Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 1402 A Spark of Life

Among the ascended beings, it was a widely accepted fact that the ambitions of a Demigod couldn't be confined to just one realm. The lands provided by the Titanion Realm were far too limited to drive their path toward genuine godhood, and they couldn't enable a local rise to divinity as long as the world's existing rules remained unbreakable.

Every one of them maintained hidden escapes—anchors in different planes, safe paths locked away in the emptiness.

"We all have our contingencies," Orion declared, his voice overpowering the chaotic forces within the void tunnel. "But having a way out is no excuse to surrender what is ours."

He scanned the gathered demigods in their circle. "The Titanion Realm is a banquet that will only become more bountiful. The Stoneheart Horde won't merely defend its territory; we'll claim an even bigger portion."

Sharp claws pressed into the flesh of his arm. Orion looked down to find Seraphina staring at him fiercely, her lovely features contorted in a sulk.

He cleared his throat. "And the Mermaid Race. They stand with us."

The harsh grip eased right away, shifting into a soft, stroking touch that glided across his skin.

"We will resist to the bitter end," Orion finished. "That is where we stand."

Tyras, the Dragon Lord, gave a slow nod. "The Dragonflight shares this interest. The world that is descending upon us... it holds potential. If the situation demands it, we can summon another Demigod from our flight to descend and aid in the defense."

He paused, allowing the significance of the proposal to sink in. "I believe the friendship between the Dragonflight and the Stoneheart Horde could be deepened."

This was a clear invitation to form an alliance. By disclosing that he had backups—another Demigod ready to join—Tyras demonstrated that the dragons were equals to Orion and Seraphina, not underlings.

Orion nodded. He didn't agree right away, nor did he turn it down. Instead, he shifted his attention to Evander and Kairon.

"Orion," Kairon spat, his gaze flicking momentarily to Seraphina before locking back on the giant. "I dislike you. Intensely."

Seraphina preened slightly.

"But like you," Kairon went on, his tone growing firmer, "I will not yield. The Titanion Realm is my home. My Paradise. I will not cede a single inch of my domain to invaders."

It was a bold statement from a competitor, laced with resentment yet grounded in honor. Orion shrugged indifferently. Seraphina, though, regarded Kairon with a spark of fresh respect.

"Humanity has bled for its lands," Evander stated, his voice tired yet determined. "We will not give them up easily. Unless the sky truly falls and all hope is lost, we stand our ground."

"Since our resolve is aligned," Evander added, glancing among the key figures, "I propose a mutual defense pact. A compact of blood and iron."

He motioned toward the assembly. "We cannot trust each other completely—our factions are too distinct. But we can agree on this: if any one of us is targeted for assassination by the enemy, the others must intervene. We cannot allow them to pick us off one by one."

The suggestion was practical. Though Orion couldn't rely on these Demigods like he did his own trusted followers, a quick-aid pact made sense. For entities of their strength, rushing across the realm to help a cornered comrade took only seconds.

"Agreed," Orion said. The rest nodded in agreement.

"If you want this defense to work," Kairon cut in, grasping the opportunity, "then help me purge the oceans. I cannot cover the deep trenches alone. If we don't act, the insect swarms will overrun us."

He directed a sharp look at Seraphina and Tyras. Their realms also included enormous expanses of sea.

A heavy quiet hung among them.

"A purge is necessary," Orion stated at last, voicing the stance for his wife. "One does not allow pests to breed in one's bed."

Kairon appeared eased, but Orion lifted a hand.

"However... a total extermination is unwise."

Kairon's face clouded over. "Explain."

"Have you not noticed?" Orion questioned. "As these creatures evolve, they condense a specific essence within their carapaces. To us, it is nothing. But to our soldiers? It is a potent fuel for growth."

He glanced around the group. "The swarm is a threat, yes, but it is also a resource. We leave them to breed, we let them evolve, and then we use them as whetstones to sharpen our armies. We cannot face an otherworld invasion with green troops. They need to be blooded."

Tyras emitted a deep, resonant chuckle. "The Giant King speaks wisdom."

The Dragon Lord had stayed quiet for good reason. His species had already learned that consuming advanced insectoids refined the bloodlines of their lesser offspring, the dragon beasts. To a dragon, the swarm wasn't merely a foe; it was an endless feast.

"The Dragonflight stands with Orion," Tyras announced. "We will patrol our own borders and cull the herds within our territory. As for the unclaimed regions... let the insects breed. Let them grow fat."

It came across as neglectful, yet it was ruthless strategy. The Demigods understood that the insects, restricted by the Titanion Realm's current laws, could only reach the Legendary tier at most. They endangered the weaklings, the lesser groups without Demigod guardians, but they didn't threaten the realm's overlords on a fundamental level.

It formed a harsh, unspoken pact: permit the insects to devastate the vulnerable, paving the way for the mighty to seize greater control.

"Besides," Tyras continued, his voice lowering further, "we only have ten years."

The atmosphere in the void tunnel sank sharply.

Ten years.

The words hadn't been voiced before, but the alteration in the planar laws had made it clear to all. The timer until the realms collided.

A weight pressed into Orion's chest. It wasn't dread—he feared nothing—but the unknown gnawed at him fiercely. Gearing up for this conflict seemed like striking at mist. He wouldn't know if their efforts sufficed until the heavens ripped apart for real.

The gathering broke up in a somber, wordless unity.

Marina City.

Rain battered the city's towering structures, pounding steadily on the colored panes of the lofty spire. Within, the atmosphere hung warm and dense.

As Orion and Seraphina entered her private rooms, the strain of politics faded away, giving rise to an urgent, irresistible attraction. No words passed, no playful teasing occurred.

Orion lifted her into his embrace. Seraphina pressed her face against his torso, her face glowing red, her breaths coming in gasps.

The gale outside howled through the night, echoing the fury inside the chamber.

By dawn, the downpour had stopped.

Orion stirred awake gradually, drawn from slumber by a subtle, steady thrum at the fringes of his senses.

His eyes flew wide. He twisted at once toward Seraphina, who slumbered next to him. His stare bypassed her features, dropping instead to lock on her belly.

There, he sensed it. A deep, unshakable bond. A glimmer of his lineage, igniting into being.

Seraphina's eyes fluttered open. She stayed still, but a gentle smile curved her mouth as she noticed his focus.

"You feel it too?" she whispered, her voice rough from rest.

"I do."

"It seems," she breathed, laying her hand atop his, "that our last bout of madness has created a little life."