Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

Chapter 1411: Titan’s Lineage

It was a spectacle.

In just a few short days, news of the Blackstone City bonfire festival had swept through the entire Stoneheart Horde like wildfire.

The demand to join the celebration was so overwhelming that, at Lilith’s suggestion, Orion commissioned a public teleportation array connecting Blackstone City directly to Stoneheart City.

Suddenly, anyone who was anyone was converging on the frozen north.

"This place... it is far more prosperous than I imagined."

Grand Magus Rhazuun and the bard, Cloudsong, stepped out of the shimmering portal together. Rhazuun didn’t need to cast a detection spell to feel the weight of the city; the grandeur and vitality of Blackstone City pressed against his senses.

"This is the true heart of the Stoneheart Horde," Cloudsong remarked, gesturing with a flourish. "Do you see the towers along the battlements? Most of those are arcane constructs."

To a bard’s eye, unique architecture often equated to magical engineering. The sheer number of enchanted ballistae guarding Blackstone City spoke volumes about its strategic importance.

"This place..."

Unlike Cloudsong, Grand Magus Rhazuun wasn’t looking at the architecture. He was staring past the outer walls, toward the inner citadel, his heart suddenly hammering against his ribs.

"You are right. This is the core," Rhazuun whispered, his voice tight. "But the danger... I suspect only a Demigod would dare to walk freely here."

Rhazuun was certain. The presence that had just brushed against his consciousness was not the Giant King.

In other words, hidden deep within Blackstone City lay an entity capable of threatening an Archlord—something ancient and watching.

Cloudsong glanced at Rhazuun. He noticed his friend’s unease immediately but was wise enough not to pry. They were here for the festival, to taste the local flavor, not to uncover state secrets.

"Come, my friend. I hear The Seekers have a branch here. In honor of the festival, they are holding an auction tonight." Cloudsong took the lead, heading toward the outer district.

"Your Order has struck a partnership with the Stoneheart Horde. That is a cause for celebration," the bard continued, shifting the topic to business. "Do you not plan to expand your magical services here?"

"Look around. Crystal lamps that never dim, polymorph draughts, golems for labor, memory orbs, healing potions... these things would sell for a fortune here."

Cloudsong smiled, assuming the role of a consultant. " The spread of magic does not always begin with dusty tomes and libraries. Let the common folk feel the convenience of arcane craftsmanship. They will accept you faster, and with open arms."

Cloudsong was a man of vision. He wouldn’t offer such detailed strategy if Rhazuun weren’t a close friend. Of course, it was also self-serving; for a traveler like him, being in a magic-starved world was inconvenient. His gear required maintenance and mana recharges that only a proper institution could provide.

"Those operations will commence once the Order of the Dandelion establishes its branch," Rhazuun replied, following Cloudsong through the bustling streets. "This land is untainted. Magic civilization will flourish here."

He looked around at the giants and various races, many shirtless in the cold air, exuding a raw, savage vitality.

"Have you noticed?" Cloudsong asked suddenly, his voice dropping. "The joy on their faces... it feels different."

"Different how?"

"It feels as though they are anticipating a surprise far greater than a mere bonfire."

As an Archlord-level entity, Rhazuun was sensitive to such things. The smiles of the populace hid a fervor that transcended a simple party.

"The answer is simple," Cloudsong said, turning to face him with a smug, knowing look. Bards had their ways of hearing whispers. He knew the secret.

"Everyone knows the Giant King hails from the Giant race of the north. But Giants have lineages."

"Stoneheart, Ironbone, Starveil, Shadowabyss. Four great branches. Our King, Orion, comes from the Stoneheart line."

Cloudsong stomped his boot on the cobblestones, then pointed toward the massive Horde Hall dominating the inner city.

"Blackstone City is the cradle of the Stoneheart Giants in this world. This is their ancestral ground. Now do you understand its significance?"

Rhazuun nodded slowly. The Order of the Dandelion kept extensive records on racial histories. It was required reading. He knew of the Giant sub-races, though his knowledge of this specific Horde was academic.

"However," Cloudsong’s tone shifted, becoming low and deadly serious. "That is not the main point. Do you know why I chose to linger here?"

"My friend, very few know this, but the Giant race recently birthed a new lineage."

"Or to be more precise... they evolved. They ascended to a higher state of existence."

Cloudsong leaned in. "They are called Stoneheart Titans. And this Horde is the genesis of that bloodline."

Titans.

It was a secret known only to the highest echelons and specialized organizations.

"Rhazuun," Cloudsong said softly. "The Stoneheart Horde is worth every ounce of investment you can pour into it."

Some things didn’t need to be spelled out further.

Having dropped this bombshell, Cloudsong turned and strolled down the street, humming a tune, leaving the Grand Magus standing frozen in the middle of the road.

The origin of a new racial branch?

The Stoneheart Horde?

Titans?

Rhazuun’s expression shifted from blank shock to disbelief, then to wild ecstasy, and finally to urgent desperation. He didn’t chase after Cloudsong. Instead, he spun around, looking for a quiet corner. He needed to contact the Order immediately. This changed everything.

Not far behind Rhazuun and Cloudsong, another group emerged from the teleportation array.

"Wow! So this is Blackstone City?"

"It’s so different from Stoneheart City!"

The one exclaiming in wonder was Lola, the Twelfth Princess of the Sea-Drake race. Having lived her entire life in the deep ocean, a northern fortress city like Blackstone was an alien world.

"It is certainly different from the south," a young boy’s voice agreed.

Standing beside Lola was Kronos, currently in the form of a human child.

He and his mother, Ava, had just arrived in Stoneheart City when they heard about the festival. By sheer luck, the teleportation line had opened at that exact moment. Even more fortuitous, a succubus maid had been waiting at the gate with a VIP invitation in hand.

It was Lilith’s arrangement. She had no intention of slighting Kronos or his mother.

So, Kronos and Ava were whisked away to Blackstone City. Ava had been escorted directly to the castle’s private array, heading straight for the Horde Hall.

Kronos, however, had stayed behind to play tour guide for Princess Lola.

" differently how?" Lola asked, turning to grin at him.

Honestly, seeing Kronos in this small, child-like form still felt surreal to her. If they hadn’t exchanged stories about the past, she wouldn’t have dared to believe this little boy was the friend she knew.