Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 1339 An insectoid world

"Orion, what exactly are you getting at?"

The human demigod, Evander, could feel a palpable shift in the air. His survival instincts, honed through countless trials, were screaming that a threat was imminent. He bypassed all formalities to get to the point.

"Gentlemen," Orion began, his tone possessed of a terrifying tranquility. "This conflict did not start this morning. It actually began a decade ago."

He went silent for a moment, letting the weight of his statement sink in.

"As you have all likely guessed, the Titanion Realm has been losing since the very beginning. Those spatial anomalies tearing through our sky? That is merely the enemy growing too massive to remain concealed. They are no longer just pounding on the gates; they have already moved into the living room."

"You mean we're losing?" Kairon questioned as he stepped forward. Even in his human form, the dorsal spine emerging from his skull made his aquatic heritage obvious. "How is it possible that we are losing?"

The fin atop Kairon’s head began to crackle with restless blue static, and the scent of ozone filled the surrounding air.

"It is far more than a simple battle, Kairon. Our very reality has become obsolete." Orion gestured broadly with his hand, as if to encompass the entire horizon.

Seeing the bewilderment on the faces of these veterans, Orion decided to show a bit of his hand. It was time for them to realize exactly how far out of their depth they truly were.

"The distortions in the atmosphere are merely the prologue," Orion explained, his voice sounding like a professor lecturing particularly slow-witted students. "In truth, the physical laws of the opposing side have already permeated our space. They are fundamentally rewriting the Titanion Realm, atom by atom. From the soil and the air to the very grass... they are terraforming this world to suit their own needs."

Orion’s words carried a prophetic gravity. He wasn't merely delivering a report; he was unveiling an inescapable fate. To a lesser mind, the sheer magnitude of such a violation would have been completely paralyzing.

Evander narrowed his eyes, his thoughts racing to keep up. "So, you are suggesting this won't be like the previous dark beast tides? There will be no mindless slaughter?"

"The world tunnels are nothing more than decoys, aren't they?" Evander continued, pieceing the puzzle together. "They want us demigods to burn through our energy sealing leaks while they outflank us on a metaphysical level?"

Orion had to acknowledge the man's wit. Evander hadn't survived the deadly pincer strike from Dreadfin and the Mermaid by being a fool. He had reached the level of a demigod through pure tenacity and tactical brilliance. He earned his place at the table.

"Precisely. The crisis is coming from within. It is an evolution," Orion confirmed. He decided to reveal his cards—or at least the ones he intended for them to see. "The invading dimension functions on a higher tier of reality than the Titanion Realm. Their laws are more complete, more robust. They are dominant."

This was the first detail Orion had noted upon his return. The Titanion Realm felt altered—heavy and saturated with an alien presence that was gradually choking out the local magic.

"Think of it in terms of gravity," Orion suggested, seeking a metaphor that would resonate. "When a high-density world consumes a low-density one, the energy gap leads to a collapse. It’s bad for business. It is like a prosperous empire seizing a village of starving peasants. You don't enslave a population of skeletons. You nourish them, fatten them up, and improve their infrastructure. Only then do you put them to work."

The metaphor was grim, yet highly effective. To those insectoid invaders, the Titanion Realm was little more than a slum. Before the two worlds could merge, the aggressors needed to renovate the property.

"To them, we are just squatters in a fixer-upper," Orion added with a dark, low chuckle. "I doubt they even view us as distinct threats."

This wasn't a sign of defeatism, but cold calculation. Orion was certain this chaos was the work of Clown. And if Clown was the one pulling the strings, the coming foe would be the stuff of nightmares.

"Orion, honey," Seraphina broke in. "You still haven't explained how we are supposed to kill them."

"Do you see that statue?" Orion pointed toward the shadowed depths of the cavern.

The group shifted their gaze toward the eerie, chitinous carving they had been tasked with guarding. It portrayed a creature that was undeniably insectoid.

"I am willing to bet the enemy hails from a hive-mind civilization. An insectoid world."

Kairon, Seraphina, and Evander all nodded in agreement. That statue had remained the focal point of their investigation since their arrival.

"If it is a bug world, their reality warping will naturally favor their own species," Orion hypothesized. "The initial changes in our realm will show up in the local insect populations. You will see mutations, heightened aggression, and hive-like behavior."

Orion was bluffing regarding his certainty, but his grasp of the mechanics was flawless. Though he didn't know it, he was exactly on target. The shifts within the Titanion Realm were currently microscopic and too faint for even a demigod to detect, but they were occurring nonetheless.

"So," Seraphina tilted her head, acting the part of the confused damsel to hide her razor-sharp mind. "You're saying the enemy hasn't arrived yet. They are just changing the rules of the game. Do we just stay put? No panicking?"

"Essentially," Orion agreed, hiding his own irritation.

He could perceive the mechanics of the invasion, yet he lacked the power to halt them. Not yet. His Abyssal World was still in its infancy, drifting in the Primordial Void as it slowly refined his divine body. It was far too fragile to manifest in this place. He was essentially fighting with one hand tied behind his back.

"So we just... grind and prepare?" Kairon growled. "That's the whole plan?"

He despised being passive. However, silence was the only response that filled the cavern. There were no other moves to make.

"Listen," Orion said, his voice dropping to a lower register. "Once the Titanion Realm has fully adapted to their laws, the true war will begin. It will be absolute chaos. Between now and then, you have a choice: stay and fight, or cut your losses and flee."

A sinister thought entered Orion's mind.

He actually hoped Kairon and Evander would lose their nerve. If they took their clans and abandoned the realm, it would create a power vacuum. Orion could then summon his brothers from the Champions Alliance. They could carve this world up like a feast.

The invading insectoids? They would be nothing more than XP and loot for his comrades.

As for Seraphina... Orion glanced her way. She was already practically his. Whatever power she held in the Titanion Realm would serve as a magnificent dowry.

The thought caused the corner of his mouth to twitch into a smirk. It was a win-win scenario, provided he was the one keeping the score.