Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 1588 Fifth Paradigm

Hell. The Ashenheart Domain.

A murky sky, thick with mist, stretched overhead while a biting wind relentlessly ground gravel and stone into a ceaseless, grating crunch. Clad in a heavy cloak that trailed behind him, Arthas forged his way up the Ossuary Trail, drawn towards the cavern that offered direct passage to the heart of the Ever-Burning Volcano.

Within its depths, a sharp creak, akin to the ancient lid of a tomb being pried open, echoed ominously as something primordial began to stir.

"Ugh, this wretched stench of burning sulfur again." Leonidas, the demigod phantom, stirred from his slumber. The instant he recognized his old companion, his complaints began. "Arthas, for the sake of the gods, can't you conjure a ward or something to cleanse this brimstone and decay?"

Arthas merely cast a fleeting glance at Leonidas, completely disregarding his lamentations. Shortly thereafter, the sharp clang of an unsheathed blade reverberated through the cavern as a phantom sword materialized alongside the Spartan.

Sensing the awakening of Leonidas and Alexander, Deputy Commander Edward, appearing as a wizened old mage, emerged from the concealing shadows. His gaze swept over the assembled demigods.

"Where is Hulk?" Edward inquired with a frown, noting the titan's conspicuous absence.

"I instructed him to depart," Arthas responded. He wasn't taken aback by the Deputy Commander's bewilderment. Though Arthas was the guardian of this Minor Hell, he remained connected to the outside world. Being the closest to Orion, he was fully aware of the titan's impending actions, having even been briefed by Orion himself prior to his departure.

"That makes sense. If the kid is undertaking something of that magnitude, he would need to recall his demigod phantoms," Leonidas mused, nodding in clear approval of Orion's strategic withdrawal.

"So, why are the rest of you awakening?" Arthas inquired, shifting his attention to Deputy Commander Edward. This old mage had always served as their ultimate source of information. "Has something significant transpired out there?"

"Significant?" Leonidas interjected, suddenly animated. The mere mention of Orion escalated his voice, his words tumbling out in a rapid torrent. "Of course, something significant happened! Arthas, are you aware the kid actually opted to fuse with his Titanion Realm? Do you comprehend the implications? It's a full-blown death battle! He's staking everything against his adversaries!"

Arthas remained silent. Knowing Leonidas, the truly earth-shattering news was yet to come.

"And that's not all," Leonidas pressed on. "He just unleashed the auras of the first, second, and fourth stages! The kid is terrifyingly powerful! The most astonishing aspect is that his first and second-stage auras are utterly flawless. Therefore, even if you disregard his half-formed fourth stage, he stands as an undeniable powerhouse at the second stage."

Leonidas leaned closer, his eyes narrowing. "Arthas, be honest with me. Did you genuinely recruit the kid, or did he hold you at sword-point?"

Confronted with such an outlandish inquiry, Arthas offered only a deadpan look. "Idiot."

Arthas glanced toward Alexander, but the sword-phantom merely gave a slight shake, signaling his equal lack of information. Naturally, all three then redirected their gazes toward Deputy Commander Edward.

"I only discovered it myself after a brief excursion to Blade's Edge Peak," Edward stated, clearing his throat and stroking his non-existent beard under their expectant gazes. "Leonidas is correct. Hulk has been concealing his true strength. He has surpassed all of you; he has already broken through to the demigod second stage."

In reality, Edward, a demigod of the second stage himself, had harbored suspicions for quite some time. He had simply not verified them until his recent encounter with the Commander.

"Deputy Commander, do you have any insight into how he achieved this?" Leonidas demanded, ever the impatient soul.

Edward remained silent for a moment before offering two distinct hints. "The Abyssal Dreadfin. The underwater palace within the World of Eldoria." He paused to allow the information to settle. "Furthermore, do not overlook the fact that Hulk possesses a genuine Divine Kingdom. It is fundamentally distinct from the pocket dimensions we command. The faith energy generated by the devoted within his Kingdom operates on an entirely different level of quality compared to what we are able to harvest."

A palpable silence descended upon the cavern. Had Edward not highlighted it, they might have entirely overlooked this crucial detail. In their minds, Orion was still the rookie they needed to keep a watchful eye on.

"There is one final piece of information. I only learned this myself after consulting with the Commander," Edward revealed. "Standing upon the legacy of the Giant race, Hulk has forged his own unique path. He has established his own distinct lineage, thereby unlocking The Fifth Paradigm for the Giants."

