Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 1613 Echo of the Insect King

The Titan Continent, City of Blessings.

The city, in comparison to former times, was far more bustling and prosperous. Since the Planetary Hive's integration with the Titanion Realm, the ambient elemental density had steadily thickened. The consequence of this elemental surge was a significant boom in the Blood Elf population, leading to more offspring and the emergence of more powerhouses among their ranks.

Yet, today's festivities were not attributed to any internal milestone for the Blood Elves. Rather, Kaelen, the Giant Prince of the Stoneheart Horde, was set to arrive. King Rommath and his Queen personally led the welcoming delegation outside the city gates, extending Kaelen the utmost respect.

"Your Highness, your arrival has caused the Guardian Tree of the City of Blessings to bloom," Rommath greeted. "May the Horde's glory shine upon the Blood Elf Race and the entire Titan Continent!"

Having mastered the art of flattery—and indeed, polite deception—Rommath had truly come into his own as a capable ruler.

"Your Highness, the Horde stands with you," Kaelen replied, placing a hand over his chest in a gesture of salute. Orion had officially recognized Rommath as the Elven King; the title was rightfully earned.

Kaelen bore a trident strapped to his back. Clad in a combination of half-plate armor and hide, a cloak adorned with a butterfly pattern billowed around him despite the absence of a breeze, projecting an imposing aura.

The pleasantries having been satisfactorily exchanged, Rommath guided Kaelen into his palace. Moments later, within the main hall of the Blood Elf Race's royal palace, the maids and guards withdrew, leaving only Rommath and Kaelen seated directly across from each other. Their seating as equals signified no division between host and guest—a subtle yet shrewd political maneuver on Rommath's part.

After several rounds of drinks and courses of food had been served, Rommath finally broached the pertinent subject.

"Prince Kaelen, do you have urgent military matters requiring attention in the City of Blessings?"

The world had undergone a reboot, expanding the Titan Continent exponentially. The Horde was currently swamped with endless tasks. Rommath understood that Kaelen would not visit merely for leisure.

"Your Highness, a military order from the Horde." Kaelen eschewed small talk, directly handing Rommath the dispatch before taking another sip of his drink.

"Deploying five thousand elven archers to the front lines?" Rommath read aloud. "Is the Horde preparing for war? Who is the enemy?"

It was evident that news regarding The Bastion Wall and the realms beyond it had yet to reach the Horde's mid-tier leadership. Rommath's ignorance on the matter was thus understandable.

Instead of providing a direct answer, Kaelen produced a freshly drawn map and unfurled it across the table. "Your Highness, this is Stoneheart City." He pointed to the map's dead center, marked by a glowing golden giant's head.

"West of Stoneheart City... right here, lies the Blood Elf Race's City of Blessings." Kaelen`s finger traced a horizontal path to a crimson bow-and-arrow crest, indicating Rommath's fiefdom.

Before Rommath could fully grasp the scale indicated, Kaelen's finger continued westward to the far left edge of the continent. A formidable wall spanned the border, serving as the ultimate defense for the Titan Continent.

"This is The Bastion Wall. The Stoneheart Horde's ultimate defense. Your five thousand Blood Elf archers will march alongside my forces. We shall purge all monsters and beasts along our route until we reach this wall. They will fight for the Horde, and by extension, for your people," Kaelen elaborated. "For every enemy a Blood Elf archer vanquishes, your race shall earn glory."

Although the Glory Points and noble hierarchy systems had not been officially announced, whispers had already permeated the Horde. Kaelen saw no need for further explanation; Rommath understood that increased glory directly translated to more Glory Points.

"Your Highness, have other factions within the Horde received similar directives?" Rommath inquired cautiously. He was not resisting the decree, but a sense of paranoia was natural.

"All of them," Kaelen confirmed. "This is not merely a fight for the Horde. You are fighting for your own survival and prosperity."

Kaelen perceived the Elven King's underlying concerns with clarity. Rommath was primarily worried about his Blood Elves being suppressed or used as mere cannon fodder by the central leadership.

"I give you my solemn word, Your Highness," Kaelen pledged. "I shall not deploy your archers in engagements unsuitable for their skills. I will not allow them to perish in vain. And should casualties occur, I will ensure their sacrifices forge unparalleled glory for your people."

At Kaelen's assurance, Rommath finally exhaled. The guarantee confirmed that this was a standard military mobilization, not a clandestine political maneuver designed to cripple the fighting strength of the vassal races.

"Prince Kaelen, my armory possesses a surplus of rations and military supplies. Please, take them with you. Consider it the Blood Elf Race's personal contribution and support for your campaign," Rommath offered, adding a significant political favor to solidify the alliance.

Kaelen accepted without hesitation. In times of conflict, a surplus of provisions and equipment was always advantageous. With their business concluded, the two partook in the remainder of the evening, their revelry extending late into the night.

After bidding Kaelen farewell, Rommath descended into the most heavily guarded vault situated beneath the royal palace. In reality, it resembled less of a vault and more of a vast cavern—the clandestine sanctuary of the broodmother Laito.

Laito was the very broodmother whom Rommath had subdued long ago, bestowing upon her the name Hope. She was an entity that had achieved awakening, yet she also harbored deeply treacherous aspirations.

"Master, has the Giant Prince departed?" Laito inquired.

Her formidable broodmother form had achieved immense size. Surrounding her, twelve warrior bugs of Alpha level prostrated themselves, and the cavern floor was extensively covered with unhatched eggs. It was not that Laito was incapable of hatching them; Rommath had explicitly prohibited it. To the Elven King, it was imperative that both he and his broodmother maintain a low profile.

"He has gone. He was merely here for a routine military recruitment. You were not his objective."

Throughout the course of the banquet, Rommath's persistent interrogation had been driven by a singular, gnawing fear: the possibility that the Stoneheart Horde had turned their rapacious attention towards his broodmother.

"Master, I can perceive it. A momentous and cataclysmic alteration has transpired within the Titanion Realm, an event shrouded from our awareness. If circumstances permit, I believe you should endeavor to align yourself more closely with the movements of the Stoneheart Horde," Laito advised. "Even before that Giant Prince entered the palace, I detected an aura. The profoundly oppressive aura emanating from an Insect King of Arch Lord tier."

Laito fixed her gaze upon Rommath, her tone conveying absolute sincerity, expertly enacting the role of a devoted subordinate whose sole concern was her master's well-being. "Master, if our aim is to achieve growth, we must seize the opportune moment. We must harness the momentum of the Stoneheart Horde."

‘Under my tutelage throughout these years, he has become excessively mature, excessively cautious,’ Laito mused, feeling a sense of weariness. ‘At times, I find myself compelled to manipulate him by revealing portions of the truth.’ For Laito to advance, her reliance was placed upon Rommath. Conversely, for Rommath to prosper, it was essential for him to integrate deeply within the Stoneheart Horde and penetrate to its true locus of power.