Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 1468 Goddess of Winter

Lumi and Gustalon.

Considering their distinctive essence as beings born from elements, might they provoke a response from the Divine Kingdom?

The idea struck him right away. Without a second thought, Orion left the domain immediately.

He journeyed northward toward the Endless Tundra.

A realm of deep quiet enveloped the Great Snowy Mountain. Vast stretches of snow blanketed everything, with summits pressing close like icy sentinels of the North—timeless, grand, and unforgiving.

As soon as Orion appeared midway on the main summit, the massive doors of the Ice Phoenix Palace creaked apart.

Snowflakes started descending over the landscape. They didn't merely float; they twirled. Each one spun with evident delight, a wordless celebration carried on the breeze.

This mirrored the feelings in Lumi's soul.

"You've arrived."

Her tone stayed chill, yet the feeling it conveyed burned bright. Lumi kept her distant demeanor like the ice she ruled, but she approached Orion directly, extended her hand, and softly followed the curve of his chin.

After that, she surrendered to his arms.

"I longed for you. I needed to be near you."

Orion chuckled, hoisting her with ease. He whirled her through the falling snow, creating a storm of heat amid the icy chill. The gale roared, the flakes came to rest, and two spirits discovered their haven in each other.

Time ceased to matter.

Orion stirred in the enormous bed inside the Ice Phoenix Palace, with Lumi nestled beside him.

"Return to Stoneheart alongside me. Remain there for some time."

Lumi paused, her eyelashes brushing his torso, yet she agreed with a nod.

In reality, Lumi loathed the warmth down South. Crowded urban areas and the clamor of society held no appeal for her. She yearned for quiet. She cherished the presence of ice sheets and the whisper of breezes. For her, a fierce snowstorm represented the world's finest vista.

Orion understood all this. He never compelled her. Only in dire situations—when conflict required it—did he draw her from her solitude.

"Aren't you curious about my reason for visiting?"

Orion's fingers roamed, cradling her bosom. The feel was singular—frigid on the surface, but pulsing with an inner, vital heat.

"This place is your sanctuary," she breathed.

The intent shone through: You mean home to me. Visit or depart whenever you wish. I'll remain waiting for you always.

Such a straightforward, heart-wrenching vow of devotion.

Stirred by a rush of tenderness, Orion shifted atop her, pinning her to the bedding.

"Lumi, your chill is intense. Allow me to heat you."

"..."

Lumi averted her face, bashfully dodging his eyes, even as she offered no resistance.

Her garments didn't rip or slip off; they evaporated like thawing frost, exposing her fully to him. Beyond the walls, the storm intensified, mirroring the growing fervor inside the hall.

...

"Dirtclaw got a Divine Calling. He's turned into the God of the Grave."

Orion stroked Lumi's locks, his tone growing grave. "His destiny is forever linked to me and the Divine Kingdom. As my strength grows, so does the limit of his potential."

"I'd like you to attempt access to the Divine Kingdom. Should it succeed, you might rise straight to Archlord by drawing on the domain's might. You'd gain the ability to wield my Divine Power unfiltered."

He stopped, gazing into her eyes. "However, there's a price. It'll tie you to me utterly. Our destinies will merge as one. I'll honor any decision you reach."

Orion realized that for spirits of elements, gradual time often built their might. If Lumi endured, her strength would come in due course. This rapid path wasn't essential for her.

"I'll accompany you."

No delay marked her response. She mentioned neither strength nor status. Her reply stemmed from utter faith. Your path is mine.

Orion grew quiet. Acceptance had come from her, yet doubt now gripped him.

Lumi served as his beloved, not a follower. Deep down, she retained the freedom to depart, to forge her own way. Tethering her seemed... absolute.

"Doing this means we'll share eternity, right?"

Lumi spoke gently, her voice like cool liquid, threaded with subtle longing.

Orion's doubt evaporated. He drew her nearer.

"Indeed. Eternity as one."

***

The Divine Kingdom. The Abyssal World.

Orion positioned himself on a lofty crest, clasping Lumi's hand; she donned white once more. Beneath, untamed, formless fields extended endlessly.

"Such expanse," she whispered. "And... pulsing with life."

"Is this your Divine Kingdom?"

"Its laws stand whole. Life energy fills it completely."

The contrast in views proved sharp. Dirtclaw perceived only soil. Lumi, aligned with raw forces, beheld the detailed fabric of existence.

"Snow exists within this place."

Lumi reached out. An ideal, gem-like snow crystal appeared over her hand, floating and turning leisurely.

"No rejection from them." She faced Orion, her gaze filled with wonder.

"My domain this is," Orion smiled broadly, revealing his teeth. "What cause for it to turn you away?"

"Resist not. Guard not. Simply... sense it."

Orion retreated, allowing Lumi to test his idea.

Lumi inclined her head and shut her eyes.

Moments appeared frozen. While Orion observed the domain's shifts, a soft crystal touched his face.

Followed by one more.

Lumi it was.

Eyes sealed, she had faded away. No longer on the crest, she merged into the gale and flakes.

Gusts circled Orion—mischievous, inquisitive, tender... and flirtatious. Her sentiments reached him via the frost's contact. It grazed his skin akin to an intimate stroke, then, as a parting, it flowed away.

The flakes expanded. They swept to the distant edge, blanketing all.

On that occasion, the Abyssal World welcomed its initial winter.

Not a fierce gale, merely a delicate, unspoiled veil of white over the terrain. Yet this emergence signaled a huge advance in the realm's growth.

Orion figured intricate systems such as seasonal cycles would require ages to emerge on their own. Before, the Divine Kingdom recognized solely light and dark.

Whoosh!

While Orion admired the transformation, a sharp northern gust started to wail.

Abruptly, every drifting flake reversed course. It rushed to the realm's farthest north.

At the same time, Orion detected a change in the world's Authority. One particular rule detached from the disorder, gathering in the northern zone.

Excitement sparked in Orion's gaze. He vanished and reappeared at the frozen extremity.

The soil quaked. The ground rumbled while being forced higher. Here, flakes poured denser, engulfing the earth swiftly, stacking into tall mounds.

Mountains emerged from the flatlands before his eyes. Glaciers took shape as he observed.

In mere instants, an icy chain of peaks, stretching across thousands of miles, ruled the North.

On the top of the tallest summit, frozen shards intertwined, reshaping into a grand edifice: a fresh Ice Phoenix Palace.

Beyond the entrance, the tempest twisted into a whirlwind. From the flurry, Lumi's figure reformed.

In the gale, she remained hushed, embodying Winter's Deity, graceful and dignified.

Her garb transformed. A flowing robe, crafted from fresh powder, adorned her—immaculate and perfect. The skirt's edge sparkled with tiny frost gems that tinkled lightly with her steps. Flakes circled her form, every piece emitting a cool, soothing force.

She stunned with beauty.

Yet the boldest alteration sat upon her forehead.

A diadem, clear and hewn from toughest permafrost, began to form, hardening bit by bit.

This embodied Authority in tangible form. It signified the Divine Kingdom's embrace and elevation of her to rule beside him.

Orion beheld the sight with wonder. He hadn't reached the Fourth Stage of Demigod rise fully; the power to bestow such abilities manually eluded him. Typically, that stage allowed removing a lesser Authority to confer a Divine Calling.

Instead, the Divine Kingdom decided on its own.

With the frozen diadem complete, Lumi's presence burst forth. Her might soared upward, breaking limits, surging beyond base levels until it held steady at High Archlord.