Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

Chapter 1418: Dead Sea

"It would be a catastrophe," Seraphina whispered, the realization dawning on her. "A plague that would sweep through every creature in the lower strata of the ecosystem."

The continent was vast. Who could possibly search every mountain crevice, every subterranean cavern?

"Trouble is inevitable, and it will only compound with time," Orion said, his voice grim. "However, the fact that Zerin came to us suggests a pattern. It’s not entirely random."

Seraphina caught his drift immediately.

"You mean... the God-Devourers, or these Wormhole Realms, are attracted to areas with high insectoid density?"

"If that is the case," Orion shrugged, "it narrows the search grid significantly."

"I cannot stay," Seraphina said, standing abruptly. "I must return to the seas personally. Without my presence to drive them, my subordinates will do a half-hearted job. This concerns the survival of my race."

She leaned down, kissing Orion deeply. Then, with a flash of magic, she teleported out of Blackstone City.

Later that evening, when Lilith returned to the master bedroom, Orion briefed her on the situation. Orders for a comprehensive sweep of the territory were issued immediately.

Orion chose not to hoard the intelligence. He instructed Lilith to disseminate the information to the other powers of the continent, including the Sea-Drake race near the southern border.

"Orion," Lilith asked, her eyes shining with a fanatical light, "the cross-realm teleportation array is complete. When will the Divine Kingdom descend?"

To Lilith, the descent of the Divine Kingdom was a holy event. It would elevate the status of the Stoneheart Horde to a celestial level. Even if the Horde was not yet a behemoth on the world stage, this was the ultimate goal.

"The array has a limit on how many it can transport," Orion explained, tempering her expectations. "We will move our people in batches, from the top down. Tell them to be patient."

In reality, what Lilith called the "Divine Kingdom" was Orion’s Abyssal World, still rooting itself in the chaotic void, needing time to grow. But to the members of the Stoneheart Horde, entering Orion’s personal realm was no different from ascending to heaven.

"I understand. I will make the arrangements."

Silverwood Realm, Outside Azurehold.

Kraken, the Third Marshal of Atlantis, had taken the field.

With his personal command joining the fray, Atlantis had officially cast its lot with the Cult of Four against the native sea-kin.

With Kraken in the thick of it, Orion and Leonidas moved closer to the battlefield, lurking on the periphery to ensure their brother’s safety.

The war had turned the ocean floor into a boiling cauldron of violence. Orion watched the bizarre, majestic spectacle of underwater warfare with genuine awe.

In the distance, streamline-bodied sea-kin utilized their natural speed, weaving through the water like streaks of light. If Orion hadn’t known better, he would have thought he was watching a master swordsman directing a thousand flying blades.

On the seabed, heavy infantry bearing massive shell-shields formed a phalanx, their natural armor repelling the charges of the Cult’s knights. Behind this wall of shells, Cetus Giants manipulated the very currents, launching hydro-cannons, water arrows, and tornadoes of crushing pressure.

It was a brutal exchange of offense and defense.

Further out, in the open ocean, immense sea beasts clashed with the Cult’s magically reinforced warships, churning up dark currents and tsunamis that rocked the world above.

"The Cult of Four has deeper pockets than I imagined," Orion remarked, watching the carnage.

The Cult had deployed their own aquatic units, but their main force consisted of Guardian Knights. These knights wore armor that not only allowed for underwater movement but also amplified their Divine Arts. More impressively, they utilized formation skills—linking their energy together to unleash devastating group attacks.

"Brother, you sound like an amateur," Leonidas scoffed. "What major power doesn’t have a few trump cards tucked up its sleeve? Clearly, this Pontiff Valerius is a specialist in aquatic invasions."

Leonidas eyed the battlefield. He was envious of the Cult’s gear, but his analysis went deeper than Orion’s observation.

"Watch closely. What they are showing now is just the skin. Think about it—they have conquered countless oceanic worlds before this. Do you really think they haven’t absorbed unique technologies or secret arts from those conquests?"

Leonidas shifted his gaze from the army to Kraken.

"Until the Demigods of the Cetus Giants reveal themselves, the Cult of Four will keep their true strength hidden. They won’t commit to a crushing blow yet. These people are cautious to a fault."

Leonidas grumbled a few curses—whether directed at the Cult, the Clown, or the Witch, it was hard to tell.

Orion remained silent, his eyes fixed on a massive vortex forming in the distance.

The intensity of the battle had kicked up the deep-sea sediment, turning the water murky. The clash of water magic and forbidden arts had destabilized the currents, birthing a colossal whirlpool that threatened to swallow the entire battlefield.

Orion could feel it—the topography of the seabed was trembling.

It felt as though the ocean floor was absorbing the fear of the dying, shuddering in terror. The war was teetering on the edge of something uncontrollable.

Azurehold, Deep Underground.

It was a secret chamber, or perhaps more accurately, a tomb, located at the end of a forbidden zone that spiraled deep into the earth beneath the city.

This was the resting place of the Cetus Giants’ ancestors.

The three Demigods of the race—Morveth, Ishraena, and Amon—stood before the final door. A massive stone tablet blocked their path, covered in dense, ancient inscriptions.

Morveth, their leader, stepped forward and read the text aloud.

"To my children: If you stand before this tablet, it means the Cetus Giant race has reached the precipice between life and death. You come seeking hope. As a King of the Giants, it is my duty to prepare a final recourse for my descendants."

"However, before you open this door, you must understand: It is easy to open, but difficult to close."

"This door is a double-edged sword. It can protect us, but it can also imprison us."

"Unless there is no other choice, do not open it."

"Behind this door lies the Dead Sea. A true, literal Dead Sea."

"Remember, every choice bears a bitter fruit. Before you break this seal, you must be resolved."

"If our race has not yet faced total extinction, turn back. Do not bring endless agony upon the Moon Sea."

Morveth finished reading. Silence descended upon the three Demigods.

They had suspected that the Dead Sea lay behind this door. Now that it was confirmed, they felt a strange sense of relief mixed with dread.