Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

Chapter 1611: Arcane Ultimatum

Stoneheart City, the Dandelion Arcane Nursery.

Established through a partnership between the Stoneheart Horde and the Order of the Dandelion, it was the city’s first rudimentary magic academy. Its true purpose wasn’t to forge full-fledged mages, but to screen the Horde for children with the raw potential to harness mana. It was, in essence, an arcane preschool.

Currently, the nursery’s principal and honorary principal stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of the top-floor office, surveying the grounds below.

Dwarves gripping training hammers. Buffalofolk giving those dwarves piggyback rides. A serpent-girl in a corner, nervously tucking her tail beneath her robes. A Gnoll sprinting past with a beginner’s spellbook clutched to his chest. Human and elven children chasing each other across the grass. In the center of the yard, an Ogre cub lay spread-eagle, drooling in a deep sleep while a crowd of toddlers from various races watched in fascination.

This was the Dandelion Arcane Nursery through Elara’s eyes. It didn’t inspire immense hope, but it wasn’t a disappointment either.

"Do not underestimate them," Grand Magus Rhazuun said, his eyes filled with the warmth of a farmer surveying a promising crop. "They are the most magically gifted generation we’ve seen in years. Once the primary arcane academy officially opens, they will be our first true apprentices."

"I’m not underestimating them," Elara replied. "They’re the offspring of the Horde’s elite warriors. They inherited strong arcane aptitudes and powerful racial traits. Naturally, they eclipse apprentices starting from absolutely nothing."

She saw the reality clearly. That was exactly why they were excellent seedlings in the Grand Magus’s eyes. These kids were guaranteed to reach the rank of High Mage, if not higher.

Rhazuun pulled his gaze from the yard and studied Elara. He hadn’t expected the eldest daughter to wield so much authority within the Horde immediately upon her return.

When the Titanion Realm underwent its massive upheaval, the relationship between the Order of the Dandelion and the Stoneheart Horde had stalled. Rhazuun and the magi behind him had written off the war-torn realm. Yet, the Stoneheart Horde had not only survived the chaos and the cataclysm, but they had seized a portion of the world’s Authority. Adding to that, the Titanion Realm had successfully ascended to an Ascendant Plane—an event that shocked the Order’s upper echelons.

These developments made the relationship between the Order and Elara critical. Rhazuun’s tone lacked its usual casual confidence; a subtle thread of humility now laced his words.

"Are you here just to inspect the nursery today, Your Highness?" he asked.

"I care deeply about these children," Elara said, offering an enigmatic smile. After all, they would one day become her most loyal subordinates. "And I care about the primary, secondary, and advanced academies you plan to establish across the continent."

Her smile faded. "Grand Magus Rhazuun, you are behind schedule. You’ve delayed the opening of the academies. I don’t care if the Order of the Dandelion did this intentionally. I’m just here to tell you that times have changed, and the Order is running out of time."

It wasn’t an empty threat. Morando, Vice-Speaker of the Saint Gran Council, had already arrived in Stoneheart City and signed multiple pacts with the Horde.

"Your Highness, I apologize," Rhazuun said, stepping up to take the blame. "This was not the Order’s intention. It was my personal error in judgment."

"Keep your apologies. We don’t care whose idea it was to stall, and the Horde isn’t looking to assign blame," Elara replied. "But one thing is certain: the Order of the Dandelion is blind."

She glanced at the Grand Magus. After multiple dealings, she respected his character. He was a proper mentor. A man of his temperament wouldn’t halt cooperation with the Horde on a whim. Moreover, with his strength restricted to the Arch Lord tier, he lacked the authority to dictate such a massive policy shift.

"I’ll let you in on a secret, Grand Magus," Elara continued. "A few days ago, a Vice-Speaker of the Saint Gran Council arrived in the city. He has already finalized several arcane partnerships with my father. The Mage Association you’ve been dreaming of establishing? The Vice-Speaker just took it."

A thunderclap echoed in Rhazuun’s mind, leaving his head spinning.

"If your arcane academies fail to open," Elara said, "I suspect the Saint Gran Council will be more than happy to spread their magic and doctrines across this continent."

It was a deadly ultimatum. This was an Ascendant Plane. If the Order lost this opportunity, his superiors would absolutely hold him accountable.

"Your Highness, is this true?" Rhazuun blurted out, instantly regretting the question.

As the eldest daughter of the Stoneheart Horde and one of its core leaders, her status meant she had no reason to lie.

"Forgive me." The Grand Magus bowed deeply, apologizing for his doubt.

Elara waved a hand dismissively and walked out of the office. Pressuring Rhazuun meant pressuring the Order of the Dandelion. This was Orion’s will, and the will of the entire Horde. It was also the first step in a long-term strategy to help Elara infiltrate and eventually absorb the Order.

And it all started with the academies.

The World Tree. The Primordial Source.

A tremor pulsed with a vile aura, violently jarring Orion awake. When he opened his eyes upon the throne of the World Tree, The Lifeless Dreadgod, Archbishop Kysar, and Moriphara materialized within The Primordial Realm.

Strictly speaking, it was a subtle move by The Lifeless Dreadgod that had awakened them.

A deep, pitch-black corruption surged from the branch occupied by The Lifeless Dreadgod, creeping through the World Tree’s veins and aggressively encroaching upon the branches held by Orion, Kysar, and Moriphara.

The aura felt like an infection. The vile power sought to corrupt them, attempting to stain their branches of the World Tree with its dark taint.

"He’s finished mobilizing?" Orion muttered to himself.

The Lifeless Dreadgod’s aggressive posture meant one thing: he was ready for war.

The battle for the continents had officially begun.