Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

After exhausting the three women to the point of deep sleep, Orion finally stopped, his mind turning toward the Survivor's Platform in search of answers. However, as he habitually checked his status panel, his eyes widened in shock.

- Strength: 4510/5000 (+9220)

- Agility: 4256/5000 (+236)

- Intelligence: 4501/5000 (+200)

- Constitution: 4225/5000 (+200)

- Resistance: 25% (against all negative effects)

- Bloodline Purity: 70% (Titan)

Orion noticed that all his attributes had increased. Strength, Agility, Intelligence, and Constitution had each risen by 500 points, all surpassing the 4000 threshold. Even his resistance had improved, climbing from 20% to 25%.

But what truly shocked him was the drop in his Bloodline Purity, which had decreased from 72% to 70%. This was a change Orion found hard to believe.

To confirm, he rubbed his eyes.

It wasn't an illusion.

Staring at his status panel, Orion couldn't help but think of the will projection that had been forcibly fused into his flesh.

"Could this increase in stats be related to the fusion of the will projection?"

"Does absorbing a will projection enhance my overall abilities?"

"Then why did my bloodline purity decrease?"

A flood of questions filled Orion's mind, leaving him momentarily dazed and unsure of what to do.

However, the significant boost to his stats brought him a sense of calm. Taking a deep breath, Orion focused his mind and entered the Survivor's Platform, initiating a trade with his old acquaintance, Arthas.

From his collection, Orion retrieved a Darkflame Stone the size of an egg and sent it over as a trade offering.

"Hulk, my friend, you don't give gifts without a reason. What do you need from me this time?"

Arthas didn't hesitate to accept the trade. To him, the Darkflame Stone was essentially free loot.

Seeing Arthas accept the offering, Orion skipped any pretense and got straight to the point.

"What do you know about divine curses?"

After sending the message, Orion felt a twinge of anxiety. Among his network of contacts, Arthas was the only major figure he could think of. If anyone could help him understand and possibly remove the Curse of a Hundred Blossoms, it would be Arthas.

"Divine curse? Are we talking about a demigod-level curse or a full god-level curse?"

Arthas's reply came quickly, but his question left Orion momentarily stunned.

"I'm not sure," Orion admitted honestly. He truly didn't know whether the Flower Goddess who cursed him was a demigod or a god.

After sending his response, Orion waited in silence. Arthas didn't reply immediately, leaving Orion to sit in uneasy anticipation.

---

Necro Realm, Bone Throne.

Arthas sat on his throne, momentarily stunned. The mention of a divine curse stirred ripples in his otherwise calm mind.

"This guy… he's even bolder than I thought!"

"Still at Alpha-level, and he's already provoking god-level entities?"

"Impressive courage!"

"But how should I handle this divine curse issue…? I'll need to think carefully…"

---

Blackstone City, Chieftain's Tent.

Just as Orion was about to drift off to sleep, Arthas's reply finally arrived.

"We'll discuss the divine curse later. First, let's talk about the Lord's Stone."

"Hulk, my old friend, what can you offer in exchange for the Lord's Stone?"

Orion's eyes narrowed as he read the message.

Truthfully, Orion had two goals in reaching out to Arthas. The first was to find a way to deal with the Curse of a Hundred Blossoms. The second was to obtain the Lord's Stone, a key item for advancing to Legendary level. With all his attributes now exceeding 4000, it was time to prepare for his breakthrough.

What Orion hadn't expected was for Arthas to immediately guess his second objective.

"It seems the divine curse tipped him off to my urgency to reach Legendary level," Orion thought. "I just hope his conditions aren't too outrageous."

In earlier conversations, Arthas had hinted that trading for the Lord's Stone would come with conditions. This was why Orion hadn't sought it out sooner—he feared being taken advantage of. After all, his relationship with Arthas wasn't built on complete trust.

Orion stared at Arthas's message, then gathered all the C- to A-grade crystal cores in his possession and sent them over. He also included most of his Darkflame Stones, keeping only the largest one for himself.

"Other than my personal belongings, this is everything I have!"

Orion couldn't help but feel like he was taking a huge gamble, trusting Arthas with his entire fortune.

"If this isn't enough, name your terms!"

---

Necro Realm, Bone Throne.

Arthas stared at the massive haul of crystal cores and Darkflame Stones Orion had sent over. Even as a seasoned Legendary-level powerhouse, he couldn't help but gasp.

