Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

"My lord, these gnomes have no real fight in 'em. Why should we waste our resources feeding them?"

That blunt complaint came from Earthshaker. His cannon-fodder armies had recently absorbed a large number of gnome slaves, which, to him, felt like a direct hit to their combat effectiveness.

Orion glanced back at the smoldering ruins of Giant City behind them, then pointed at the scorched remains.

"Look over there. If they were really worthless nobodies, how could they have built such a big city in the first place? Think about it—if gnomes were good for nothing, would the Blood Elves have kept them around all this time? Plus, if these gnomes were truly useless, how come they get to live on these rich southern lands while we're stuck in the north?"

Earthshaker looked puzzled, unable to come up with a quick answer. It was true the gnomes weren't physically imposing or known for battle prowess—yet they inhabited this abundant southern region, which baffled the buffalofolk.

Orion tapped Earthshaker lightly on the forehead, hoping to enlighten him.

"Sometimes raw power doesn't come from brute strength but from up here."

Realization dawned on Earthshaker.

"Lord, you're saying these gnomes… they've got brains?"

"Exactly." Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire

"So if they're so smart, why did they give up on their city and run?"

"Because we're dangerous, and they're clever enough to back away from that danger."

"Lord, any gnome that chickens out from a fight is no good to us!"

"…"

Orion stifled a sigh. He knew buffalofolk tended to see things in black and white—they revered anyone stronger than they were and had little respect for those who seemed weaker.

From a distance, Orion could see other officers in the cannon-fodder troops whipping gnome slaves. He just shook his head silently. Whether the gnomes would end up worthwhile remained to be seen; he'd have to ship them back to Blackstone City before making that call.

"My lord, I hear the territory ahead belongs to Beastmen," Onyx remarked, stepping up beside Orion. "Word is, they're a pretty brawny bunch."

"Beastmen, huh? Never met them myself," Orion replied. "From the name, it sounds like they're half-human, half-beast. According to the latest scouting intel, Beastmen are one of four big vassal races under the Blood Elves. They keep watch with the Blood Elves and trade steadily with the human kingdom.

"They say the Kitsunes are real smart and darn seductive. Of course," he added, "there are also some big-deal bloodline warriors among them—like the Gronthar clan or certain werewolves."

Hearing Orion's quick rundown sparked the curiosity of nearby troops.

"Lord, are these Kitsunes any prettier than us succubi?" Delilah asked with a playful glint in her eyes.

Orion shook his head. "Anyway, Beastmen are no gnomes. Their combat prowess won't be small potatoes. Once we invade, watch your step. Don't go off on your own."

He'd just spoken these words when an Alpha-level icefield snow wolf came bounding toward him. It was Jorik's messenger—if it had come looking for Orion, that meant Jorik had something important to discuss.

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Roar!

Suddenly, a draconic bellow resonated through the forest. The horses in the Rose Knight Regiment began collapsing to their knees in terror. Only a handful remained upright.

"On guard—on guard! We've got enemies!"

Rustling noises flitted through the trees. The royal guardian knight, Arthur, rushed to Princess Ava's side, his sharp gaze fixed on the forest where the sound had come from.

"Half-dragons!"

"They've got us surrounded!"

It wasn't Arthur or Ava who spoke but the coal knight, Galahad.

"Knights, dismount and form a shield wall! Regular horses are useless against half-dragons—they're too spooked!"

Princess Ava heard Galahad's words. Glancing over at Arthur, she got a nod of agreement.

"Knight Regiment, dismount! Group into hundreds, form a circular shield block!"

Her voice rang with both urgency and steel. They hadn't even reached the edge of human territory when the enemy was already upon them.

Without warning, a half-dragon burst out of the woods—then another, then a third—until a whole horde of half-dragons came swarming in. Their reptilian scales glinted dully, their hands twisted into draconic claws as they lashed out at nearby targets.

"Where I stand, I shall not fear my foe,"

"I'll banish every evil with my will…"

Murmuring a battle prayer, Coal Knight Galahad drew his two-handed sword in a smooth arc.

The drawn blade shone brilliantly, a silvery gleam like fresh snow.

"I once pledged to stand against all wrong…"

Shwissh!

Steel cut through the air as swiftly as a sliver of running water. A half-dragon fell at Galahad's feet, splattering his dark armor with blood. Little by little, his black plate turned crimson-red. Meanwhile, Galahad's aura flared brighter and brighter, nudging him ever closer to Alpha-level status.

"For the glory of knighthood!"

The guardian knight Arthur whispered his own prayer and drew his longsword, stepping up to fight alongside Galahad.

It was Princess Ava's first time witnessing the coal knight in battle. She saw no hesitation, only bold, lethal strikes. She was struck by his skill, his gleaming sword, and the way he carried himself in combat.

"Knights… what kind of people are they, really?" Ava mused quietly, even as she tugged out her own blade. Mounted on horseback, she joined the fray.

"Shield up, hold them, then counter with lances! Keep steady!"

Though chaos reigned, Ava's vantage point on her horse gave her a decent overview of the skirmish. It let her issue commands calmly and effectively.

Two knights in front of her fought especially fiercely, taking down countless foes. The battle dragged on from midday straight into dusk before the last of the half-dragons harassing the Rose Knight Regiment were finally killed off. The regiment itself, however, had lost more than half of its total force.

"And we're not even on the front lines yet…" Ava muttered, stacking the bodies of her fallen knights and personally lighting the funeral pyre. "If this is the kind of punishment we're taking already, how terrifying is this southern invasion going to be?"

"War has always been like this," Arthur said in a low, somber tone. "Your Highness, we shouldn't linger here. We have to fall back and join the main royal army."

"Agreed," Princess Ava said. She wasn't a fool or some glory-hungry commander who'd throw her soldiers' lives away.