Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

Blackstone City, Moonshadow Valley.

A burst of spatial energy rippled, and Orion and Gustalon successfully arrived at the Moonshadow Valley plaza, returning to the Stoneheart Horde. The guardian of Blackstone City, Onyx, immediately sensed Orion's presence and hurried down from the ridge in the west.

"Cool air, and a familiar breeze!"

Gustalon surveyed his surroundings, relishing all that the North had to offer.

"Let's go!"

After Orion sent a mental message to Onyx and Lorelia, he headed toward the Horde Hall.

"Lord!"

"Master!"

Inside the Horde Hall, Orion nodded, swept his gaze over Onyx and Lorelia, and spoke calmly.

"Prophet, you will remain here in Blackstone City, taking full charge of everything that happens."

"Lorelia, get yourself ready. Summon every member of the Cave Spider clan to follow me in invading a Godforsaken Land."

Both Onyx and Lorelia were no strangers to the Godforsaken Land. Onyx had personally participated in an invasion war there, and Lorelia had once sent many small spiders into battle.

"Master, do I really have to go too?" Lorelia asked, her bright eyes shimmering with an almost childlike innocence as she sought Orion's confirmation.

"Yes, bring your nest. You must come. The underground fissure is safe, but are you still planning to laze around there all day?"

Lorelia responded with a giggle, excitedly withdrawing to make her preparations.

"She's grown up in Blackstone City, never having ventured far beyond. I imagine she's bored out of her mind here, so she probably wants to see the outside world!" Onyx remarked, watching Lorelia's departing figure.

Orion remained silent. Whether Lorelia was willing or not, she had to join the campaign this time.

"Lord, there's been an issue in Lysinthia City."

Onyx turned back, speaking solemnly about the war that had broken out in Lysinthia.

Orion raised his eyebrows, puzzled as to which foolish local lord would dare challenge him. Unless... it was the Sea Race—those who hailed from the sea.

"What happened?" Orion closed his eyes briefly, looking inward at the will projection he had placed in Lysinthia. Sensing nothing amiss, he let out a discreet sigh of relief.

"A little while ago, Mist Bay received a group of Merfolk calling themselves the Tidefang Clan. They demanded we leave Mist Bay entirely. Since then, Lysinthia City has suffered repeated harassment from these Merfolk.

The construction of the harbor was disrupted, and the armies stationed there have taken considerable losses.

"I've already sent the Lizardman tribe to support them, accompanied by Rockwell."

Onyx outlined the current situation, then fell silent, waiting for Orion's decision.

After a moment, Orion lifted his gaze toward the south, where Lysinthia City lay.

"The Sea Race, huh? Dealing with them might be a good chance for our people to gain some experience."

Muttering this, Orion turned to Onyx and issued orders.

"Deliver my command: send the Sentinel Corps to Abyssal Chasm in the north. We've been breeding fiend serpents for the past two years, so their numbers in the serpent pit should have recovered somewhat. Tell Gurnar to drive the serpent horde to Lysinthia City, where they will follow Lysinthia's orders."

Onyx's eyes lit up at this. He had long heard rumors of an Alpha-level powerhouse in Abyssal Chasm who had once served Gareth, yet Onyx had never met him in person until now.

"Also, pick out any of those young and idle tribe members who meet the requirements, and have them head to Lysinthia City to broaden their horizons."

This was Orion's task for Onyx. Giants, Gnolls, and Thunderstorm Bearmen were all numerous, including many young warriors who might benefit from real combat.

"I'll see to it immediately!"

Orion gave a slight nod. Watching Onyx leave, he expanded his senses over Blackstone City to confirm things were secure before relaxing fully.

"My Lord, shall I make a trip south?"

"No need. We'll rest for one night. Tomorrow, we set out for the Godforsaken Land."

Orion shook his head. Before he left, the Deputy Commander had asked him to head to the Godforsaken Land as soon as possible. Time was pressing. Orion was in a hurry on this return trip; he had no plans to head back to Stoneheart City or travel to the underworld. As soon as Lorelia gathered the Cave Spiders near Blackstone City, he intended to teleport over immediately.

"Have you made any progress on your plan for advancing to Legendary level?"

Gustalon had been at Alpha peak for some time, and Orion was quite eager for him to take that step, becoming a vital part of his forces.

"Not yet," Gustalon replied, disappointment flickering across his face. He yearned for Legendary power, especially after witnessing the Storm Avatar of the Deputy Commander—a display of elemental might that gave Gustalon a clearer vision of his future path.

Seeing it was one thing, but grasping it for himself was another.

"I can't give you much advice on how to advance to the Legendary rank. It all comes down to personal insight. You're an elemental lifeform, so rising to Legendary might be easier for you than for others. Perhaps you just need to build more experience and gather deeper understanding before you make that breakthrough."

He meant these words as both encouragement and consolation. Gustalon nodded, treating Orion's advice as guidance.

Early the next morning, at the underground fissure, Lorelia watched with curious eyes as Orion tore open a large teleportation scroll.

A massive teleportation array appeared, enveloping all Cave Spiders in the vicinity. After a surge of powerful energies, everyone in the underground fissure vanished without a trace.

Godforsaken Land: the Radiant Continent.

Following an intense fluctuation of void energy, Orion, Gustalon, Lorelia, and a million Cave Spiders all descended together into this world.

"Lord Orion, welcome to the Radiant Continent!"

Not far away stood an elderly man in a white mage's cloak. His hair and eyebrows were silvery-white, and he raised his staff in a gesture Orion had never seen before.

"You must be Gandalf?"

"Indeed, that is I!"

Gandalf was the mage Deputy Commander Edward had sent to assist Orion, a master skilled at inscribing the Source Siphon Array. Orion probed Gandalf's power, finding it to be of lower Legendary level—a bit lacking, but still impressive for this Radiant Continent.

"Where exactly are we?"

Beckoning Gandalf closer, Orion signaled him to speak.

Gandalf put away his staff and straightened his robe before stepping forward. Up close, Orion noticed that while Gandalf appeared elderly—his hair and beard resembling winter frost—his skin remained as smooth as a newborn's.

"Lord Orion, this is the underground plaza of Desolation City, a place of ruins."

"Tell me about this land."

At Orion's command, Gandalf led the way. As they walked, he began his explanation of the region.