Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 1432 Blood and Stoneư

"Let us become a true family!"

This stood at the heart of Magmus's beliefs.

Truth be told, it was straightforward. For him, the young ones he'd raised together counted as his siblings. Race meant nothing—be they Giants, Gnolls, or Golems. They were all family. The blood ritual didn't seek to remake their identities; instead, it poured that heartfelt connection straight into their bloodstreams, forging their faithfulness into raw strength.

"Elders, don't stare at me like I've sprouted an extra head," Magmus remarked, rolling his enormous shoulders as though his bold idea weighed nothing at all.

"I promise you, those young Gnolls, the Succubi, the Buffalofolk... they're all harboring the very same thoughts. At this moment, they're probably pacing wildly in their homes, itching to storm into the Stoneheart Temple. They're simply biding their time for a power that makes them stand out."

He balled his hand into a tight fist. "This represents our big break. A shot to outpace our rivals. A shot to outpace even you."

Fanaticism. Urgency. Hunger. Openness. Ambition.

Here was the Magmus that Onyx, Rockwell, and Gort now faced. Or maybe, after endless years of deadlock, they were at last witnessing the real essence of the rising youth—a breed worlds apart from their era.

"Hahahaha... pardon these weary old eyes. I sold you young ones short!"

Onyx tilted his head skyward and burst into laughter. The doubts that had gnawed at him abruptly felt absurd. Over time, the initial major groups yielding to the Stoneheart Horde had fused seamlessly. The fresh arrivals, inspired by that sight, had joined right after.

"Prophet, the times have shifted," Rockwell whispered. His mindset drew partly from Onyx; their views often aligned.

"Maybe the shift happened ages ago, and we were too shortsighted to notice," Gort let out a chuckle. The tense air atop the ridge started to ease up.

"In that light," Gort proclaimed, "then let's fully unite with the Stoneheart Horde."

"Exactly. Let us forge a real family, bound by blood and stone."

"This is our Stoneheart Horde."

***

To the south, beneath the fury of a rain-soaked evening.

Aldwyn, flanked by his spouse and child, reached the Stoneheart Horde's frontier in the guise of a ragged wanderer.

Once they entered the guards' watch and spotted the warriors from Stoneheart City, it felt like beholding saviors in the night—a faint glow amid boundless, devouring shadows.

Rescue had come.

They didn't get a grand reception, but the intel they shared about the insectoid horde brought them supplies. At minimum, they wouldn't trudge toward Stoneheart City with growling bellies.

Stoneheart City, the Citadel.

As evening lamps ignited against the fading sky, the city's frantic energy morphed into stacks of documents that flooded Lilith's workspace. Luckily, she'd gained two skilled helpers; without them, the whole system could have crumbled.

"You've arrived. Take a seat."

Lilith glanced up as Ava stepped inside, giving a courteous grin. Ever since settling in the citadel, Ava—with her proven skills from running Soaring Bird City—had been pulled in by Lilith to lend a hand. Talented leaders were something the Stoneheart Horde desperately lacked.

Normally, when free, Ava would drop by with Sylvana to tackle the paperwork. But this was late; Ava figured Lilith had a solid reason for calling her now.

Ava took her place. Right as the tea warmed her mouth and the cup returned to its dish, Lilith pushed a decoded spy brief over the table.

"Border scouts close to the Blood Elf lands caught a message. A roving knight called Aldwyn delivered thorough details on an insectoid assault on Soaring Bird City."

Lilith eyed Ava's face intently. The sudden spark of shock and ease verified her hunch.

"He says he's your loyalist, journeying with his wife and daughter to reunite with you. Kindly confirm if that's true and if the fellow can be trusted."

Lilith rapped the document. "Also, that bug wave hitting Soaring Bird City appears to be using it as a hive site. We require a full city layout and every bit of useful info."

For the Stoneheart Horde, handling insectoids boiled down to three paths: Watch, Wipe Out, or Breed.

Obviously, the one at Soaring Bird City was marked for Wipe Out.

"If it's Aldwyn, yes, he's my follower," Ava stated after pausing to reflect. "Prior to the Soaring Bird City pullout, he headed south to fetch his kin. By the dates, he'd have reached there only recently."

"Sister," Ava went on, inching closer, "Aldwyn serves as a knight. He swings a saber almost his full height. His ride is a beast-blooded horse tracing back to Earth Dragon blood, able to cover hundreds of miles daily."

Lilith gave a nod. The secret edition of the brief in her thoughts lined up exactly with Ava's words. The sheet in Ava's grasp was just the cleaned-up one for general view.

"Don't worry, your follower got support from the patrol. They'll reach Stoneheart City shortly."

It lifted Ava's spirits. Yet Lilith had more to say.

"Separately," Lilith noted, her voice turning sharp, "these bug plagues are ramping up. Rosethorn's building must speed up once more."

Ava's chest clenched without clear cause.

"That's Kronos's domain. You have to rally the folk you brought along," Lilith instructed, her tone shedding its prior kindness. "Aim to shelter all within the barriers before winter strikes. That's the sole surefire protection."

When touching on the bugs, Lilith had stayed soft. But on Rosethorn, she turned firm, commanding—like a born leader.

"You can count on me, Sister. I'll oversee it hands-on from tomorrow," Ava answered swiftly.

"Fine."

Lilith dipped her head. That was the response she'd hoped for.

Rosethorn earned its name from Kronos to honor the Rose Manor of his youth—a tribute to delight and respect his mother, Ava. At first, the work had surged ahead wildly. But as folks often do, some always sought to ease off.

Lately, Rosethorn's progress had lagged, hindering the Stoneheart Horde's key plans around the capital area. That's why Lilith needed to prod Ava.

It went beyond a mere prod, in truth. Ava was Kronos's mom. With Kronos off on duty, she alone fit to manage his lands. Plus, the humans skimping and scheming on-site had joined the Horde as Ava's own people.

They required Ava to set them right. And as another overseer, Ava grasped Lilith's aim completely.