Titan King: Ascension of the Giant-Chapter 545: Something’s off

After venturing deep into the slime molds sea, Orion was greeted by a heaving mass of densely packed fungal creatures.

This sight took his breath away.

Following the aura he had sensed, Orion burrowed into the slime molds layer, only to be slowed by countless creeping vines. It soon became evident that the Legendary-level fungal creature he was tracking was a Vine Splitter.

Orion's figure flickered rapidly as he unleashed Instant Impact; the vines blocking his trident were sliced apart, scattering everywhere.

Moments later, about 10 miles away, Orion broke through the slime molds layer and dragged the Vine Splitter out alive.

The Vine Splitter looked rather bizarre, much like a gigantic cabbage. Its enormous cabbage-like form was made up of masses of intertwined vines.

With a swift shake of his trident, Orion let loose a surge of transcendent power, delivering a fatal blow to the Vine Splitter and extracting its life essence.

"Something's off!"

He had killed the Vine Splitter and retrieved its life essence, yet Orion couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

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Though it closely resembled the aura he had detected earlier, there were slight, subtle differences.

"Where exactly did it go wrong?"

Orion eyed the Vine Splitter's corpse as it fell, flashing forward to pick it up again. Expanding his senses, he examined the Vine Splitter's remains inch by inch.

Half an hour later, Orion fixated on a particular branch on the Vine Splitter's body, where he sensed that familiar aura. Under normal circumstances, the Vine Splitter's roots would be gray-green, but this spot was a deep crimson, as if infected.

"This aura... could it be…"

Orion's expression became increasingly grim as he studied the root. He recognized it: it was the aura of a broodmother counterpart. Orion had battled one before, so he knew it well.

"Are these fungal creatures trying to cultivate a new slime molds broodmother or broodmother counterpart?"

The mere possibility made his heart pound. A slime molds broodmother or broodmother counterpart meant an arch lord-level threat.

"Could these fungal creatures be planning a comeback?"

That thought alone made Orion realize this place was far from secure. He flew upward, summoned his Triple Mirror Image for protection, then immersed his mind in the Survivor's Platform and opened the public channel of the Champions Alliance.

Hulk: "Deputy Commander Edward, Bro Leonidas, I've detected the presence of what might be a slime molds broodmother or broodmother counterpart here in the slime molds sea."

Leonidas: "A slime molds broodmother—an arch lord?"

Edward: "Don't be alarmed. The slime molds layer houses countless fungal creatures. After losing their broodmother, it's natural for them to select and nurture a new one—like a beehive replacing its queen."

Hearing Orion's account, Leonidas and Edward quickly took notice.

Leonidas: "Deputy Commander, you're telling me a new slime molds broodmother has shown up? But I'm not sensing an arch lord-level aura at all."

Leonidas knew that Orion was currently operating in the southern region under his watch, and there was no sign of an arch lord-class presence there.

Edward: "It's not an actual slime molds broodmother yet—just a parasitic slime molds creature at the peak of Legendary power, evolving in that direction. It's still far from a true broodmother's level, likely only approaching a lower arch lord in strength."

While a lower arch lord–level foe was child's play for Leonidas and Edward, it posed a real danger to Orion and Kraken.

Edward: "Let's do this: Hulk and Kraken, since you're both at the peak of Legendary rank, whoever kills that broodmother in its evolving form first will receive a piece of Legendary equipment from me."

Leonidas: "Hahaha… I like it! That's much more fair—and we won't have to wait years for it to conclude."

Kraken: "I'll do as the Deputy Commander commands!"

Hulk: "Me too!"

No one took issue with Deputy Commander Edward's new rules; after all, he was offering the prize at no cost.

Leonidas: "Better step on it! If that broodmother evolution hits arch lord status, you'll force our Deputy Commander to handle it himself."

Orion and Kraken stayed silent in the face of Leonidas's banter.

Exiting the Survivor's Platform, Orion gazed at the colorful horizon ahead, brimming with confidence.

"A broodmother on the verge of arch lord powers, is it?"

"Compared to me, which of us is stronger?"

Muttering under his breath, Orion took off into the distance.

…

Titanion Realm, City of Lysinthia.

With the dark beast tides receding, the construction of Lysinthia was back in full swing. Unlike other cities, Lysinthia not only needed to rebuild its urban core behind fortified walls, but also required the construction of a large harbor outside the city limits.

According to Orion's plans, the port had to include at least a large wharf, a breakwater, a seawall, a slipway, and a dockyard. The first four structures simply demanded materials and manpower to complete, while the dockyard required meticulous planning, serving as the foundation for a future shipyard.

However, an unexpected incident arose while the wharf was under construction: Mist Bay welcomed a wave of Merfolk arriving on small whales.

"My lord, the bay's entrance has fallen!"

The speaker was Clawpincher, an Alpha-level Tidecrab Shield Warrior. Losing such a key defensive point felt deeply shameful to him, and he hung his head.

Hiss, hiss, hiss!

That was the sound of a snake's tongue. Next to Clawpincher stood a Twilight Viper, now noticeably larger and covered in wounds; a steel harpoon was still lodged in its back.

Saying nothing, Lysinthia leapt onto the Twilight Viper's back and pulled out the harpoon. After sprinkling a special medicinal powder over the serpent's wounds, she dismounted and stared into the depths of Mist Bay.

From far away, there came a series of faint "yi-yi-yi" calls—whale calls.

"Moonlit Reef is Skalnir's homeland. It belongs to the Tidefang Clan."

A hoarse, waterlogged male voice reached Lysinthia's ears. Although that common tongue sounded slightly awkward, Lysinthia easily understood the meaning: Mist Bay already had a name—Moonlit Reef.

"This place belongs to the Merfolk!"

"Serpentfolk, go back to your island!"