Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 1464 Wildcard and War Paint

With both in accord, Tangere gave a nod and pressed on with the instructions.

"My Plague Zombies will trail the primary Undead Legion, serving as a barrier to clean up any foe vanguards that pierce the defenses."

"Branric, integrate your Scarecrow division with the zombies. We'll offer each other protection to cut down on losses."

"Caesar, assign your Sword and Shield warriors to recovery and scouting tasks. They must claim valuable corpses and treasures while monitoring the battlefield's shifts."

Tangere was well-versed in directing combined forces. He had honed his skills battling beside the Stoneheart Horde's standard troops, working with Undead groups, Cave Spider hordes, and Sand Scorpion units. He understood the flow of such battles intimately.

"Gentlemen, understand this clearly. We're heading into a brutal slaughterhouse."

Tangere leaned in, his face serious. "I demand my commands be followed without delay. If I order a retreat, you retreat. No second thoughts. Just act."

"I don't plan to perish here, and I figure you feel the same."

Caesar and Branric nodded their agreement. Their purpose was to support and acquire battle expertise, not to waste their lives in foolish heroics.

"Hey! Is anybody there?"

Right as Tangere prepared to send them off, a young voice sliced through the tense air inside the tent.

Tangere, Caesar, and Branric shared quick, alert looks.

The setup was a compact strategy tent, yet positioned right in the heart of the command area. Ordinary troops couldn't simply stroll inside. Even more troubling, no sound came from the guards—no warning call, no alert.

"Let's check who that is," Tangere stated, stepping ahead. He pivoted and pushed back the tent flap.

A young woman stood there.

Her face bore tribal markings—two vibrant lines over her cheeks—and feathers threaded into her locks. Strapped to her back was a hide backpack large enough for an adult male. She was small in stature, her traits hidden under travel dirt and the paint.

"Hello. I'm Aurora. As an Awakened, Lord Kraken dispatched me to help you out."

"We'll be allies in this war effort. If there's any task you want handled, tell me."

Though clearly a woman, her tone carried a coarse, youthful edge. Indeed, her initial vibe to the three leaders was that of a feral kid—a rough-and-tumble girl raised in the wilds.

"I'm Tangere. Step in," Tangere replied, his gaze sharpening a bit.

He had spotted a key point: Aurora positioned herself precisely one inch beyond their magical barriers. She remained in the open area, explaining why the guard enchantments stayed silent. Still, she had thrown her words straight into the tent.

She was clever.

Aurora had recently risen to Legend rank, a Survivor who fought her way to becoming a Lord.

"Thanks!"

What happened next felt bizarre.

They had scarcely stepped inside when Aurora let her huge pack crash down with a loud thump. She dug inside and extracted three glowing, fist-sized ores, pressing them into Tangere, Caesar, and Branric's palms before anyone could settle.

"These are a specialty from my lands. Known as Starflare Stones. Ideal for giving to pets or mounts—strong odds of sparking an elemental evolution."

"First encounter with you all, and I didn't prepare much else. Just a small gesture. Hope it's okay!"

The worth was undeniable. Such items were scarce materials.

For leaders like Caesar and Tangere, who led living troops, beasts and riders were vital.

"This... I shouldn't..." Caesar faltered. The earnest fighter was too straightforward.

He desired the ore—he envisioned claiming a dragon creature, and this would prove priceless. Yet he had arrived for conflict, not chit-chat, and lacked anything fitting to offer back. Accepting such a lavish welcome present without reply shamed him.

"We welcome your kindness," Tangere cut in effortlessly, sparing Caesar the awkwardness. "And here are these for you."

Tangere drew out three elegant wooden cases and passed them to her.

"Plague Totem Poles. Set them up in your domain, and they form a safe area that shields against most organic diseases."

"Wow! Thanks so much!" Aurora wasted no time. She grabbed the cases with a broad smile.

Her excitement was real. Tangere's offering fixed a major flaw in her realm. Her area teemed with woods and animals, and her animal training was forever hampered by odd, enchanted ailments.

In her mind, Aurora celebrated wildly.

The Boss is brilliant! The Kraken strategy succeeds again!

Stick with the Boss, score the prizes! Absolutely!

Deep down, Aurora pumped her fist. This "start with a gift" approach came straight from Kraken. Their core belief was straightforward: bold giving was the quickest path to join a circle and forge bonds.

Offer a bit, gain much more.

As Aurora grinned, her eyes forming joyful arcs, Caesar and Branric cast thankful glances toward Tangere.

Tangere smiled silently. He had once operated solo, but he grasped the art of guiding others. No Lord could succeed without mastering the purchase of allegiance or easing group tensions.

In reality, Tangere anticipated her arrival. Orion had informed him, without details on her identity. Orion merely noted a "trial member" was entering their unit, and Tangere should assess her skills.

"To begin, Aurora, you're officially on the team."

"Now, give me your status update. What's your focus, and what troops have you deployed?"

The mood switched swiftly from casual to military. Aurora even stood taller, her cheeky smile fading.

"Sir Tangere, I'm a Beastmaster. I've deployed ten thousand Quadrifur Brawnbulls, fitted with basic armor."

"The Quadrifur Brawnbull excels in stamina and velocity. They handle powerful rushes, but their key role is transport. They haul tenfold their mass while sprinting at top speed."

After her briefing, she fixed her gaze on Tangere with big, hopeful eyes, resembling a pupil awaiting feedback.

Tangere pondered deeply, his eyes tightening.

A force blending assault riders with robust supply lines.

Hurling living creatures like the Quadrifur Brawnbull into head-on assaults against this conflict's terrors would spell doom. Tangere refused to allow a fresh partner to deplete her army right away.

He faced Caesar.

"These Brawnbulls will boost your foot soldiers ideally," Tangere noted, his tone laced with guiding emphasis. "I recommend placing your Sword and Shield fighters atop her bulls."

"It turns your group into armored mounted infantry. You gain elevated scouting views, hugely expand your loot hauling, and enhance your movement."

"Plus, should a rush prove essential, a mounted shield line hits harder than a wild herd of riderless animals."

This directive doubled as a subtle nudge.

Caesar now had the shot to form a real mounted force. If the youth was wise, he'd seize this to connect with Aurora's ranks and absorb all knowledge on the Quadrifur Brawnbulls.