Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

Chapter 211 Secret

"Chieftain, what should we do now?"

The question came from Thundar, whose excitement was barely contained. The thought of obtaining countless Alpha-level crystal cores from the Bottomless Abyss had his heart racing.

"We'll wait for Rendall and Onyx to return, then discuss assigning an Alpha-level warrior to guard this place alongside Lorelia."

"The candidate will be chosen from you, Rockwell, Onyx, or Rendall. Alternatively, we can rotate the responsibility."

Though Orion framed it as a discussion, his tone left no room for doubt—he had already made up his mind.

From the encounter with the black-armored salamander, it was clear that the creatures from the Bottomless Abyss were adept at biting, highly agile, massive in size, and often protected by scales or armor.

To deal with such Alpha-level monsters, Spider Queen Lorelia alone wasn't enough. A warrior capable of direct confrontation was essential to hold the line.

"Thundar, for now, you'll stay here and guard this place. I'll coordinate with Lorelia to ensure everything runs smoothly."

"Chieftain, rest assured. If any monsters climb up from the abyss, I'll sound the alarm immediately and ensure Lorelia's safety."

Orion nodded, giving Thundar an approving glance. He hadn't expected Thundar to be so perceptive, recognizing that Lorelia was one of the horde's most valuable assets.

Satisfied, Orion gave a few more instructions to Lorelia before leaving the underground fissure with Lilith.

"Any news from outside the city?"

As Orion patrolled the city walls, he turned to Delilah for an update.

"No urgent reports yet, but the beasts in the surrounding areas of Blackstone City are clearly agitated. They're gradually converging in our direction."

"Chieftain, should we consider seeking help from Lord Gareth?"

At the mention of Gareth, Orion fell silent.

Delilah's suggestion stemmed from genuine concern. She was thinking ahead, worried about the unknown dangers the pink seed might attract.

She had no idea how many beasts—or how powerful they might be—would be drawn to the seed's scent. To her, requesting aid from the Legendary-level Gareth seemed like the safest option.

But Orion dismissed the idea outright.

"No need."

"Besides, Gareth might not even help us."

"And even if she did, she wouldn't give it her all."

"On top of that, do you realize what kind of price we'd have to pay to enlist the help of a Legendary-level warrior?"

Orion's voice carried a hint of disdain. He had no fondness for Lord Gareth.

If not for her Legendary-level strength, Orion would have killed her long ago and taken control of the Four Domains himself.

After all, Gareth had indirectly contributed to Clymene's death. Continue your journey with empire

And during the last southern invasion, Orion had seen through Gareth's true nature.

To her, Orion, Soraya, and even Slagor were nothing more than disposable pawns.

The invasion wasn't just a way to weaken Thunderwood Forest—it was also a calculated move to drain the resources of the Four Domains.

Her actions revealed her true intentions: Gareth wasn't as magnanimous as she appeared.

Orion understood Delilah's concerns. She was worried the horde might provoke an enemy they couldn't handle.

Suddenly, Orion turned, and Delilah, caught off guard, stumbled into his arms.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close.

Delilah struggled briefly but couldn't break free. She ended up leaning against Orion's chest, her face pressed against him.

"I'll let you in on a secret," Orion said softly.

"Even if a Legendary-level warrior were to descend upon Blackstone City, I have the strength to defeat them."

"So don't worry. Focus on managing the situation. If stronger enemies appear, I'll deal with them myself."

His confident, heroic words left Delilah utterly captivated.

Faced with the seductive and alluring Delilah, Orion's desires began to stir.

"You're truly irresistible," he murmured.

Delilah's ever-present smile, combined with her ability to both solve problems and satisfy desires, made her impossible to resist.

Orion, overcome by her charm, couldn't hold back any longer.

---

Poison Dragon Swamp – Lizardmen Settlement.

In a wooden hut, Slagor was in the middle of an intimate moment with a female lizardman.

"Chieftain, something's wrong!"

A panicked voice interrupted, causing Slagor to shudder. His arousal vanished instantly.

"Damn it! If you don't have a good reason for interrupting me, I'll kill you!"

Slagor pulled up his pants, grabbed his sword, and stormed out of the hut.

