Titan King: Ascension of the Giant-Chapter 457: Dying on the battlefield is their honor
After clashing with the living-flesh undead for a while, the Abyss Dragon became increasingly furious as it realized the creature couldn't be bitten to death.
With a thunderous roar, the Abyss Dragon began releasing a wave of abyssal energy, growing denser by the second until it enveloped an area over 2,000 feet in radius.
This was the Abyss Dragon's rarely used bloodline skill, known as Mist Domain.
Mist Domain was excellent for team battles and surprise attacks, making it incredibly effective on a large battlefield.
As the Mist Domain unfolded, the Abyss Dragon's figure gradually vanished into the mist.
Soon after, the domain echoed with the dragon's ferocious, bloodthirsty roars.
"Lord Orion, your mount has remarkable potential."
"It's not far from Legendary level now!"
While the Abyss Dragon's Mist Domain could conceal it from the slime mold mutants, it couldn't hide from Legendary-level beings like Orion and Vexis.
Within Vexis' perception, the Abyss Dragon had already killed three Alpha-level slime mold mutants in the mist, directly devouring the life essence they dropped.
"I've invested quite a bit of effort into raising it," Orion replied truthfully.
Since Orion had advanced to the Legendary level, the Abyss Dragon had spent most of its time embedded within his heart, continually nourished by the Titan's Heart energy. This significantly boosted the dragon's strength and potential.
"After this battle, your mount will probably need a lot more life essence!" Vexis remarked, her voice filled with envy.
Having a mount with unlimited potential was a luxury even for powerful beings like them.
A growing mount was far superior to ordinary summoned creatures and would become an invaluable asset in the future.
Much like Arthas's bone dragon, capable of holding its ground even against weaker Arch Lords.
Orion nodded, a smile forming on his face. Rather than continuing the discussion, he shifted his attention to other parts of the battlefield.
As a wind-elemental being, Gustalon was practically invisible amidst the chaos of battle.
In just a brief period, he had swept injured slime mold mutants into the sky, cutting off their supplies and effortlessly killing them.
Witnessing this, Orion smiled to himself.
"Perhaps, with just a bit more effort, Stoneheart Horde will soon gain two or three more Legendary-level powerhouses."
The Abyss Dragon and Gustalon would undoubtedly reach the Alpha-level peak after this battle.
As for Soraya, Orion planned to prioritize resources acquired in battle for her until she reached Alpha-level peak as well.
While planning for the future, Orion continued observing the battlefield.
"Charge!"
Amidst the crowd, Onyx, riding atop his Dark Armored Beetle, was enveloped by blood-red chains. Like a war chariot, he tossed slime mold mutants into the air wherever he went.
Near Onyx, Earthshaker controlled Blood Sharing, linking Gronthar, Dirtclaw, Drakthul, and other elders, ensuring they wouldn't be instantly killed.
The chaotic fight between various armies and slime mold mutants lacked tactics or formations entirely.
Having lost their numerical advantage and supplies, the slime mold mutants gradually fell into defeat under Stoneheart Horde's relentless assault.
Yet at that very moment, death energy surged around the lich Vexis beside Orion, who began summoning undead.
The fallen sand scorpions, gnolls, minotaurs, and giants from Stoneheart Horde rose from the ground, rejoining the fight and charging once again at the slime mold mutants.
Orion's expression grew grim as he watched—these were his subordinates, his people.
"Lord Orion, I apologize for doing this, but it's the best way," Vexis glanced at Orion and explained.
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"If I don't summon them, their corpses will be overtaken by slime molds and used as tools against us."
"When we first fought against the slime molds, our lack of vigilance allowed them to create powerful beings like the living-flesh undead, undead tyrants, and slime mold dragons."
"Lord Orion, the fate of every being that enters Valkorath Realm is filled with opportunity and brutal reality—here, death is never the end."
As she spoke, transcendent power once again surged from Vexis.
A magical formation filled with deathly energy appeared on the ground, spinning slowly as spirits emerged from beneath the earth.
These were the recently deceased warriors from Stoneheart Horde. Vexis quickly made hand gestures, directing the spirits to enter the surviving bloodline warriors of Stoneheart Horde.
The spirits took refuge within warriors' armor, attached themselves to their weapons, or formed ghostly cloaks around their bodies.
In short, everything was utilized fully; the spirits strengthened the surviving bloodline warriors in a different way.
"Lord Orion, my master summoned me for exactly this purpose," lich Vexis sighed faintly upon completing the summoning.
This was not something Vexis enjoyed doing.
The dead bloodline warriors' bodies were turned into undead soldiers, and their souls were summoned forth to aid their living kin—continuing until either the enemies were annihilated or their allies completely wiped out.
Orion remained silent. Suddenly, he realized he had underestimated the true cruelty of Valkorath Realm's war.
The deaths on this battlefield were genuine—complete annihilation, body, and soul.
Only then did Orion finally understand why Arthas had assigned lich Vexis to him—not just for protection, but also to prevent fallen Stoneheart Horde warriors from becoming nourishment for fungal creatures.
"This must be the true reason Leonidas sought help from Skeleton General Rumbold in the Champions Alliance's public channel," Orion thought to himself.
"It wasn't because Leonidas lacked powerful subordinates, but because he didn't want to nourish enemies."
Orion exhaled slowly. He wasn't a merciful man by any measure.
"Dying on the battlefield is their honor!"
Seeing Orion come to terms with the situation, Vexis felt relieved at last.
Summoning Orion's fallen warriors as undead right before his eyes had been uncomfortable for her, but the brutal reality of war demanded adaptability.
Orion fell silent again, this time focusing even more intently on the battle.
Under continuous attacks from the slime mold mutants, Stoneheart Horde suffered heavy losses. Cannon fodder troops such as the satyrs and beastfolk had the most casualties, followed by the younger scorpions of the scorpion tribe.
Fortunately, the slime mold layer Arthas had allowed to enter wasn't extensive. Without further reinforcements, the battle ended within two hours.
Orion led the group back to Cryptopolis, returning with plenty of life essence and undead warriors converted from his fallen horde members.
Sometimes, the very essence of war was sacrifice and plunder.