Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

After putting the life essence away, Delilah's gaze drifted past Dirtclaw and settled on the figures standing behind him.

Taran, Brontes, Steropes, Erythros, Thalion, Torvald, and five scorpion soldiers—all were Alpha-level beings. Such a lineup already matched the overall peak strength the Stoneheart Horde had in the past.

They were Pandaren, Thunderstorm Bearmen, Giants, and Scorpions, all races that had fought alongside Orion on his campaign. Delilah carefully observed them one by one and recognized each of them.

"Congratulations on your triumphant return!"

With that, Delilah withdrew her assessing stare, smiled at them, and waited for Orion, still on the other end of the teleportation array.

Over an hour later, once the main personnel had been transported into Stoneheart City, Orion finally emerged from the teleportation array.

Seeing his subordinates waiting, Orion waved a hand.

"I'm giving you three days off. After that, report back to your camps."

"Yes, My lord!"

They responded in unison, then scattered.

Delilah beamed as she came to Orion's side. She hooked both arms around his and pressed her entire body against him.

"My dear Orion, you've finally returned!"

Her familiar voice carried a touch of longing. Orion drew her into an embrace, murmuring, "Well done."

Delilah tipped her head back, seeking a kiss—ardent and unrestrained.

Right then, Delilah's clothes slid from her body, leaving her naked in the open air. Her figure was irresistibly enticing.

Two hours later, when Orion and Delilah left the underground teleportation plaza, Delilah had put on a fresh set of garments.

"I want a command circulated. Three days from now, we'll convene a council meeting and rotate the elders stationed in each region."

Delilah nodded, her cheeks still rosy. As a succubus, she craved both love and sex, and with Orion, that hunger was all the more intense.

Whenever he returned, the thing she looked forward to most was making love—she loved Orion's big cock.

"I'm heading out. For the next few days, I'll be staying in Bedchamber No. 2."

Bedchamber No. 2 was a secret signal of sorts. Delilah gave him a flirtatious wink, let out a playful laugh, and swayed her hips as she walked out of Vagrely Castle.

Watching her leave, Orion released a brief, formidable surge of power across Stoneheart City. The crushing aura, though fleeting, was strong enough to warn any outsiders with ill intentions.

Orion was now at the peak of legendary rank, capable of defeating some of the weaker arch lords. Aside from a small handful of top-tier powers, there was no one else on this continent whom he truly feared.

Even though the territory could no longer expand, it didn't mean other endeavors would be hindered.

Inside the castle, in Sylvana's bedroom.

She certainly felt Orion's aura.

"He's back!"

That was Sylvana's immediate thought, followed by an inexplicable surge of delight. Losing one's sight often brings a certain calm, because the world isn't black or white—only void. Sylvana had maintained her composure all winter. But at the brief sound of his breathing near her ear, her stillness rippled.

"Did you just take a bath?"

"There's the scent of magical plants soaked into your skin."

Orion reached out and pinched Sylvana's nipple. She curled up instantly like a startled rabbit.

"Ha ha ha… Looks like I was right."

With desire flaring in his eyes, Orion stared at Sylvana's face. Though blinded, her eyes looked large, clear, with upturned corners and thick lashes that made her especially endearing.

"You're not answering my question."

Orion raised a single finger, lifting Sylvana's chin.

So close to him, Sylvana's pale cheeks flushed with warmth.

"Mm…"

A soft, almost inaudible reply made Orion's lips tilt into a smile.

"Seems you've been yearning for my cock."

Showing no restraint, Orion scooped her up and tossed her onto the large bed laden with thick furs and cotton. Then he stripped off his own clothes and moved toward Sylvana.

By the next morning, Orion was still asleep with Sylvana tucked in his arms.

Meanwhile, Pandaren Taran had already set off on a stroll through Stoneheart City, invited by the Giant Thalion.

"Taran, what do you think? Stoneheart City is pretty impressive, right?"

Thalion had grown up here, though back then it had been called Starveil City. Gazing over the bustling district, with its many buildings and constant stream of people, Taran's eyes shone with curiosity.

"It's even more lively than Blackstone City!"

The city's outer ring was home not only to members of the Stoneheart Horde. Over the past month, trade caravans from human lands, Blood Elf lands, dwarves, and dragons had one by one arrived in Stoneheart City. The dwarves and dragons, especially, had been absent last year only because they had to travel such long distances. They first passed through human territory, using it as a midpoint. Once the dark beast tides receded, those caravans headed gradually for the giants' lands.

From this year onward, communication and trade of the Five-Race Alliance had finally started in earnest. In kind, the commercial and diplomatic groups the giants dispatched to the dwarves and dragons only arrived around this same time.

"Come on. I'll take you to the Blood Elf shops," Thalion said. "They're said to sell enchanted weapons. You might be able to find yourself a good pair of gauntlets there."

Gauntlets were rare. The Stoneheart Horde didn't produce standardized ones. Part of the reason Taran and Thalion had ventured into the outer city at this early hour was to look for a suitable set of gauntlets for Taran.

They'd learned yesterday that besides Blood Elf and human shops, a dwarven trade caravan had just arrived.

Dwarves were natural blacksmiths, and Thalion was convinced Taran would be able to buy the perfect gauntlets from them. During their time in the Valkorath Realm, fighting fungal creatures side by side, Taran and Thalion had formed a strong bond.

At Stoneheart City's southern gate.

A human caravan slowly rolled into town after undergoing a thorough inspection. In the middle of this caravan was a roofless wagon carrying two pudgy humans. Each wore lavish garments that made them stand out starkly from the scarred and rugged mercenaries around them.

However, they were no nobles—certainly no noble bearing clung to them. Instead, they exuded nothing but a strong odor of gold.

"Kadir, this place is even more bustling and civilized than we were told."

The beard man was called Nico.

"Look—there's no filth or random piles of waste thrown around, and you don't catch a whiff of that sewer stench, even in the outer city. Instead, the air practically has the faint aroma of magical plants."