Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 1604 Rivalry of the Blessed

Just as Lilith and Onyx were deep in their administrative discussions, the anomaly over Staghelm City cast its light all the way to Stoneheart City.

The brilliant moonlight bathed Stoneheart City in a hazy, ethereal glow, making the entire settlement feel like a dreamscape. The distant mountains framing the city were reduced to soft silhouettes, and the city walls gleamed with a gentle, platinum edge.

Sensing the massive surge in magical fluctuations, tiny sprites emerged from crannies all over the city, dancing on the moonbeams.

Lilith and Onyx stepped out of the Horde Hall. The entire city was submerged in a milky-white halo, draped in a translucent veil of light.

Yet, Lilith's expression remained perfectly neutral.

"My Lady, this phenomenon... you don't seem surprised at all?" Onyx asked.

He knew Lilith well enough. For her to show absolutely no reaction to a world-altering event meant she already knew exactly what was happening.

"The moonlight is coming from Staghelm City," Lilith replied smoothly. "For whatever reason, Isilra, the Moon Elf, has received a blessing from the world. This is her key to advancing to the demigod realm."

Orion had already briefed Lilith about the arrival of Staghelm City and Isilra. However, Isilra receiving a direct blessing from the world was news to her—she had only just gotten the update from Orion. And honestly? She was deeply envious.

"What a blessed child," Lilith murmured, staring into the distance.

The 'child' she was referring to wasn't Isilra, but the unborn baby she carried. Compared to Pallas and the others, this unborn child was already receiving the absolute best treatment. This baptism of World Essence didn't just benefit Isilra; it was directly nourishing the child in her womb.

"Since Staghelm City just arrived in the Titanion Realm, I expect Isilra will be visiting Stoneheart City soon. Prophet, we need to upgrade her reception protocols to the highest level."

Lilith's suggestion caught Onyx off guard. The original plan for receiving the Staghelm City delegation was already set at the demigod tier. Even if they weren't sure whether The Demigod of the Moonwell would attend personally, the Stoneheart Horde had to show the proper respect.

"Forget Her Excellency of the Moonwell for a moment," Lilith continued, turning her back to Onyx. "Isilra's status, and the child she carries, demand special treatment. Furthermore, a recipient of a world blessing is entitled to demigod-tier protocols."

"She... she is highly likely to become the second demigod to join the Stoneheart Horde, right after Seraphina. She will be a massive asset to Orion."

Though Onyx couldn't see her face, he could practically taste the bitterness in her voice. He felt a pang of sympathy for Lilith, but it was quickly overshadowed by his own soaring elation. As far as he knew, two demigods were already carrying their Chieftain's children. For the Stoneheart Horde, this was monumental. The children of demigods were the future of the Horde; they were the true bloodline of the Stoneheart Titans.

Just the thought of it made Onyx's blood race.

The Titan Continent. The Northern Sea.

Unlike the South Sea, the vastness here couldn't simply be described as deep. In the distance, the horizon was split in two: half stardust suspended in the void, half sand drifting in the water. This stretch of ocean was almost entirely devoid of islands. The tides simply rolled in and out beneath the starlight, an endless, repetitive cycle.

The only thing accompanying Seraphina was the eternal ebb and flow of the sea.

"What are you looking at?"

Orion appeared on the shoulder of the massive Merfolk statue Seraphina had manifested. Beside him sat Marina, swinging her legs.

"Just looking out," Marina said, pulling her gaze back to study Orion's Death-Soul Fiend avatar, tilting her head slightly. "Missing the Glazed Sanctum."

"Is this your Death-Soul avatar?" she asked.

"Yeah," Orion nodded, taking a seat next to her and following her gaze. "I'm sorry. I failed to protect our home. I failed to protect our Titanion Realm."

It was true. In Orion and Marina's grand design, the Titanion Realm was supposed to be their exclusive territory, their private backyard.

"Don't apologize. You've done incredible things," Marina said softly, leaning her head against his shoulder. After studying the Death-Soul Fiend's features and getting used to its aura, she returned her gaze to the horizon. "If it weren't for you, I probably would have ended up like Kairon. I wouldn't be here to see this newborn world, let alone reap the benefits and hit the second-stage of the demigod realm."

They sat in silence for a long time.

"By the way," Marina blurted out, breaking the quiet. "That moonlight over the central continent... that's your little lover, isn't it?"

Orion didn't know how to respond to that.

"She's lucky," Marina muttered, answering herself. "Arrives and immediately gets a world blessing. Even the little one in her belly gets a free ride."

Before Orion could speak, she looked at him, her eyes burning with sudden competitiveness. "Orion. Figure out a way to get our child a world blessing too."

The rivalry had officially started. Whatever Orion's other children got, her child had to have. If the others didn't have it, she expected Orion to find a way to get it for theirs anyway.

Orion simply nodded, mentally adding the impossible request to his to-do list.

