Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

Chapter 1396: Investments in Blood

At the level of a Demigod, transactional wealth was meaningless. You couldn’t buy a god with gold. The only currency that mattered among the apex predators was leverage—favors owed, blood debts, and personal loyalty.

"One more thing," the Deputy Commander added, shifting gears. "For the allies of the Champions Alliance, we will offer the status of Honorary Assembly Member. They will be issued the Black Obsidian Badge."

He held up a hand, preempting questions. "This badge grants the right of asylum. It is a promise of protection."

It was a shrewd move. It solidified their soft power both internally and externally. The Deputy Commander clearly had the roadmap laid out long before this meeting.

"What are the resource requirements to get the Platinum Authority off the ground?" Orion asked.

As a Demigod, the establishment of the Platinum Authority didn’t impact him personally. If he needed help, he simply called his friends. But Orion saw the bigger picture. The Authority would be a lifeline for the rank-and-file, and according to the Deputy Commander, investing now meant owning a piece of the infrastructure later.

It was essentially angel investing on a galactic scale, and Orion was always interested in diversifying his portfolio.

"Significant," Edward replied bluntly. "We need manpower and liquidity. Specifically, from you, Orion... we need a Broodmother. The Authority needs a sustainable source of expendable infantry—cannon fodder. Your biological factories are the best solution."

Orion didn’t hesitate. "Done."

"Furthermore, you can all station detachments of your armies with us. The Platinum Authority will serve as a crucible. It’s the perfect environment to forge elite troops through constant combat."

Orion’s interest piqued. This was the real selling point. The Stoneheart Horde was destined to conquer the multiverse, which meant facing infinite variations of combat styles. Cycling his armies through the Platinum Authority would sharpen their military doctrine and harden his soldiers.

"Who oversees it?" Alexander asked, his voice cutting through the optimism. "Any organization with this much pooling of resources attracts rats. Corruption is inevitable."

"The Speakers will rotate oversight duties," the Deputy Commander answered, prepared for the cynicism. "During a Speaker’s term, if the Authority suffers losses due to mismanagement or graft, the cost comes directly out of that Speaker’s dividends."

"And if the corruption is severe..."

He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t have to. If the founding members of the Champions Alliance started stealing from their own pot, the organization deserved to burn.

"When do we launch?"

"Soon. But not today."

The scope was too vast to finalize in a single session. They needed time to marshal their assets.

Emerald Dream Realm — City of Sophia

The city had been renamed recently. Formerly a mid-sized fortress of the Stoneheart Horde, Orion had formally deeded it to Sophia. It was a gift—reparations, perhaps, or simply gratitude for raising Kaelen.

Although the city remained within the Emerald Dream Realm, it had been relocated to a different continent, offering the Dark Butterfly Clan a fresh start in a territory ripe for development.

"I’m leaving this place in your hands," Orion said, standing on the balcony overlooking the new settlement. "This is the sanctuary for the Dark Butterfly Clan. How you develop it, how you govern it—that is entirely up to you. I won’t interfere."

He turned to face her, his expression serious. "However, since you have aligned with the Stoneheart Horde, I expect you to integrate. Don’t isolate yourselves."

He paused, his voice softening slightly. "In time, I will return for you. You and Kaelen will come with me to the citadel. You need to meet Lilith."

Sophia nodded. A flush rose to her cheeks—not the blush of a young girl, but the complex, guarded emotion of a mature woman facing a complicated future. To most men, that look would have been a fatal temptation.

Orion, however, didn’t indulge in the moment. He had a dying son to save.

Kaelen was still comatose. Every second wasted was a gamble with the boy’s soul.

"Until then," Orion said. He lifted Kaelen’s unconscious form effortlessly.

In a blur of motion, he vanished from the City of Sophia. Sophia remained on the balcony, staring at the empty space where he had stood, lost in thought long after the wind had swept away his scent.

Divine Kingdom — Stratum of Asura

"All hail the Father!"

"Glory to the Father!"

As Orion materialized in the Stoneheart Temple, the elite guards dropped to their knees, their heads bowed in fanatical reverence.

"Focus on your cultivation," Orion commanded, striding past them without breaking pace.

He carried Kaelen deep into the sanctum. Here, within his Divine Kingdom, distance was a suggestion, not a rule. With a single step, Orion transcended space, appearing instantly at the highest peak of the realm’s central mountain.

He laid Kaelen down gently. Raising his hand, Orion coalesced the golden blood—the very essence Kaelen had sacrificed earlier—back into a liquid sphere hovering above his palm.

"Foolish boy," Orion murmured, a heavy sigh escaping him. "Sacrifice is not a game."

Orion knew the cost. During his own ascent to power, he had rarely resorted to Blood Sacrifice. Twice, it had cost him an Avatar to pay the price. If Kaelen had offered this sacrifice to any entity other than his own father, the boy’s potential would have been permanently crippled.

Orion guided the golden blood into Kaelen’s mouth. Since it was originally his own essence, the boy’s body accepted it greedily, reabsorbing the power without rejection.

Orion paused, considering the next step. He reached into the void and retrieved the mass of raw Faith Energy Kaelen had swallowed after crushing Emeric.

With a thought, Orion refined the volatile energy, stripping away the impurities before pressing it into Kaelen’s forehead, driving it deep into his sea of consciousness.

This was the spoils of war. Kaelen had killed a foe far above his station; this power was his right. It would form the foundation of his future ascent.

"This mountain, this sea... they are forged from my flesh and spirit," Orion whispered to the sleeping boy. "Absorb as much as you can. The rest is up to you."

Kaelen’s eyelids fluttered as if hearing the command, but he did not wake. Orion sat by his side, a silent sentinel watching over his son, until the sun began to dip. Only then did he turn and leave the Stoneheart Temple.