Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 1366 The Pontiff’s Gamble and the Great Exodus

"Jack, give us your thoughts. Can we actually pull this off?"

Valerius shifted his attention toward the Clown, posing the question directly. Given that he was the solitary member of their group who had actually traded blows with the Demigods of Atlantis, his perspective held the most significance.

"It is a gamble worth taking," the Clown answered, his expression masked behind a static, painted grin.

He had no intention of blocking the move. Should the recruitment prove fruitful, he would claim a portion of the glory. It would result in the Cult of Four gaining a formidable new asset—an ally who would be indebted to them for the favor.

As for his previous intentions to help the Witch ascend? Those plans were temporarily shelved. Mastering the long-term game required absolute patience.

Lurking in the shadows, the Witch felt a surge of nauseating bitterness rise in her chest.

She and the Clown had arrived in the Silverwood Realm with two specific goals: to annihilate the Champions Alliance and to secure the loyalty of Pontiffs Yriel and Valerius. These achievements were meant to serve as the Foundation for her rise to power.

Instead, the sudden emergence of Atlantis from the depths had completely ruined her strategic board.

Curse it... curse it all to hell.

Why was this happening?

She fixed a resentful glare on the Clown’s back. Why are you going along with this? Why aren't you standing up for my interests?

The Clown, however, completely disregarded her presence, engaging in light conversation with the other Pontiffs as if she were totally invisible.

Titanion Realm, Human Kingdom

Whispers regarding the coming dimensional fusion and the catastrophic Great Change had initially circulated only among the high-ranking elite.

The monarchs, the arch-mages, and the patriarchs of the Great Houses were the first to be informed. They operated in the shadows, liquidating assets and reinforcing their private bastions. Only after their own survival was guaranteed did the details begin to trickle down to the masses.

The resulting panic didn't arrive with a bang; it seeped in like a slow poison.

Paradoxically, the terror didn't take root among the commoners or the slaves first. Having nothing to lose, they remained stoic. The real hysteria began in the middle class—the minor nobles and landed gentry whose manors were located far from the protection of the capital cities.

They watched as the Great Houses sold off their holdings. They witnessed massive gold caravans fleeing toward the capital. It became clear to them that they were being abandoned to their fate.

Fear proved to be a contagion. It jumped from the nobility to the merchant class, and from merchants to the rank-and-file soldiers. Before long, a thick atmosphere of impending doom hung over even the greatest metropolises.

While the majority of the aristocracy fought desperately to secure a spot within the overcrowded central cities, a few perceptive individuals—and those with no other options—searched for an alternative.

Within Soaring Bird City, the vibe was entirely different.

Twenty-four hours after Kronos made his return alongside his elite warriors, Ava—the city’s governor and the eldest Princess of the Kingdom—stood atop the central plaza.

"People of Soaring Bird!" her voice boomed, carried to every alleyway by high-grade magical arrays. "I am Princess Ava. It is with profound sorrow that I confirm the truth of these rumors. The invasion is imminent. Our world is on the brink of a transformation."

The gathered multitude fell into a deathly silence.

"A disaster is approaching that these stone walls cannot hope to repel. As your leader, my primary obligation is to protect your lives, not these buildings."

She paused for a moment, steeling her resolve.

"Consequently, I am hereby dissolving the government of Soaring Bird City."

Shocked gasps echoed through the square.

"You are faced with two paths. You may gather your things and attempt to reach the Kingdom’s inner cities. I will provide official travel passes to anyone who requests them. The Kingdom will not turn its back on you."

It was a blatant falsehood, and no one was fooled.

A travel pass was merely a scrap of paper. During such upheaval, refugees carrying their life savings were nothing more than walking targets for slaughter. The highways would be crawling with marauders—many of whom would be deserting soldiers or starving peasants turned into predators.

Even if they reached their destination, the central cities would strip them of every coin before even considering opening the gates.

Ava waited, letting the grim reality settle over them. She despised this. She was of royal blood, groomed to be a guardian of the people. Deserting the city felt like a stain on her honor.

"Or," she continued, her tone growing more forceful, "you may choose the second option."

"To our north lies the lands of the Blood Elves, and further still... the territory of the Stoneheart Horde."

"That is the realm of a Demigod. It is a stronghold that will endure while the rest of the world crumbles."

She signaled toward the titanic figure looming at her side.

"This is my son, Kronos. He is the Young Master of this city, and a Prince of the Stoneheart Giants."

Kronos moved to the front.

He had manifested his True Form—a gargantuan entity of stone and sinew, possessing four heads and eight powerful arms, resembling a living fortress of iron.

He offered no words. He simply unleashed his Qi and aura.

BOOM!

A crushing wave of Legendary-tier pressure surged across the plaza. It was heavy, suffocating, and displayed an undeniable dominance.

The crowd gasped in shock, their eyes wide with terror and respect. For many, this was their first time witnessing a Lord-class expert in person.

Ava glowed with pride. This was her child. He wasn't merely a fighter; he was a heaven-defying genius. He was already walking the path toward becoming an Arch Lord, and perhaps eventually a Demigod like his sire.

Because of his overwhelming strength, she was no longer a hidden concubine. She was no longer a secret to be kept in the dark. Kronos had marched into the Giant King’s hall and demanded her rightful place in the light.

"Kronos is offering you his protection," Ava declared, her voice filled with a new sense of power.

"He possesses the strength to shield you within the Stoneheart borders."

"Gather what you can carry and follow us. We depart for Stoneheart City at first light tomorrow."

"I give you my solemn oath: your lives will be guarded, and your possessions will remain yours."

That was the deciding factor.

Soaring Bird City was a hub of commerce. Its inhabitants—traders, mercenaries, and artisans—had prospered by facilitating trade between the Humans, Blood Elves, and Giants. They were pragmatists. They understood the necessity of a powerful protector.

The cleverest among them, those who knew how to manage risk, had already begun moving their wealth into Giant territory. For them, this wasn't a desperate flight; it was a strategic relocation.

"You have one day to make your choice," Ava finished. "The departure begins at dawn from the North Gate."

The announcement was over, but the real labor was only just starting.

"Princess! What will happen to our storefronts?"

"Will the Giants try to eat us?"

"Are we allowed to bring our animals?"

The masses pressed forward, shouting a barrage of questions. Ava remained where she was, addressing each concern individually. Her anxiety had been replaced by the grueling, necessary work of leadership. She had an entire city to relocate.