The Rise of the Titan

A strong smell of the sea permeated the air as the sound of the tides echoed over the desolate wilderness. A vast, blue ocean appeared, though it seemed somewhat illusory.

"This setup is a bit exaggerated," Muria observed as his eyes returned to their original golden hue. Surrounded as he was, there was no longer any need to hide.

"Sylvan Lin, you really have outdone yourself, managing to intercept a Titan scion in mid-space. It would have been a great regret if he had gotten away," said a grotesque eight-legged sea monster that had broken through space, enveloped in putrid, stinking seawater.

"It would be a great regret if I missed this divine gift," a six-armed Naga said as she cut through the space with a blade, slithering out with her colorful snake tail and staring greedily at Muria with her brown vertical pupils.

"Are you all just thinking about the benefits? Have you considered what the gods will do to us if this Titan scion escapes?" asked a bewitching siren riding the waves, with over a hundred other eerie sirens appearing in the tides behind her.

"Ceceil, you've really put in a lot of effort. You've brought all your Gold-rank and above tribespeople. Aren't you afraid they'll all die on this continent? If that happens, your siren tribe will be no more," the monstrous sea creature taunted, its tentacles twitching, revealing rows of jagged teeth.

"If all my people are to fall, then at least a couple of legends should fall as well," the legendary sea siren Ceceil retorted, glaring at the grotesque body of the eight-legged sea monster. Sea creatures often grew in bizarre ways, possibly because there were few to witness them.

The three legends who appeared after Sylvan Lin seemed to know each other. Upon seeing one another, they began to taunt and mock each other, creating a tense atmosphere as if they could start fighting among themselves at any moment.

"I say, if you have grievances among yourselves, don't just exchange words. Aren't swords more effective than feeble arguments?" Muria suggested, feeling the killing intent around him was not solely directed at him.

"You should fight each other first. Then the victor can fight me. Surely, a complete Titan would please your gods more and earn you greater rewards. Otherwise, with four legends and only one Titan, you'll have a hard time dividing the spoils."

Upon hearing Muria's mocking tone, the six-armed Naga's brows furrowed in anger. "Titan scion, do you think we are fools?"

"Haha!" Muria laughed knowingly. Chaos breeds fools, and ocean deities are typically chaotic. One couldn't expect their followers to be rational.

Chaotic beings are unpredictable, as evident from the antics of abyssal demons. Despite their countless layers, they have fought for millennia without conquering the Nine Hells, and sometimes they even get pushed back. It's almost unbelievable.

"Do you think we are fools, Titan?" The legendary sea monster, which was alone and had no followers, echoed the Naga's sentiment, believing it was not among the fools.

"However, I think he's right. We should fight each other first; otherwise, there's no fair way to split one Titan," it said, agreeing with Muria's provocation.

"I have never met a legend as wise as you," Muria laughed, praising the giant octopus-like creature. Such a foolish but powerful enemy was rare.

"Splash!" Without warning, the "wise" legendary octopus lashed out with its tentacles, targeting the legendary siren Ceceil and Sylvan Lin, who was fighting the Balor demon. It didn't spare Muria or Broken Horn, attacking them all indiscriminately.

"Idiot, brain-dead fool!" Sylvan Lin, already occupied with fighting Broken Horn, was caught off guard. A tentacle struck him, sending him crashing to the ground. Shattered scales and black feathers floated in the air, looking pitiful.

As the tentacle struck Sylvan Lin, its numerous mouths tore chunks of flesh from him. This hybrid legend had fought Broken Horn for over ten rounds without injury, but the sea monster maimed him with one blow.

Ceceil, who also endured the sea monster's attack, didn't fare as badly as Sylvan Lin but lost four of her people to its tentacles.

Attacking my allies, protecting my enemies!

If the brain-dead sea monster hadn't attacked him, Muria would have found some flattering words to praise it. Such a foolish but powerful enemy was rare and worth commending. Unfortunately, it did not spare Muria.

"Go kill that hybrid. I'll handle this sea monster," Muria commanded Broken Horn, who was about to intervene. He ordered it to pursue the weakened Sylvan Lin instead.

As the Balor demon left, Muria revealed his true Titan form, showcasing his powerful physique and surging golden blood energy.

The imposing Titan stood in the air, brandishing a halberd wrapped in golden lightning. He slashed upward against the incoming tentacle, moving faster than the speed of sound.

"Shlick!" The halberd, made from nine legendary metals, cut through the tentacle easily. No creature could withstand its sharpness. The sea monster's tentacle was severed, spilling putrid blood like a waterfall onto the already devastated forest below.

"Slash! Slash!" The sound of blades cutting through the air came from behind. The legendary Naga, the only one not attacked by the sea monster, swung her scimitars at Muria's back.

"Doesn't it demean you to sneak attack a Soul Intent warrior, legendary as you are?" Muria said, turning to block with a backhand swing of his battle axe. He shattered the Naga's slashes, striking her weapon with lightning and fire...