Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

"After the battle here concludes, make your arrangements and immediately return to Valkorath Realm."

"Prepare for battle. You are needed over in the Emerald Dream Realm."

Having relayed all instructions, Orion's will projection transformed into a current of electricity and once again drilled into the space between Delilah's eyebrows.

In this battle, Orion's will projection had expended a great deal of energy and could no longer divide itself.

"Alright!"

Soraya watched the will projection disappear and responded softly.

For her to be needed in the Emerald Dream Realm—that was definitely no small matter. It could be a major war, possibly even a decisive one.

Soraya landed beside Delilah and pointed towards the sand scorpions that were stirring up dust and those continuously repairing the sand dunes.

"Delilah, I entrust the scorpion tribe to you. If you have any use for them, please feel free to command them as you see fit."

"Rest assured, I will look after them well!"

Soraya nodded. After telepathically relaying some further words to Selenis, she flew directly back towards Stoneheart City, intending to depart from there via the teleportation array.

Soraya left, but the battle did not cease.

Although the Sea Race was retreating in disarray, Delilah had no intention of letting them off so easily.

Because just moments ago, under the onslaught of the great tsunami and the Sea Race warriors, the Stoneheart Horde had suffered devastating casualties.

Fortunately, with the abyssal dragon joining the battle, its higher rank clearly suppressed the lower-ranking combatants.

Half a day later, when the tide receded and most of the Sea Race warriors lay dead, the initial engagement between the Stoneheart Horde and the Sea Race finally came to an end.

Atop the escarpment, an atmosphere of grief and sorrow lingered.

In this battle, due to the appearance of Orion's will projection, the conflict between the upper-echelon combatants had concluded swiftly.

The Sea Race, seeing the situation turn unfavorable, had scattered and fled.

However, during the phase of the great tsunami's impact, the Stoneheart Horde's casualties were still immense.

The newly hatched schools of Ocean Hunters were completely wiped out, and Otho had unexpectedly fallen in battle.

Gormathar, an Alpha-level powerhouse from the Starveil giant tribe, had also died in the fighting. For the Stoneheart Horde to lose two elders in battle was a rare occurrence.

"My condolences."

Delilah walked among the crowd, looking at the grief-stricken faces of Dace, Beyn, and Torba. They had served as Orion's guards, and now one had fallen—a great loss for the Stoneheart Horde.

"Have his kinsmen take him back to Stoneheart City for an honorable burial."

Next, Delilah looked towards Drakthul. Gormathar had submitted to Orion alongside him and had also rendered many meritorious services to the horde.

"Gormathar as well. I will arrange for the Sentinel Corps to escort their remains back."

Having said these words, Delilah raised her head and scanned the assembled crowd.

"Everyone, as you've seen, the Sea Race is very strong, even stronger than we imagined."

"In this battle with the Sea Race, the battlefield was near the escarpment, giving us a geographical advantage."

"Imagine if we encountered them in the deep sea. What would the consequences be?"

This was a heavy topic. If they were to fight the Sea Race in the deep sea now, the Stoneheart Horde would undoubtedly be annihilated.

"Therefore, this grand canal connecting our territory—we absolutely must dig it through."

"We must have our own aquatic armies; we must have more Sea-Devouring Warships."

"Our Stoneheart Horde is now at war with the Sea Race. The war will not stop here. Many more battles await us."

"For the Horde! For our descendants! And for ourselves! Strive on, slay the enemy!"

Delilah, as the Succubus Queen and the Grand Steward of the horde, rarely spoke with such impassioned fervor, rallying everyone's spirits.

Such matters were usually Orion's domain.

"For the Horde!"

"For our descendants!"

"…"

Gradually, the sound of rallying cries grew louder, and the atmosphere of grief and sorrow on the escarpment was alleviated.

The abyssal dragon Xalathar approached, its footsteps shaking the ground, and stopped before Delilah.

Its great maw opened, and a Lord Stone, still covered in saliva and mucus, landed in Delilah's hand.

Xalathar telepathically conveyed a few words to Delilah, then walked back to the encampment and lay down prone to rest.

In the recent battle, Xalathar had also been injured while being besieged by two Tidewyrms.

"Everyone, Lord Orion has instructions!"

Delilah called out, drawing everyone's attention, the Lord Stone in her hand gleaming with a bright light.

"Lord Orion has decreed: this Lord Stone, after the grand canal is completed, will be awarded to the kinsman with the most battle achievements."

"Simultaneously, the Horde will allocate a large batch of Alpha-level resources to reward everyone."

Great rewards bring forth brave warriors; this principle applied in the Stoneheart Horde as well.

The next moment, the lingering traces of sorrow were dispelled, replaced by rapid breathing and fervent gazes.

"Praise My Lord!"

"King of Giants!"

"The Lord's glory shines upon us…"

"…"

Soon, Ironveil Escarpment was drowned in a tide of praise and adulation.

Delilah surveyed the scene before her, a slight sense of relief in her eyes, a hint of pride slowly appearing in their depths.

Emerald Dream Realm, Marshlight Sanctuary.

As the two hurricanes churned, the sky turned gloomy, laden with an unbroken expanse of dark clouds.

Wherever the hurricanes passed, only devastation remained.

"The victor is about to be decided!" Leonidas declared, gazing at the distant, colliding hurricanes, his expression growing more serious.

Hearing this, Orion focused his attention even more intently.

With Leonidas's insight, it was unlikely he would be mistaken.

"Bro, will the victor really be Gustalon?" Orion had held this question back for a long time, but finally voiced it.

"Hehe, Bro, I thought you'd keep holding it in and not ask," Leonidas chuckled.

Leonidas's words made Orion clearly realize that his own composure was still lacking.

He needed to continue cultivating it.

"Thank you for the reminder!" Orion nodded to Leonidas.

Leonidas looked towards the distance, a smile on his face, and did not immediately respond to Orion.

Only after Orion's mood had calmed did Leonidas speak quietly.

"Bro, some things, some people—their happening, their appearance, is enough. There's no need to deliberately try to hold on."

"Otherwise, in the end, the one who becomes exhausted will be you yourself."

Orion was stunned. He turned his head to look at Leonidas, but the latter was still gazing into the distance, not choosing to meet Orion's eyes.

Those words, sounding like a piece of experience, yet also like a lesson, instilled in Orion a sense of sadness, of cold detachment.

Orion was exceedingly intelligent; he immediately understood the deep meaning behind those two sentences.

Orion had too many attachments!

Leonidas had seen it, Arthas had seen it, and even the Deputy Commander Edward, Alexander, Kraken, and the others had seen it.

People with many attachments value relationships deeply; this is a good thing.

However, such people are also often the ones who ultimately get hurt.

Orion's move to the Valkorath Realm was a clear indication: he had brought almost everyone with him—his wife, children, lovers, subordinates… All these were things others had taken note of.

Leonidas was an experienced man. He too had once had a wife, and countless children. He too had once cared deeply, and so he too had once suffered immense heartbreak.

Leonidas did not wish for these things to hinder Orion's growth.

Of course, some things needed to be personally experienced to be truly understood.

Therefore, Leonidas only hinted at it, saying no more.