"The resources and faith energy generated by my current territory should be enough to support my ascension to a demigod," Kraken estimated, satisfied with his recent conquests.
"If it's 'just enough,' then it's not enough," Orion countered, shaking his head.
"Once you actually begin your breakthrough to the demigod realm, you won't have ti to manage your territory, let alone fend off invaders. At that point, every inch of land you lose will jeopardize your ascension."
Orion spoke from experience. Comprehending a demigod's domain required a massive, uninterrupted flow of faith. The process of enlightennt was essentially the extre consumption, refinent, and distillation of faith energy.
"You still have ti. Keep expanding until the Mycelial swarm arrives."
Orion stepped forward. His demigod phantom dissolved into a streak of light, sinking into one of the eyes on Kraken's tentacles. It was a parting gift from a comrade and friend—a trump card. Orion knew Kraken likely carried other demigod phantoms, but they were consumable, single-use defenses. Until Kraken truly beca a demigod, every phantom was an extra life.
"Be careful. Knowing the Swarm, if there's one broodmother, there are definitely more," Orion warned. "Before the realms rged, they were moving to encircle the Stoneheart Horde. Watch your back."
Orion's voice faded, leaving Kraken alone in the silent, desolate depths of the sea.
Stoneheart City, Royal Gardens.
Elental sprites darted through the flowerbeds, sprinkling the leaves of potion-grade herbs with liquid silver. Swarms of vibrant butterflies fluttered past, stirring up waves of floral fragrance.
Lilith and Butterfly Mother Sophia sat across from each other at a small table nestled among the blooms, an array of pastries and candied fruits laid out between them.
"I assu the world's reboot improved your latent potential?" Lilith asked. Both won looked radiant. Lilith was already an Arch Lord, and while Sophia had damaged her foundation using forbidden magic to conceive Kaelen, she showed no signs of lingering injury.
"Thanks to the Horde, everything I lost has been restored," Sophia replied honestly. "I actually have a chance at reaching Arch Lord now." Following the world's reboot, most of the Horde had experienced a leap in power. As one of the oldest Legendary level figures in the Stoneheart Horde, she had naturally reaped the benefits.
"That is excellent news," Lilith smiled. "The Horde needs capable hands. Once you ascend to Arch Lord, you can shoulder more responsibilities for Orion and the Stoneheart Horde."
Sophia nodded gracefully. Even if she broke through, it wouldn't shift the balance of power; the Stoneheart Horde was hardly lacking in Arch Lords.
"Ever since news leaked that the Horde will crown a second Giant King, the city and the entire faction have been in an uproar," Lilith said, casually pouring Sophia a cup of clear wine. She offered a polite smile as she broached the sensitive topic. "Are you curious about which prince will take the throne?"
Sophia shook her head and downed the wine in a single sip. "Who becos the Giant King is not my concern. That headache belongs to Orion. You and I handle state affairs in the side hall every single day. There's no need to test , Sister."
Sophia offered a wry smile. Since joining the Stoneheart Horde, she had deliberately kept a low profile to ensure the Dark Butterfly Race seamlessly integrated into the faction. It seed her efforts had paid off.
Lilith chuckled softly. "Our thoughts align. I only bring this up because a matter has landed on my desk, and I am forced to deal with it."
Her smile deepened, confirming this wasn't just a casual garden tea party.
"Over the past three months, both Pallas and Kaelen have faced assassination attempts. The assassins hailed from the Dark Butterfly Race and the Succubus Race, respectively. Fortunately, both boys understand the bigger picture and kept the incidents quiet."
Sophia's hand trembled, the empty cup rattling against the table. She forced herself to breathe, steadying her nerves before looking Lilith dead in the eye.
"Sister, I swear to you, Kaelen and I had absolutely nothing to do with this," Sophia said, her voice tight with absolute sincerity. "I will swear an oath, or Orion can search my soul himself to verify it."
"I never said you or Kaelen ordered the hits," Lilith replied, shaking her head as if dismissing the very idea of bla. "Besides, the assassin who went after Kaelen was from my Succubus Race. I have no right to point fingers."
Sophia exhaled a breath she didn't realize she was holding, though confusion still swam in her eyes. There had to be a catch.
"According to our intelligence, these rogue elents acted on their own," Lilith continued, her tone dropping in temperature. The icy edge wasn't directed at Sophia, but at the insubordinate fools in their ranks. "They actually believed that by sacrificing themselves, they would secure a glorious future for their respective races. Isn't that hilarious?"
"We manage the faction's daily operations. We both know exactly how this power structure works," Sophia replied. "Orion is the absolute pillar of the Stoneheart Horde. As long as he breathes, it doesn't matter who wears the crown of the Giant King. No one else will ever truly control the Horde."
She nodded at the absurdity of it, then shook her head in pity for the deluded zealots.
"A second Giant King is only being crowned because the Horde structurally requires one," Lilith said, the ice lting from her face as she refilled Sophia's cup. "It doesn't matter who it is; what matters is whether the successor can bear the crushing weight of the crown."
Dropping the pleasantries, Lilith laid her cards on the table. "My expectation is this: you or Kaelen will purge the Dark Butterfly Race. Root out anyone harboring these treasonous ambitions and arrest them. I will relocate them to a place where they can properly 'serve' the Horde. Naturally, I will conduct a brutal purge of the Succubus Race to give Kaelen justice."
"Neither Pallas nor Kaelen can afford the infamy of kin-slaying, and the Stoneheart Horde cannot afford the humiliation of a succession war."
In that mont, Lilith radiated the terrifying authority of Orion's first wife. Her words weren't a suggestion; they were an absolute mandate.
"No one tarnishes Orion's na. The glory of the Giant King will not be stained by scandal. The Stoneheart Horde will be an eternal empire of absolute unity—where fathers are benevolent, sons are dutiful, and every citizen is a force to be reckoned with!"
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