"Your original forces and the Horde's aquatic units will have to lock down this sea for now," Orion said, shifting the topic. "Once things stabilize, we'll deploy more troops to help you explore the deeper waters. I'm also assigning an undead legion to your command to minimize casualties among the aquatic races."

The Stoneheart Horde's current naval power essentially consisted of Seraphina's old loyalists. The meager aquatic forces Orion had scraped together previously were a joke compared to what a demigod commanded. While Seraphina had kept a low profile in the old Titanion Realm, when war broke out, the forces she could rally were terrifying. The Sea-Drake race, the Naga, the Leviathans, the Ichthyosaurs, the Water Sprites... almost every aquatic race from the old realm had sworn fealty to her.

"Orion, we..."

Sitting on the shoulder of the colossal Merfolk statue, Orion and Marina talked like old friends catching up after a lifetime apart. Yet, from a distance, the silhouettes of the two figures looked incredibly lonely against the vastness of the sea.

The Central Continent. Outskirts of Stoneheart City.

Two elderly men in white robes strolled side-by-side. One of them stooped down, pinched a clump of soil between his fingers, examined it closely, and then tasted it.

"Acidic humus," the old man mumbled, spitting the dirt out and standing up with a satisfied grin. "This kind of soil composition only forms when a massive number of magical beast carcasses are buried underground and left to rot for decades, if not centuries." He looked at Deputy Commander Edward. "This soil is perfect for cultivating high-tier magical herbs. The Council has a high demand for Ghost-Faced Broadleaf Mushrooms and Gilded Thread-grass; we could farm them here on a massive scale."

Without waiting for Edward to reply, the man reached out, grasping at the empty air. He condensed the ambient magical elements into a fist-sized, nine-colored elemental cloud. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

"The magical elements are complete, the fluctuations are stable, and the casting environment is incredibly smooth," he noted, dispersing the cloud with a wave of his hand. He surveyed the land, highly impressed. "My friend, this place is a paradise for cultivating and sustaining mages. Truly worthy of a newborn Ascendant Plane. Everything here practically hums with Hope."

He patted Edward on the shoulder, a gesture of deep approval. "Edward, thank you for bringing the Council here. I guarantee that within a few years, this continent will be covered in mage towers and magical academies."

"As a member of the Saint Gran Council, it is my duty to secure new Alchemical Conservatories and magical sanctuaries for our order," Edward replied smoothly. "This is my friend's territory. He welcomes us with open arms."

To Elara, watching this play out was utterly surreal. In her eyes, her mentor, Edward, was the ultimate 'old grandfather' figure. Yet here he was, being patted on the shoulder and told "good job" by an even older, wrinklier grandfather.

Does the magical world seriously run on seniority? she wondered.

Flanked by the Gnoll Anubis, Elara was bored out of her mind trailing behind the two old men. Watching Morando squat down every five minutes to eat dirt and meticulously catalog random weeds was sheer torture for someone desperate to get home.

If they were anywhere else, she wouldn't care. But Stoneheart City was right there. It was the Horde's capital. It was her home. Her territory. The anticipation was killing her.

"The little girl hasn't grown up yet, and she's been away from home too long. She's homesick," Edward chuckled, reaching back to pat Elara on the head, his eyes full of fondness. "Please forgive her impatience, Vice-Speaker."

"I know all about you, little Elara," Morando smiled warmly. "The Saint Gran Council is waiting for you. Waiting for you to grow up, waiting for you to grow strong."

As a fourth-stage demigod, Vice-Speaker Morando could easily perceive Elara's immense potential. He was highly impressed by her innate talent. Moreover, she was Edward's direct disciple, meaning it was almost guaranteed she would become a core member of the Saint Gran Council in the future. Because she was a known quantity with a clean background and absurd potential, Morando was more than willing to indulge her.

"Grandpa Morando!" Elara flashed him a sickeningly sweet smile, her bright eyes practically screaming that her previous impatience was just a ploy to hijack the conversation. "We have elemental sprites and faerie dragons at home, but they're growing so slowly! They really need your Greater Wood-Aspect Growth Blessing!"

"Oh, and my daddy has a completely unique ice-attribute magical herb growing in his Divine Kingdom. I can totally get you some seeds!"

Vice-Speaker Morando was a formidable mage, but his true passion—and his unmatched expertise—lay in magical botany and terraforming specific magical environments. Edward hadn't just brought Morando here to officially tie the Saint Gran Council to the Horde; he had brought Orion a nuclear-tier magical logistics master.

"Little one, I've already sensed your sprites and your faerie dragon. They are indeed far too weak," Morando chuckled, reaching out to pat Elara's head. As he did, he smoothly slipped a magical ring into her hand. "Especially that faerie dragon. It hasn't received any systematic rearing whatsoever."

It was a welcoming gift. And to Edward, it was the final confirmation: Morando had officially agreed to align with the Stoneheart Horde. A gift from a fourth-stage demigod wasn't something you just handed out on a whim.

"Come on then," Morando smiled. "Show me the local customs. These old bones haven't been out for a walk in a long time. May magic and beauty ever accompany us!"