Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 1622 Abdication and Ascension

In Orion's grand design, Caelus and Elara were destined to be the Horde's next generation of demigod powerhouses—the ultimate deterrents.

Because of this, the mundane bureaucracy of managing the Horde—a distraction that would only stall their progression—never fell on their shoulders. Orion wanted them unburdened. He needed them to reach the demigod realm as fast as humanly possible.

So far, both were exceeding expectations. They were inching closer to the demigod tier with every passing day.

"Release the news," Orion commanded, his voice steady and absolute. "It is time for the Stoneheart Horde to crown its second Giant King."

"Given my current state and level of power, I am no longer fit to sit on the throne. Countless foreign factions will soon arrive to treat with the Stoneheart Horde. Am I supposed to receive them all as a mere phantom?"

Receiving delegations in the Horde Hall had opened his eyes to the glaring administrative cracks within their ranks.

"Besides, what kind of king never walks among his people? A king who cannot attend council meetings or lead the sacred rites is no king at all," Orion continued. "The Stoneheart Horde needs a tangible ruler. They need someone they can see, someone to listen to their grievances, solve their problems, and rally them on the battlefield. I have ascended too high. I am no longer that person."

There was a deeper, unsaid motive. If the ruling Giant King stepped down, the old guard—the veterans clinging to crucial administrative posts and the elders hoarding power—would be forced to retire with him. Stagnant power bred corruption. If the old guard never stepped aside, the younger generation would lose all ambition. Without new blood, the current prosperity of the Stoneheart Horde would die with this generation.

There was a deeper, unsaid motive. If the ruling Giant King stepped down, the old guard—the veterans clinging to crucial administrative posts and the elders hoarding power—would be forced to retire with him. Stagnant power bred corruption. If the old guard never stepped aside, the younger generation would lose all ambition. Without new blood, the current prosperity of the Stoneheart Horde would die with this generation.

"Do you have an heir in mind?" Lilith asked softly, having listened in silence until he finished.

The abdication of a king was a seismic event. The moment the news dropped, the continent would shake. The various clans held in check by Orion's sheer might would immediately scramble to back a successor. Even the succubi faction behind Lilith would pressure her to take a side.

"Heh. The strong rise, and the weak fall. It's that simple," Orion replied. "Sending the children to the front lines was a test of their capabilities. Whoever returns with the most glory and the highest prestige will take the throne. The crown goes to the victor."

Orion had finalized his plan. He wouldn't play favorites. It would be a pure, meritocratic blood-trial.

"Once the new Giant King is crowned, you can finally rest. You've all bled and sweated for the Horde for years," Orion told her. "Besides, given your statuses, it won't be appropriate for you to meddle in the Horde's internal affairs once the new ruler takes over."

Orion's abdication would trigger a massive transfer of power. It was the dawn of a new era. The veterans who had plateaued in power and potential would be systematically replaced.

Names like Rendall, Thundar, Slagor, Drakthul, Earthshaker, Rockwell, Gronthar, and Brakthul... almost all of the old guard would be phased out. Some had successfully integrated the Stoneheart Titan bloodline. Others, through sheer luck and talent, had broken through to the Legendary level. But the Legendary level was their hard ceiling. Their optimal role now was to serve as regional wardens or City Lords—shepherding the Horde's territories and scouting the next generation of prodigies.

"Furthermore, the Titanion Realm is now an Ascendant Plane. If you devote yourselves entirely to your progression, you have a real chance of reaching the demigod tier," Orion added.

He said 'a chance.' He knew not all of his wives would make the cut. By stripping away their administrative burdens, he hoped Lilith and the others could focus entirely on breaking their limits. If they became demigods, they could stand by his side for eternity.

"Orion... do I have a chance?" Lilith asked. She stepped onto the dais and sat on the throne, letting Orion's phantom projection wash over her. It was the only way she could feel close to her husband.

"You do. I promise you do."

Orion's voice dropped to a low whisper as an image flashed in his mind: the abyssal succubus demigod that had descended upon The Lifeless Expanse.

If I butcher her and let Lilith devour her core... Orion fell into a dark, calculating silence.

Stoneheart City, Order of the Dandelion Preparatory Academy.

The moment Elara arrived, Grand Magus Rhazuun practically teleported in from Argentis to meet her. He greeted her with an obsequious, ear-to-ear grin.

Times had changed. Elara's personal power—and the overwhelming might of the Stoneheart Horde—had far eclipsed Rhazuun's paygrade. Until the true heavyweights of the Order of the Dandelion arrived, his only option was to treat her like absolute royalty.

"Your Highness! A humble gift, with my deepest apologies for the previous... misunderstanding," Rhazuun beamed. He retrieved a fist-sized egg from his spatial pouch and presented it to her with both hands.

"What's this?" Elara didn't take it immediately. She just stared, her large eyes darting suspiciously between the Grand Magus and the egg.

"It is a Snail-Dragon egg," Rhazuun explained eagerly. "Appraised by our finest experts. It possesses top-tier potential. Raised correctly, it has the innate capacity to reach the Arch Lord tier."

Truth be told, Rhazuun had cashed in massive favors and emptied his coffers to secure the egg.

"The adult Snail-Dragons those mercenaries dragged in previously were mere wild breeds," he added, desperate to emphasize its value. "They don't hold a candle to a purebred hatchling."

"A Snail-Dragon? I'll take it!" Elara snatched the egg from his hands, a genuine smile finally lighting up her face. "Not bad. You're forgiven."

She examined the shell. "Still, the Order of the Dandelion is awfully slow. It's been days, and your superiors are still nowhere to be seen. I'm starting to doubt your efficiency."

She couldn't be too harsh on a man bearing gifts, so her tone was relatively light.

"Your Highness, we have received direct word from the upper echelons," Rhazuun promised, finally offering a concrete timeline. "Within three days, at most, the Order of the Dandelion will formally pay its respects to the Stoneheart Horde."

"Good." Elara nodded. "You have no idea how bored I've been waiting for you all. The Bastion of the West, the northern and southern seas—I've got a whole list of warzones waiting for my arrival!"

Elara casually reached out and hoisted up a passing Buffalofolk calf by the scruff of its neck. She rubbed its little horns vigorously.

"So soft," she muttered to herself. "Calf horns feel amazing."

For the next several minutes, Grand Magus Rhazuun could only watch in bewilderment as the eldest daughter of the Stoneheart Horde wandered around like a distracted toddler, occasionally dangling random beast-kin children by their ankles to inspect them.

It was entirely jarring. Trying to reconcile the peerlessly talented, politically shrewd Elara with the whimsical, easily-distracted girl in front of him gave the Grand Magus a headache.