Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

Slagor was indeed full of sincerity. He began by detailing the terrain of Half-Moon Lake and then volunteered to take on the dangerous task of leading the charge.

Orion nodded silently, gesturing for Slagor to continue.

"The Geckos Tribe has a total population of around seventy to eighty thousand!"

The sheer number made Orion, Rendall, and Prophet Onyx's brows twitch uncontrollably.

Seeing their reaction, Slagor quickly added, fearing they might lose their resolve.

"Seventy to eighty thousand is their total population, but half of them are old, weak, or sick!"

"The actual bloodline warriors number less than fifty thousand!"

Hearing this, Orion's racing heart began to calm.

Slagor paused for a moment, licking his lips before voicing his own request.

"Chieftain Orion, after we break the Geckos Tribe, I don't want any of the spoils. But I do want all the women and children of the Geckos Tribe!"

Slagor's tone was serious, and he locked eyes with Orion as he spoke.

Slagor was a clever one.

He understood that in the long run, the most valuable resource wasn't magical plants or crystal cores—it was population.

Orion stared deeply at Slagor, recognizing the lizardman's far-sightedness and intelligence.

"As you wish," Orion said after a moment of thought, agreeing to Slagor's request.

However, Orion's tone shifted sharply, his words leaving no room for negotiation.

"But all the geckos who surrender must be integrated into my army. I need them to fight for me!"

"You don't need me to explain why. You know as well as I do that having prisoners reduces our own casualties."

Slagor nodded without hesitation. He had no objections to this.

As a chieftain, no one wanted their own people to be the ones sent to die as cannon fodder.

Seeing that Orion had no further objections, Slagor continued.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"When we engage, we'll need to face the enemy together."

Orion didn't argue. Slagor's suggestion was simply a way to ensure Orion's forces would also bear some of the burden, reducing Slagor's own losses.

This aligned perfectly with Orion's plans, so he had no reason to object.

"As for Raxt (the Geckos chieftain and Alpha-level beast)…"

Slagor hesitated, unsure how to divide the responsibility. After all, neither Orion, Prophet Onyx, nor Rendall were under his command.

"Raxt will be handled by me and Prophet Onyx," Orion said decisively.

"You and Rendall will assist our bloodline warriors in taking down the Geckos Tribe as quickly as possible."

"This way, we can minimize losses on both sides."

Slagor readily agreed to this arrangement.

The group then discussed the finer details of the attack plan.

Before long, everything was settled.

Orion raised his goblet, a pleased smile on his face.

"Slagor, let's drink to our upcoming victory!"

Slagor nodded, lifting his own goblet to toast with Orion.

It was only then that Slagor noticed the peculiar and unique design of Orion's goblet.

"This aura… could it be…"

Orion chuckled, raising the goblet higher and moving it closer to Slagor.

"This goblet was crafted from Reynard's skull. It's the work of the master artisan, Prophet Onyx."

"What do you think? Isn't it exquisite?"

Orion's tone was cheerful, even proud.

But to Slagor, those words were utterly chilling.

Slagor hadn't expected that not only had Orion killed Reynard, but he had also turned Reynard's skull into a goblet.

At that moment, Slagor felt a cold shiver run down his spine, as if the skull goblet in Orion's hand might one day be made from his own head.

Orion's laughter faded, and he fixed Slagor with a faint, knowing smile.

The purpose of the skull goblet was clear—it was a warning.

Orion wanted to remind Slagor not to play any tricks during their cooperation. Otherwise, Orion wouldn't hesitate to add another skull goblet to his collection.

"Ahem… it's indeed exquisite. Onyx's craftsmanship is truly remarkable!" Slagor forced a smile, suppressing the urge to flee as he awkwardly praised the goblet.

Inwardly, Slagor warned himself to tread carefully and never cross Orion.

---

After a night of rest, the invasion began at dawn.

The Geckos were a nocturnal species, most active at night and less alert during the day. Their combat effectiveness would also be slightly reduced during daylight hours.

Launching the attack at dawn was a decision made after careful deliberation.

It was a spectacular sight.

