Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 1574 The Chapter of the Profane

"So, you are fully aware of the Insect Queen's true might?" Orion's voice resonated, carrying an unnerving neutrality. "Or perhaps, is her power so immense that even your own faction harbors fears towards her? How intriguing."

Vaelian offered no denial to the accurate assessment. The enigmatic, hooded individual shifted his focus away from Lilith's forehead, the sharp, predatory aura he exuded receding back beneath the shadows of his cowl.

"Heh... As the Matriarch of the Swarm, a celestial being teetering on the very brink of the Fourth Stage, she is an unparalleled force in these times when the true titans remain concealed." Vaelian's tone descended, imbued with a peculiar, almost self-derisive lilt, as if underscoring the crushing weight of their predicament.

"Giant King, without our intervention, you stand no chance whatsoever of vanquishing her. Your destiny, and that of your Stoneheart Horde, is utter annihilation. The swarm will consume you completely. And should that come to pass, we will also gain nothing. This entire realm will be absorbed and reshaped into her Divine Domain."

A thick, oppressive silence descended upon the grand chamber.

Orion had finally received the confirmation he sought: the Insect Queen was indeed a supreme powerhouse, situated on the verge of the Fourth Stage. Despite his prior suspicions, hearing it stated as irrefutable fact struck him with the force of a physical blow. This was no ordinary adversary; this was a genuine nightmare.

That detestable, wretched creature. A searing wave of animosity and rage coursed through Orion's being. It was entirely directed at Clown. Having been so thoroughly outmaneuvered by that scoundrel had ignited a festering, unbearable resentment within him, desperate for an outlet.

Find him. Annihilate him.

"Your Excellency," Vaelian's voice intruded upon Orion's grim reflections. "Before this grand game concludes, we possess a means to bolster your influence over this territory. Even if you meet defeat in the ensuing conflict, it will grant your Stoneheart Horde sufficient time to endure."

It was the unmistakable, alluring scent of calculated manipulation. Orion was no stranger to that particular inflection.

"Naturally, we stand to gain considerable advantages from this endeavor," Vaelian stated plainly, without a hint of apology. "We shall seize this opportunity to firmly establish our dominion within this realm, a move that will undoubtedly herald a new epoch of conflict."

His words were delivered with absolute transparency. They were incurring a cost, and they anticipated a monumental return on their investment.

"Hehehe... So your grand strategy involves observing the Stoneheart Horde and the swarm engage in a battle of attrition, and once both are weakened, you intend to swoop in and claim the spoils?" Orion retorted with chilling sarcasm. "There are no benevolent actors in this world."

This was not mere suspicion; it was the stark, unvarnished truth laid bare. In the eyes of these clandestine strategists, Orion and the Stoneheart Horde were merely expendable pieces. If Orion aspired to claim this nascent world, he had to accept his role as a pawn on their elaborate chessboard.

"Your Excellency, each individual carves their own path," Vaelian responded with unshakeable confidence. "Deciding when to advance, when to hold back, and when to seize the opportunity to eliminate the obstacle in your way—these are decisions you alone must make. Ultimately, the victor is determined by whose hands are stained the deepest with blood. Would you not agree, Giant King?"

A brazen smile spread across Vaelian's countenance. He had laid all his cards on the table: this was never intended as a partnership of mutual trust between the Profane Lands and the Stoneheart Horde. It was a pact of reciprocal exploitation. As for who would successfully betray the other and emerge victorious? That depended entirely on sheer ruthlessness and far-sightedness. "You are entirely correct," Orion conceded. "The ultimate victor has yet to be determined. Until the dust settles, we are all merely draft animals pulling the plow."

At Orion's words, Vaelian's grotesque grin widened. The Giant King's acknowledgment signaled his willingness to participate in the gambit. The geopolitical landscape of this newly formed world was being sculpted precisely as Vaelian had envisioned.

"Now," Orion's tone shifted, becoming decidedly more serious and authoritative. "Explain to me precisely what gives you the confidence that a First-Stage Demigod like myself can contend effectively against the Insect Queen."

With an understanding now established, Orion steered the conversation directly to the crucial point. The sole reason he had endured Vaelian's arrogant pronouncements within his own throne room was to uncover this very strategic advantage.

"Remain assured, Giant King. We shall not let you down."

From Vaelian's shadowed cloak, a solitary page forged from black gold detached itself, hanging motionless in the air before him. This scripture leaf, its substance unlike paper or silk, emitted a profound, dark-gold divine radiance. It shimmered, suspended on the precipice between illumination and obscurity, blurring the edges of existence and the void. Orion knew instinctively this was no mortal treasure. The single leaf radiated an overwhelming, suffocating divinity, accompanied by an intensely lethal premonition of peril.

"The Chapter of the Profane," Vaelian proclaimed, his voice resonating. "An ancient scripture originating from our Profane Lands, naturally formed from primordial dark matter. It possesses the ability to seamlessly integrate with any physical material." Vaelian paused, his chest swelling with a peculiar, dark pride. "Naturally, this is but a fragment of the whole."

He displayed no embarrassment in offering a damaged artifact; rather, an overwhelming arrogance radiated from him.

"What are its capabilities?" Orion inquired, a hint of urgent curiosity coloring his tone.

"Giant King, this fragment of the Profane Chapter contains a secret technique that allows for the seamless fusion of your divine power laws with the fundamental cosmic laws governing this world," Vaelian elucidated, his voice descending into a fanatical, reverent whisper. He extended a hand, gently stroking the suspended page. The dark, eerie luminescence reflected in his mismatched eyes, gleaming like the coldest stars in the abyssal cosmos. "Through this technique, even a mere First-Stage Demigod can prematurely seize absolute authority over World Domination."

Orion frowned. He perceived it clearly: Vaelian was utterly consumed in this moment, teetering on the edge of sheer insanity. To Orion, this artifact appeared less like a divine boon and more akin to a parasitic curse—a hex cast by ancient, inscrutable dark gods.

"If I were to defile myself with this, wouldn't it attract the attention of even more formidable beings?" Orion questioned, his voice heavy with skepticism. He regarded the unknown artifact with extreme, calculated apprehension.

"What? Does Your Grace question its potency?" Detecting Orion's visceral revulsion, Vaelian abruptly lifted his head, fixing Lilith with a demanding, probing stare.

Lilith remained utterly silent. The phantom will of Orion residing within her offered no reply.

"Hehehe... To wield World Domination is to prematurely unlock the potential to establish a Divine Kingdom. It bestows upon you a portion of the absolute authority typically reserved for the Divine Calling Stage," Vaelian elaborated, striving desperately to sway the Giant King while defending the sanctity of his relic. "Only by harnessing the power of the Divine Calling Stage will you earn the right to stand on the same stage as the Insect Queen."

In Vaelian's fervent eyes, the Chapter of the Profane was an untouchable, blasphemous holy artifact.

"You cannot even begin to fathom its true nature," Vaelian whispered, tracing the page with a trembling, obsessed hand. "Every single rune, every sharp stroke inscribed upon this fragmented leaf, embodies the majestic, supreme might of absolute cosmic law. Legend dictates that anyone who fully deciphers the script upon this page will shatter the ultimate veil of reality and ascend to the absolute pinnacle in a single, decisive leap."

Vaelian's obsession intensified with each utterance. To Orion, this unhinged display was profoundly disturbing. It was pure, chilling fanaticism—the kind that sent shivers down one's spine.