"Chieftain, it's the swamp crocodiles! They've gone mad and are heading west!"

"Mad? It's mating season. There's probably a female crocodile over there. What kind of excuse is that?"

Slagor's frustration only grew as he listened to the report.

"No, it's different this time! This isn't normal mating behavior!"

"Several swamp crocodiles have already crossed into the Barren Mountains and are heading toward the Black Forest!"

Hearing this, Slagor's expression darkened.

"What did you just say? Repeat that!"

"Chieftain, several swamp crocodiles have crossed into the Barren Mountains and are heading toward the Black Forest!"

"I suspect something major is happening in the Black Forest. Either that, or…"

The lizardman hesitated, trailing off.

"Or what?"

Slagor slapped the lizardman on the head, nearly knocking him over.

"Or Blackstone City's warriors are using some kind of pheromone-based magical plants to lure beasts for mass hunting!"

Slagor fell silent, leaning on his sword as he gazed toward the Black Forest.

The idea wasn't far-fetched. With Blackstone City's large population and countless spiderlings, it made sense for Orion to stockpile food.

"Fine. Your explanation is convincing enough. I won't punish you for interrupting me during sex."

"But keep an eye on the swamp crocodiles. Don't let any more head west!"

"And as for the ones that already escaped, deny they were ever ours. Understand?"

"Yes, Chieftain! I understand!"

"Good. Now get out of here. Watch the crocodiles, and later, go see the elder for a reward. He'll assign you a female lizardman."

The lizardman's face lit up with excitement as he scurried away.

---

Northern Abyssal Chasm – A Fiend Serpent Lair.

The lair was a writhing mass of fiend serpents, their bodies tangled together in a scene that would terrify anyone with a fear of snakes.

The air was thick with a nauseating scent—a pheromone released by the female serpents to trigger mating.

Suddenly, a strange fragrance wafted into the lair.

The serpents froze, their movements halting as if someone had pressed pause.

The next moment, chaos erupted.

The serpents abandoned their mating frenzy and began slithering out of the lair, driven by an uncontrollable urge.

From the depths of the lair, massive serpents emerged, each one Hero-level in strength. Their numbers were staggering.

"What kind of scent could make the serpents abandon mating in this season?"

A thin figure stepped out of the shadows, muttering to himself.

It was Ridi, one of Lord Gareth's most trusted subordinates.

During the southern invasion, it had been Ridi who ambushed Orion at the gathering point.

The fiend serpent lair was one of Gareth's cannon fodder troops, housing over 200,000 serpents.

Most were below elite level, but their sheer numbers made them formidable as disposable soldiers.

"I need to see what's causing this commotion."

Ridi had no intention of reporting the incident to Gareth.

In his mind, nothing in the Four Domains could defy Gareth's authority—or his own.

And so, Ridi let the serpents head south, following them closely.

---

Western Desert – Scorpion Tribe Territory.

The scorpion tribe's countless young scorpions were also in a frenzy, their tails twitching and creating waves of sand.

"Enough!"

From her throne in the underground palace, Soraya let out a roar.

A wave of invisible energy spread outward, instantly calming the scorpions.

"Your Majesty, has something happened in the Black Forest?"

"Why are the scorpions so agitated?"

High Priestess Selenis asked, her own giant scorpion mount also showing signs of restlessness.

"I don't know."

"There's a scent coming from the Black Forest. It's similar to pheromone-based magical plants, which is likely causing the agitation."

Soraya frowned, gazing toward the Black Forest.

"Your Majesty, could Orion be luring beasts to stockpile food for the winter?"

"Possibly. With so many people and spiderlings, they must be running low on supplies."

"But isn't he afraid of triggering a massive beast tide?"

Soraya didn't respond immediately.

After a long pause, she finally spoke, her tone uncertain.

"With so many powerful warriors, perhaps they're deliberately hunting a beast tide."

"That's… insane!"

---

Southern Thunderwood Forest.

Near the border with the Black Forest, countless beasts were drawn northward by the strange fragrance.

The harpy tribe, stationed in the area, noticed the unusual migration.

But instead of intervening, they welcomed it.

"Go on, go north. Trample those invaders to death. Then we harpies can finally enjoy a few years of peace!"