Countless swamp crocodiles, lizardmen, and swamp rats charged across the shallow waters of Half-Moon Lake, advancing toward Half-Moon Island from all directions.

This was Slagor's army, initiating the full-scale assault.

Orion raised his right hand and then brought it down.

The war horns of the Stoneheart Horde blared, their deep, resonant tones echoing across Half-Moon Lake.

Nearly fifty thousand cannon fodder troops followed closely behind the lizardmen, surging toward Half-Moon Island.

Orion activated his Berserk Aura, sending many of the cannon fodder troops into a frenzied state.

"Stay close to Rendall and be careful," Orion said, turning to Delilah.

Orion didn't want his seductive and skilled lover, who knew exactly how to please him, to die needlessly on the battlefield.

"I will, my dear Orion," Delilah replied, her voice filled with both joy and surprise at Orion's concern.

Normally, she addressed him as "chieftain" or "my dear chieftain."

But in this moment, she called him by his name—a subtle but meaningful shift that spoke volumes about their relationship.

Orion didn't linger on Delilah. Instead, he turned to Prophet Onyx.

"Prophet, it's time for us to make our move."

Prophet Onyx gripped his stone axe tightly and stepped forward, his voice steady.

"Chieftain, I'll clear the way!"

"Good!"

Orion didn't argue, retrieving his trident and following Prophet Onyx at a leisurely pace.

The Geckos on Half-Moon Island quickly reacted, launching a counterattack.

But wherever Prophet Onyx passed, the Geckos were smashed to death by his stone axe.

"The beast is in the center of the island, slightly to the east," Orion said, sensing the Alpha-level beast's aura.

"Understood!"

Prophet Onyx adjusted his path, heading straight for the Alpha-level beast.

Roar!

A deafening roar echoed across Half-Moon Island as the Alpha-level beast, Raxt, unleashed its presence.

The oppressive aura of an Alpha-level being swept across the battlefield, signaling the arrival of the Geckos Tribe chieftain.

===

"Gnolls, move! The war has begun!"

"Charge! Charge! Keep charging!"

"Kill the enemy, take their women, seize their supplies, and cut off their heads!"

"For the horde, for glory, for honor!"

Orion followed calmly behind Prophet Onyx, observing the battlefield with a composed demeanor.

The sounds that reached Orion's ears weren't just the clash of weapons or the cries of the dying. The loudest voice belonged to Dirtclaw, whose battle cries and motivational shouts echoed across the battlefield.

Being on such a massive battlefield, it was nearly impossible to remain detached.

The blood, the chaos, and the carnage had a way of stirring something primal in everyone, pushing them into a frenzy.

The battlefield was like a spell, awakening the innate bloodlust of all living beings.

Orion's gaze swept across the chaos, taking in every detail, every moment.

He saw the gnolls wielding war hammers and javelins, their fear evident, yet they fought through it, launching desperate counterattacks.

He saw the giant warriors, their immense strength leaving trails of severed limbs and rivers of blood wherever they went.

The Obsidian Golems fought with brute force, like unstoppable bulldozers, sending Geckos flying with every swing.

In the air, arrows zipped by, and faint chants could be heard—the succubi were launching their magical assaults.

The Buffalofolk, as always, were the odd ones out. A few of them, in a berserk state, had charged ahead of the cannon fodder troops, treating themselves as expendable pawns.

---

Orion found himself in a strange state of mind.

He felt as though he was both a part of the battlefield and yet removed from it, observing it from a higher perspective.

He saw many of the cannon fodder troops trampled to death, saw Rendall and Slagor wreaking havoc on the battlefield, and even caught glimpses of Delilah, moving like a ghost through the chaos, her dagger flashing as she struck down enemies.

Boom!

A deafening explosion snapped Orion out of his trance.

Prophet Onyx had clashed head-on with Raxt, the Alpha-level beast, and the two were evenly matched.

Raxt's body was now encased in a layer of ice armor, its defense incredibly high. Prophet Onyx's powerful strike had failed to break through.

