Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

Before Orion reached Legendary level, every time Thunderhawk Rayden came to pick him up, Orion would always take a running leap before mounting. This time, Orion simply appeared on its back in a flash, which threw Rayden off.

"What are you spacing out for, you dumb bird? Do you want to slam headfirst into that mountain?"

Orion reminded Rayden. The thunderhawk snapped out of it and let out a string of piercing cries. With a quick glide, it flapped its wings and soared higher.

"Master, where to?"

"Fly north, to the ice fields. I want to see those glaciers."

He had a plan. As a lord, Orion needed to be informed about the various Legendary-level powers around him.

He'd already met Gareth, so he wasn't concerned with her right now. Next on his list was Lord Jorik in the north—rumored to be a Glacial Dragon.

Orion was eager to meet him. If it came down to it, he wouldn't mind playing the "dragon slayer." Plus, the area northeast of Poison Dragon Swamp bordered the ice fields, making them neighbors. Orion figured it was best to meet Lord Jorik personally, and maybe even lay the groundwork for future invasions.

Screee!

Thunderhawk Rayden let out a shrill cry, then shot north at top speed. With Orion on its back, it felt confident enough to soar freely, unrestrained.

Up above, the wind roared, and the clouds floated by in whorls of mist. Standing on the thunderhawk's back, Orion listened to the rush of air and watched the land blur beneath them. A certain grandeur filled him.

North of the Black Forest stretched an expanse of conifer woodland. It wasn't exactly teeming with beasts, but it wasn't empty either.

Looking down at the land below, Orion felt more than ever that it belonged to him. There'd been no such feeling on earlier flights with the thunderhawk. But now, here in his own territory, he was the one on top, the one who perceived every tiny change around him.

Suddenly, Orion understood how Gareth must've felt back then. As long as someone wasn't yet at Legendary level, you could tolerate their presence.

"Maybe that's exactly how Gareth thought of me."

He chuckled at the realization—and felt lucky. He'd managed to rise above the threshold, right under a powerful lord's nose.

…

Two weeks later, Thunderhawk Rayden flew past the Black Forest and into the Abyssal Chasm.

Gareth herself was off campaigning in Thunderwood Forest, so she wasn't there. Still, Orion's brazen flight over the Abyssal Chasm drew notice from one of Gareth's will projections.

Drifting in the sky, Orion glanced down and spotted that flicker of Gareth's presence, but paid it no mind. At his current level, snuffing out her will projection would pose no challenge.

But killing it here and now in the Abyssal Chasm would just create extra complications and cancel their pact on the spot. Then Gareth would surely harass Poison Dragon Swamp, the Black Forest, and Half-Moon Lake with all her forces, pitching the Stoneheart Horde into chaos. That would run counter to his plans for this period of growth—it definitely wasn't what Orion wanted.

"Keep going. Don't stop," he told Rayden. "Straight north."

In the Abyssal Chasm, Gareth's projection lifted its gaze and frowned.

"So Orion didn't come after the Abyssal Chasm—kept on going north. Looks like he's not here for me at all.

"The north… that's the ice fields. After all, a slice of Poison Dragon Swamp is right up against the ice fields. He must be looking for Jorik. Should I chase after him?"

…

Thunderwood Forest, Thunderpeak Mountain.

Gareth, having gotten the message from her will projection, narrowed her eyes in thought.

"Orion's gone to the ice fields? The last time Jorik sent his men to invade the Black Forest, Orion must be going up there to see what's what. Maybe to test his own strength… Yeah, that feels like him."

Gareth knew Orion's personality from meeting him a few times. He was direct, fearless, and never forgot a grudge.

Since Lord Jorik had invaded the Black Forest, Orion sure wasn't about to let that go.

As for why he hadn't come after her for a rematch, Gareth figured she had a decent guess. They'd already tangled once—she'd tried to kill him, and he'd wiped out Ridi as well as her own will projection, which settled some of that score.

Since their territories bordered each other, and both sides wanted to push south someday, Gareth and Orion had made that brief peace arrangement.

Gareth grudgingly respected Orion for leaving the Abyssal Chasm alone. It showed he wasn't looking to escalate things with her—at least for now. If Orion had tried to grab the Abyssal Chasm, there'd have been no chance for calm between them. If Orion wanted to march south, he'd have to invade her lands sooner or later.

"This works out," Gareth mused. "He needs time to build up, and I need time to stabilize Thunderwood Forest. That's a fair exchange."

…

Up north, another two weeks passed before Orion and Rayden finally entered the ice fields. Almost immediately, Orion sensed Lord Jorik's presence.

"Rayden, see that massive glacier dead ahead?"

"Yes, Master, I see it." Explore more stories with empire

"Let's go!"

Rayden let out a high, shrill whistle. Once into the ice fields, the beasts were fewer, and blizzards raged across a vast expanse of white. The snowfall and icy gusts cut visibility, forcing Rayden to rely on caution.

"Master, maybe we should fly higher. These winds and all this snow… it's getting tough."

Orion didn't respond. Instead, he turned his head, glancing off to the side.

"You might as well come out. I know you're there."

The suddenness of Orion's words made Thunderhawk Rayden jolt. Adrenaline spiking, the thunderhawk shot arcs of lightning around its body to disperse the swirling snow. It circled the area warily, but couldn't pinpoint anyone.

Just as Rayden was about to speak up, a figure in white appeared in the distance—Lumi.

"Lumi," Orion called out. "Soraya mentioned you. I know you're not under Lord Jorik.

"Swear loyalty to me, and I'll bring you south. I'll grant you a far greater territory."