Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

Thunderhawk Knight Reynard had been waiting for an attack for what felt like an eternity, and the longer he waited, the more uneasy he became. Just as he was about to take a break, as dusk settled and night began to fall, Orion personally sounded the horn deep within the forest.

The horn of war!

Woooooo...

Along with the horn came Orion's [Berserk Aura].

A horde of berserk gnoll bloodline warriors, driven by Dirtclaw, charged toward Thunderhawk City.

Seeing the gnoll warriors rushing forward, Thunderhawk Knight Reynard flew into a rage, grabbing Scrag by the collar.

"You filthy dog! Are you betraying me?!"

Scrag, panting heavily, shook his head vigorously.

"Honorable Thunderhawk Knight, I swear I haven't betrayed you!"

"The 15,000 bloodline warriors I brought are standing on the walls, ready to defend the city."

"I have no idea who these attacking gnolls are!"

Reynard was furious, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

But fortunately, he didn't lose his composure entirely.

Reynard released Scrag's throat, suppressing his anger, and spoke in a more controlled tone.

"My apologies, Chieftain Scrag. I acted rashly."

"Honorable Thunderhawk Knight, I think we should focus on the enemy in front of us," Scrag said, pointing toward the gnolls nearing the city gates, as well as the towering figure of Prophet Onyx among them.

"Hmm... an Alpha-level warrior!"

"An Obsidian Golem?"

"From the Black Forest?"

Reynard turned his head, locking eyes with Prophet Onyx, who was staring back at him from the crowd and making a throat-slitting gesture.

Seeing the provocation, Reynard's pupils contracted.

Though he felt a twinge of fear, he also breathed a sigh of relief.

Reynard knew that while the Alpha-level Obsidian Golem was powerful, its massive size gave him confidence that he could hold his own against Prophet Onyx, ensuring he wouldn't be easily killed.

"Elan, Scrag, you two defend the flanks. I'll go draw that Alpha-level obsidian golem away."

Prophet Onyx's size and strength would indeed cause significant trouble if he got too close to the gates. To avoid that, Reynard leaped off the city wall, intending to lure Prophet Onyx away.

This move played right into Prophet Onyx's hands, forcing him to swallow the taunting words he had been preparing for Reynard.

But the real fun was just beginning.

Thunderhawk Knight Reynard, in an attempt to provoke Prophet Onyx, began taunting him while subtly moving away, trying to lead him further from the city.

"Obsidian Golem from the Black Forest, I'll rip off your head and have it made into a statue for my people to spit on!"

At that moment, Prophet Onyx felt a surge of joy.

It seemed like he hadn't done much, yet the task Orion had given him was already halfway complete.

And the best part? Thunderhawk Knight Reynard was doing all the work for him.

"You little ant, I'll crush you!" Prophet Onyx roared, pretending to be enraged as he chased after Reynard.

With the two Alpha-level warriors gone, both the defenders on the walls and the attackers below breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, the succubus warriors hidden among the attacking gnolls began drawing their weapons, ready to complete their assigned tasks.

The battle had truly begun!

"Charge!"

"Shoot the arrows! Ram the gates!"

"Break through the gates! Whoever kills Scrag will be promoted to gnoll leader and enjoy the spoils and the right to mate with the female gnolls!"

Dirtclaw, overseeing the gnoll horde, was doing his utmost.

At that moment, Gnoll Dirtclaw knew he was fighting for Master Delilah, for Chieftain Orion, and for himself.

From the moment Dirtclaw had been enslaved, he had no other choice.

Since there was no choice, Dirtclaw had resolved to overthrow Scrag's rule.

In the forest, Orion and Rendall stood together, both showing signs of slight anxiety.

It wasn't until they saw Delilah, unnoticed by anyone, successfully retrieve Clymene's head from the city walls that both Orion and Rendall let out a long breath of relief.

"Orion, it was a wise decision for Clymene to arrange that marriage alliance with the succubus tribe back then."

"Delilah is already your woman. Why not let her move into your tent?"