Meanwhile, Raxt's razor-sharp claws, wreathed in flames, slashed through the air, leaving trails of sparks and embers.

Slagor hadn't been exaggerating—Raxt's dual affinity for water and fire made it a formidable opponent.

Orion decided it was time to join the fight.

Gripping his trident, he began his charge.

At the same time, he activated Titan's Rage and Shadowstep, his body swelling with power as his Titan bloodline surged to life. His form grew larger, his muscles bulging, and his presence became overwhelming, like a god of war descending onto the battlefield.

With a mighty leap, Orion soared into the air, both hands gripping the trident as he channeled his energy. He descended like a meteor, aiming straight for Raxt.

Prophet Onyx seized the opportunity, swinging his stone axe in a horizontal slash.

The battlefield was filled with killing intent.

"Damn you, Slagor!"

"You cowardly half-breed, calling outsiders to fight your battles!"

"Flames and frost, I'll take you all down with me!"

The pace of the battle between Alpha-level beings was blisteringly fast. Raxt had no time to dodge and was forced to meet the attacks head-on.

Raxt's ice armor began to crack, and within the fractures, fiery light flickered.

The next moment, the ice armor shattered into countless razor-sharp shards, flying outward in all directions.

Boom!

Within a hundred-meter radius, friend and foe alike were struck down by the deadly shards.

Orion's trident pierced deep into Raxt's back, but he himself emerged relatively unscathed.

However, the Ghostbone Armor on his arms had been severely damaged, with large chunks of it shaved away by the ice shards.

Prophet Onyx, on the other hand, was covered in shallow wounds.

Taking advantage of the moment when Raxt's ice armor shattered, Prophet Onyx's stone axe cleaved into Raxt's arm, severing one of its claws at the base.

Roar!

Despite its injuries, Raxt refused to die.

Its vitality was astonishing. For creatures like Raxt, regrowing severed limbs or tails was a basic survival skill.

With its remaining claw, Raxt launched a counterattack.

Bang!

Prophet Onyx was struck, forced to retreat several steps.

Only Orion remained on Raxt's back, twisting the trident deeper into its spine, causing the beast immense pain.

Raxt, now supporting itself on its front claws, swung its massive tail like a whip toward Orion.

The terrifying sound of the tail cutting through the air sent a chill down Orion's spine. Sensing the danger, he released the trident and leapt off Raxt's back, narrowly avoiding the attack.

Landing on the ground, Orion's eyes immediately locked onto the stone axe embedded in Raxt's right arm.

His eyes lit up, and he sprinted toward the weapon.

Raxt, realizing Orion's intent, swung its claw to intercept him.

Orion twisted his body, using Shadowstep to evade the attack, and reached the stone axe.

In Orion's hands, the massive stone axe felt as light as a feather.

With the weapon in hand, Orion's gaze turned razor-sharp.

"Die!"

Charging forward, Orion executed a sliding slash, the massive stone axe carving a devastating path.

From Raxt's neck to its tail, a deep, horrifying gash split its body open.

Blood and entrails spilled onto the ground as Raxt let out a final, defiant roar before collapsing.

Orion exhaled deeply. With Raxt dead, the battle was as good as won.

But just as that thought crossed his mind, a sense of danger gripped him.

Trusting his instincts, Orion swung the stone axe behind him.

Boom!

Orion stood his ground, but Raxt's lifeless body was sent flying backward.

"What terrifying strength. No wonder you were able to kill my pet, Raxt."

A deep, commanding voice filled with oppressive power echoed in Orion's ears, making his hair stand on end.

Around him, the warriors of all factions had fallen to their knees, trembling in fear, unable to move.

The only ones still standing were Orion and Prophet Onyx.

Orion turned his gaze toward Raxt's corpse, which now stood upright in a combat stance, its lifeless body moving unnaturally.

"No wonder Lord Gareth rushed to Thunderpeak Mountain to keep me occupied. I see now that among the invaders, there's someone as exceptional as you."

"Kneel and swear loyalty to me, and I'll spare your life."

"Refuse, and when I catch you, you'll die without a grave to call your own!"