Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 1576 A Foul Artifact

"Tell me, what do you desire?"

Kairon's voice came out hoarse and strained, heavy with a suppressed intensity. It was the rough sound of a volcano on the brink of eruption, a testament to his sheer willpower in holding back a deluge of desperate anticipation and longing.

"Destroy the Insect Queen!"

"And should you succeed in dominating this realm, grant us but a few scraps from your triumphant feast."

In stark contrast to Kairon's turmoil, the cloaked individual remained imperturbably calm, as indifferent as a passing zephyr.

Unnoticed by Kairon, a complex tapestry of disdain, contempt, and pity swirled beneath the surface of the stranger's veiled gaze.

From the perspective of the figure in black, Kairon was utterly insignificant.

The promises made were merely falsehoods, hollow declarations crafted to ensnare.

"Is this all I must offer?"

Kairon rose to his feet. With deliberate, measured steps, he advanced towards The Chapter of the Profane and the Fel Fruit.

In reality, Kairon harbored no true concern, as he was paying no genuine cost.

The extermination of the Insect Queen stood as his ultimate objective, the very heart of his vengeance.

As for reciprocating the cloaked figure's assistance later, that was a concern for a future unwritten. He was uncertain if he would even survive to witness it.

Kairon was acutely aware that the man before him was no benevolent figure. He might well be a predator of even greater danger, a new threat emerging on the horizon.

Nevertheless, in this crucial moment, he had to employ a strategy of counteraction. He would invite one danger to vanquish another.

"As long as it means expelling the invaders, I will undertake any task!"

...

Minor Hell. The Realm of the Ever-Burning Volcano.

Whoosh!

Azure flames billowed forth from Ashreign, the formidable Commander of the Wraith Knights. This cerulean fire cascaded over his imposing armor and encircled the formidable blade of his greatsword.

Compared to the colossal conflagration of the distant Ever-Burning Volcano, his flames appeared as a mere ember.

Yet, in the estimation of Deputy Commander Ozyrel, the fire blazing upon Ashreign was far more than mere hellfire; it embodied the very essence of their knighthood's unwavering faith.

"My Lord, your might has once again ascended!"

Ashreign gave a solemn nod. This place, Minor Hell, was an environment perfectly conducive to augmenting their power. Failure to achieve greater strength here would be a profound humiliation.

Furthermore, countless wraiths and malevolent spirits roamed the environs of the Ever-Burning Volcano, presenting themselves as targets for eradication.

The soul energy they assimilated after each vanquished foe had led to a substantial increase in their numbers. The Wraith Knights were steadily evolving into an overwhelmingly potent force.

"Continue to push your capabilities. This is not our liege's domain. We are merely sojourners here, and inevitably, we must depart."

Ashreign reined in his imposing aura and cast a glance back towards the Ever-Burning Volcano. From the fiery depths, he could discern the familiar presence of their sovereign.

"Our brethren are advancing with remarkable speed. Even I have approached the precipice of becoming an Archlord. It will not be long before the Wraith Knights reclaim their former glory."

"Commander... do you believe we can fight our way back?"

A faint azure luminescence flickered within Deputy Commander Ozyrel's vacant eye sockets. He gazed intently at Ashreign, yearning for a word of hope from his commander.

Ashreign, however, remained silent. He averred his gaze from the Ever-Burning Volcano and turned back towards the ongoing conflict.

...

Deep within the fiery heart of the Ever-Burning Volcano, the consciousnesses of various Demigods began to stir.

In essence, this was a long-established custom. Whenever the presence of a Champion Alliance member was detected within the cavern, irrespective of their identity, the others would awaken to greet them.

"It hasn't been that long, little brother. Don't tell me you annihilated all those adversaries single-handedly?"

Leonidas's voice initially sounded groggy, but upon recognizing that it was Orion's will that had stirred him, his tone shifted to one of lighthearted teasing.

"Or were you perhaps fleeing for your life, hotly pursued across the entirety of this realm?"

Before Orion could offer a response, Alexander—typically the most reserved among them—interjected.

"I can assure you that even if you had contrived to end your own existence, Hulk would undoubtedly still be standing."

