Titan King: Ascension of the Giant-Chapter 759: Life is not eternal, and neither is hatred

Civilization is not born solely among land-dwelling races.

The ocean, too, simultaneously nurtures derivative civilizations of this world.

From the moment Orion stepped into Azurecrown Royal Harbor, the Sea Offering had already begun.

The Sea Offering is a special funeral rite of the Sea Folk. Under normal circumstances, only when Legendary-level Sea Folk return to the sea do they qualify for one.

"Your Excellency Neptor, is this your true appearance?"

"You are younger than I imagined!"

Orion sat high in the guest seating, while a troupe of mermaids danced gracefully in the hall. These mermaids had very full breasts, which jiggled continuously with their dance movements.

The Sea Offering differed from human funerals. They called death "returning to the sea"—an honorable event, a way of giving back to the ocean.

"It’s not that I am young, but that the Giant King is as mighty as a raging fire."

Orion said nothing upon hearing this. Seadragon King Neptor was subtly implying he was young and impetuous, prone to fiery, impulsive actions.

Seadragon King Neptor sat high on his throne, a smile on his face as he continued to admire the mermaids’ dance.

Evidently, Neptor did not wish to say more at this moment.

In the seats on the other side sat the uncommunicative Blood Elf Grand Elder, Lireesa.

Since Orion had entered this underwater city, Lireesa had not uttered a single word, nor had she greeted Orion.

The atmosphere was slightly eerie. Orion drank, observing the surrounding Sea Folk warriors.

Some Sea Folk members of strength and status had also been invited to the seating. They acted as if Orion and Lireesa weren’t there, as if the two didn’t exist, drinking and eating as they pleased.

It wasn’t until the deep, sonorous roars and calls of Tidewyrms sounded from outside the underwater city that Seadragon King Neptor raised his cup and spoke again.

"Everyone, let us together send off the deceased of our race. May our race bear more talented offspring in the coming year."

With that said, everyone raised their cups, sharing in the moment of tribute.

Orion glanced at Lireesa. Seeing her also rise and raise her cup, he too stood up.

Just as everyone was cheering and raising their cups, the roars from outside the underwater city grew even louder and more piercing.

Mixed within this piercing sound was a dense, mysterious aura, and the ballads also sounded ancient.

With a slight extension of his senses, Orion knew that at this moment, outside Azurecrown Royal Harbor, several thousand Tidewyrms were calling out in unison, bidding farewell to their companions.

"Everyone, let us escort the deceased on their journey!"

Seadragon King Neptor descended from his throne. The nobles and powerhouses of the Seadragon race all rose and followed behind the Seadragon King, walking towards the palace exit.

Orion, without a word, also followed them out.

Outside the palace, upon the plaza, five open sarcophagi—three large and two small—had appeared at some point.

Lying within were the Seventh and Twelfth Princes of the Seadragon race, and three companion Tidewyrms.

Orion was very familiar with them, as he had watched a contingent of Sea Folk warriors retrieve some of these corpses from Stoneheart Horde territory.

Orion had not allowed Delilah to obstruct them at the time because those Sea Folk had come bearing gifts from Seadragon King Neptor to collect the bodies.

The solemn sound of a conch shell horn resounded. Troupes of mermaid dancers entered, each holding exquisite coral, shells, pearls, and other ornaments to adorn the bodies of the deceased.

After the Merfolk finished adorning the corpses, all the Sea Folk in the underwater city began to chant a mysterious ballad.

As the song carried, a hazy, protective light shield slowly condensed above the sarcophagi—it was the respect of all Sea Folk for the deceased, and also their final farewell.

Once the protective light shield had fully formed, the Sea Folk warriors standing in the plaza drew their weapons and began a strange war dance.

The rhythm of the war dance gradually quickened, and forceful grunts occasionally erupted from among the Sea Folk warriors.

Orion saw clearly that leading the dance in the plaza was none other than Thaloryn, the commander of the Seadragon Cavalry Regiment, whom he had defeated but spared that day.

In the largest of the sarcophagi lay his companion Tidewyrm.

Just as the war dance reached its fervent peak, the song, which had momentarily dipped in rhythm, surged to a high pitch, accompanied by the Tidewyrms’ roars, loud and piercing.

In that instant, the emotions of everyone in the underwater city soared.

Clicking and scraping sounds were heard as the sarcophagi in the plaza, pulled and carried by numerous Sea Folk warriors, slowly began to move.

The momentum of the song did not diminish, and the rhythm of the war dance grew ever more intense.

The sounds of farewell and the dance of souls had both appeared; it was time for the journey to begin.

At this moment, the emotions of the surrounding Sea Folk were like the waves of the ocean—rising, chasing, and receding into the distance.

Along the straight central avenue of the city, the sarcophagi also moved further and further away, bit by bit.

Among the Sea Folk standing at the palace, including Seadragon King Neptor, not a single one spoke; everyone was silent.

In the distance, the light blue barrier was opened, and the sarcophagi were pushed out of the underwater city.

Numerous Sea Folk warriors released their hold one after another, and the sarcophagi, following a bottomless sea trench, slowly descended into the deepest part of the ocean.

"The protective light shield’s energy is limited. After sinking a bit deeper, it will shatter."

"At that time, they will truly have returned to the sea!"

This was Seadragon King Neptor’s murmur, but in Orion’s view, it sounded more like an explanation; he was clarifying things for Orion and Lireesa.

Neptor was showcasing the spirit and culture of his Sea Folk to the land-dwellers, possibly with an intent to subtly convey a message to the two of them.

At this point, the Sea Offering was formally concluded.

Seadragon King Neptor turned his head, looked at Orion, his voice somewhat louder and considerably more majestic than before.

"Orion, for the Sea Folk, death is not an end, but a rebirth."

"The souls of those who have died will travel through water, will swim back, and will return to the embrace of the Sea Folk."

Orion looked up, meeting Seadragon King Neptor’s gaze. He didn’t quite understand what Neptor meant by these words.

"Life is not eternal, and neither is hatred."

"The enmity between your Stoneheart Horde, the Blood Elf race, and our Seadragon race is also not eternal."

After Seadragon King Neptor finished speaking, he led the way back into the palace.

Orion and Lireesa exchanged a glance, said nothing, nodded to each other, and followed him in.

Upon re-entering the palace, the songs and dances had ceased, and the other members of the Seadragon race had also withdrawn from the main hall.

Those remaining in the hall were all individuals of high status and power from the three factions.

Once the guests were reseated, Seadragon King Neptor spoke his first words with startling honesty.

"I know that the war that broke out between our Sea Folk and your two races this time was all due to the Dragons framing us from behind."

"I also know that not only you, but even the Dwarves and Humans are interested in the sea."

Honestly, Orion and Lireesa were currently dumbstruck.

Seadragon King Neptor’s words were so direct that both of them were unsure how to respond.

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