Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 7: My brother, you always surprise me

The Blackstone Tribe was a compact settlement.

Word of Orion’s triumph over James traveled through the village like wildfire. While the giants shared the news with excitement and wonder, their confusion vanished the moment they recalled that Clymene was Orion’s sister.

As the most formidable young female warrior in the tribe, it stood to reason that her brother would possess similar extraordinary talent.

“Come to think of it, Orion has reached ten years of age. He is no longer a small child.”

“Indeed, it was unexpected to see the smaller Orion overpower James in a brawl. He clearly possesses a gift for both physical combat and magic. I am eager to see how he develops.”

Inside the chieftain’s tent, a group of Elders was engaged in deep conversation.

Hyperion occupied the chieftain’s throne, remaining quiet though he felt a deep sense of fatherly pride.

Whether Orion chose the path of a shaman or a warrior mattered little to him; as long as his son aided the prosperity and survival of the Blackstone Tribe, Hyperion was satisfied.

Suddenly, a scarred giant burst into the tent, his voice laced with panic.

“What? Clymene made off with six months' worth of rations? How could this happen?!”

“The summer heat is fading. Once autumn arrives, the Black Forest will be buried in snow, making food nearly impossible to find. Our priority is hoarding meat and warm pelts. Why did you let her take it?”

“Slate, did your feelings for Clymene cloud your judgment again?”

“Wait, you tried to stop her and she thrashed you? You were bested by a woman? Are you truly a bloodline warrior of our Blackstone Tribe?!”

The Elders erupted into a chaotic argument.

“She claimed it was for Orion’s nutrition. She said her brother needs it to grow!”

Slate argued back, stubbornly defending his dignity before the Elders. “And is she just any woman? That is Clymene!”

The Elders traded looks before turning their attention to Hyperion, who had yet to speak.

“Well, it is only food. We can simply hunt more. Besides, a vast portion of our stores was brought in by the chieftain’s own hunting parties anyway.”

“True, let Orion have what he needs. Having witnessed his fight with James, I believe he will become a legendary giant warrior once his bloodline awakening is complete.”

“Slate, honestly, this is a trivial matter. Don't come crying to us for such things. You are dismissed.”

...

Outside the main tent, a spear and a greatsword remained thrust into the earth.

Orion stood before the weapons, lost in contemplation for over an hour.

Since his duel concluded, no further newbie proficiency quests had appeared. Orion was hungry for growth but lacked a clear path forward.

“Is active combat the hidden trigger?” he wondered.

“That doesn't make sense. The push-up tasks didn't require an opponent.”

Orion speculated that the lack of quests might be tied to his current physical limits or his level of endurance.

“Becoming the world's strongest overnight is clearly a fantasy. I must advance one step at a time.”

With a heavy sigh, Orion made his way back to his family’s quarters.

“Mother, the tribe acknowledges me now. I beat James!”

Phoebe, who was busy grinding medicinal plants with a bone pestle, looked up with a warm expression. “That is my boy. May the Titan God grant you the strength to match your sister’s might!”

“However, I heard rumors that you intend to use two weapons. Is this your plan?”

Orion gave a firm nod. “To be honest, there is a different weapon that would be even better for me, but our tribe doesn't possess it.”

Rather than giving him a lecture on tradition, Phoebe simply smiled. “Do as you wish, my son. Your sister insists you are a genuine genius. You need not concern yourself with the opinions of others.”

“I appreciate that, Mom!”

At that moment, the tent flap was pushed aside as Hyperion walked in. Grinning widely, he pulled Orion into a massive hug. “Son! After our meeting, the Elders have granted you the right to pick your own tent in the tribe’s elite sector!”

“Is that true?” Orion asked, his eyes lighting up.

The elite sector was where the most influential members lived.

Clymene was the premier young warrior, Phoebe was a highly respected Shaman, and Hyperion was the chieftain and the backbone of the hunting corps. Their status was peerless.

Naturally, their home was located at the very center of the settlement.

“You can stay right next to us, son. I picked the spot myself,” Phoebe added. “The concentration of magic is much denser there. It will be great for your development.”

“I am grateful, Mother, but staying so close would make me feel like I’m still a babe at your breast,” Orion laughed, shaking his head. “I am a warrior now, ready to chase my own glory. I wish to live independently.”

