Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 1377 Do we want to go big?

Under the piercing stares from Pontiff Valerius and the Cult of Four, the trio leading Atlantis seemed immersed in a deep, enigmatic meditation. Their eyelids shut tight, breaths aligned in unison, hinting at some advanced hidden art for pondering the destiny of realms.

Truth be told, they were merely tossing around memes in the open chat of the Survivor's Platform.

That spot alone ensured their words stayed unbugged by outsiders.

[Leonidas]: Holy crap. Holy crap! You guys are not going to believe this. I'm actually going to be a Pontiff. A real damn Pontiff!

Leonidas's wild message exploded like a torpedo, shocking the silent observers into action.

[Alexander]: Have you lost your mind?

Alexander saw it as the start of a lame gag—or something worse, like a total freakout. Was Leonidas on the verge of cracking like a Clown?

[Isabella]: Alexander, if he defects, I'm taking him out. Permission to engage?

Isabella jumped right after Alexander. Backed by the Alliance's top powerhouse, her tone brimmed with bold confidence.

[Leonidas]: Watch your mouth, little girl. Who exactly do you think you're going to "take out"?

Had it been Alexander issuing the warning, Leonidas would've brushed it aside with a chuckle and dared him to try. Isabella, though? Her cockiness grated on him. She was a newbie snapping at a seasoned pro.

[Kraken]: Cool it, Boss. If you actually turn traitor, we won't need the rookie. I'll hunt you down myself. Call it a mercy kill. For the greater good.

That marked the contrast. Kraken voiced the identical warning—a vow of lethal pursuit—but from him, it rang like brotherly banter. A bond among peers. Leonidas stayed calm; oddly, "mercy kill" warmed him inside.

[Isabella]: Squiddy, who are you calling a rookie?

Kraken played it smooth, yet Isabella caught on quick. She grabbed the escape he dangled and backed off, turning her fire elsewhere from the daunting Leonidas. Not that fear gripped her—Isabella saw all Awakened as rungs to climb. Leonidas remained a goal out of reach for now. Her focus lay on outdoing Orion and Kraken. Her pride soared sky-high.

[Kraken]: Not my problem. You're Hulk's girl. Take it up with him.

Kraken, deflection expert, swiftly blocked the attack and bounced it straight to Orion.

[Kraken]: Hulk told me himself. Said you were his... well, you know.

Orion hadn't even begun replying when Isabella fired back in fury.

[Isabella]: Hulk! Get your ass out here. Explain this right now.

[Isabella]: Who is "your girl"? What is that supposed to mean?

Orion's comeback only fueled the blaze further.

[Hulk]: My mistake. You aren't a girl.

[Hulk]: You're an old hag.

[Hulk]: Don't ask me how I know. You just admitted it yourself.

Orion sucked at calming things down, but he excelled at turning tables. If offered a prank of flames, he'd package it neatly, crush it underfoot, and return it with flair.

[Isabella]: That's it. We are done. I challenge you, Hulk. I'm going to kill you.

Her fury seeped through the chat words. It declared open conflict.

From the chat's edges, Tangere observed in dread.

It's obvious Leonidas is joking, Tangere thought, sweating. Can't she tell? And now she wants to fight the Hulk? Can he handle her? Wait... Hulk brought me in. If she kills him, is she coming for me next?

A ghostly shiver crawled along Tangere's back. As the fresh recruit, his role boiled down to hiding and fretting excessively.

Maybe I should go back to my home world for a bit, he mused. Just until the heat dies down. Lay low.

His survival drive—the typical camper trait—surged strongly.

[Edward]: Clear the channel.

The mayhem vanished in a flash. Deputy Commander Edward's command hit like a judge's hammer.

At the same moment, Isabella and Tangere grasped the scary truth: they were silenced. The discussion faded from their views.

Access denied. The grown-ups were conversing, and clearance eluded them.

[Leonidas]: Where's Mak? Usually, he's the first one to jump in when I start talking trash.

In typical scenarios, Makareth would've flooded the chat, probably outpacing Kraken's quips. His no-show stood out sharply.

[Edward]: He is unavailable. He is ascending to Arch Lord.

The revelation struck the three like thunder. Leonidas, Orion, and Kraken shared glances in reality, eyes remaining sealed.

Makareth had roused the Lord's Stone on his own. With ample Faith Energy—built up over a decade holding Demondrake lands—his rise was certain. Despite external meddling, Edward's projected intent had locked down the zone.

To Leonidas and Orion, this spelled great fortune. It added yet another powerhouse to pull into their plots.

[Leonidas]: Commander, when Mak wakes up, give me a shout. With his... unique personality, he'd be perfect for an inside job. Actually, scratch that. If he's an Arch Lord, he deserves a cut of the action.

The shift in vibe was clear. As Edward's pick, Leonidas adopted a polite, bargaining style—unlike his jab at Isabella.

[Alexander]: Focus. The business at hand.

[Alexander]: If you don't explain yourself clearly, and you actually become a Pontiff for the Cult of Four, I will personally send you to the afterlife.

Another kill threat. Yet from Alexander, it comforted Leonidas. Like guarding a gem you itch to share, but savoring your buddies' eagerness too much to reveal it fast.

[Leonidas]: Heh... alright, listen up. This little empire we built, Atlantis? It worked too well. We got their attention.

[Leonidas]: Right now, sitting across from me are four Pontiffs and a High Priestess. The Clown is here. The Witch is here. Valerius is here.

[Leonidas]: Boys, I have a question.

[Leonidas]: Do we want to go big? What if we ambush them right here? What if we wipe out the Cult of Four's entire leadership in the Silverwood Realm in one shot?

The idea weighed heavy and alluring.

Orion sensed a rush of thrill. Eyes sparked, even in the psychic link.

It posed a bet of wild scale. But success? Severing the Cult's core right there?

The remaining Sea Race would fall like ripe fruit.