Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 1464 Wildcard and War Paint

With the pair in full accord, Tangere gave a nod and pressed on with the briefing.

"My Plague Zombies will trail the primary Undead Legion, serving as a barrier to clean up any foe's advance guards slipping past the front."

"Branric, your Scarecrow division will merge with the zombies. We'll offer each other protection to cut down on losses."

"Caesar, your Sword and Shield warriors handle recovery and scouting tasks. They must claim important bodies and treasures while monitoring the battlefield's changes."

Coordinating diverse troop strategies was nothing new for Tangere. He had honed his skills battling beside the Stoneheart Horde's standard forces, working with Undead groups, Cave Spider hordes, and Sand Scorpion squads. He understood the flow of such battles well.

"Gentlemen, don't fool yourselves. We're heading straight into a brutal slaughter."

Tangere bent ahead, his face serious. "I demand my commands be followed instantly. If I order a retreat, you retreat. No second thoughts. Just act."

"I plan to survive this fight, and I figure you feel the same."

Caesar and Branric nodded their agreement. Their purpose was to help and gather battle knowledge, not waste their lives in foolish heroics.

"Hey! Is anyone there?"

Right as Tangere prepared to send them off, a young voice pierced the tense air inside the tent.

Tangere, Caesar, and Branric traded quick looks.

Their setup was a compact strategy tent, placed right in the heart of the command area. Ordinary troops couldn't simply stroll inside. Even more troubling, the guards outside stayed quiet—no warning, no alert.

"Let's check who that is," Tangere declared, leading the way. He spun around and pushed the tent flap open.

A girl stood there.

Tribal markings adorned her face—two vibrant lines over her cheeks—and feathers were braided into her locks. Strapped to her back was a hide backpack large enough for an adult male. She appeared small, her looks hidden under travel dirt and the face paint.

"Hi there. I'm Aurora. I'm an Awakened, dispatched by Lord Kraken to aid you."

"We'll be allies in this war effort. If there's anything you want handled, tell me."

Despite being clearly a woman, her tone carried a coarse, youthful edge. Indeed, her initial vibe to the three leaders evoked a feral kid—a rough-and-tumble girl raised in the wilds.

"I'm Tangere. Step in," Tangere invited, his gaze sharpening a bit.

He spotted a key point: Aurora positioned herself precisely one inch beyond their magical barriers. She remained in the open area, explaining why the watch spells hadn't activated. Still, she had thrown her words right into the tent.

She was clever.

Aurora had just risen to Legend rank, a Survivor who fought her path to becoming a Lord.

"Thanks!"

What happened next felt bizarre.

Hardly had the group stepped into the tent when Aurora let her huge pack crash down with a loud bump. She dug inside and extracted three glowing, hand-sized rocks, pressing them into Tangere, Caesar, and Branric's palms before they could settle.

"Specialty from my lands. They're known as Starflare Stones. Perfect for nourishing pets or mounts—strong odds of sparking an elemental surge."

"First encounter with you all, and I didn't prepare much beyond this. Just a small gesture. Hope it's okay!"

The worth was obvious. These counted as scarce materials.

For leaders like Caesar and Tangere, who led living troops, animals and creatures were vital.

"This... I can't..." Caesar faltered. The earnest fighter was too straightforward.

He desired the rock—he envisioned claiming a dragon creature, where this would prove priceless. Yet he arrived for combat, not chit-chat, and lacked anything suitable to offer back. Accepting such a fine welcome present without reply shamed him.

"We welcome your kindness," Tangere cut in gracefully, sparing Caesar the awkwardness. "And these go to you."

Tangere drew out three fancy wooden cases and passed them to her.

"These are Plague Totem Poles. Set them up in your area, and they form a safe haven granting resistance to nearly all organic curses."

"Wow! Thank you!" Aurora grabbed the cases eagerly, her smile broad.

Her excitement was real. Tangere's present fixed a major flaw in her realm. Her domain teemed with woods and animals, and her creature-training work suffered nonstop from odd, enchanted diseases.

In her mind, Aurora celebrated wildly.

The Boss is brilliant! The Kraken Strategy succeeds again!

Stick with the Boss, score the treasures! Absolutely!

Within, the real Aurora pumped her fist. This approach of "start with a gift" came straight from Kraken's teachings. Their core idea was straightforward: bold giving was the quickest route to join a team and lock in partnerships.

Offer some, gain plenty.

As Aurora grinned, her eyes forming happy arcs, Caesar and Branric gave thankful glances to Tangere.

Tangere smiled silently. He used to operate solo, but he grasped the art of guiding others. No Lord could succeed without mastering how to earn devotion or ease group tensions.

Truth be told, Tangere anticipated her arrival. Orion had informed him, without details on her identity or looks. Orion merely mentioned a "trial member" entering their unit, and Tangere should assess her skills.

"First things first, Aurora, you're on the team."

"Now, give me a status update. What's your focus, and what troops did you deploy?"

The mood switched right away from casual to battle-ready. Aurora even stood taller, her cheeky smile fading.

"Sir Tangere, I'm a Beastmaster. I brought ten thousand Quadrifur Brawnbulls, fitted with light armor."

"The Quadrifur Brawnbull excels in stamina and swiftness. They handle powerful rushes, but their key role is transporting. They haul tenfold their mass while sprinting."

After her briefing, she gazed at Tangere with big, hopeful eyes, resembling a pupil awaiting feedback.

Tangere pondered deeply, his eyes tightening.

Troops blending assault riders with robust supply lines.

Hurling real creatures like the Quadrifur Brawnbull into clashes with this conflict's terrors would spell doom. Tangere refused to watch a fresh partner deplete her army on the opening day.

He faced Caesar.

"The Brawnbulls make an ideal boost for your foot soldiers," Tangere stated, his tone holding a gentle guiding force. "I recommend placing your Sword and Shield warriors atop her bulls."

"It turns your group into armored riders. You gain elevation for scouting, hugely expand your recovery power, and enhance your speed."

"Plus, if a rush proves essential, a shielded rider assault hits harder than a wild herd charge."

It served as a battle directive, yet also a nudge.

This offered Caesar his shot at forming a real mounted force. If the youth proved sharp, he'd seize the moment to connect with Aurora's ranks and absorb all he could on the Quadrifur Brawnbulls.