Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

The battle raged on. It wasn't that Grommash didn't want his people's help, or that they refused to lend a hand—it was Grommash himself who turned them away.

In fact, as long as he kept these Alpha-level fighters occupied, the surrounding orcs would remain much safer.

"Kill them all!"

Blademaster Grommash roared. His greatsword had been snapped in two, but clutching its broken half only seemed to fire up his battle spirit even more.

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From the rear of the battlefield, a figure approached Orion and spoke—it was Bluehide. Rather, the smaller of Bluehide's two heads was talking, and he eyed Orion with evident warmth and interest.

"That orc chieftain seems… off," he remarked. "Looks like he's forcing himself to break through. He keeps pushing his own limits."

Orion glanced at Bluehide. His response carried a double meaning.

"You've noticed?"

First, he was asking if Bluehide had figured out what Grommash was attempting. Second, he was subtly inquiring whether Bluehide had picked up on Orion's advancement to mid–Legendary level.

"I certainly have," Bluehide said, giving a little shrug. "Makes me feel pretty good—almost wanna blow a big bubble right now."

He fell silent for a moment, turning his gaze to the battlefield. Orion smirked but didn't take offense.

"In that case, Lord Bluehide… care to tell me if that orc's plan will work?"

Bluehide pretended he was blowing a bubble, then shook his head.

"Nope. I've studied this world's history, and the number of folks who ever forged their own Lord's Stone isn't more than three."

Orion was about to ask who those three were, when Bluehide lowered his voice:

"By the way, I'll let you in on a little secret: my two heads have different names. Call me Aldous. I've got a feeling we could be friends. As for my big dozy head here, that's Bluehide. Of course, whether you call me Bluehide or Aldous, I really don't mind. We're essentially the same person."

As Aldous chuckled, he pointed to the larger, sleepier head. Orion paused, intrigued; he now saw this ogre for who he truly was.

––––

Boom!

Suddenly, an explosive roar burst from the front lines, sending swordlight whipping in all directions.

Onyx, Rockwell, Earthshaker, and Slagor all got knocked around to some extent; they looked visibly shaken, with Onyx sporting a host of fresh cuts in his petrified skin.

Blademaster Grommash, meanwhile, lay on the ground, out of strength.

"Hurry, let's save our chieftain!"

"Come on—rush in!"

Orc elders who'd been watching from the sidelines finally jumped into action to rescue Grommash—only to be surrounded by countless cave spiders and boarfolk.

––––

"Lord Orion, your people are pretty impressive," commented Aldous. "Especially that minotaur—he has a unique ability."

Orion nodded silently. Indeed, Earthshaker's Blood Sharing skill was a nasty tool; Orion wouldn't have brought him along otherwise.

"That orc out there—he's called Blademaster Grommash—he's famous even outside his own lands," Aldous went on. "Truth is, killing Alpha-level foes wouldn't be too hard for him, but your people managed to capture him alive. That's a hell of an achievement. Grommash's exploits are well-known in my territory, too."

Orion kept his eyes fixed on the battlefield. Now that all the Alpha-level orcs were tied up, Delilah, Onyx, Rockwell, Earthshaker, and Slagor had slipped free of danger. Only then did he relax and look away.

"Lord Aldous, the orc chieftain is being held prisoner—that's a wrap for his tribe," Orion said calmly. "Still, can you help me bag more orc captives? I plan to use them as slave labor. I need a ton of workers to build walls."

Aldous nodded, answering earnestly, "Lord Orion, that's an easy ask. I'll have my people round up as many orcs or beastmen as you need. Their meat is pretty damn unappetizing anyway!"

The truth was, Orion had asked him this favor on purpose. He found Aldous intriguing and wanted to get closer to him.

Besides Gareth, Orion could use more allies during this venture. Relationships sometimes formed through "help me out" moments like these, and Orion understood that well.

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Half a day later, Onyx, Rockwell, Earthshaker, and Slagor dragged Blademaster Grommash—bound and wounded—over to Orion.

"Blademaster Grommash," Orion remarked, "I hear you reign supreme among Alpha-level beings. A certain ogre lord just sang your praises."

He smiled. "I'm sorry though. If I were still Alpha-level, I'd give you a fair shot at challenging me."

Grommash's wounds were severe, yet the instant he saw Orion, his eyes lit with unquenchable thirst for a fight.

"Noble giant lord, I can challenge you right now," he growled.

Orion shook his head with a chilling grin. "Blademaster Grommash, that sentence you just spoke had nine words in it." At that, Orion slid his thumb across his own throat in a silent gesture.

An instant later, Earthshaker beheaded nine captured orcs right in front of Grommash. The heads were piled before him.

"Please consider your words more carefully when you speak to me," Orion said in a mild tone, though the glint in his eyes carried a distinct warning.

"I want a challenge!" Grommash roared.

Slash, slash, slash, slash!
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"I want a challenge!" he shouted again.

Slash, slash, slash, slash!

…

What came next even surprised Orion. No matter how many orcs were beheaded, Grommash just kept glaring at Orion, repeating his demand. He didn't even spare a glance for his dying clansmen.

After a while, Orion's blood turned cold. Expressionless, he murmured, "Fine. I'll give you one."

He waved Earthshaker and Slagor away, signaling them to let Grommash go.

The orc rose unsteadily, then snapped his fractured right arm like it was nothing. Piece by piece he bit off the remaining flesh, exposing the arm bone beneath—the blade he intended to use.

With his hand as a sword, Grommash pointed that makeshift blade straight at Orion, a raw wave of fighting spirit rolling off him.

Orion let out a mocking laugh, drawing his own trident and facing off from a short distance away.

"Raaaaagh!"

Grommash unleashed every ounce of bloodline power he had and charged.

Crash!

Orion swung the trident, hammering Grommash aside without killing him outright.

From the moment Orion learned Grommash was trying to forge his own Lord's Stone, he'd been tempted to humor the orc—let him see if he could pull it off.

Orion was curious to know if forging a Lord's Stone from scratch was even possible. And if Grommash did succeed, Orion would seize it, fulfilling his own ambitions.

That, in truth, was why Orion had given him this chance.