He surveyed the group. "Do you grasp what this signifies?"

"This signifies that Hulk has become a central figure. He passively accrues a portion of the collective faith energy generated by all Giants throughout the infinite universes." Edward paused, still visibly unsettled by the immense scope of this revelation. He exhaled slowly. "As Hulk and his Stoneheart Titan lineage continue to expand, his claim to that racial faith will invariably increase."

He looked at them, his expression solemn. "I must clarify a fundamental misunderstanding you all hold. Hulk no longer represents a mere faction. He embodies an entire species. To directly quote the Commander: Hulk is a true epoch-maker. The era of heroes is his to seize."

Silence. A profound, absolute silence ensued.

The Deputy Commander's pronouncements reverberated through the volcanic cavern, their implications deafening.

"The Commander requested I relay a message to all of you," Edward stated softly. "'We all tread the same path, so why do some manage to tread it with such unmatched brilliance? Contemplate more. Act more. A demigod's existence is lengthy; we have ample time to instigate change.'"

Edward's gaze swept across his companions one final time. Each was immersed in profound contemplation. Not wishing to interrupt their reflections, the Deputy Commander's spectral form gradually dispersed into the deepening shadows, retreating into his slumber.

***

The Titanion Realm. The Astral Tide.

Rippling into his luminous trident, Orion seamlessly bisected Moriphara's gargantuan insectoid form. There was no expulsion of blood, no graphic depiction of gore.

Within this dominion of absolute law, such an assault wouldn't even register as a graze, let alone a critical injury. Orion lowered his weapon, observing the sundered halves of the Queen.

The severed portions made no attempt at regeneration. Instead, a new head and tail instantly sprouted from each truncated end. The now-doubled insectoid monstrosities surged forward, engaging Orion's spectral duplicates in a furious clash.

"And here I thought you were merely a tactician," Orion remarked. The brief confrontation had clearly demonstrated that Insect Queen Moriphara was far from a defenseless schemer. She possessed centuries of hardened combat experience—a flawless, multifaceted broodmother.

"Is that meant as a compliment?" Moriphara's shadowed silhouette materialized before Orion. Her physical presence had diminished significantly. Compared to his colossal titan form, she appeared deceptively delicate.

She scrutinized him, intense curiosity blazing in her eyes. By her assessment, Orion's journey toward demigodhood was fundamentally less advanced than her own. Yet, his manifested form within The Astral Tide vastly exceeded hers in scale. In this specific domain, sheer magnitude directly correlated with immense power and a more robust foundation.

Her apprehension intensified. "Before attaining demigodhood," she elucidated, "every broodmother must eradicate her personal combat vulnerabilities. If the broodmothers within your domain manage to endure and mature, they will invariably face the same trial."

Confronted by Orion's appreciative regard, she found herself uncertain as to why she had offered this piece of insight.

"You converse excessively." Did she imagine that a bit of small talk would defuse the situation? Utterly improbable. Orion understood this, as did she.

Orion extended his hand, engulfing her neck in his massive grip once more. Moriphara had anticipated this action. This was a realm of pure law. She was an embodiment of those very laws; he could not physically asphyxiate her.

Or so she had presumed.

Just as she initiated her attempt to dissipate back into the surrounding laws, aiming to escape his grasp, a jolt of surprise coursed through her. She was ensnared.

What? Confusion, incredulity, and finally, a chilling tremor of genuine terror began to fracture her composed demeanor.

Her shadowy form convulsed erratically—flickering, morphing, and re-coalescing in a desperate, unending cycle. "What have you done?" she demanded. Regardless of the frequency with which she attempted to shift her form, Orion's hold remained unyielding.

Gazing upon her distorted countenance, Orion could readily envision the sheer panic contorting her usually immaculate features.

Then, a voice resonated.

"Ants..."

"Ants..."

The voice was chilling, devoid of mercy, and terrifyingly divine. It swept across the vastness like rolling thunder, originating not from the heavens, but from beyond. It seeped in from the chaotic void that lay outside the Titanion Realm.

In an instant, the projected-like firmament of the Titanion Realm shattered as if it were fragile glass. An unseen, overwhelming pressure bore down upon existence, threatening to pulverize all into nothingness. Every living consciousness—the realm itself—quaked. It was the ominous precursor to utter obliteration.

