let out a final, more painful hiss, its body going from writhing to rigid.

ROAR!

Vex released the dead serpent and roared, tearing open its body with his demonic claws to retrieve the crystal core, which he promptly devoured. A moment later, his body began to swell, and his power surged from the peak of Hero-level to Alpha-level.

ROAR!

But just as Vex was savoring the thrill of his advancement, a low and terrifying roar echoed from behind him.

His body went rigid. He slowly, mechanically, turned his head.

A dense demonic fog had crept in, blanketing the area. From within it, a colossal, savage head emerged. It was an Abyssal Dragon.

Pitiless, icy eyes locked onto Vex, and a suffocating Legendary-level pressure washed over him, freezing him in place. He had been targeted. The bloodfiend didn't dare to move a muscle.

Xalathar let out a series of low growls, its eyes glinting with excitement, bloodlust, and a ravenous hunger for flesh. The ground trembled with the thunder of its footsteps as the dragon's immense body emerged from the fog, slowly closing the distance to Vex.

Vex remained motionless, not daring to make a sound as the great beast approached, circling him, sniffing the air.

Orion's indifferent voice cut through the tension. "Who are you? What is your name?"

With a thud, the bloodfiend dropped to his knees, prostrating himself completely. "Great lord," he said, his voice exceedingly respectful and humble. "My name is Vex. I am a bloodfiend, evolved from a demonic maggot."

In the Abyss, when faced with an unstoppable power, submission and prostration were not just basic etiquette; they were the best chance for survival.

"Vex… demonic maggot… bloodfiend…" Orion murmured, his eyes fixed on the groveling demon as he considered his options. This was the first upright, intelligent Abyssal Demon he had encountered on his journey. And the fact that it had evolved from a common maggot was key.

After a long pause, Orion spoke again, his voice cold. "Submit, or become food."

The Abyssal Dragon's teeth were inches from Vex's face. The stench of blood and death wafting from its massive, fang-filled maw was enough to make him tremble.

To live, he had no other choice. "Great master, Vex chooses to submit!"

Orion wasted no time, immediately binding Vex with a slave contract.

"Raise your head," Orion commanded, though he didn't signal for Xalathar to retract its killing intent. He kept the pressure on. Abyssal Demons were not to be trusted. "Tell me where we are."

"Master, this is the Fiend Serpent Caves," Vex said, raising his head but not daring to look directly at Orion or the dragon.

"Fiend Serpent Caves, you say?" The name was familiar. This Abyssal Tributary led to Gareth's lair, and Gareth commanded a legion of fiend serpents. This, Orion surmised, must be where he got them.

"Tell me about yourself," Orion said, his interest piqued by the creature who claimed to have evolved from a simple maggot.

"Honored master, your humble servant has undergone three evolutions to reach this form," Vex explained. "I was fortunate enough to devour the crystal core of a dead fiend serpent, which allowed my first evolution from a strong demonic maggot into an imp. Later, I evolved from an imp into a half-bloodfiend. After more slaughter and consumption, I finally became a pure bloodfiend."

Though Vex's summary was brief, Orion could imagine the brutal, winding path a single maggot had to travel to survive and climb to such a station in the unforgiving environment of the Abyss. Vex's luck had been both good and terrible; he had barely had a moment to enjoy his ascension to Alpha-level before being captured.

"How far are we from the first level of the Abyss?"

"We are not far, master," Vex answered, relieving Orion, who had begun to fear he and Xalathar were lost in the endless tributary. "Three days' journey at most will bring us to the exit."

"Are you hiding something?" Orion's tone turned grim. He had noticed Vex's face was a mixture of uncertainty and fear, that he looked as if he wanted to speak but hesitated.

Sensing his master's shift in mood, Xalathar bared its teeth and leaned closer, projecting an aura of imminent, bone-shattering violence.