Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

Meanwhile, in a small stone hall within the succubus district, two elders of the succubus tribe, Desdemona and Vespera, stood before Delilah, bowing respectfully with an air of humility.

"Your Majesty, what are your orders?"

Compared to Rockwell's proactive demeanor, Desdemona and Vespera seemed far more passive.

Delilah reclined on her throne, resting her chin on one hand, her half-lidded eyes lazily studying the two succubus elders before her. She knew their strength still had room for improvement, but their progress was hindered by the deeply ingrained conservatism of their tribe.

For years, whether it was foreign races, beasts, or dark creatures, the succubi had lived in fear, their cautious mindset holding them back.

"Desdemona, as an elder of the succubus tribe, you have the full support of our people when you need it." Stay updated through empire

As she spoke, Delilah casually tossed a pouch of dark source crystals onto the ground in front of Desdemona.

"Desdemona, you're close to reaching the peak of hero-level strength, but your lack of battle achievements makes it hard for others to fully respect you."

"Take these crystals. Lead a team to hunt down the invaders from the tundra and prove yourself."

Desdemona was deeply moved. She was indeed just a step away from the peak of hero-level strength, but she had run out of dark source crystals to aid her advancement. Watching Dirtclaw's meteoric rise had left her both envious and frustrated.

"Your Majesty, I…"

Desdemona's aged hands trembled slightly as she clutched the pouch of dark source crystals, her voice faltering with emotion.

"There's no need for words. Just focus on doing your job well."

"Don't overthink it. Some things will come naturally when the time is right."

Delilah's expression remained unchanged, but her demeanor exuded an irresistible allure.

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

Desdemona fell silent, accepting Delilah's orders without further comment.

"Vespera, you're still young. Be more proactive and don't fall behind the other elders of the succubus tribe."

"Additionally, I expect you to secure your position on the council through your own battle achievements."

Delilah produced another pouch of dark source crystals and tossed it to Vespera.

"Your Majesty, I'm deeply grateful for your trust. I will—"

Before Vespera could finish, Delilah interrupted her, waving her off.

"Go now. Speak less, act more. Earn your glory through battle."

"As you command!"

Delilah, now not only an Alpha-level powerhouse but also the Elder of Stewardship of the Stoneheart Horde, exuded a regal elegance beneath her seductive exterior. Her demeanor was both commanding and refined, radiating an air of nobility.

As the two most promising elders of the succubus tribe departed, Delilah watched their retreating figures with an unchanging expression, as if everything was unfolding exactly as she had planned.

---

Similar scenes were playing out elsewhere in the Horde.

In Rendall's tent, three young giants—Slate, Samson, and Ursa—sat before him, watching as the elder downed cup after cup of ale.

"You younglings better make me proud. Drive those tundra invaders back to where they came from. Kill them until they're too scared to ever set foot in our Black Forest again."

Rendall's straightforward personality left no room for subtlety. To him, the solution was simple: kill the enemy. The more enemies you killed, the more battle achievements you earned, and the stronger you became. The Horde would naturally reward you with resources.

However, Slate, Samson, and Ursa hadn't come just to hear motivational speeches. They were here for guidance. While Rendall's words stirred their blood, they didn't provide the answers they were seeking.

It wasn't until an hour later, when Rendall was thoroughly drunk and the three were about to leave in disappointment, that he finally muttered something useful in a slurred voice.

"These… tundra monsters invading us… there's bound to be… some Alpha-level beasts among them… hic…"

Rendall hiccupped, his speech becoming slightly clearer.

"If your strength isn't up to par, even if you manage to kill an Alpha-level beast and get its crystal core, what good will it do you?"

"Let me guess—you're all feeling the pressure because of Dirtclaw's recent progress?"

"What's the point of worrying?"

"Focus on your training. Rack up more battle achievements. That's what matters."

"When your strength is sufficient, Orion will notice your efforts. He'll make sure you're taken care of…"

With that, Rendall slumped over the table and began snoring loudly.

Slate, Samson, and Ursa exchanged glances. After a moment, Slate and Samson left the tent, leaving Ursa behind to look after her father.

---

In the days that followed, the Stoneheart Horde was abuzz with activity, preparing for the impending invasion from the tundra. The once-terrifying dark beast tides and the scattered dark creatures no longer seemed as daunting.

To the Horde's members, the dark creatures had become little more than training resources, a means to grow stronger.

Even Orion, as the chieftain, wasn't idle. He, too, sought to improve himself.

Inside his tent, Orion opened twenty-two survivor's chests in one go. These were spoils of war collected by the abyssal dragons during the dark creatures' massive invasion.

The drop rate for survivor chests wasn't high, but the sheer number of dark creatures slain by the abyssal dragons ultimately resulted in a decent number of chests being obtained.

Most of the items were low-grade, with the best being an elite-tier weapon. Orion dismissed these items as unworthy of his attention and instructed one of his guards to store them in the Horde's warehouse.

What truly interested him were the two survivor's chests he had saved for last—both dropped by Alpha-level enemies.

The twenty-two chests were merely a warm-up.

Rubbing his hands together, Orion opened the two Alpha-level survivor's chests. Three items fell into his hands.

Two chests yielding three items—this was the first time Orion had experienced such incredible luck.

The first item was a black butterfly hairpin, a delicate accessory with intricately carved wings that seemed to flutter faintly. It had a special ability to generate a mental barrier, providing immunity to certain illusions and psychic attacks. It was a hero-level accessory and an excellent find.

The second item was a bundle of spider silk, surprisingly a hero-level weapon. It came with the skill Illusionary Prison, making its attacks insidious and unpredictable.

Orion immediately identified the perfect users for these two items.

The final item was a skill scroll.

[Eightfold Spear Barrage]

- Type: Skill Scroll

- Quality: Hero-level

- Description: A formation of spears converging from eight directions, ensnaring and annihilating enemies.

Moments later, after reviewing the skill's description, a satisfied smile spread across Orion's face.

[Eightfold Spear Barrage] was a powerful area-of-effect attack skill—his first group-damage combat technique.