Rendall, impressed by Delilah's success in retrieving Clymene's head, was now speaking highly of her.

"She said she didn't want to."

Delilah was the queen of the succubus tribe and the Stewardship Elder of the Stoneheart Horde. She had power and status—why would she want to move into Orion's tent and compete with her twin sister for his attention?

Being her own queen, ruling her own domain, was far more appealing.

And if she ever felt lonely, Delilah could always find an opportunity to be with Orion.

Orion knew this was exactly how Delilah thought.

Though she was a lustful woman, she also loved power and status.

"Rendall, are you ready? It's our turn now!"

"Of course! I've been waiting for this!"

Orion stepped aside, took the horn from a nearby guard, and blew it once more.

As the horn sounded, the gnoll cannon fodder troops, as if they had found a lifeline, began retreating en masse.

Their speed was astonishing, nothing like the slow, weak creatures they appeared to be.

But less than ten minutes later, the war horn sounded again.

This time, it was accompanied by a terrifying dragon's roar.

Rooooar...

The deep, raspy, metallic growl echoed from afar, growing closer.

At the same time, three Alpha-level auras swept across Thunderhawk City, unrestrained.

The entire battlefield froze for a moment.

In the distance, Thunderhawk Knight Reynard, who had been skirmishing with Prophet Onyx, nearly wet himself when he saw the Abyssal Dragon appear.

The Abyssal Dragon was Lord Gareth's mount, and its power was Legendary-level!

Boom!

Distracted by the dragon's appearance, Reynard was struck by Prophet Onyx's stone axe, sent flying, coughing up blood, his body wracked with pain.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As the Abyssal Dragon entered the fray, Orion commanded it to unleash three Abyssal Flame Bombs.

The explosions obliterated not just the city gates but large sections of the surrounding walls.

Woooooo...

The war horn sounded once more, signaling the true charge.

Leading the assault was the Alpha-level giant bloodline warrior, Rendall.

Orion, meanwhile, was riding the Abyssal Dragon, slowly making his way toward the battle between Prophet Onyx and Thunderhawk Knight Reynard.

Boom! Boom!

The Abyssal Dragon's heavy footsteps reverberated through the battlefield, exuding an overwhelming sense of dread.

Reynard, clutching his chest, struggled to his feet, staring at Orion in disbelief.

"Prophet, leave this to me."

"Chieftain, be careful!"

"Understood."

Prophet Onyx hefted his stone axe, casting a pitying glance at Reynard before turning and charging toward the city gates.

"Thunderhawk Knight Reynard, I've heard your name since last year."

"My name is Orion, the new chieftain of the Stoneheart Horde, and Clymene's younger brother."

Orion's voice was calm, cold.

He spoke of his relationship with Clymene as if recounting a story that had nothing to do with him.

"Clymene's brother?"

Reynard was momentarily stunned, still reeling from the shock of the Abyssal Dragon's appearance. It took him a moment to realize that the Clymene Orion was referring to was the giantess whose head he had hung on the city walls.

"Her!"

"You're her brother!"

It took a while for Reynard to fully grasp the situation, and when he did, he let out a startled cry.

But Orion had no interest in continuing the conversation.

He urged the Abyssal Dragon forward, charging at Reynard.

Seeing this, Reynard turned and fled in terror.

But Reynard was smart—he didn't flee toward Thunderhawk City. Instead, he ran toward the forest.

After all, Thunderhawk City was now a bloodbath, with Alpha-level warriors Prophet Onyx and Rendall slaughtering their way through the defenders.

Orion's lips curled into a smile as he hurled his trident.

Whoosh!

The trident flew through the air, piercing the already wounded Thunderhawk Knight Reynard.

Orion had held back much of his strength; otherwise, Reynard wouldn't have just been pierced—he would have been blown apart.

Orion dismounted from the Abyssal Dragon and approached Reynard.

He pulled the trident from Reynard's body and, under the knight's pained gaze, severed his limbs one by one.

