Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 1353 Good answer

Mirelune, Silverwood Realm

A shimmering masterpiece of architecture, the city sat like a misplaced gemstone amidst the poisonous sludge of the Venomfen Swamp. This was Tangere's crowning achievement.

Tangere’s status across the entire region had been solidified by the construction of Mirelune. His reputation even reached the distant shores of the Moonlight Continent. It served as the primary staging ground; any mercenary group or band of adventurers seeking to complete quests or slay high-tier monsters in the marshes eventually sought sanctuary within its sturdy walls.

Orion viewed Tangere as a kindred spirit—a solitary predator. He was the sort of man who avoided the company of strangers and maintained a very exclusive inner circle. Orion didn't mind; those with true talent rarely required a crowd to validate their worth.

"Why didn't you just call the place 'Tangere' and be done with it?"

At the summit of the city's Mage Tower, Tangere was pulled from a state of profound meditation. Recognizing the voice, his eyes snapped open to find a figure standing before him. It was a silhouette he knew well, though it seemed altered. Orion stood there, emitting a presence that felt ancient yet pulsing with life.

"The name 'Tangere' was already claimed in the world I originated from," Tangere answered, rising to perform a formal gesture of welcome.

Tangere was more than a name; it was his handle and his identity. Among the Survivors, it was the title he carried with immense pride.

"Boss," Tangere said, his demeanor becoming professional. "You didn't travel all this way just to admire the scenery. What do you need?"

The two men took their seats. Without wasting time on social pleasantries, Tangere produced a spread of high-quality food and premium spirits. He understood Orion’s nature; he never made personal visits without a specific objective in mind.

"Quick question," Orion said, getting straight to the point. "Do Plague Pathogens count as an insectoid race?"

Having just departed from his meeting with Lilith, Orion had come directly to the Silverwood Realm. He was here to evaluate Tangere—a final assessment of his character before suggesting him for the Champions Alliance—but he also sought intelligence regarding a potential weapon against the insect swarms.

"Strictly speaking, I wouldn't categorize them as Insectoids," Tangere replied while pouring a drink. "However, biology remains biology. Even a massive swarm isn't protected from disease. If the Plague Pathogens infect them, they'll rot just like any other living thing."

While not a guaranteed solution, it offered a viable path for an attack. Whether such a plague possessed the potency to eradicate an entire swarm was a question for the future, but the underlying logic was sound.

Orion nodded, satisfied for the moment. He lifted his glass, and the two shared a brief, companionable silence as they drank.

"Give me your honest take on the others," Orion said, placing his glass down. "Caesar, Aerin, Scarecrow, and Aina. Don't hold back."

Tangere took a moment to reflect. He realized this wasn't mere small talk; it was a tactical briefing. Attempting to deceive a powerhouse like Orion was both futile and dangerous.

"Caesar is dependable. I've witnessed his capabilities firsthand," Tangere began. "The man is a grandmaster with a blade. He follows an old-school code of honor—a 'Sword Heart,' if you will. There are certain lines he simply won't cross. If you're looking at a righteous battle or a crusade? He's the man you want at the front. He's essentially a tank and a DPS combined into one."

It was high praise, but Tangere’s mention of "righteous" was the vital detail. Caesar was not the right choice for covert operations or morally grey tasks.

"And what about Aerin?" Orion asked, inquiring about the former slacker.

Tangere showed a bit of hesitation. "Aerin... she's difficult to evaluate. Given the vast resources and the expansion rate of the [Forest of Nature], she's practically guaranteed to become an Arch Lord, assuming no disasters occur. But in terms of raw combat?" Tangere made a face. "With all due respect, she's hot garbage."

Orion gave a nod of agreement. That sounded accurate. Most were blinded by Aerin’s status as the Wood Elf Queen, but Tangere focused on the underlying stats. In some cases, the initial build matters more than potential skill.

"To be honest, Boss, given her personality and setup, it's best to just let her farm," Tangere advised. "Keeping our logistics stable and the granaries overflowing is more valuable than having her on the front lines. An endless supply of food is the ultimate buff."

"What about Scarecrow? Don't your specialties overlap?"

"Yes, we've crossed paths. He's... an outlier," Tangere said, a wry smile touching his lips as he shook his head. "Boss, you should really inspect his forces sometime. He possesses these Hero-tier Scarecrow units—they have magic immunity and are resistant to all debuffs. You can only take them down with pure physical damage. It's honestly broken."

Since both Tangere and Scarecrow were Legendary level beings, they moved in similar circles. Scarecrow had visited Mirelune a few years prior, and Tangere had seen the man go absolutely primal in the depths of the swamp.

"How is he as a person?"

"Reliable and generally laid back," Tangere said, choosing his words with care. "But he has a dark side. He's capable of going to extremes."

Orion understood exactly what Tangere was implying. Scarecrow was the kind of hardcore player who spent nearly the entire year offline on a rigid schedule, only playing during the winter months. That level of self-restraint often leads to a buildup of intense pressure.

"And Aina?"

Tangere gave a shrug. "A total wild card. A mysterious kid who barely speaks to any of us."

Orion nodded once more. Aina remained a mystery, unpredictable and difficult to read. Her previous request to annihilate the world still occupied a corner of his mind.

"Last one," Orion said, locking eyes with Tangere. "How do you evaluate yourself?"

Tangere didn't flinch. He had anticipated this question. He had analyzed the rest of the team; now he was the one being scrutinized. He opted for total transparency.

"Boss, I'm a man who understands his engagement range," Tangere said in a low voice. "I know exactly where my boundaries lie. If I reach that red line, I don't take risks. I retreat. I survive."

It was a humble yet effective boast. He was signaling to Orion that he was cautious and wouldn't become a liability who caused a team wipe due to a bruised ego.

"Good answer. You've built a solid foundation here," Orion remarked, standing up. "That's all I needed. I'll see you around."

In a flash, before Tangere could even rise to escort him out, Orion disappeared from the Mage Tower.

Tangere stared at the spot where Orion had just been sitting. His heart raced with a sense of excitement. He had missed the rush. He hoped that Orion's return signaled the beginning of a new campaign.