Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

First, the terrain. Ahead lay a vast forest, a sprawl of dense woodland that would undoubtedly slow the army's advance.

Furthermore, the forest would provide natural cover for all sorts of Dark Creatures.

The invading armies could continue their fire attacks, but what would they do when their oil supplies ran dry?

Delilah was certain some Dark Creatures here also wielded water-based powers.

If their flames weren't potent enough, they could easily be extinguished.

At that point, they'd be bogged down in another war of attrition.

That kind of fight wasn't ideal for an invading force.

Invading armies needed to live off their conquests; plunder one place, then quickly move to the next.

Second, the enemy. In the region ahead, they'd face relentless attacks from Dark Bat Hawks.

These Dark Creatures were masters of sonic attacks. The Four-Winged Blood Bat that had previously encroached on their territory had been treated as an invader and besieged.

That was also why the Four-Winged Blood Bat hadn't made it back on schedule; things had evidently taken a grim turn.

Even though the Four-Winged Blood Bat had taken down an Alpha-rank Dark Bat Hawk, it wouldn't necessarily faze the entire flock.

"How many of those Dark Bat Hawks are we talking about?"

Delilah asked a crucial question, one that also weighed on her mind.

Because their invading army had no organized aerial forces.

"When they cornered us, there were at least a thousand of them."

"On our way back, judging by the constant roars, their total numbers must be several times that."

"If it wasn't for this huge fire guiding us and spooking those Dark Bat Hawks, we probably wouldn't have made it back at all."

Though the succubus warrior recounted this impassively, anyone could tell their journey had been incredibly perilous.

Delilah nodded, gesturing for the succubus warrior to go and rest.

Then, Delilah turned to the group of Alpha-rank powerhouses who had gathered around.

The commotion from the Four-Winged Blood Bat dropping its prey earlier had drawn them over.

"Everyone, you've heard the details."

"Let's head into the wooden hut to discuss this."

Delilah didn't make an immediate decision; she hoped to glean some useful suggestions from them.

Especially the humans, dwarves, and blood elves—they were known for their sharp minds.

Gormathar, Taran, Brontes, Steropes, Godfrey the human, Grum Ironfist the dwarf, and Saelen all nodded and headed towards the makeshift wooden hut.

"Report any developments on the perimeter immediately."

After instructing the guards posted outside the wooden hut, Delilah went in as well.

On the perimeter, the fire line raged.

Ragscrape the Gnoll and Maldrak the Giant, unlike those humans from the levy units, hadn't collapsed on the ground to rest.

Although the Hatchery Spiders were numerous, they were individually weak.

This intensity of attack barely registered as tiring for Ragscrape and Maldrak, who had been through the crucible of fighting the fungal creatures.

"These fools! Don't they realize this is their chance to earn glory and harvest Dark Source Crystals?"

Ragscrape the Gnoll took the lead, moving through the scorched forest, nimbly leaping among the embers.

"Look how spent they are; they must be out of steam."

Maldrak the Giant's reasoning was simple: if they weren't moving, they were simply out of strength.

Little did he know, those who stayed put, unwilling to budge, were mostly the cowards—the ones terrified of dying.

The cunning and fearless ones, like themselves, were already skirting the edge of the fire line, venturing into Shadowcrag Forest to claim their spoils.

"The whole place stinks of char. It's killed the appetite I just worked up."

Ragscrape twitched his snout vigorously. The air, thick with the smell of cooked meat and burnt wood, was both enticing and slightly sickening.

"Ragscrape, careful now."

"Forest beasts are most dangerous when they're cornered and dying."

Maldrak followed Ragscrape's path, close behind.

They were, in a sense, a rogue element. While not strictly against regulations, having no backup meant they had to be exceptionally cautious.

Woof woof…

A moment later, a low bark echoed. It was Ragscrape's signal.

Maldrak had partnered with Ragscrape for years; he knew what that sound meant.

Enemy nearby!

Ragscrape unslung the trident from his back.

Ever since Orion's rise in the Stoneheart Horde, nearly all warriors of giantkin had been training with tridents and spears.

The younger warriors in the Horde even favored the trident as their primary weapon.

Amidst the surrounding embers, an occasional crackle broke the silence. Ragscrape and Maldrak stood motionless.

A Hatchery Spider lurked nearby; Ragscrape could smell it.

Woof!

Ragscrape the Gnoll's fierce bark.

Crackle!

The sound of embers scattering as an Alpha-rank Hatchery Spider lunged from its hiding place.

Whoosh!

The whistle of Maldrak the Giant's thrown trident.

Three sounds, three actions—all in the same instant, the same space.

Amidst a shower of sparks, fire and shadow their backdrop.

A gnoll, a Hatchery Spider, a giant.

The moment froze, like a single frame from a film.

Then, the scene lurched into fast-forward.

Thunk!

The trident flew true, burying itself in the Hatchery Spider's eye.

"Ragscrape!"

As Maldrak roared, Ragscrape the Gnoll had already drawn his scimitar and lunged at the Hatchery Spider.

Ragscrape the Gnoll was confident; the scimitar in his hand was a hard-earned reward from the Horde's armory.

It was a masterwork weapon, capable of piercing the defenses of most Alpha-rank creatures.

"It's a heavily wounded Alpha-rank! This is our chance!"

"Kill it!"

Sensing the Hatchery Spider's weakened aura, Ragscrape the Gnoll grew excited, a battle frenzy taking hold.

Maldrak, seeing his friend Ragscrape charge, also brandished his spiked club and rushed in.

The next moment, Ragscrape's and Maldrak's battle cries drowned out the Hatchery Spider's screeching.

The air filled with flying sparks, the gleam of a swift scimitar, the furious whistle of the spiked club, and the blur of spider claws.

Ragscrape and Maldrak fought in perfect concert.

Fifteen minutes later, the monster crashed to the ground.

"Hahaha… this thing is finally dead!"

"You clubbed it to death. The main credit's yours."

Ragscrape pulled a large Dark Source Crystal from the Hatchery Spider's corpse and tossed it to Maldrak.

"You found it, and you were the bait. I just provided the muscle."

Maldrak tossed the Dark Source Crystal back. They were precious, true, but nothing compared to his friendship with Ragscrape.

"Alright then, don't mind if I do!"

"Let's keep moving. I'll make sure you get the next one!"

Maldrak nodded. This invasion was just starting; there would be plenty more opportunities.

"Friend, watch out for the others around us."

"Elder Dirtclaw always said, anyone not from the fodder units isn't one of us."

"Those human mercenaries have no scruples; they're even greedier than we are."

Not far off, a squad of human mercenaries from the levy units appeared.

They had broken off from the main force and entered the unsecured depths of the forest. Ragscrape figured they were making themselves easy targets, ripe for a backstabbing.