Reynard lay on the ground, unable to move, howling in agony.

Thud!

Orion drove the trident into Reynard's abdomen, pinning him to the ground.

"Reynard, look at you now. Pathetic. I've decided to tell you some even worse news."

"I've captured your sister as well."

"How's that for bad news?"

Orion crouched down, staring at Reynard with a twisted smile.

"No... no... impossible. My sister... she's already gone to the Fireraven Tribe for safety!"

Orion suddenly laughed, a genuine, hearty laugh.

"So, the Fireraven Tribe, huh? Now I know where to find her!"

Orion could swear he had only been trying to break Reynard's spirit, to make him die in despair and regret.

But with just a little bluffing, he had managed to extract a valuable piece of information.

Seeing Orion's expression and hearing his laughter, Reynard realized he had been tricked. He had unwittingly revealed his sister's location.

"Damn you, giant... you'll die a horrible death... you'll—"

Before Reynard could finish, Orion drew a small curved knife from his belt, a weapon he had prepared for this very moment.

"Reynard, do you know what this is?"

Orion held the knife up to Reynard's face. The blade crackled with electricity, and the familiar scent made Reynard's eyes widen, blood vessels bursting in his eyes.

"No, my Aero..."

Orion let out a mock sigh.

"So, it's called Aero. Its meat was delicious."

"Want a taste?"

"I saved some. Made it into jerky."

With that, Orion pulled a piece of dried meat from his Bagbird pouch and forced it into Reynard's mouth.

"No... no..."

Cough, cough...

Orion watched as Reynard choked and coughed, his voice suddenly turning cold, like ice that had never thawed.

"Reynard, you took someone from me. You took my sister, someone who cared about me."

"During that time, I was furious."

"So, I've long since decided how I'm going to kill you."

"Don't worry. I'll reunite you with your sister soon. You won't have to wait long."

Orion raised the curved knife, his face twisted with rage.

"Please... please... spare... spare me..."

Snap!

Thunderhawk Knight Reynard's head was severed by Orion's hand.

Orion had destroyed Reynard's dignity and then taken his life.

Taking a deep breath, Orion retrieved his trident and impaled Reynard's head on its tip.

Orion turned, mounted the Abyssal Dragon, and began walking toward Thunderhawk City.

The Abyssal Dragon, sensing Orion's command, lifted its hind leg and crushed Reynard's body into a bloody pulp.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As Orion and the Abyssal Dragon entered Thunderhawk City, the chaos gradually gave way to silence.

Everywhere Orion went, the defenders of Thunderhawk City saw Reynard's head impaled on the trident.

Standing atop the Abyssal Dragon, Orion raised the trident high and shouted, his voice echoing throughout the city.

"Thunderhawk Knight Reynard is dead! His head is here!"

"Lay down your weapons, and you will be spared. Resist, and none of you will be left alive!"

Orion's cold voice rang out three times, and the bloodline warriors defending Thunderhawk City stood frozen in place.

For a moment, no one reacted.

Clang!

It wasn't until a gnoll on the wall dropped his weapon that a chain reaction occurred, and bloodline warriors of all races began laying down their arms.

"Orion!"

Rendall, overjoyed, raised his spiked club and shouted Orion's name.

"Orion!"

"Orion!"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Orion!"

Soon, the giant, succubus, buffalofolk, and obsidian golem bloodline warriors joined in the chant.

Gnoll Dirtclaw trembled with excitement, his entire body shaking.

Gnoll Dirtclaw felt like he was dreaming—they had really taken Thunderhawk City.

Even the once untouchable Alpha-level warrior, Thunderhawk Knight Reynard, had been slain!

Staring at Reynard's head and Orion's towering figure, Gnoll Dirtclaw joined in the chant.

With Dirtclaw leading the way, the gnoll bloodline warriors and cannon fodder troops also began chanting Orion's name.

This, in turn, further boosted the morale of the invading forces.

At that moment, the Stoneheart Horde's invasion force had reached the peak of its momentum, their morale soaring to its zenith!