Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

Chapter 1551: Kraken’s Way Out

"The ocean clans and the divine sigil family have stood at an impasse for countless years. We cannot allow outsiders to shatter this precious balance."

"If you truly desire more territory, cast your gaze beyond this realm."

"These waters belong to our descendants. They need a safe harbor to grow and thrive."

The enigmatic old man turned and delivered these words to the other three Demigods.

"By your command, Sea King!"

"By your command, Sea King!"

...

All four Demigods, Tegon Calthor included, offered the old man their absolute reverence.

The elder said nothing more. He turned and walked step by step into the abyssal depths.

With his departure, the sea—previously smooth as glass—roared back to life, churning with violent waves.

...

Meanwhile, in Pelagos.

Pelagos was a unique submarine city, carved directly into the heart of an underwater mountain range. To enter, one had to plunge into a bottomless trench and pass through a cavern sealed by a magical ward. It remained so perfectly hidden because this was Kraken’s true lair.

Right now, in the grandest hall of the city, Orion, Leonidas, and Kraken had dismissed the guards and mermaid handmaidens. The three of them sat around a massive oyster shell laden with rare delicacies from land and sea.

"Brother, just how strong is that old man?"

To make Orion retreat so decisively, Leonidas didn’t even have to think about it—the newly arrived elder had to be an entity far beyond a Second-Stage Demigod.

"Most likely a Third-Stage Demigod." Orion clinked glasses with Leonidas, offering the explanation before draining his drink. "Could even be Fourth-Stage. He might have used some secret art to mask his aura, preventing me from sensing a greater threat."

"Squiddy, you’ve really never heard of that old guy at all?" Leonidas turned to Kraken after hearing Orion out. "Don’t the ocean clans of this world have myths or legends? Could he be a figure straight out of one of those?"

Since the enemy was that powerful, Orion’s decision to pull back was undeniably the smart play.

"Big Boss, I swear I’ve never heard of him!" Kraken shook his head as he poured more wine for Orion and Leonidas. "I only just found out today that our people had such a terrifying entity watching over us. Though I’ve heard plenty of legends about Kuray, the Serpent God, ever since I advanced to Archlord."

"Serpent God?" Leonidas scoffed. "Bullshit Serpent God. More like an overgrown worm. Even without my brother’s help, I could have swallowed him alive."

Kraken fully believed that. From start to finish, Leonidas had completely dominated his fight against Kuray.

"Brother, did you step in to execute Kuray because you sensed that old man coming?"

Orion nodded, confirming the suspicion. He hadn’t just sensed the enigmatic elder; he had sensed the arrival of the other three ocean clan Demigods as well. Because they were drastically outnumbered, Orion was forced to launch a surprise attack on Kuray, eliminating him to weaken the enemy’s overall strength. Otherwise, getting dragged into a brawl against that many Demigods would have been a bloodbath. They would have been completely screwed.

"Squiddy, I genuinely feel bad for you, man." Leonidas downed his drink in one gulp, reaching out to clap Kraken on the shoulder with a sympathetic grimace.

"Big Boss, I’ve been mentally prepared for this." Kraken offered a bitter smile. Ever since he learned of Kuray’s existence, he knew his expansion in this world had essentially hit a brick wall.

Trying to achieve Demigod status relying solely on his territory and gathered faith in this realm was a pipe dream. In other words, the established Demigods were actively suppressing his growth. If Kraken wanted to ascend to Demigod, he had to look to other realms. He had to conquer outward. On top of that, he had to guard his current territory from being coveted and invaded by those same heavyweights.

Even though the mysterious elder promised Orion he would guarantee Kraken’s safety and assets, any Awakened with half a brain knew better than to entrust their life and fortune to a stranger’s fleeting word.

"This realm is a lot more complicated than we thought," Orion mused. Back when they flooded Lionheart City and clashed head-on with the Divine Sigil family, he hadn’t fully grasped the scope of it. Looking back, it was likely because the coalition backing the Divine Sigil family hadn’t actually mobilized. Or perhaps they were wary of the ocean clans and didn’t want to risk a war with Orion and Leonidas over a minor territorial dispute.

"The sea and land factions have forged a delicate equilibrium. Nobody wants to be the one to break it. Bro, I guarantee it—the moment you and I show even a hint of wanting to carve out permanent territory here, the Demigods from both the sea and the Divine Sigil family will form a joint strike force to wipe us out."

The arrival of the mysterious sea elder had forced Orion to reassess the entire situation in a fraction of a second.

"This world is a bit like the Emerald Dream Realm, where we hold a third of the continent. The power structures are deeply entrenched. They have zero tolerance for outsiders. The sea and land factions are rivals, but they’re also allies of convenience. They compete with each other, but they will absolutely unite to repel a foreign threat."

The current geopolitical landscape mirrored the Emerald Dream Realm perfectly, where the Champions Alliance, the indigenous tribes, and the dark factions split the continent in three—acting as bitter enemies one day and uneasy allies the next.

"Kraken, this place really isn’t suited for your growth," Orion continued. "The only reason you haven’t been taken out since advancing to Archlord is probably because Kuray guessed you had heavy hitters backing you up. He didn’t dare make a reckless move."

It wasn’t just a theory; it was hard fact.

"Orion, Big Boss... is my sanctuary no longer safe?" Only now, three rounds deep into the wine, did Kraken finally voice the anxiety eating at him.

Leonidas didn’t answer right away, his brow furrowed in deep thought. The question gave Orion serious pause as well.

"It should be safe, but you need to keep your guard up," Orion finally said. "That mysterious old man’s strength is off the charts. It’s highly unlikely any of the other Demigods would dare disrespect him."

It was a simple concept. It was just like Orion’s standing in the Titanion Realm. If his words reached the ears of Demigods like Evander, Kairon, Seraphina, or Pyraxis Bloodflame, they would undoubtedly show him the proper respect. Conversely, if those individuals were strong enough, Orion would afford them the exact same courtesy.

"Squiddy, if push comes to shove, just relocate your main body to the Valkorath Realm," Leonidas suggested after a long bout of contemplation. "The oceans of the Valkorath Realm are completely open for you to roam."

Kraken nodded. It was the safest play on the board. Until he fully matured into his power, the Valkorath Realm would be his absolute paradise. In truth, he wasn’t the only one with that backup plan. The still-developing Makareth, Isabella, and Tangere shared the exact same sentiment. None of them talked about the Valkorath Realm openly, but behind the scenes, they were all quietly cultivating their footholds there. In their hearts, it was the only place that truly offered a sense of security.

"Heh. Not gonna lie, Big Boss," Kraken said with a sly grin. "Before I even left for Lionheart City with you and Orion, I already teleported my main body to the Valkorath Realm."

"Damn!"

"You sneaky bastard!"