Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

The next morning, Orion stepped out of his tent, leaving Lilith and Lysinthia still resting inside. The previous night had been filled with passion, and the two women were utterly exhausted.

Lilith, in particular, felt that the intense lovemaking had drained her more than the recent battles defending against the worms. Yet, she relished the feeling.

As Orion strolled through Moonshadow Valley, the peaceful atmosphere lifted his spirits.

"We're really back," he murmured to himself.

With the main force still on its way and no guards accompanying him, Orion felt a rare sense of freedom.

Walking out of Moonshadow Valley, every horde member he passed bowed their heads in greeting.

Orion returned their gestures with a smile, and before he knew it, he had arrived at the southern gate and climbed up onto the wall.

"Chieftain!"

Thundar approached, his expression showing signs of fatigue.

"You didn't rest last night?" Orion asked.

Thundar nodded and led Orion into a room on the wall.

"I was busy all night. I couldn't sleep, so I decided to stand watch here instead."

Orion studied Thundar for a moment. His strength had reached the peak of hero-level, and his aura had become much steadier.

"Make sure to rest. The horde still needs you for many things."

"Don't worry, Earthshaker will be here soon to take over for me."

Orion nodded and stepped out of the room.

"Walk with me. Tell me everything that's happened in the horde since I left."

"Of course, Chieftain."

---

Since Orion had left for the southern invasion, the Stoneheart Horde seemed unchanged on the surface. But beneath that calm exterior, many things had quietly shifted.

As they walked and talked, Thundar explained the changes in detail.

Two hours later, the two of them reached the eastern ridge. By then, Thundar had given Orion a thorough update, leaving him with a clear understanding of the horde's current state.

"Are the worms below completely cleared out?"

"Since the second half of the night, there's been no sign of them. However, the Spider Queen is still conducting searches, though at a slower pace."

Orion didn't respond. The remaining worms were few in number, and Lorelia could handle them on her own.

"You should rest. I'm going to patrol the Black Forest."

"Patrol the Black Forest?"

"Yes."

Thundar was puzzled. It made sense for Orion to patrol Moonshadow Valley or Blackstone Town, but why the Black Forest?

His confusion was answered when the sharp cry of a thunderhawk echoed across the sky.

A massive shadow swooped down, and Orion climbed onto the wall. With a single leap, he landed steadily on the thunderhawk's back.

"Tell Rendall I'll be back in three days at most!"

The wind roared as the thunderhawk took off, ruffling Thundar's hair.

For a moment, Thundar's heart raced.

*That's a thunderhawk!*

*An Alpha-level flying beast!*

In that moment, Thundar felt an overwhelming desire to soar into the skies alongside Orion, to explore the land that had nurtured them.

But he couldn't.

"Alpha-level… I'll reach it one day! I want to see the world beyond!"

For the first time, Thundar felt an intense yearning—not just for strength, but for the freedom to venture out.

---

For Orion, this was his first time viewing the Black Forest from above.

From the sky, Moonshadow Valley and Blackstone Town looked like miniature cities made of building blocks, a sight that amused him.

As he shifted his gaze, the vast expanse of the world unfolded before him. The clear skies, endless clouds, and the constant rush of wind filled him with a profound sense of awe.

Looking down, he saw mountains, forests, beasts, birds, lakes, and rivers—all of it stirring his soul with a sense of boundless grandeur.

Starting from the east, Orion followed the Barren Mountains, where the trolls resided, and patrolled northward.

The Barren Mountains were vast, serving as the natural border between the Black Forest and the Poison Dragon Swamp. The environment here was unique and harsh.

"Should I subdue the trolls now?"

Orion spotted a group of trolls hunting in the mountains, and the thought of bringing them under his control crossed his mind.

But he quickly dismissed the idea. The timing wasn't right.

After crossing the Barren Mountains, he reached a region where forests and swamps intertwined—a place he had never visited before. It piqued his curiosity.

Further east lay the Abyssal Chasm, Lord Gareth's stronghold. Orion had no desire to explore that area.

Heading west, the northwestern region was still part of the Abyssal Chasm's territory and held little interest for him.

It wasn't until he reached the western region that he saw the desert ruled by the Scorpion Queen, Soraya.

