Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

Just moments ago, that Thunderhawk nearly entered Orion's kill zone.

Sensing Orion's murderous intent, that Thunderhawk decisively abandoned its hunt and soared away.

It was clear that the Thunderhawk had been targeting the four hero-level Frost Wolves near Orion.

The Thunderhawk circled above the Skytalon Tribe's gathering grounds for about half an hour. When it couldn't find an opportunity to strike, it flew south.

As soon as that Thunderhawk left, Orion's face darkened.

"Do you think that Thunderhawk could belong to Thunderhawk Knight Reynard?"

Orion directed his question to Onyx, Rendall, and Delilah, but none of them spoke up. No one dared to be certain.

A dark cloud seemed to gather over their heads, casting a shadow over the group.

The atmosphere grew heavy and oppressive.

Of course, Orion also considered the possibility that the Thunderhawk might belong to the Skytalon Tribe, as they were currently in the tribe's territory.

And that possibility was quite high.

But then again, it might not be.

The Thunderhawk in the sky had unknowingly become a sword hanging over their heads.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Though danger loomed, Orion's expression remained calm.

Orion didn't consider himself a genius, but he knew that a wise chieftain never showed his emotions. Keeping his enemies guessing was the smart move.

So, Orion stayed composed.

To Prophet Onyx and Delilah, this calm demeanor was a sign of confidence.

"This is the chieftain I want to follow. We can go far with him!" Prophet Onyx thought, watching Orion ride his Frost Wolf, feeling an inexplicable sense of reassurance.

"As expected, the giant who can conquer my body is truly magnificent!" Delilah thought, stealing glances at Orion.

The appearance of the Thunderhawk had made her feel threatened. Her first instinct was to think of Orion—he was the only one she could rely on.

Orion's calm face eased Delilah's anxiety.

Even though she couldn't see or hear reassurance, she felt it deeply.

This same feeling spread throughout the ranks of the warriors.

Orion, Prophet Onyx, and Rendall—three Alpha-level figures—became the backbone of every bloodline warrior.

From the moment they left Blackstone Town, everyone knew the myriad races invasion was dangerous, possibly a one-way trip.

The Thunderhawk's attack was a clear sign that danger was closing in.

But the fact that Orion had scared off an Alpha-level Thunderhawk had, in turn, boosted the morale of the bloodline warriors.

The looming threat made the warriors tense, but also sharpened their focus.

Orion, ever perceptive, noticed the change in his warriors. Their gazes were filled with awe, more fervent than ever before.

After some thought, Orion turned to Dace and said, "Pass the order: set up camp here. Make sure the warriors eat, drink, and rest well."

This was the Skytalon Tribe's territory, and the terrain was favorable—a good place to rest.

With Thunderhawk City just ahead, it was a wise choice to let the troops recover and prepare.

So, Orion made the decision to halt their advance and rest.

---

Night fell, and inside Orion's tent, the three elders—Onyx, Rendall, and Delilah—gathered.

"According to the information from Dirtclaw, Thunderhawk City is built within a valley, with only one gate for entry and exit."

"And my sister, along with the heads of the other giant elders, is hanging on the city walls above that gate."

"In three days, we'll reach Thunderhawk City. How do you think we should approach this battle?"

Orion laid out the problem based on the intelligence they had.

Of course, Orion already had some ideas.

But it was always wise to hear other opinions during wartime.

"Chieftain, our intelligence is likely unknown to the enemy. They're probably planning to defend the city, sticking to a strategy of waiting us out."

It was Delilah who spoke. Orion looked at her, his gaze soft, encouraging her to continue.

"Reynard likely doesn't know that Clymene is your sister."

"We need to retrieve Clymene's head before Reynard finds out, to prevent him from using it as leverage against us."

"This gives us some room to maneuver."

Delilah's words made Onyx and Rendall's eyes light up. These were things they hadn't considered.

Especially Prophet Onyx, who knew how rare it was to have someone with such strategic foresight.

Orion downed a cup of wine before asking, "How do we maneuver?"

Delilah fell silent, lost in thought.

Orion didn't press her, instead turning his gaze to Onyx.

"Prophet, what are your thoughts?"

Prophet Onyx rubbed his bald head, squinting as he spoke slowly.

"Chieftain, we have, at most, fifteen thousand troops. We're not suited for a direct assault on the city."

This hit the nail on the head for Orion.

He hadn't brought these two thousand elite bloodline warriors to fight a head-on battle. His goal was to gain experience in invasion tactics.

While invading, he also hoped to plunder some resources—that had been his initial plan.

Though they had managed to subdue the gnolls, gaining eight thousand gnoll warriors and nearly five thousand gnoll cannon fodder troops, it still wasn't enough for a direct assault. Their numbers and strength simply weren't sufficient.

This was the reality of the situation, and there was nothing Orion could do about it.

Of course, they hadn't yet factored in their high-level combat power.

With Orion, Onyx, Rendall, and the Abyssal Dragon Orion had hidden away for a surprise attack, the situation could change.

"Prophet, any other suggestions?"

Prophet Onyx shook his head. He, too, was pondering how they could take Thunderhawk City with minimal effort.

Aside from Thunderhawk Knight Reynard, an Alpha-level powerhouse, Thunderhawk City's defenses were formidable. They likely had tens of thousands of bloodline warriors.

For instance, according to the intelligence Orion had received, the former gnoll high chieftain had brought over ten thousand gnoll warriors to Thunderhawk City.

If you added Thunderhawk City's own forces, the enemy they were about to face was no small threat.

In the end, it came down to the fact that Orion's faction was still too weak.

Other subordinates of Lord Gareth, like the Scorpion Queen Soraya of the Desert Oasis, had endless scorpions to use as cannon fodder.

Even Slagor of the Poison Dragon Swamp had tens of thousands of swamp crocodiles to send into battle.

"Ah, if only the Spider Queen hadn't been persuaded by the tigerfolk to attack Moonshadow Valley. I believe she would have become my ally, and if that were the case, things would be completely different now!" Orion thought, his mind briefly wandering as he recalled the cave spiders.

The other three elders in the tent were also deep in thought, their faces grim.

After a long while, Orion snapped out of it and shared his plan.

"Alright, in three days, we'll launch a two-phase attack..."

The tactical meeting lasted for several hours as Orion explained his strategy in detail.

By the end, Onyx, Rendall, and Delilah's eyes were gleaming with understanding.

Eventually, Prophet Onyx and Rendall left Orion's tent.

"You have something to say to me?" Orion asked, noticing that Delilah hadn't left.

Delilah shook her head, then smiled seductively under Orion's curious gaze. Her top vanished in an instant, revealing a pair of enchanting breasts.

"My dear chieftain, we're about to face a great battle. I'm ready to fight for you, but shouldn't you satisfy my desires before the battle? Can you please me?"