From the abyssal depths of cosmic disarray, a fearsome entity advanced. Its immensity was such that its boundaries could not be perceived; one could only discern four heads and eight arms radiating an incessant, suffocating force. The entire world shuddered and commenced its collapse under the colossal titan's encroaching strides.

Within The Astral Tide, Moriphara also perceived it, directly behind Orion's position. That colossal, chaotic entity was employing Orion as a dimensional anchor, steadily reducing the gap to the Titanion Realm.

"Is that a... God?" The utterance faltered, caught in her throat. Disbelief warred with her senses; she refused to yield to the notion. Faced with such an awe-inspiring presence, her present strength was insufficient to penetrate the facade and grasp Orion's true foundation.

However, while Moriphara remained in the dark, another entity could perceive the truth.

"Is that... a Demigod Artifact?"

From a great distance, within the Profane Lands of the Lifeless Realm.

Hovering above the apex of the tallest Demonic Pillar, the Idol of the Archfiend ascended from its obsidian palace. Its gaze swept across the dimensional void, targeting the Titanion Realm with unwavering focus, zeroing in on Orion as he exerted his pressure on Moriphara.

This very idol belonged to The Lifeless Dreadgod, the master whom the shrouded Vaelian served.

The Lifeless Dreadgod's piercing gaze cut through the illusory colossal titan standing behind Orion. What others perceived as a world-ending behemoth, the Dreadgod identified as a single, luminous phalanx bone.

A severed pinky bone.

That was the entirety of Orion's Divine Vessel.

Having spent eons cultivating within the primordial chaos, enduring innumerable cycles of consolidation, Orion had pushed his limits to their very brink simply to solidify that single digit. The apocalyptic titan that Moriphara witnessed was merely the projected phantom of this bone.

"Against a being wielding a Demigod Artifact, that broodmother stands no chance," The Lifeless Dreadgod concluded with immediate certainty.

With his decision made, the Dreadgod slowly elevated his hands.

In that instant, the Lifeless Realm was submerged in a profound, visceral crimson hue. The celestial bodies, sun and moon alike, were devoured by umbral clouds. The Demonic Pillars dominating the desolate world began to shudder violently. Monumental fissures fractured their stony exteriors, unleashing torrents of concentrated profane energy as if a dam had burst.

As they sensed the shift within the pillars, every malevolent creature across the realm erupted in jubilant, unholy howls. To the inhabitants of the Lifeless Realm, this cataclysm heralded the commencement of an magnificent new banquet.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The Demonic Pillars emitted their own resonant roars. The ancient demonic runes etched upon their surfaces visibly deteriorated, succumbing to rust and flaking away.

"When the blood moon and blood sun ascend once more... When all matter and flesh begin to contort... When your own shadows sever themselves from your forms... When every living soul sprouts appendages that are not their own..." The incantation reverberated. "New Demonic Pillars shall rend the earth!"

The Lifeless Dreadgod's sinister laughter—a sound akin to fingernails scraping across a coffin lid—echoed through the void, gradually seeping into the Titanion Realm. It was a harbinger of doomsday, far more vivid and palpable than any depicted in historical records.

CRACK!

It was a sound beyond simple description—reminiscent of two colossal glass marbles shattering upon impact, yet imbued with the deep, resonant clang of a smith's hammer striking an anvil.

Amidst his frenzied laughter, The Lifeless Dreadgod maneuvered the entirety of the Lifeless Realm. Utilizing The Chapter of the Profane as a directional guide, he brutally impaled his world directly into the Titanion Realm.

Initially, his objective had been Insect Queen Moriphara. Now, his intent was to annihilate Orion along with her and seize the purported Demigod Artifact shimmering behind him.

The collision of the two worlds felt like an eternity, yet concluded in an instant. Within the domain of absolute law, it manifested as a violent, chaotic reordering of reality.

During this profound restructuring, the Idol of the Archfiend materialized within The Astral Tide. Its statuesque form possessed a significantly greater density and tangibility compared to Orion's Stoneheart titan phantom.

"Hahaha... Welcome to the profane Lifeless—"

Before he could finish proclaiming the name of his realm, the circumstances dramatically inverted once more.

Within the ocean of laws, a resplendent tetrahedron rune abruptly materialized. Its holy luminescence aggressively bleached the entire expanse. Bathed in the tetrahedron's radiant glow, a magnificently colossal structure slowly phased into existence: The Dais of Judgment.

BOOM!

With another deafening crash, The Lifeless Dreadgod's maniacal laughter was abruptly silenced.