Orion lingered over the desert for a while but didn't venture deeper.

Finally, heading south, he reached the edge of Thunderwood Forest before beginning his return journey.

The entire patrol took Orion over two days, giving him a clear understanding of the Black Forest he ruled.

At the same time, he gained a better sense of the neighboring territories and their rulers.

"Remember, this forest is my domain. From now on, it's also your hunting ground," Orion said, patting the thunderhawk's back.

The thunderhawk let out an excited cry, clearly pleased.

"Alright, let's head back."

The thunderhawk flapped its wings and turned toward Moonshadow Valley.

---

On the way back, Orion spotted the returning main force.

Judging by their pace, it would take another six or seven days for them to reach Moonshadow Valley.

SCREEEEE!

The thunderhawk swooped low over the main force, letting out a sharp cry.

"Is that the chieftain's thunderhawk?"

In the dense forest below, Delilah looked up, her gaze following the distant thunderhawk.

"It is. I even saw the chieftain himself. He smiled and nodded at us," said Prophet Onyx, who had a clear view from his elevated position. "He must have sensed your aura, which is why he came down to greet us. Looks like your plan to surprise him has failed,"

Delilah's eyes sparkling with the joy of her recent advancement.

Two days earlier, Delilah had successfully advanced to Alpha-level, using the elemental tide triggered by the Blood Mushroom.

She had planned to surprise Orion with her breakthrough, but he had spotted her from above, ruining the surprise.

"The chieftain's return means the crisis in Moonshadow Valley has been resolved," Onyx said.

Delilah nodded in agreement. With Orion, Rendall, the Abyssal dragon, and the thunderhawk all back in Moonshadow Valley, any major threat would have been dealt with swiftly.

"Prophet, to be honest, I still feel more at home in the Black Forest," Delilah said, her gaze sweeping over the familiar landscape.

"Even though the south has more resources and diverse races, we grew up here. It's where our roots are."

Prophet Onyx looked out over the Black Forest, his eyes lingering on the Obsidian Golem's old gathering grounds and the mountain they once called home.

"Those words… I've heard them before, centuries ago."

---

Seven days later, Orion and Rendall led the horde members out of Moonshadow Valley to welcome the returning Invasion force.

Of course, the primary reason for this was the tens of thousands of cannon fodder troops, who needed to be properly managed.

The convoy moved slowly, not just because of its size but also due to the massive amount of loot it was transporting.

The spoils of war were immense—resources from the Gnoll Tribe, Thunderhawk City, Half-Moon Island, and even half of Stormrage City had been plundered clean.

The sheer scale of the convoy and its cargo left the members of Moonshadow Valley in awe.

Children and elders alike ran out of the city to watch the spectacle.

"Mom, look! Is that a gnoll from your stories?"

"Look over there! Those are geckos!"

"Elder, are those all captives brought back by the chieftain?"

"So many slaves!"

The crowd buzzed with curiosity and amazement.

---

Standing alongside Orion and Rendall to greet the returning force were Lilith, Lysinthia, Thundar, Earthshaker, and other elders.

When they saw Delilah, now radiating the aura of an Alpha-level powerhouse, their faces were filled with shock.

"Alpha-level!"

"The Stewardship Elder has advanced to Alpha-level?"

"Sister… you…"

Even Orion was a little surprised.

When he had given Delilah the Blood Mushroom, it was partly because she had found it herself and partly to comfort her after her previous failed advancement attempt.

He hadn't expected her to succeed so quickly.

---

"Rendall, I've already cleared out the southeastern area. Move the cannon fodder troops there," Orion instructed.

As the commander of the cannon fodder troops, this task naturally fell to Rendall.

"Delilah, relocate Dirtclaw's tribe to the western area. You'll handle this."

"As you wish, my dear chieftain!"

As the Stewardship Elder, Delilah was the most suitable person for the job.

Besides, Dirtclaw was her slave—who else would handle it if not her?

Dirtclaw was overwhelmed with emotion. His tribe and family were being treated differently from the other gnolls.

His branch of the gnoll tribe was not comparable to the cannon fodder gnolls.

"After lunch, we'll hold a council meeting!"

