Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

Valkorath Realm was shrouded in tension.

Leonidas stood atop a lofty peak, his eyes reflecting both doubt and contemplation. Just to be safe, he spoke up on the Champions Alliance public channel to alert everyone.

Leonidas: "I'm not sure what's going on. The broodmother counterpart around my location keeps flickering in and out of perception."

Leonidas: "Stay vigilant. This might be a trap!"

Alexander: "Same here. There's a presence that comes and goes. Are they preparing for a full-scale assault?"

Arthas: "We're all experiencing the same signs. Keep your eyes open and your guard up."

Arthas: "If you spot anything suspicious or find weaknesses in defenses, share it here. Everyone should pay attention to the Alliance channel for updates."

Kraken: "Listen up, big shots. The monsters in the sea have thinned out dramatically—almost like they all vanished. I suspect they've been called to the land. Be careful."

…

Orion was missing all this chatter on the Champions Alliance public channel because he had already gone berserk.

At that moment, Orion felt himself entering a strange, raging state. His physical strength felt markedly greater.

He could sense his muscles becoming more powerful and unburdened with every move.

What's more, Orion's mind was incredibly sharp—one could say it was a sublime mix of frenzy and bloodlust.

In the slime molds layer, guided by some uncanny perception, Orion tracked down a living-flesh undead. This particular mutated slime molds creature only possessed mid-level Legendary power.

Facing the living-flesh undead, Orion's lips curled up, revealing a row of even, gleaming teeth. He let out a sinister laugh, then growled in a low voice that would chill anyone to the bone.

Immediately following came an [Instant Impact].

Szzak!

His trident ran through the living-flesh undead's body, accompanied by the crackle of electric current. The fungal creatures infesting it were paralyzed and wiped out in large numbers.

Next came a shockwave attack that tore the living-flesh undead limb from limb, spilling out a cluster of life essence.

Orion stowed the life essence away and dashed swiftly toward a farther area.

In that unusual frenzied state, he became utterly cold, ruthless, and unmistakably brutal in his methods.

Crucially, Orion's mind remained clear—he could still perceive his surroundings, make judgments, and tell friend from foe.

What he had lost was any shred of mercy or compassion for his enemies.

Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!

Yet Orion carried within him a blazing desire for slaughter, needing release. So he charged forward, specifically targeting Legendary-level fungal creatures.

No one knew how much time passed before Orion finally found another Legendary-level mutated slime molds. This one wielded a massive two-handed sword, its entire skeletal structure packed with fungal creatures, and its muscles were knotted and thick. It was an Undead Tyrants.

Orion's assault was simple and efficient. He used Instant Impact to appear behind the Undead Tyrants and struck it down with a single lethal blow.

After killing the Undead Tyrants, Orion tore through the slime molds layer again, moving on to another region.

To the north, within the slime molds main nest.

Slime molds broodmother Gloob contacted the southern broodmother Blobby.

"South…broodmother counterpart…teleport…north…kill the transcendent foe…open a path…"

"Got it!"

The voice of slime molds broodmother Gloob was ethereal, echoing intermittently until it reached Blobby.

Receiving the message, slime molds broodmother Blobby fully understood Gloob's intent and subsequently concealed her own broodmother counterpart's presence.

Leonidas failed to detect any of Blobby's subtle maneuvers.

From his perspective, the slime molds broodmother and its broodmother counterpart were undoubtedly plotting something, but he believed simply keeping watch was enough.

Meanwhile, on the front lines of the battlefield.

When Orion finally emerged from that peculiar berserk state, he had already slain five Legendary-level slime molds mutants.

By then, he was a long way from Soraya City.

Orion burst out from the slime molds layer and assessed his physical condition before glancing at his data panel.

Upon seeing that the Titan Form skill had gained a branch, Orion realized what had happened.

He understood that his previous outburst of frenzy was caused by awakening a bloodline skill.

Battle Craving: A thirst for blood that fuels incessant battle fury. Heightens combat awareness. Allows for the detection of enemies within a certain range through battle instincts.

Perhaps witnessing the showdown between those two demigod beings had sparked indescribable yearning in Orion—he wanted to grow stronger, which triggered the unconscious awakening of that skill.

"I can't believe I ended up this far out. I need to hurry back to Soraya City."

Estimating his location, Orion figured that even if he walked, it would take half a day to get back.

After choosing his direction, Orion transformed into lightning and raced toward Soraya City.

Fifteen minutes later, while gliding through the air, Orion suddenly halted and looked down at the slime molds layer below.

Because of his newly awakened Battle Craving, Orion's sense of danger and fighting spirit had increased substantially.

He felt a looming threat, a hint of lethal intent.

Yet he couldn't pinpoint where the enemy was hiding.

The moment he shifted his gaze, searching farther ahead, disaster struck.

Directly below, an enormous spiraling horn shot upward like a rocket.

Instantly, a shroud of death fell over Orion.

In that life-or-death instant, Orion activated Instant Impact and repeatedly blinked in the direction straight ahead, desperate to get away.

All he could think was to flee the spot, because staying meant certain doom.

Far off, in Bone City.

Standing on the wall, Arthas suddenly went wide-eyed, turning sharply toward where Soraya City lay.

"I sense the aura of an arch lord. That's impossible!"

Drawing his sword, Arthas leapt into the air and flew toward Orion's location to provide backup.

But just then, the slime molds layer churned mightily before Bone City, surging into a wave about 500 ft high.

Amid the crest of the slime molds wave appeared a glaringly colorful metallic main nest, ring-shaped in form, though vastly oversized. It was easily over 500 ft tall.

With the metallic main nest looming, two monstrous figures emerged from within, blocking Arthas's path.

They were the slime molds broodmother and its broodmother counterpart from the northern region.

"Now I see."

"You came for me, then!"

Arthas returned to Bone City, leveling a steely gaze at the broodmother and its counterpart.

"That's correct!"

No sooner had the broodmother spoken than two more monstrous figures rose from the slime molds layer—these were broodmother counterparts from the western and eastern regions.

"Why only three broodmother counterparts? Where's the other one?"

Arthas's voice was calm, laced with a tinge of mockery.

"If that giant is slain, the other one will join us."

"Today will be your demise!"

"You will die!"