Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 1389 Shadows of the Throne and the Abyss

"While I remain seated upon this throne," Orion pressed on, his words echoing through the dark obsidian chambers, "no vital aspect of the Stoneheart Horde shall shift. Shadows might conceal vermin—betrayers, faint-hearts, those chasing personal gain—but before my radiance, they'll bow down or go up in flames."

Orion's creed stemmed from lessons etched in hardship.

That explained why he passed his waking hours, and even his rests, planted on the throne instead of hidden away in some private room. In this realm, stepping out of sight invited forgetfulness. Should a leader vanish from everyone's eyes, folks lost the heavy impact of his authority. Staying in plain view turned Orion into a towering pillar—a steadfast pillar holding the Horde together.

The Horde had grown swiftly, swallowing up numerous races and groups. It defied odds for there to be no rebels or schemers lurking among them. Yet Orion paid no mind to the minor pests. His immense, crushing strength kept the vermin huddled in the cracks.

"To rule means mastering the fire," Orion reflected, his gaze sparkling with intensity. "When someone truly blocks your path, you skip the debates. You reduce them to ashes."

Elara dipped her head, her thoughts whirling as she absorbed the wisdom.

"Therefore," she declared, her tone hardening with determination. "We welcome aid from the Saint Gran Council and the Order of the Dandelion alike. We seize every bit they provide."

She raised her eyes to her father. "I'll bring them both inside. I'll drain their supplies and lock them in a stalemate. They'll stay locked in rivalry over sway in my Association, blind to how I'm forging my base with their help. And as they squabble, I'll grow powerful enough to smash them if they cross the line."

Orion tilted his head skyward and roared with laughter, a booming endorsement. "Quick study. That's my daughter."

He bent closer. "Share what you require to launch this plan."

Elara started outlining her needs—territory, funds, manpower. Orion approved each one promptly, no questions asked.

In the end, the base for her fresh Mage Association rose in a grand palace inside the Inner City. This stunning, isolated property was picked for its stunning design. It turned out to be the exact villa where Orion and Delilah once stole away for secret rendezvous, a fact that left Orion chuckling endlessly.

The Abyss. Foundry Citadel.

As Orion dwelled on old romances, the focus of those thoughts had just stepped into her latest role.

Delilah, the Succubus Queen, shifted from Vigil's Point to the Foundry Citadel. The relocation proved essential; Orion had led the Wraith Knight forces into the Minor Hell realm, creating a void of authority in the Citadel. With overseer Ashreign vanished, the stronghold demanded firm guidance.

"Ah..." Delilah drew in a long breath, her wings fluttering. "Sixth Layer indeed. The Abyssal essence hangs so dense here, I could sip it straight from the atmosphere."

"Glory to the Giant King! Glory to Aldous's endless appetite!"

Beside her, roaring toward the foul, sulfur-filled heavens, stood the Ogre Lord, Aldous. He had also been posted to the Citadel.

"Well, if it isn't what the darkness hauled up," a rough, gravel-like voice growled from the gloom. "The Ogre devouring scraps, and the Succubus craving the Master's shaft."

Delilah and Aldous spun around.

Striding toward them loomed a colossal figure. Towering close to twenty feet, bald, and bulging with muscles like sculpted stone, he advanced like an avalanche in motion. Waves of raw savagery poured from him—the clear mark of an Arch Lord. He made no effort to hold it back; instead, he unleashed it over them like a scorching blast.

"Xalathar?" Delilah inquired, undisturbed.

Unlike the Ogre, Delilah oversaw the Sentinel Corps. As the Stoneheart Horde's spymaster, she knew Xalathar had risen to Arch Lord rank, even if they'd never crossed paths in this shape. The force he projected rang a bell—fierce and unrestrained.

"Hmph. Flesh and blood," Xalathar snorted, halting several paces off. He folded his enormous arms. "Delilah. You once slipped me prime cuts to keep me sweet. For that, I'll guard your flank here in the Foundry Citadel."

Delilah offered a brilliant, polished grin.

The Xalathar now before her differed vastly from the monster in her memories. In this human-like guise, he carried a bold strut blending threat and silliness. When she'd tossed him snacks long ago, it was to tame him for wartime mounts. These days, he seemed almost civilized, and quite arrogant at that.

"I arrive by King Orion's command, Xalathar," she stated, her tone smooth yet commanding. "I demand your complete support. This land belongs to the Horde. Errors won't be tolerated. We won't disappoint the Master."

She hadn't journeyed here for leisure.

"Escort me to the Grand Wardens," she ordered. "I must meet Eparus, Holrivus, and Thronlis right away. And alert the military leaders—Vex, Phorzak, Bidalun, and Bolvar. Get them all to the war room without delay."

To Delilah, these remained mere entries in reports. Mastering the Citadel required matching names to faces and asserting control.

To Xalathar, though, they counted as ale companions. Bolvar especially, the third army head elevated by Orion following the defeat of the enemy Abyssal Lords.

"Stick with me," Xalathar muttered.

He peered beyond her at her followers. She traveled with backup. Trailing her was a force of a thousand picked warriors—Succubi, Shadow-fiends, Ogres, and Abyssal Sirens. She'd assembled her personal guard.

Orion's avatar, the Deathly Soul-Reaper, stayed away. He had set off earlier for the Death-Soul realm, tackling the tough climb toward Demigod rank.

Three days passed, and the mood in the Abyss transformed.

Across the Stoneheart Horde's three key bastions—Foundry Citadel, Wraith Keep, and the Temple of the Conquest Legion—fresh commands appeared. Delilah moved fast.

[Priority Directive: Total Eradication]

[Target: Weeping Banshees within territorial borders]

[Objective: Secure Banshee Crystals]

Delilah framed this as routine oversight, but it hid her personal drive.

Her arrival in the Sixth Layer went beyond oversight; she sought growth. She recognized her boundaries; her innate gifts had reached their limit. To close the divide and claim Arch Lord status, she required outside strength. The Banshee Crystals would unlock the potential of the "God-touched" seal Orion bestowed on her.

This path alone would safeguard her and her sister Lilith's places. To hold their spots beside Orion, Delilah stood ready to wipe out every Banshee across the Abyss.

Aldous burned with matching zeal.

He had crested the Legendary tier already. The Abyss promised nonstop fights and a domain brimming with vitality. Through relentless clashes and devouring ample Abyssal might, he envisioned his rise to Arch Lord.

Aldous set himself apart from the Stoneheart Horde's masses, stuck at Alpha rank. His capacity knew no bounds.

Long before Orion hit Legendary, Aldous ranked as a solid mid-level Legendary himself. In sheer base strength and stored might, the ogre trailed only the Titan King.

Orion had backed him for good cause.