Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

A heavy silence fell over the public channel.

The online members of the Champions Alliance were stunned by the combat prowess Orion had just displayed.

It wasn't until Orion himself appeared in the channel that the quiet was broken.

Hulk: "I only escaped the Vine Splitter's trap thanks to Arthas. His attack cut off the slime mold layer's supply line."

Hulk: "That's the real story—Arthas is giving me too much credit!"

Leonidas: "Hahaha… Bro, don't be so modest! Taking down a Vine Splitter isn't as simple as cutting off a supply line!"

Kraken: "I feel like the gap between us is getting wider!"

Leonidas: "What's there to fear? Don't you know who wins in the tortoise-and-hare race?"

Leonidas: "Once I'm free, I'll figure out a way to boost your strength too!"

Kraken: "Please, I'm not a tortoise—I'm a massive octopus!"

Leonidas: "Same difference—both from the sea, both slow crawlers!"

Edward: "…"

Alexander: "…"

Arthas: "…"

Leonidas's last remark left everyone dumbfounded.

After the joking died down, the serious discussion began.

Alexander: "The slime mold brood mother in the northern sector took a heavy hit from me. Two of her guards are dead too—one of them was pretty tough, likely her counterpart."

Alexander: "Without her close guards, if she dares step out of the main nest, I'll finish her off."

Leonidas: "Arthas, come reinforce me first! If you don't, all my beasts are going to get wiped out!"

Alexander: "No, reinforce me first. Most of my subordinates aren't suited for frontal combat. Free them up, and the situation will improve."

Arthas: "What about the Deputy Commander's side?"

Edward: "You go help them first. My crew can hold the east without any issues."

Say what you will, but a demigod-level powerhouse speaks with unshakable confidence.

Arthas: "Alright, once I stabilize things here, I'll start providing support."

Seeing the big shots wrap up their business, Orion finally voiced the question nagging at him.

Hulk: "Hey bros, what exactly are a brood mother counterpart and a brood mother guard?"

It wasn't the blunt Leonidas or the aloof Arthas who answered, but Alexander.

Alexander: "Think of the brood mother counterpart as a candidate brood mother. If the slime mold brood mother is a she-wolf, the counterpart is the he-wolf. But in slime mold society, it's matriarchal—females hold the highest authority."

Alexander: "If the slime mold brood mother is killed, the counterpart transitions from male to female, becoming the new brood mother to keep the slime mold hierarchy stable."

Alexander: "This assassination didn't kill the brood mother, but with her counterpart dead, she's got no fallback now."

Alexander: "As for the brood mother guards, they're just what the name implies—mutated slime molds tasked with protecting her."

Alexander: "One thing to note: the counterpart is stronger than regular guards."

It was precisely because of the counterpart's existence that Arthas, Leonidas, and Alexander didn't dare launch an all-out assault on the main nest region.

In other words, setting aside the power differences among arch lords, this fungal creature invasion of Valkorath Realm involved eight arch lords.

A lineup like that was unprecedented—at least for Orion, it was a first.

From his throne, Orion's throat bobbed as he swallowed, though there was no saliva to gulp down.

"Four peak arch lord-level slime mold brood mothers already felt out of my league."

"I didn't realize I'd still underestimated the slime molds' overall strength."

Hulk: "Bro, thanks for clearing that up!"

Alexander: "No problem!"

Orion and Alexander weren't close—this "bro" felt like a bid to build rapport—but Alexander didn't show any displeasure.

With his questions answered, Orion initiated a trade with Leonidas, handing over the unpaid lump of life essence.

Leonidas: "Man, you've been killing it lately. The northern sector's battles should ease up soon. Why don't you swing by my southern territory for a visit?"

Leonidas: "I'll show you what a stampede of ten thousand beasts looks like—what the end of days feels like, with undead crawling everywhere."

Leonidas's mix of teasing and self-deprecation made Orion shake his head slightly.

Clearly, Leonidas's beast subordinates were at a disadvantage in combat, with many fallen ones being turned into undead to keep fighting.

After a moment's thought, Orion agreed.

"Alright, once I've settled things here, I'll come find you!"

"Hahaha… It's a deal then!"

After wrapping up with Leonidas, Arthas—almost as if he'd timed it—sent Orion a message.

Arthas: "The situation in our warzone should lighten up for a bit. Use this chance to take Moonveil Plains in the northeast. Ideally, set up a city there too."

After Orion read the message, Arthas initiated a trade, sending over a storage ring.

Arthas: "The storage ring's got city-building materials. If you need more, ask the Deputy Commander."

Honestly, Orion was taken aback. Using something as valuable as a storage ring to hold basic construction stuff like stone, wood, and sand? He hadn't seen that coming.

Arthas: "Don't be shocked. In certain times and places, building materials are worth more than soldiers."

Arthas: "Sometimes, a city is the foundation. With a city, you can build defense towers, set up teleportation arrays, and construct all sorts of specialized buildings."

Arthas: "A war fortress gives you a foothold, whether you're invading or defending."

Orion tucked the storage ring away, nodding at Arthas's logic.

"Thanks for the heads-up!"

Building materials could indeed be as critical as strategic resources in the right circumstances.

"I'll probably stick around Cryptopolis City for now. Once I'm ready, I'll let you know."

"Good!"

Arthas's reply was short and to the point—classic him.

Exiting the Survivor's Platform, Orion extended his senses downward, probing the scorpion main nest deep underground.

There, Soraya had advanced to Alpha-level peak.

But going from Alpha peak to Legendary required comprehending transcendent power—a process that, even with life essence easing the way, wouldn't happen overnight.

For now, everything was in place; all that was missing was the final push.

Orion was waiting—waiting for Soraya to break through to Legendary. That's when he'd head to Moonveil Plains and stake his claim with a city.

Once Soraya became a Legendary-level brood mother, backed by Lich Vexis, Orion would finally have a solid footing in Valkorath Realm.

"Just a little more patience. Things are about to turn around!"