Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

"After your little spiders transform, will you have an undead unit to command them?"

Leonidas looked down, surveying the dense mass of cave spiders in Gloomwood Forest, and posed a very important question.

For undead units, the most crucial element was a command center—a core figure capable of controlling them.

"Bro, you misunderstand. These cave spiders transforming into death spiders doesn't mean they truly die."

"It's merely a shift in their attributes, granting them abilities similar to those of the undead."

"They can't be considered undead; it's more accurate to say they become attuned to the power of death."

"This way, my spider broodmother can still maintain control over them."

In fact, Orion had this idea long ago.

The plan had initially formed in his mind after Lorelia dispatched young spiders to explore the Underworld, and a few of them unexpectedly transformed into death spiders.

Later, when Soraya joined the Stoneheart Horde, Orion found himself with two broodmothers, which solidified his determination.

This was because Lorelia's and Soraya's roles had a significant overlap.

Therefore, transforming Lorelia's cave spider armies would diversify the Stoneheart Horde's troop types, thereby enhancing the versatility of its combat styles.

There was another reason: his sister, Clymene.

Once Clymene successfully advanced to the Legendary level, they could convert more Skeletal Knights themselves.

The combination of Skeletal Knights and death spiders would again significantly boost their combat power.

At that point, with elite figures like Vargrum, Mordak, Zorn, Balgor, Grendel, and Desdemona, the Stoneheart Horde could possess its very own undead army.

This way, Orion could begin to break free from Arthas's 'restraints.'

It wasn't that Orion disliked Arthas's assistance; on the contrary, he greatly desired such aid in every battle.

However, things couldn't possibly remain so ideal forever.

In the future, Orion would undoubtedly have to invade some Godforsaken Lands, or even major worlds, on his own.

If Arthas's aid wasn't available then, would the Stoneheart Horde's own armies be incapable of fighting?

What if, one day, Arthas couldn't even spare attention for his own affairs?

What if Orion and Arthas had a falling out?

What if…

The future held too many uncertainties. As the ruler of a horde and a powerhouse in his own right, Orion had to consider these deeper, more far-reaching matters.

"Bro, I suddenly realize you're even crazier than Arthas."

"You're not thinking of recycling those death spiders, are you?"

"My heavens! For those spiders to have a lord like you, they won't even find peace in death."

Orion remained noncommittal. If all the cave spiders successfully transformed, they could exhibit combat power comparable to undead without actually dying.

And even if they did die, the Skeletal Knights could convert their remains through offerings, allowing them to be deployed once more.

Leonidas had also thought of this, initially expressing disdain for Orion's exploitative methods.

"How did I not think of that?"

"This is a new line of thought! I'll have to try it when I have some free time!"

However, with a swift change of heart, Leonidas immediately altered his stance, eager to join Orion in his "shameful" endeavor.

Leonidas also possessed the method for converting Skeletal Knights.

His relationship with Arthas was so strong that Leonidas knew more things—and more secrets—than Orion did.

Just as Leonidas and Orion were scheming about this, Leonidas suddenly looked up and said to Orion,

"There's something new on the public channel!"

Orion raised an eyebrow slightly, nodded at Leonidas, and then slowly closed his eyes.

Survivor's Platform, Champions Alliance Public Channel.

Edward: "That Blind Spiders broodmother has signed the contract. Alexander, you can stand down on your end!"

This was absolutely fantastic news. It meant that Alexander and Isabella, on another continent, could soon begin their main invasion phase.

Especially with a native spider broodmother assisting, their progress would undoubtedly accelerate considerably.

Alexander: "Leonidas, is our previous bet still on?"

Leonidas: "Forget it. We've already started over here. I don't want to take advantage of you."

Alexander: "What a chicken!"

With Queen Lolth of the Blind Spiders signing the contract and submitting to Deputy Commander Edward, Alexander immediately gained a surge of confidence.

When Leonidas had previously mentioned the bet, Alexander was no longer intimidated.

However, Leonidas was no fool. With Alexander gaining the aid of a Legendary-level native broodmother, his invasion progress was highly likely to outpace that of Leonidas and Orion.

Leonidas wouldn't accept a bet he was very likely to lose.

Edward: "Our previous guess was correct. Spider Queen Lolth is indeed an Awakener."

Edward: "The talent Lolth awakened is a talent tree resembling a spider web."

Edward: "However, she can't clearly explain how she uses this talent tree. She only knows that each time she activates a node on the spider web, she grows stronger and gains an ability."

Edward: "I suspect their talents are different from ours."

No one spoke in the public channel. Everyone was reading the Deputy Commander's statements over and over, hoping to glean some useful information.

Orion was no exception. This first contact with an Awakener from another world was a matter of curiosity for all the allies in the Champions Alliance.

Orion strongly agreed with the Deputy Commander referring to Lolth's ability as a "talent."

Just like the Survivor's Platform, which Orion also considered his own talent.

The only difference was that other Awakeners from Orion's world of origin could also awaken this particular talent.

It was Lolth's spider web talent tree, however, that truly piqued Orion's curiosity.

But something like a spider web talent tree remained shrouded in mystery; even a demigod-level figure like the Deputy Commander couldn't make heads or tails of it.

Leonidas: "I knew it. We're definitely not special."

Leonidas: "This cosmos has so many worlds, so many realms, so many races… beings stronger than us are everywhere."

Leonidas's words sounded like he was musing to himself, and also like he was airing some grievances about this mysterious world.

Alexander: "So, there should be a group of beings more special, more powerful, and more ancient than us. Could they have walked ahead of us?"

"Walked ahead of us"—that meant achieving godhood.

No one could answer Alexander's question.

Kraken: "Big Bosses, if you put it that way, I feel like it's dangerous for me everywhere I go."

No one spoke. Everyone tacitly avoided this topic thereafter.

Demigod, god, even beings above god… these concepts were very distant from Orion. He decided to set them aside for the time being.

Orion hadn't even reached the Arch Lord level yet; how could he possibly dream of such indescribable futures?