Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

Chapter 361 Victory will be ours

Orion shifted his consciousness onto the Survivor's Platform.

When in trouble, you turn to friends—nothing beats that.

Jorik had the backing of Arch-Lord White Dragon Frostsire, but Orion, for his part, also had powerful allies. And from the looks of things, Orion's allies were way stronger.

Ignoring messages from Aerin and Julius Caesar—he wasn't in the mood to chat or trade right now—Orion instead sent one to Arthas.

"Bro, I've got a favor to ask."

Arthas replied quickly and opened up a trade window with Orion. Without even checking the message, Orion accepted the trade. Arthas transferred four newly cleansed Lord's Stones, and Orion couldn't hide his excitement.

"If you need my help, just let me know. Your items have been purified.

These Lord's Stones had pieces missing, so all their transcendent power got converted into a neutral form. You won't need to form any bond before you can refine it, which is perfect for boosting your power.

"Just remember: if you use these Lord's Stones to promote your underlings, it'll limit their potential and make future enhancements extremely difficult."

Reading Arthas's reply, Orion practically jumped from his throne with excitement. Four brand-new neutral Lord's Stones—all for him. Didn't that mean he could rocket himself toward Upper Legendary level? With his own power raised, he'd have more options in whatever came next.

"Bro, you really are my lucky star!"

He messaged back, brimming with gratitude. Arthas didn't seem particularly moved, though, simply cutting to the chase.

"Tell me what's going on."

That settled Orion's excitement somewhat, and he laid out his request:

"Bro, I want to set up a long-distance teleportation array somewhere on my continent, so we can send troops back and forth. Do you have the method and materials to build one?"

As soon as the message left him, Orion felt a bit tense inside.

"I do have the method, but I'm short on the materials. At our level, the components for building a teleportation array usually go toward cross-realm teleportation arrays.

But if it's just within the same continent, there's no need to waste such rare materials. You should talk to the Deputy Commander. Your request would be child's play for him."

Arthas's words shone a bright light on Orion's path. Orion thanked him, and that was that—no further response came from Arthas.

Switching to the Champions Alliance channel, Orion shot a message to Deputy Commander Edward:

"Deputy Commander, I need your help!"

Truth be told, this was the first time Orion had ever contacted Edward directly, and to ask a favor, no less. It was a bit awkward, but he braced himself.

Three minutes later, Edward finally answered:

"What's up? Let's hear it."

Orion explained his idea and needs.

Edward simply replied, "Hang on," and then went quiet for ages.

Orion waited three hours. It was getting on toward evening before Edward finally got back to him—not by text, but in the form of a trade request.

Orion accepted it and received two platter-like objects, each covered in dense magical runes. He was still examining them when Edward's message arrived:

"These are two teleportation-star discs. When you place them, channel your lightning-element transcendent power to operate them.

They're not big—each array covers 10,000 square-foot area. So you'll want a courtyard or small plaza set aside for them.

They can teleport up to a hundred people at a time, and every use costs transcendent power.

Of course, you can use crystal cores instead, but that would devour a ton of them."

Reading Edward's words, Orion felt simultaneous excitement and anxiety.

"Deputy Commander, what's the price on these two teleportation discs?"

He knew they had to be extremely expensive, real top-tier gear.

"Once you're free, let me know. At some point, help me invade a Godforsaken Land. That'll make us even."

Not hesitating for an instant, Orion agreed. Helping a demigod invade a Godforsaken Land might be tricky, but if Edward said Orion could manage, then Orion trusted he could.

After thanking Edward, Orion tucked the magic-laced star discs away for safekeeping.

Next, he finally had the breathing room to answer Aerin, trading for another batch of Pet Pills and basic Toughness Potions.

After that came Julius Caesar—who'd basically spammed him with messages. The guy apparently loved to chat.

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"What's so urgent?" Orion asked. Caesar's reply was quick—no surprise, since he seemed to be online 24/7, waiting for Orion.

"Big Boss, at last! I want to buy gear. I need a hundred sets of standard-issue armor and matching weapons. Lances for long weapons, one-handed swords for shorts.

Do you have anything in stock?"

Even as he spoke, Caesar sent a trade request, placing an arrow tower into the trade window.

"Hang tight, don't go anywhere."

Orion confirmed the trade and withdrew from the Survivor's Platform.

"Ursa, go fetch Delilah for me," he barked.

"Yes, Lord!"

Since his four main guards were off reorganizing the Giant armies, Ursa had been stationed outside as a temporary guardian of the palace.

Moments later, Delilah walked in, her curvy hips swaying temptingly from side to side.

"Darling Orion, you called?"

She didn't stop at the foot of the throne but instead kept going till she was right on Orion's lap. She pressed her rear against his cock, batting her eyes at him with teasing desire.

Orion responded by ripping off her clothes, and soon the palace resonated with the sound of flesh slapping together and the sultry moans of their lovemaking.

Afterward, cradling a naked Delilah in his arms, Orion spoke to her in a gentle tone:

"Bring me three hundred sets of standard armor from our stash and have them placed here in the throne room. I need them. Save the higher-quality gear for our own warriors."

---

Delilah leaned against Orion, her face still flushed, her breathing faintly uneven.

"Mm…"

That soft sound she made was laced with both a delicate fragility and a languid sort of teasing, enough to tempt anyone. Orion lowered his head and kissed her, and their fresh wave of passion began anew.

