Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

Half a Month Later – Abyssal Chasm

Jorik, leading his vast army, officially stepped into Gareth's territory.

"Snow Wraiths, you'll invade from the west. Keep an eye on those scorpions!"

Lord Jorik turned to the Snow Wraiths, a race that left a trail of ice and snow wherever they went. From the frost they conjured, countless Snowlings were born, making them impervious to overwhelming numbers.

"As you command, my lord. If those scorpions dare crawl out, I'll slaughter every last one of them!"

The Snow Wraith's voice was raspy, her transparent eyes devoid of emotion, filled only with an icy calm.

Jorik nodded and turned to the Icefield Snow Wolf King, standing beside him.

"Wolf King, you'll invade the Black Forest. Its environment is perfect for your kind."

"Awooo!"

The Snow Wolf King, already enslaved by Jorik, howled in acknowledgment. Jorik trusted it completely; the Snow Wolf King would carry out his orders without fail.

Finally, Jorik's gaze fell on a Frost Giant, a towering figure as large as a small mountain, with spiraling horns and a thick coat of white fur.

"Chillrend, you'll head east. Years ago, your father was slain by the Trolls. Those same Trolls now dwell near the Barren Mountains, close to the Poison Dragon Swamp."

"ROAR! Honorable Lord, thank you for granting me this opportunity!"

Jorik stood tall, his icy expression unwavering as he faced southward.

"Go. Before I settle my score with Gareth, I want every resource in the Four Domains plundered!"

"Remember, you owe me sixty percent of your spoils."

The Snow Wraiths, Frost Giants, and Snow Wolf King all nodded, leading their respective tribes southward to begin their invasions.

Meanwhile, Jorik remained with his main faction, encircling the Abyssal Chasm, preparing to confront Gareth directly.

---

Black Forest – Border Region

After much deliberation, Gronthar, the Troll chieftain, had made his decision.

Once the tribe had been gathered, Gronthar and his elder council had discussed their options and ultimately decided to follow Slagor to the Black Forest, seeking refuge under Orion's protection.

When Slagor saw the Trolls catching up, he was overjoyed.

He welcomed them warmly, putting on a show of camaraderie and solidarity, engaging the Trolls in friendly conversation.

"Honorable Slagor, is it true that the Black Forest has five Alpha-level powerhouses?"

As the Troll chieftain, Gronthar was the most qualified to speak with Slagor, and he cautiously probed for information.

"I've seen it with my own eyes. It's no lie!"

Slagor's tone remained gentle, though inwardly he was muttering to himself.

"If not for those five Alpha-level powerhouses, do you think I'd uproot my tribe and migrate from the swamp to the Black Forest?"

Images of Orion, Onyx, Rendall, the Thunderhawk, and the Abyssal Dragon flashed through Slagor's mind.

With Alpha-level powerhouses both in the skies and on the ground, the Black Forest was the safest place outside of Gareth's Abyssal Chasm.

Slagor's confident response eased Gronthar's anxiety.

As the chieftain, Gronthar had been plagued with unease ever since deciding to relocate his entire tribe.

"Slagor, may I ask—"

Before Gronthar could finish his question, a sharp eagle's cry echoed from the sky above.

The piercing sound was followed by a cold, commanding voice.

"Slagor, you've trespassed into my territory. Are you looking to die?"

BOOM!

A bolt of lightning struck the ground near Slagor, instantly charring several crocodiles.

"Chieftain Orion, please don't attack! Didn't I send word ahead of time?"

Slagor looked up at the Thunderhawk circling overhead, hurriedly explaining while signaling his people to lower their weapons.

From atop the Thunderhawk, Orion gazed down coldly. He hadn't expected Slagor to actually migrate to the Black Forest—and with his entire tribe, no less.

Judging by their speed, Slagor must have set out the moment the spring rain began to fall.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Heh… Slagor, I made it very clear in my letter—I refused."

Orion didn't order the Thunderhawk to attack again. The earlier strike had been a warning, a show of dominance.

Slagor understood this perfectly.

"Honorable Orion, did you send a reply? My messenger never returned to the Poison Dragon Swamp!"