After assigning Thundar and Earthshaker to help organize the supplies, Orion returned to Moonshadow Valley.

---

Orion wasn't the only one with tasks to handle—everyone had their responsibilities.

"This is Violet, the saintess of the Garland Tribe. She specializes in cultivating magical plants and enchantments. She's also… my woman."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Orion felt a bit awkward introducing Violet to Lilith. There was a faint sense of guilt, as if he had done something wrong.

Lilith smiled warmly, taking Violet's hands in hers. Her expression was kind, though her tone carried a hint of teasing.

"My dear Orion, I can sense that she's… different."

Orion nodded, signaling Violet to drop the enchantment concealing her appearance.

When Violet revealed her true face, both Lilith and Lysinthia were momentarily stunned.

"Wow… she's truly beautiful. And her figure is amazing!"

"No wonder my Orion couldn't resist. Welcome to our family!"

Even Lilith, who was used to seeing beauty, was briefly taken aback by Violet's ethereal appearance.

Lilith quickly recovered, maintaining her warm and welcoming demeanor. She showed no signs of jealousy or arrogance, treating Violet with genuine kindness.

Lysinthia, however, reacted differently.

Bound to Orion by a slave contract, Lysinthia could sense the nature of Violet's relationship with him.

She understood that Violet's status was equal to her own.

Despite Violet's beauty and otherworldly charm, Lysinthia felt no interest in her. Instead, a faint sense of hostility began to brew.

---

Seeing the subtle dynamics between the women, Orion felt out of place in his own tent.

"You all chat. I'm going to check on Rendall."

With that, Orion made a quick escape, leaving Lilith to handle the situation.

---

Outside the tent, Orion didn't head toward the cannon fodder troops. Instead, he went to the chieftain's tent.

The chieftain's tent now served two purposes: one as Orion's personal residence and the other as a place for military discussions.

This division had been made a few days ago, as the growing strength of the horde had led to an increase in council members.

Currently, the council consisted of the four main elders and seventy regular elders.

Once the war achievements from the Myriad Races Invasion were tallied, many more members would likely qualify for promotion to elder status.

---

"Chieftain, you're here!"

The first to arrive was Prophet Onyx. Orion greeted him and gestured for him to take a seat.

Over the next fifteen minutes, the four main elders—Rendall, Prophet Onyx, Delilah, and Thundar—arrived one after another.

"Dace, go inform the other elders that the council meeting has been postponed by two hours."

Orion scanned the four main elders, deciding it was best to discuss a few matters with them first.

"I have three things to discuss. Think them over and let me know if there are any flaws or areas for improvement."

"First: the council is growing in size. I plan to restructure it, similar to how we've organized the cannon fodder troops, by introducing ranks and classifications for the elders."

"I want to select eight council elders from the group, granting them the authority to participate in the horde's most important meetings."

"Many hands make light work. Collective wisdom is essential."

Orion's tone was firm, making it clear that this reform was non-negotiable.

"Second: the number of bloodline warriors in the horde is steadily increasing, and it will only grow further. We need a dedicated military base."

"I've decided to designate Moonshadow Valley as the Stoneheart Horde's military base."

"All members of the giant tribe will be relocated to the northern area of Blackstone Town."

Orion directed this statement toward Rendall, knowing that he would likely face the greatest resistance from him.

The Stoneheart Horde needed a proper military base to ensure the professionalism, discipline, and unity of its warriors.

Currently, all other races lived in Blackstone Town, while the giants remained in Moonshadow Valley. Over time, this separation could lead to internal divisions and resentment.

Orion wanted to address this potential issue before it became a problem.

He also understood the deep emotional attachment the giants had to Moonshadow Valley.

This would undoubtedly be a difficult transition, but it was a necessary step toward fostering unity among the horde's diverse members.

---

"Of course, I'm not exempt from this change."

"My personal chieftain's tent will also be relocated—one near the southern gate of Blackstone Town, where I'll stand alongside everyone to defend the horde."

"The other will be in the northern residential area, close to Moonshadow Valley, serving as the new home for the giants."

"From now on, Moonshadow Valley will be a military base, accessible only to the horde's official bloodline warriors."