Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

A few days later, a group of lizardfolk arrived outside Blackstone City.

"Hahaha… Slagor, I won't lie to you. The moment you left, I knew you'd come back!"

The hearty laughter came from Rendall.

And the one Rendall had come out of Blackstone City to greet was none other than Slagor, who had led his tribe in migrating from Poison Dragon Swamp.

Slagor chuckled and shook his head. Now working alongside Rendall, he wore an awkward expression.

Back when the Ice Plains invaded, Slagor had been forced to migrate to the Black Forest. On his way out, Rendall had intercepted him with a group of cannon fodder troops, extorting a significant amount of supplies from him.

Looking back now, staying in Blackstone City from the start might have been the better choice.

"Arch Elder, is it true that Orion has reached the Legendary level?"

Before even entering Blackstone City, Slagor could faintly sense Orion's terrifying aura.

Although he had received intelligence about this beforehand, Slagor still found it hard to believe without seeing Orion in person.

For years, no one in this region had ascended to the Legendary level.

Yet Orion had done it, quietly and unexpectedly, rising to become the new lord.

While Slagor found it hard to believe, he also desperately hoped it was true.

If it was, his submission would mean securing a powerful backer for his tribe.

"All I can say is that Orion's strength is immense. You'll understand everything once you meet him."

Rendall, of course, knew what Slagor wanted to ask, but some things were better left for Slagor to witness himself.

"You little brats! What are you standing around for? Go help unload the supplies!"

"These are our allies from Poison Dragon Swamp. From now on, we're all one family!"

Rendall called out to his people, instructing them to help with the unloading.

As for himself, he threw an arm around Slagor's shoulder and led him toward the largest tent in Blackstone City.

Orion had already arrived there in advance after receiving word from the Sentinel Corps about Slagor's impending arrival.

"Slagor, at your service, my...my lord!"

"No need to be so formal. Please, have a seat."

Orion gestured to a seat beside him, indicating for Slagor to sit and talk.

As an Alpha-level warrior, Slagor automatically became a Warden upon joining the horde. He was also a member of the council, though he currently held no real power.

Orion studied Slagor and noticed that the man hadn't once lifted his head to look at him.

Amused, Orion observed how cautious Slagor was, even sitting on the edge of his seat as if ready to flee at any moment.

"My ascension to the Legendary level should be good news for you. Why so nervous?"

Orion's voice was deep, with a hint of coldness as he asked the question.

"My lord, your ascension to the Legendary level is indeed a tremendous blessing for me!" Slagor replied, standing up to speak. "It's just… it's just that so much has changed in less than a month since we last met. It's hard to…"

Orion chuckled softly and motioned for Slagor to sit back down, deciding not to tease him further.

"Tell me about the current situation in the swamp."

At the mention of business, Slagor's demeanor grew more serious, and his stuttering disappeared.

"My lord, I've led the tribe's migration, bringing the main members of the lizardfolk, swamp rats, and swamp crocodiles with me."

"As for the water pythons, swamp spiders, and some swamp crocodiles that remain in the swamp, I've stationed them near the border with the Barren Mountains, ready to follow your orders at any time."

"My lord, these particular tribes cannot survive long without water, so I didn't bring them here."

Orion nodded silently, deep in thought.

After a moment, as if coming to a decision, Orion asked, "What about the centaurs to the east? Any movement from them?"

Orion had previously declared that once he reached the Legendary level, he would deal with the centaurs who had invaded Poison Dragon Swamp.

As a lord, his words were not to be taken lightly.

Since ascending to the Legendary level, Orion had realized that every word and action of someone at his level carried immense weight.

This was tied to the collection of faith. A lord who kept their promises would gather far more faith than one who broke them.

In simple terms, a Legendary-level figure's promises were rarely broken.

This was why Orion now understood why Gareth had insisted on signing a peace treaty with him.

It was a calculated move to bind Orion's actions.

"My lord, I've only sent a few scouts to monitor the eastern region," Slagor replied. "Unless something significant happens, they won't have much valuable information to report."

"Besides, with our migration, the centaurs are even less of a threat to us now."

Slagor wasn't wrong. In fact, his tribe had gained an advantage after submitting to Orion.

By relocating closer to the Black Forest and the Barren Mountains, his people and their allied species had moved further away from the centaurs, making them much safer.

Orion remained silent, frowning as he contemplated how to deal with the centaurs.

Now that he had reached the Legendary level, he would not tolerate any foreign race encroaching on his territory—not even other Legendary-level beings.

ROAR!

Just as Orion was about to speak, a deep growl echoed from the depths of Moonshadow Valley.

Hearing the beast's roar, a glimmer of light flashed in Orion's eyes.

"My lord, could it be…?" Rendall's face turned pale. The unfamiliar Alpha-level beast aura made him think it was a creature that had escaped from the underground fissure.

"No need to worry. It's Lysinthia's Twilight Viper. It has successfully advanced to the Alpha level."

Orion explained with a faint smile of satisfaction.

"Dace, head to Moonshadow Valley and summon Warden Lysinthia."

"Otho, go fetch Thundar."

Orion issued his orders, sending the guards to summon Lysinthia and Thundar.

The Twilight Viper's advancement to the Alpha level meant it was time for it to contribute to the horde.

Orion had already anticipated this. Once the Twilight Viper advanced, it would be the perfect candidate to guard Half-Moon Lake.

Half-Moon Lake, with its vast waters, was an ideal environment for a creature like the Twilight Viper, which thrived in dark, damp conditions.

However, Orion knew he couldn't send the Twilight Viper alone.

Lysinthia, Thundar, Slagor, Thundar's cavalry, and the swamp crocodiles and water pythons from Poison Dragon Swamp were all part of the team Orion had chosen to support the Twilight Viper.

Orion understood that Half-Moon Lake, now home to numerous species that had migrated from Thunderwood Forest, required a show of strength to maintain order. Without a powerful force, it would be impossible to establish dominance.