Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 1336 I challenge you(Fixed)

"This isn't a conclusion for the Stoneheart Horde. It is our chance. This is our moment of ascension."

Across every settlement in his territory, Orion's voice boomed with authority. He had moved far beyond the status of a petty criminal leader; following his trials within the Emerald Dream Realm and the creation of his personal origin myth, the gravity of the situation was clear to him. This convergence of worlds was no catastrophe—it was akin to a server merge, and he was determined to take the role of the administrator.

Once his final declaration faded into the air, the shimmering golden phantoms of the Titan dissolved from the skies above the Horde’s lands.

The divine phenomenon had concluded, yet the impact lingered. Throughout the streets, the people of the Stoneheart Horde remained prostrate, their hearts racing with a mixture of religious fervor and raw excitement.

High above the spires of Stoneheart City, Orion experienced a massive, intoxicating surge. Refined, high-tier faith energy poured into his being, saturating his internal reserves. The sensation was overwhelming. For a fleeting moment, he felt capable of reaching out to crush a star or altering the fundamental laws of the universe with a simple gesture.

Steady, he cautioned himself.

He cleared his mind, shaking off the false sense of total omnipotence. It was the "God Complex"—a psychological side effect triggered by the rapid absorption of massive amounts of belief.

With a mere thought, he shifted into a beam of radiant light, hurtling upward. He tore through the atmosphere, piercing the veil to enter the silent void beyond.

Below, the searing image of his ascent remained etched into the vision of his subjects.

"The playing field has shifted. I will return."

That whisper was intended for a single soul. Carried by the currents of the air, it reached Lilith’s ear.

Inside the governor's residence, the tension finally left Lilith’s body. She understood the shifting tides. Any danger previously looming over the Stoneheart Horde had just become inconsequential.

"A Demigod..." Lilith breathed out softly, a faint smile touching her lips. "You actually succeeded, Orion."

She turned her gaze toward the window. For herself, for their offspring, and for their subjects... the ultimate protection was finally established.

Within the dark velvet of the void, Seraphina, Kairon, and Evander stood waiting.

They showed no signs of aggression toward the newcomer. The energy signature radiating from him was clearly native to the Titanion Realm. This wasn't a foreign conqueror; it was a local neighbor who had climbed the ranks of existence.

"Who is that?" Kairon demanded. As a Demigod, he had spent centuries in deep slumber within the high-pressure depths of the Kygard Expanse, isolated from the power struggles of the Utessar continent and the Trident Sea.

"That is Orion Stoneheart," Evander answered, watching the incoming light with a sharp eye. "The Giant King. I was aware he was making progress, but I never anticipated he would reach the level cap with such velocity."

Evander, the human Demigod, stole a glance at Seraphina. She stayed quiet, her face showing nothing. It was Evander who had leaked information regarding Orion to the Saint of the human kingdom, fully aware that Orion was a rising power. But this? This rate of growth was unheard of.

The emergence of a new Demigod signaled a shift in the status quo. Their triumvirate had expanded into a quadrumvirate. Who would lose their standing? Who would seize more land?

These uncertainties lingered in the void until Orion manifested before them.

He didn't bother keeping a respectful distance. He walked right up to them, the golden radiance of his divinity draped around his shoulders like a majestic mantle.

"Gentlemen," Orion greeted, nodding toward Evander and Kairon. "Lady Seraphina."

He positioned himself directly at Seraphina’s side.

"You truly managed it," Seraphina remarked. Her eyes, typically frozen and regal, shimmered with a kaleidoscope of colors. She observed him with a blend of intimacy and sincere wonder.

"I wouldn't presume to stand beside you if I hadn't."

Then, to the utter bewilderment of the two watching gods, Orion moved closer. He hooked a powerful arm around Seraphina’s waist, pulling her firmly against his side. The gesture wasn't hesitant; it was a display of absolute possession.

"You..." Evander began, his mouth hanging open.

"You!" Kairon sputtered, his voice cracking with a different emotion. While Evander was merely shocked, Kairon looked as though he was on the verge of coughing up blood.

"Seraphina... you and him...?" Kairon stammered, his finger shaking as he pointed between the Mermaid and the Giant.

"We have been together for quite some time now," Seraphina stated, a slow, satisfied grin crossing her face.

She leaned her head against Orion’s shoulder, her aura transforming from a 'Warrior Queen' to a 'Smitten Partner' in a heartbeat.

"You should probably watch your tone, Kairon," she purred, her voice a mix of honey and freezing ice. "My man is prone to jealousy. I would hate for him to cause a scene."

Orion looked down at her, his grip on her waist tightening—a silent signal that she was being a bit too dramatic.

"Fine, fine, watch the grip," she whispered, peering up at him through her eyelashes. "I am delicate, you know."

Kairon and Evander could only stare. This was not the Seraphina they recognized. For ages, she had been like an iceberg—distant, unreachable, and deadly. Seeing her act like a devoted lover was enough to make their minds reel.

They were unaware that beneath her frozen exterior, Seraphina had always longed for someone with enough power to stand as her equal.

"This is garbage!"

Kairon snapped. The Dreadfin Demigod let out a roar, his self-control crumbling.

His fury wasn't about Orion’s political rise; it was about where Orion’s hand was placed.

"Seraphina! You are aware of my feelings! I have loved you for centuries!" Kairon bellowed, his voice shaking the void. "Why him? Why this... this newcomer? In what way is he better than me? I was here first!"

It was the desperate cry of a man who felt entitled, finally pushed past his limit.

Orion watched Kairon with stoic calm before looking down at Seraphina. He didn't feel the need to argue.

Seraphina stood up straight. The playful demeanor vanished, replaced instantly by her usual frigidity.

"Kairon, are you suffering from memory loss?" she asked coldly. "I turned you down the first time you asked. I turned you down the thousandth time. Was I unclear, or are you simply incapable of processing the truth?"

The blunt rejection struck Kairon harder than any physical strike. He went still, the reality of her complete lack of interest finally shattering his fantasies. He was a Demigod, not some emotional teenager; he couldn't simply throw a fit.

He took a ragged breath, his eyes narrowing into sharp slits as he turned his hatred toward Orion.

"Very well," Kairon spat. "You think you belong in our circle, rookie? Prove it."

He called forth his weapon, the surrounding water beginning to boil with his fury.

"I challenge you to a duel. And when you are defeated, you will stay far away from her."