This was Alexander's customary method of acknowledging Orion's considerable strength, while simultaneously seizing the opportunity to gently tease Leonidas.

"Is there an urgent matter at hand?"

It was Arthas. Disregarding the playful exchange between Leonidas and Alexander, he went directly to the core of the issue, addressing Orion with focused intent.

"Brethren, has any among you encountered knowledge of the Profane Lands?"

A profound silence was his only reply. Orion paused for a moment of contemplation before adding further clarification.

"What of The Chapter of the Profane? Or perhaps the Fel Fruit?"

Yet, the cavern remained eerily silent. No one offered a response.

"The Profane Lands... the name is unfamiliar."

After a prolonged silence, having thoroughly sifted through his recollections, Arthas was the first to break the quiet.

"Are these the same peculiar beings and Serpent Gods you alluded to previously?"

"Affirmative."

Orion's assumption proved correct; his comrade was as sharp-witted and discerning as ever.

"Are their powers formidable?"

Orion possessed no immediate answer, electing instead to present The Chapter of the Profane, which the phantom will had entrusted to him.

Upon the appearance of the enigmatic, ancient page, the others in the vicinity drew in sharp breaths, their brows furrowing. An immediately palpable, intensely dangerous aura emanated from it.

A profound, silent contemplation settled over the group for a span of moments.

"How did your path intersect with theirs?"

Just as Orion began to doubt his companions could offer insight, Deputy Commander Edward's aged voice resonated from the surrounding gloom.

Concurrently, an ethereal projection of an elder, bathed in a divine luminescence, materialized adjacent to The Chapter of the Profane. The spectral hand extended, poised to touch the unholy scripture, yet halted mere inches away.

"The Profane Lands, also known through the moniker Realm of Heresy. This is a collective that stands as far more malevolent than any Abyssal Demon, and considerably more corrupted than the specters of the undead."

"They will resort to any conceivable method to attain their objectives. There is no boundary they deem inviolable."

"Within the stringent edicts of the Saint Gran Council, a clear directive exists: maintain absolute distance from the Profane Lands."

Deputy Commander Edward's gaze remained fixed upon The Chapter of the Profane, a sudden, peculiar fixation dawning in his venerable eyes.

He regarded it with the same intensity a mortal might view a cherished, yet lost, love from their formative years.

"This is an artifact of profound foulness."

"Its malevolence surpasses any known curse. It exudes a dark enchantment that ensnares the very soul and perverts the will. My strongest counsel is to keep a significant remove from it."

The brief spell of fixation dissipated as swiftly as it had manifested. Reasserting his composure, Edward withdrew from the precipice of obsession.

Turning his back on the scripture, the Deputy Commander re-entered the shadows, electing to return to his repose.

His decision was unwavering, devoid of the slightest trace of indecision.

As Orion prepared to voice further inquiries, Edward's voice drifted back from the unseen depths.

"That encapsulates the entirety of my knowledge pertaining to the Profane Lands. I have never personally had an encounter with them."

"That particular scripture page is of a deeply vile nature. Your wisest course would be to present it to the Commander. If any individual possesses the information you seek, it is he."

By the time the resonance of his words faded, the Deputy Commander had already submerged back into a deep slumber.

"Brother, I too am returning to my rest!"

"We shall have a proper convergence when the Champions Alliance initiates our joint campaign against the Verdant Cloud Realm."

Leonidas's voice dissolved into the encompassing darkness.

As for Alexander, Orion could no longer perceive his presence whatsoever.

"My being is tethered to this location. It would present immense difficulty for me to depart and extend aid to you."

"You are the primary force now; there is little more I can practically do for your benefit."

"I shall impart this counsel: deliberate thoroughly before acting, and tread with utmost caution upon the path that lies before you."

Arthas manifested at Orion's side. He drove his formidable greatsword into the earth with both hands, his gaze fixed not on Orion, but on the impenetrable obscurity stretching out before them.

"Brother, your assistance has already been more than sufficient for me."

Standing alongside Arthas, Orion experienced an unbidden sense of tranquility and camaraderie.

Within the depths of his being, a profound admiration for the man took root.