Late into the night, Orion finally wrapped up his trade with Caesar, who overflowed with thanks and praise. Though Orion had made him wait a long time, Caesar remained delighted with the outcome.

Meanwhile, in a small frontier town of the human realm…

In the courtyard of a modest residence, about a hundred teenagers—most around seventeen or eighteen years old—were gathered. A boy, also around seventeen or eighteen, stood atop a makeshift stage of three tables, speaking in an impassioned voice:

"Everyone, starting today, this is our place.

We've officially registered the Shadow Wolf Mercenary Corps, and this is our home base.

From now on, we're no longer just some lowly peasants. We're professionals—free mercenaries.

Tomorrow, we begin taking on missions. And for what comes next…"

The speaker was Julius Caesar. At that moment, he seemed brimming with youthful energy and a confident poise. Wearing a suit of armor marked with their mercenary emblem, he looked downright dashing, voice full of righteous fervor.

The hundred or so teenagers around him were dressed in the exact same standard-issue armor, cheering at the top of their lungs—a newly formed band of mercenaries, proud and unified.

"Everyone, listen up: Three months from now, I'll lead a team outside the city into the forest. We'll hunt beasts and see if we can track down the legendary swordsman, Ares.

…"

––––––––

Back at Stoneheart City's gates…

Three days had passed, and Orion's newly formed giant armies had come together in basic shape. Delilah and the four guards would need more time to thoroughly integrate and reorganize everything.

For this southern expedition, Orion was bringing the remaining cave spiders, plus over five hundred Starveil Giant bloodline warriors led by Drakthul, Marnok, Gormathar, Veldrok, and Grulbane.

As for the cannon-fodder troops, Orion left them behind with Delilah and Onyx to intimidate the rest of the Starveil Giants and ensure the city remained firmly in Horde hands.

Roaring into view, the Abyssal dragon arrived. Orion climbed onto its back and closed his eyes, saying nothing. The dragon, Xalathar, turned and snarled at the unfamiliar Starveil Giants, forcing their raptors to drop onto their bellies in submission.

"Let's move, Xalathar!"

With another thunderous roar, the Abyssal dragon started forward, leading the way. Behind it, Drakthul, Marnok, Gormathar, Veldrok, and Grulbane exchanged glances, eyes brimming with surprise.

They'd seen Abyssal dragons before, but never one quite as terrifying as this. Judging by its aura, Xalathar was already nearing the Alpha-level peak—likely not far from breaking into Legendary.

All of it was thanks to Orion. The Abyssal dragon dwelled within his heart, reaping tremendous benefits that Onyx and the others could scarcely imagine.

"An Abyssal dragon on the verge of Alpha-level peak!"

Marnok gasped—one of the five surviving Alpha-level Giants from Starveil.

"Don't sound so shocked. Our new Giant King far surpasses Balor, and it's our privilege to follow him," someone murmured. "You all know exactly why our king called us on this campaign."

That reminder came from Drakthul, the leader among the five Starveil Giants, both in strength and charisma. He understood perfectly well that Orion had brought them along partly to test their loyalty on the battlefield, and partly so Delilah, Onyx, and the others could reorganize Stoneheart City without interference.

"Our new Giant King is more powerful, and that brings us even greater glory," Shaman Grulbane added. "Maybe after this war, we'll no longer be labeled vassals of the Blood Elves."

Grulbane watched Orion's departing figure with burning eyes. For a long time, the giant race had yearned to break free of Blood Elf domination. Balor tried long and hard to make that happen, and the Starveil Giants had done their best. Now, perhaps following this northern Giant King was their true path to freedom.

"Let's go—for the sake of the Giants, for the sake of our freedom!"

Drakthul, Marnok, Gormathar, and Veldrok swapped glances, sharing the same smoldering hope. They'd dreamed of throwing off the Blood Elves' yoke for as long as they could remember.

"Victory will be ours!"

"It will!"

"…"

Orion, unaware of the fervor among Drakthul and the others, was currently chatting with a friend of his.

"I'm sorry, my friend. I couldn't capture Elanor for you, so it looks like you'll have to wait to experience the…er, pleasure of bedding her," Ogre Aldous said with a wry grin. "She's alarmingly strong, and bolted off like a frightened bird. I couldn't catch her."

Orion shook his head slightly.

"My friend, if the Blood Elves end up defeated or forced to concede, will you need my help?"

Looking out at the horizon, Orion was sowing the seeds of an alliance in preparation for whatever chaos came next. From the ogres' perspective, Orion was also a potent and dependable ally.

"Of course, Ogre Aldous needs help—needs friends!"

Aldous had picked up on Orion's meaning at once. In the looming conflict, having Orion in his corner would give the ogres extra security. If the Blood Elves fell and their territory was split among the victors, Aldous would need Orion's support more than ever.

"Then it's settled, my friend. Let's get our troops moving alongside each other, covering each other's backs."

Orion gazed into the distance, where waves of insectoids, cave spiders, icefield snow wolves, and scorpions swept across grasslands and forests, leaving a trail of devastation behind them.

"Then it's a deal!"

Aldous popped a Pet Pill into his mouth, relishing it. He belched loudly, blowing a passing dandelion into the breeze. A certain romantic calm hung in the air, punctuated by the marching footfalls of armies a million strong heading south.

Overhead, thunderhawks and wyverns called in ceaseless chorus.

War was merciless indeed.