"Could it be that he was killed on the way, perhaps devoured by one of your Black Forest beasts? I've heard there's some Flame Bears in the forest, a particularly powerful creature."

At this point, Slagor had no intention of saving face. His tribe had already migrated here—turning back would be a death sentence.

Before Orion could respond, Slagor pressed on.

"Chieftain Orion, I didn't come empty-handed."

"I've brought gifts for you—plenty of crystal cores and a variety of magical plants."

"And them—" Slagor gestured toward the Trolls. "The Trolls from the Barren Mountains. I've brought them as a gift for you as well!"

Slagor knew that being direct was more effective than arguing.

However, Gronthar's face darkened.

Only now did he realize that the Trolls had essentially been offered up as slaves to Orion.

What stung even more was that Gronthar couldn't protest or speak out.

If Orion refused to accept them, the Trolls would face two grim fates: annihilation at the hands of the Frost Giants, or a desperate migration southward, only to be slaughtered by the southern races.

Either way, the Trolls were doomed.

---

Standing atop the Thunderhawk, Orion remained silent, deep in thought as he assessed the situation.

To the east, Slagor had brought his tribe to the Black Forest. If the icefield monsters found no targets to plunder, they would inevitably turn their attention to the forest.

The same logic applied to the west, where the desert tribes might also redirect the invaders toward the Black Forest.

In short, the Black Forest was on the verge of becoming a prime target for all sides.

The thought of this looming crisis irritated Orion.

Looking down at Slagor's convoy and the trolls within it, Orion weighed his options.

"What should I do?"

"Drive them away? They'd likely refuse and stubbornly linger in the Black Forest."

"Temporarily take them in? But with so many people, how would I manage them?"

After a long moment of contemplation, Orion finally urged the Thunderhawk to descend.

As the Thunderhawk landed, it let out a sharp, warning cry, spreading its wings wide before taking off again, circling above to keep watch.

Orion stepped off the Thunderhawk, his trident in hand, his expression cold as he strode toward Slagor.

"Do you want to live, or do you want to die?"

This was the first thing Orion said, his voice cold and laced with killing intent.

"Of course, I want to live. That's why I brought my tribe here—this is the only place where survival is possible," Slagor replied, his tone calm but calculated.

Slagor had worked with Orion before and knew his temperament well. The fact that Orion had descended from the Thunderhawk meant he had already decided to take them in.

Still, Slagor maintained his shameless demeanor. He understood that cooperating with Orion was his tribe's only path to survival.

Orion's icy gaze bore into Slagor as he spoke, his words deliberate and sharp.

"Very well. From now on, you will follow my orders."

"Remember, this time is different from the last. I am in charge, and you have no choice but to obey."

"If you can't do that, you and your tribe will remain in the Black Forest forever."

"Our Black Forest has always dealt with invaders the same way—complete annihilation."

This was both a threat and a declaration of hierarchy.

Unlike their previous collaboration during the Myriad Races Invasion, the balance of power between Orion and Slagor had shifted. Orion was now the superior, and Slagor the subordinate. This dynamic had to be made clear and unshakable.

"I understand. This time, I'll follow your lead in everything," Slagor replied, his tone submissive but with a hint of cleverness.

"Once we get through this crisis, we'll return to the Swamp immediately."

Slagor was a smart lizardman. He knew how to navigate delicate situations.

His final statement, "Once we get through this crisis, we'll return to the Swamp," was a subtle reminder to Orion that the Lizardmen were not like the Trolls. They were not slaves, nor had they pledged allegiance to Orion.

Orion nodded, satisfied with Slagor's response.

"Clever lizard," Orion thought to himself. "When the time is right, I'll make sure to enslave him completely."

Orion then stepped past Slagor and approached Gronthar, the troll chieftain.

"The last time I crossed the Barren Mountains, we met," Orion said, his tone indifferent, as though addressing a stranger.

"You're Gronthar, the chieftain of the Troll Tribe?"

"Yes, honorable Orion," Gronthar replied, his unease evident despite his efforts to remain composed.

