Titan King: Ascension of the Giant-Chapter 552: Hulk won

Splash!

They both slammed into the water, sinking into the slime molds layer together.

...

Down south, at Giant Beast Mountain.

"What do we do now?"

Leonidas frowned, his foreclaws raking the ground in evident worry.

"Don't rush."

"If Hulk still isn't using the blade aura the commander gave him, that means he's not yet at a dead end," Deputy Commander Edward replied, sounding utterly composed.

"That move we just witnessed—he might not only stand firm against an lower arch lord, but could even hold his own against a mid-level arch lord."

"Hulk is far stronger than I expected, once again impressing me."

Leonidas felt most of his anxiety dissipate at Edward's calm assessment, and he began running commentary on the battle between Orion and the broodmother evolution.

At that moment, however, a deafening boom echoed across the distant sea. Both Leonidas and Edward heard it clearly, as did Gustalon, Rendall, Grulbane, Dace, and the others.

Even in the far reaches of the deep sea, Kraken—resting inside a Nest to recover his injuries—abruptly opened his eyes, sensing the powerful shockwave.

"This power feels like an arch lord's!"

"Could Hulk be fighting that broodmother evolution now?"

"Should I go take a look?"

Kraken hesitated. His injuries were still severe, much of his body having been lopped off by the broodmother evolution during their last fight.

What Kraken did not realize was that the biomass taken from his severed flesh had enabled the broodmother evolution to develop its second form—directly boosting its power and causing a much bigger headache for Orion.

...

Back out at sea, at the heart of the conflict.

In the aftermath of a tremendous explosion, Orion—having returned to his original size—burst through the water's surface (and the slime molds layer) holding what looked like a person in one hand.

"Spare me! I'm willing to serve you as my master!"

The figure Orion gripped was an exceptionally beautiful woman. Strictly speaking, of course, it was a slime molds broodmother.

She possessed a strange sort of allure: her upper body was bare, while her lower half was covered in slime molds, as if wrapped in a floor-length gown. Her iridescent eyes flickered with mesmerizing colors, and one could easily become lost in their hypnotic glow. Her hair was long, merging seamlessly with the slimy "skirt" around her legs.

Faced with this vision of almost impossible beauty—especially with a lovely, pleading voice—Orion paused for a moment. He even began lifting his hand, ready to seal a contract with this slime molds broodmother.

"Kill her," came Deputy Commander Edward's voice in Orion's ear, solemn and earnest. "Fungal creatures have ways to sabotage a contract sigil; they won't be bound by it."

Orion extended his senses but could not locate Edward. At once, Orion understood that such was the power of a demigod. There was no way Deputy Commander Edward wouldn't be watching this tremendous commotion in the Valkorath Realm.

Splat!

Orion's raised hand, poised for a contract, suddenly moved to grip and crushed the broodmother's head—along with her breasts—without warning.

The slime molds broodmother dropped three items: a Survivor's treasure chest, a lump of life essence, and a bottle of mysterious potion.

Orion gathered them, then turned away and launched himself toward the mainland.

...

"The battle is over; Hulk won," the storm avatar said, gazing toward the southern sea. Admiration gleamed in his eyes.

"Sigh… Squiddy's still a good deal weaker than Orion," Leonidas lamented regretfully, thinking of Kraken. But his disappointment soon gave way to excitement.

Though Orion remained at the peak of Legendary level, he already wielded arch lord–level power.

"The Valkorath Realm shouldn't face any major troubles now. I'll guard this place, so you can carry on however you see fit."

Leaving these words behind, the storm avatar transformed into a raging wind that spiraled into the sky and disappeared into the south.

...

Survivor's Platform, on the Champions Alliance public channel:

Leonidas: "Squiddy, that broodmother evolution is dead."

He gave no elaboration, merely stating the outcome and giving Kraken the facts.

Kraken: "It seems Hulk is even more powerful than I imagined."

Leonidas: "Keep it up—reach arch lord level soon so I can bring you to see the wider world."

Edward: "In this competition, Hulk has emerged victorious. The Legendary tier of gear is his!"

With that brief comment, Deputy Commander Edward said no more. The entire channel went quiet.

...

Somewhere deep beneath the sea, in a certain Nest.

Kraken's giant form trembled faintly, betrayed by a trace of dejection. Losing to Orion despite both being at the peak of Legendary level did not discourage him; he simply regretted missing out on a legendary tier of equipment.

From Kraken's earliest awakening until now, he had yet to see what such legendary gear might look like.

"If Hulk's strength improves further after getting legendary equipment," Kraken reflected, "the gap between us will only widen."

"I need to work harder…I have to catch up!"

"…"