Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 1369 Sowing the Curse and the Winds of Hell

The Curse Seed functioned as a biological weapon in its purest form. It propagated through flesh and blood, utilizing those very elements as the fuel required to accelerate its development.

By clarifying these mechanics, Orion was subtly delegating the gruesome tasks to Aina and her Hellscream fanatics. It would be their responsibility to stack the corpses high.

"Mister, this strategy... it is truly wicked. It’s brilliant," Aina remarked, her eyes widening in realization.

Orion paid no mind to the praise. He observed the young girl, identifying the deep fracture within her mind. The agony of her family’s demise had ripped her soul in two.

One fragment remained the innocent child imprisoned within the Tower Defense World. The other was the current Aina—a Fallen Angel intent on burning the world to ashes to satisfy her thirst for revenge.

"One more thing, Mister," Aina inquired, her thoughts already pivoting toward the logistics of war. "Once this seed bears fruit, is it possible to plant the pits? Can I cultivate a second generation? Or even a third?"

She hesitated, seeking his validation. "Will the new offspring retain the capacity to corrupt?"

This was a vital strategic inquiry. If Aina intended to scale [Hellscream] at a rapid pace, a solitary tree would never provide sufficient munitions. She required an entire orchard.

"It is possible," Orion affirmed. "However, the strength of the bloodline corruption will dilute with every subsequent generation."

He detailed the inevitable diminishing returns. "A weakened corruption results in a more fragile grip on the host's psyche. Their original consciousness will become increasingly difficult to suppress."

This was an unavoidable reality. As the [Bloodline Seed] divided, the divine power and essence Orion had infused into it were spread thinner.

"For your primary circle—the commanders who require your absolute trust—utilize only the fruits from the initial three generations," Orion suggested. "Once I am capable of physically descending into your realm, I can manually bolster the corruption."

He paused, his voice turning stern. "Remain vigilant. Do not let your ambition lead you to a premature death."

They were allies within the Tower Defense World. He had no desire to see his most valuable asset fall to a betrayal because she became careless.

"Do not fret, Mister. Aina is exceptionally cautious!"

Eldoria, The Ruins of Grimm

Following the termination of the connection, the terrain of Grimm persisted in its dark metamorphosis. The relentless, booming roar of the terraforming tempests was gradually smoothing over the jagged scars of the ancient ruins.

Three fresh structures had emerged from the debris: The Windmill Keep, the Slaughterhouse, and the Crow's Cabin.

The Windmill Keep served as Aina’s fortress, a storehouse for idols, and the sacred altar where Hellscream performed their distorted rituals.

Behind the Keep lay the Labyrinth. Deep within its convoluted, disorienting heart, Aina knelt upon the earth. Using a small garden tool, she with great reverence interred the Curse Seed Orion had bestowed upon her.

Once the soil was firmly packed, she reached for a nearby bucket. It brimmed with a thick, crimson fluid that continued to steam in the chilled air.

She tipped the container, soaking the ground in fresh blood.

"Mmh... there we are," she murmured softly.

"This is the seed destined to purge the world," she whispered to the mud, her voice vibrating with dark anticipation. "The gateway to a new era. The origin of all our exquisite sins... This blood is wonderfully warm. You won't be burned, will you?"

She let out a giggle, a sound that felt entirely out of place in such a somber environment. "I am so curious. I truly wish to see it!"

Aina leaned forward, her gaze fixed on the blood-drenched earth, watching the red liquid filter down toward the roots.

"Grow quickly, little Seed. Mommy requires your assistance," she crooned. "When you are tall, Mommy will provide you with something savory every single day!"

Had Orion been present, he would have labeled her a lunatic. And he would have been correct. Aina was dancing on the brink of insanity. Any being who viewed a world-ending biological weapon as her child could hardly be considered stable.

"Let's see... what shall Mommy provide for you tomorrow?"

...

Hellscream was doing more than just reconstructing a settlement; they were forging a new ideology.

Operatives of the faction had already ventured beyond the protective gales, starting their crusade of retribution. They carried not only physical might but the dread-inducing will of their sect.

Aina was indifferent to whether these agents were tracked down and executed by rival factions. Her only interest lay in the disruption they caused. She wanted to observe if the Hellscream doctrine would ignite a global wave of anarchy.

She was probing the world's resilience, testing its defenses while she consolidated her strength within Grimm.

Reshaping the world was an arduous task. Yet, it could be achieved, one bloody step at a time.

Minor Hell, Ashenheart Domain

Watching over the development of the World Dragons was a lesson in profound boredom.

Contrary to his jests, Orion was not engaged in games with his comrades. Furthermore, Leonidas had certainly not arrived to debate the biological impossibility of men giving birth.

After receiving a briefing on the layout from Arthas, Orion had retreated into the caverns with the others, entering a state of tactical dormancy to conserve the energy of his Demigod Phantom.

Meanwhile, the Wraith Knight Ashreign had been dispatched by Arthas to the boundary of the central zone, ordered to repel the waves of undead throwing themselves against the Champions Alliance perimeter.

The stillness was shattered on a day when the winds shifted.

The erratic storms that normally haunted the Ashenheart Domain usually blew into the caves and vanished instantly. Today, the wind persisted. It wailed—a piercing, discordant shriek that would not subside.

WHOOOOSH!

The anomaly jolted Orion from his meditation.

By the time his eyes snapped open, his allies were already standing, moving swiftly toward the cave’s entrance.

"Hey," Orion called out to Leonidas, who was bringing up the rear of the group.

Leonidas halted and glanced back, his expression grim.

"This isn't the Abyss," Leonidas explained in a hushed tone. "The Hell World is a Void Realm. When a Demigod invades this place, they don't shatter a world barrier. It is more like dropping a pebble into a bowl of water. The only signal you receive are the ripples—the wind intensifying."

Orion grasped the meaning immediately.

The screaming wind signaled trespassers. High-ranking ones. The more ferocious the gale, the more powerful—and numerous—the foes were likely to be.

He followed them out of the cavern, scanning the volcanic horizon for threats.

"The Ashenheart flame within that peak is [Eternal-grade]," the Deputy Commander whispered, staring at the distant summit. "Whether for the forging of artifacts or Cultivation, it is a treasure even Demigods would commit murder for."

He spat upon the scorched earth. "Combine that with the [Lord of Hell] title—which provides authority over world laws—and the allure is simply too great. We are effectively bait. Arthas, we cannot defend this place indefinitely."

It wasn't a lack of courage; it was a cold assessment of reality. They were protecting a treasury of gold in a city teeming with thieves.

The members of the Champions Alliance were formidable, but what if a pack of wolves surrounded them? What if endless waves of avaricious Demigods launched an assault?

"Five," Orion stated abruptly, his voice cutting through the mounting dread.

Arthas, Leonidas, and Alexander stopped in their tracks. They turned to face the Giant King.

"Five?" Leonidas asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"If my perceptions are accurate," Orion said, his eyes narrowing as he focused on a ripple in the distance, "we have five Demigods approaching. One Second Step Demigod. Four First Step Demigods."