"Swear fealty to me. Submit to my enslavement."

"Otherwise, I will slaughter all of you here and now."

As Gronthar stared at Orion in shock, the giant's figure seemed to grow taller, his voice colder and more oppressive.

"Slagor, if your gift—the trolls—refuses to submit, you will personally execute them on the spot."

Orion's words were calculated. He knew enslaving the Troll chieftain would breed resentment within the tribe.

He had faced similar issues before when enslaving the Buffalofolk, though those problems had been swiftly dealt with by Earthshaker. Your journey continues on empire

By involving Slagor, Orion was shifting the trolls' resentment away from himself and onto the lizardmen.

This tactic of redirecting hatred was meant to ensure that the trolls wouldn't harbor too much animosity toward him.

Slagor, ever the cunning lizardman, immediately understood Orion's intentions.

But he didn't dare refuse. Raising his right hand, he signaled his troops from the Poison Dragon Swamp to draw their weapons, surrounding the trolls.

The tension in the air was palpable, and all the pressure fell squarely on Gronthar's shoulders.

The decision—whether to fight or submit—was his alone to make.

"Honorable Orion, I… I am willing to submit. Gronthar is willing to submit. The Trolls are willing to submit!"

At first, Gronthar's words came out haltingly, his voice heavy with bitterness and anger.

But as he spoke, the fight drained from him. His tone grew steadier, though his expression remained one of deep sorrow.

Orion felt no sympathy for the Trolls. In this world, the strong ruled, and the weak obeyed.

Without hesitation, Orion had Gronthar sign a slave contract.

During the process, Gronthar's younger brother, Brakthul, stepped forward, attempting to stop him.

Orion expected a dramatic display of brotherly love, but instead, Gronthar kicked Brakthul away with brutal efficiency.

"Brakthul, wake up! Everything I'm doing is for our tribe!"

Orion didn't spare Brakthul a glance. He understood that Gronthar's harsh actions were meant to protect his brother.

Gronthar knew that if Brakthul clashed with Orion, the situation would only worsen.

Better to discipline his brother himself than let him provoke Orion's wrath.

It was clear that Gronthar, despite his circumstances, was a wise and pragmatic chieftain.

---

With the situation resolved and the two groups successfully united, it was time to discuss the next steps.

"My first demand: separate your tribe's elite warriors and send them north."

"My second demand: escort the elderly, women, and children to Blackstone City, where they'll be safer."

These two demands served dual purposes. The first was to bolster the northern frontlines, while the second, under the guise of safety, was a way to hold hostages.

Both Slagor and Gronthar breathed a sigh of relief. At least their non-combatants would be spared and temporarily safe.

"In this icefield invasion, the Stoneheart Horde has been preparing for a long time. We are ready."

"With our strength, we won't sit back and defend. We will strike first."

Hearing Orion's declaration, both Slagor and Gronthar were stunned.

"Orion, are you really planning to go on the offensive?"

It was Slagor who spoke, as he was the only one present with the standing to question Orion.

Orion glanced at Slagor, his gaze cold and tinged with disdain.

Slagor forced an awkward smile but pressed on.

"Orion, I'm not doubting your strength. I'm just concerned that you might underestimate the icefield invaders."

"This is their season. The current climate makes them more dangerous than ever!"

"Whether it's the Snow Wraiths or the Frost Giants, wherever they go, snow falls, the ground freezes, and their combat power reaches its peak…"

Fearing for his life, Slagor spilled everything he knew about the icefield invaders, giving Orion valuable insights.

"They're formidable. I expected as much," Orion replied, his confidence unshaken. "Head north and join my forces. Further instructions will follow."

Despite Slagor's detailed warnings, Orion's unwavering confidence left the lizardman in awe.

---

After finalizing arrangements with Slagor and Gronthar, Orion stood and let out a sharp eagle cry.

The Thunderhawk swooped down, and with a single leap, Orion landed on its back.

"Slagor, I'll see you in the north."

"And you'd better behave. If your convoy to Blackstone City causes any trouble, I'll wipe you all out in the Black Forest!"