"How many factions has this guy plundered? How many beasts has he killed?"

What surprised Arthas even more was that Orion had sent these items without any safeguards. If Arthas wanted, he could simply take everything without fulfilling his end of the deal.

Looking at the contract scroll in his left hand, Arthas suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

Hahaha…

Arthas burst into laughter, his voice echoing through the Bone Throne. It was a genuine, hearty laugh.

"How long has it been… since I've experienced this kind of trust?"

"Does this guy really believe in my integrity?"

"Or is Hulk just a pure fool, or maybe a bit naive?"

Whatever the case, Arthas felt compelled to reciprocate. Something about this exchange had stirred a long-dormant part of him.

With a wave of his hand, Arthas initiated a trade, sending a radiant, star-like stone to Orion.

---

Continue your journey on empire

Blackstone City, Chieftain's Tent.

Orion accepted the trade, his eyes lighting up as he gazed at the glowing Lord's Stone in his hands.

- [Lord's Stone]

- Type: Transcendent Item

- Use: Territory construction, rank advancement.

This was it—the key to advancing to Legendary level. Orion had finally obtained it.

"Hulk, your actions just now surprised me!"

"The Lord's Stone is yours, but I have one condition."

"When you feel ready, let me know. I'll teach you the sacrificial ritual to open a portal to your continent for me."

Reading Arthas's message, Orion's heartbeat quickened.

A sacrificial ritual. Another continent. A portal.

The implications were clear. Arthas intended to bring his undead forces to Orion's world.

"That's insane!"

Orion could feel the weight of Arthas's ambition and dominance—a force that sought to conquer and rule.

The condition left Orion conflicted. If the undead truly descended upon his world, it would undoubtedly lead to chaos and bloodshed. And if their interests clashed, how would their so-called friendship hold up?

"No wonder he said to wait until I'm ready. He's leaving the decision in my hands."

"Smart move, Arthas. Very smart."

After a long period of contemplation, Orion finally agreed to Arthas's condition.

The key was that the decision of when and where to open the portal remained with Orion, giving him room to maneuver.

"I accept your condition, but the timing will be up to me."

---

Necro Realm, Bone Throne.

Arthas nodded in satisfaction as he read Orion's reply.

"Interesting."

Whether Orion's agreement was genuine or not didn't matter much to Arthas. The Lord's Stone had already been traded, and he no longer held any leverage.

The condition was more of a test—a test of their budding friendship.

For someone like Arthas, who had lived for countless years, concepts like friendship and trust were rare luxuries. He didn't mind using this opportunity to see if such a bond could exist.

If Orion proved trustworthy, they could both gain a valuable ally. If not, the loss would be Orion's, as he would forfeit access to Arthas's power and connections.

Satisfied, Arthas shifted the conversation back to the divine curse.

"Hulk, divine curses aren't as terrifying as you think, but they're not as simple either."

"The most direct way to break a divine curse is to kill the god who cast it."

"Other methods include suppression, expulsion, absorption, fusion, or purification. Each approach requires a different strategy."

"Remember, divine curses are powered by divine energy, which comes from faith energy."

"You're on the right track. To deal with the curse effectively, you should first advance to Legendary level and gain control over faith energy."

"Once you've reached that point, the choice of how to handle the curse will be yours."

Orion read Arthas's message over and over, committing every word to memory.

What had once seemed like an uncontrollable force now appeared manageable. Even if he couldn't remove the curse entirely, suppression was within reach.

With this newfound understanding, Orion's confidence returned. His path forward was clear.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Thank you!"

After sending his reply, Orion exited the Survivor's Platform. His eyes shone brightly, filled with determination and a renewed hunger for power.

Unable to sleep, Orion turned to Lilith, gently shaking her awake. She opened her rose-red eyes, looking at him with curiosity.

"I can't sleep. I'm going for a walk."

Lilith nodded, rising to help Orion dress. Without a word, she donned her cloak and followed him out of the tent.

Walking beside him, she silently took his arm, her intentions clear.

Orion didn't explain, leading her toward the distant city walls.

---

Inside the chieftain's tent, Lysinthia and Violet both opened their eyes. Neither woman moved.

Lysinthia, having been with Orion for so long, could sense his unease. She didn't know the cause, but she could tell something was wrong.

Saintess Violet, on the other hand, was fully aware of the Curse of a Hundred Blossoms and its recent changes. Her concern for Orion ran deep.