“Very well.”

Phoebe felt a pang of sadness, but she knew a ten-year-old giant needed to learn self-reliance.

By the following day, with Clymene acting as his guide, Orion selected a more isolated plot of land near the home of an elderly, one-eyed veteran.

“This man is a decorated hero of our tribe. He performed many great deeds in his prime. Try to be a good neighbor,” Clymene said with a smirk.

Orion observed the one-eyed giant closely.

The old man was tall but moved with difficulty. His remaining eye was clouded with a somber, weary look—the look of a man waiting for his final days.

“Greetings, honored warrior. I am Orion. I will be living next door,” Orion said politely.

“Just call me Kolgor.”

The old giant was a man of few words, disappearing back into his tent immediately after responding.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The ground beneath them began to vibrate rhythmically.

Orion watched as his sister emptied a specialized beast-stomach sack filled with animal skins and massive bones, lining them up on the dirt.

Without using a hammer, Clymene simply punched a heavy leg bone into the earth like a nail, leaving only half of it visible.

“Well, brother, what do you think of that?”

Orion shrugged dismissively. “It’s fine. Nothing special. I could do the same.”

“Oh? Then how about this?”

Deciding her fist was too simple, Clymene hoisted her massive breast, aimed it at the protruding bone, and brought it down with a thunderous strike!

Thud!

The bone was driven completely into the soil.

“Impressive, right? Want to give it a go?” Clymene challenged.

“Don't act so proud. Watch this!”

Orion gathered his full strength and struck a bone, but it only sank halfway down.

“Haha, you aren't quite on my level yet. You lack my...”

Before she could finish her boast, Orion made his move.

He swiftly hiked up his beast-hide skirt, exposing his gargantuan cock, and swung it like a heavy mace!

Thud!

The leg bone vanished instantly into the ground.

“Incredible!” Clymene exclaimed. “Brother, you never cease to amaze me.”

With his sister’s assistance, Orion’s new home was finished quickly. It was both sturdy and roomy.

He settled in, finding the interior furnished with the tribe’s highest quality furs and hides.

Relaxing on the soft bedding, Orion replayed the fight with James in his mind.

He had the power, but his speed left much to be desired. He needed to focus on his Agility.

Right on cue, a translucent notification appeared in his vision.

[Newbie quest triggered: Run 5 kilometers carrying a 20-pound load. Reward: Agility +1]

“Finally, it’s time to level up!” Orion accepted the task with enthusiasm.

A crimson light washed over him. He felt a slight increase in pressure, but it was hardly noticeable.

To a giant, twenty pounds was nothing. He took off running and finished the task in no time.

[Newbie quest finished: Agility +1]

Immediately, the system presented a more difficult challenge.

[Newbie quest triggered: Run 10 kilometers carrying a 200-pound load. Time limit: 25 minutes. Reward: Agility +1]

Ten kilometers in twenty-five minutes while weighted... Orion paused to think.

On his original world, world-class runners finished 10k races in about 26 minutes without any extra weight.

This quest demanded a faster time while carrying 200 pounds. Even Olympic legends wouldn't pass this "newbie" test.

However, for a giant with a supernatural physique, it was doable.

Orion crossed the finish line in exactly twenty-one minutes.

“Huff... huff...”

Wiping away sweat, Orion barely had time to breathe before the next prompt appeared.

[Newbie quest triggered: Run 10 kilometers carrying a 2000-pound load. Time limit: 30 minutes. Reward: Agility +1]

The difficulty had spiked massively. Orion only weighed 500 pounds himself, yet he was being asked to carry four times his own body weight. It was a staggering demand.

The red light flashed, and 2000 pounds of invisible force slammed onto his shoulders. He took a step, and his foot sank deep into the earth.

“No, this is beyond me right now!” After struggling for a mere hundred meters, Orion was forced to stop.

“This objective is currently impossible.”

He was drained. At his current stamina level, such a run would take nearly an hour, failing the quest's requirements.

The crimson glow shimmered again, and the crushing weight vanished instantly.

Then, the quest objective refreshed.

[Newbie quest triggered: Consume 20 pounds of fresh meat. Reward: Strength +1]

[Note: Meat must be sourced from a Standard-level beast or higher]