Titan King: Ascension of the Giant-Chapter 831: An underwater city

"They are the Abyssal Crawlers," Vorluk explained, gesturing with a trembling hand toward the swarms of armored creatures that flanked them. "They feed on the carcasses that sink to the seabed. If any living intruder enters their domain, they will swarm and kill, devouring everything until not even bones remain." He gave a weak, sycophantic smile. "You, of course, are the exception."

They were using a deep-sea trench as a shortcut to the Silvercurrent Sea, riding a powerful undercurrent to shorten the journey.

"Even we would not dare this path, if not for your protection," Vorluk continued, his eyes fixed on the immense silhouette of the undead whale moving silently before them. He could still scarcely believe what he was seeing.

That a creature of such primal power, a whale born of the crushing abyss, could serve as the giant’s mount was a truth his mind refused to accept, even with the proof before his very eyes. "The aura of that beast... it keeps the lord of the Crawlers hidden in its burrow, too terrified to even show its face."

"Past this trench and through two subterranean seas, we will reach the Silvercurrent Sea."

Orion didn’t respond. His gaze was fixed on the distant, bioluminescent creatures that glittered in the oppressive darkness, but his mind was elsewhere, already immersed in the Survivor’s Platform.

Hulk: Kraken. I need to build a city. Underwater. How?

He was familiar enough with the members of his team now to be direct.

Kraken: An underwater city?

The question seemed to momentarily stun Kraken. Building underwater cities was, after all, his people’s specialty. Then, the image of the undead leviathan Arthas had claimed as his own flashed through his mind, and he accepted it with a mental shrug.

Kraken: It’s simple, really. You choose a suitable location, design a sound structure, find quality materials, and then you build it.

He paused before adding.

Kraken: Of course, a complete city also needs integrated systems for power, water, and air, all governed by large-scale magical arrays. And a standing military garrison for its defense.

Orion stared blankly at the text. Kraken had said many words, yet had said nothing at all. He had no idea where to even begin.

Leonidas: Ho, look at our little brother, finally expanding his domain! Dipping his toes into the sea, are we? About time. I was getting sick of looking at your endless tide of cave spiders and scorpions.

The timely taunt from Leonidas pulled Orion from his spiraling confusion.

Arthas: Don’t dismiss them. On the battlefield, those spiders and scorpions are exactly what is needed.

It was a familiar pattern. If Leonidas prodded, Arthas, or sometimes Alexander, would push back. He was clearly defending his protégé.

Leonidas: Arthas, shouldn’t you be patrolling the Dusk Continent instead of chiming in here?

Arthas: Are you offering to take my place? Be my guest.

That shut Leonidas up. The enemies Arthas now faced were all demigods. If Leonidas were to take that post, a few encounters would be enough to completely bankrupt his reserves.

Leonidas: Hmph. I can’t be bothered with you.

Hulk: Brothers, enough messing around. Your pupil requires guidance.

Orion deftly steered the conversation back on course.

Leonidas: It’s just an underwater city. Simple.

As he typed, a complex schematic for a sprawling aquatic metropolis appeared in the group’s shared channel.

Leonidas: For anyone who wants it. Don’t say I never give you anything.

Orion copied the blueprint instantly. With this, he had a grand design, a direction.

Kraken: The boss is generous! This is a prime schematic. Even in worlds that are primarily aquatic, a city built from this design would be considered top-tier. Power grids, defense systems, filtration, countermeasures... every component is of the highest caliber. Once built, it would be a nigh-impregnable fortress.

Kraken was intimately familiar with the design; Leonidas had given it to him long ago, and he had learned its every nuance through the construction of several cities.

Kraken: But be prepared, Hulk. The resources and magical components required to build this city will exceed your wildest imaginings. I suggest you start with the core district and then slowly expand the other functions and zones over time. Also, take note of the following. These are lessons we learned the hard way.

Kraken: First, site selection. Avoid the nesting grounds of large marine fauna and steer clear of geological hazards—active volcanoes, unstable trenches, subterranean magma flows.

Kraken: Second, your power source. Do not rely solely on water-elemental arrays. Most powerful sea creatures have some ability to control water. If the sea around your city is turned against you, your power grid will be useless.

Kraken went on, listing several more crucial points. Orion recorded every word. These were mistakes paid for by his allies; he would not repeat them.

Arthas: When you are ready to build, have Kraken dispatch one of his people who knows the business of construction. As for the magical arrays, you will have to petition the Deputy Commander.

In the end, it was Arthas who offered the most practical advice. Why struggle with a problem yourself when you could delegate it to the experts? The Deputy Commander himself, a demigod, would certainly not deign to design magical arrays for a city. But the faction of mages behind him would undoubtedly have the necessary talent. Orion didn’t doubt for a second that his brothers all had cities of their own beneath the waves.

Hulk: Kraken, it’s settled then. When I’ve made my decision, I’ll call on you for aid.

Kraken: A small matter.

The Silvercurrent Sea.

This was the ancestral home of the Tidefang Clan. Everywhere, opulent palaces rose from the seabed, crafted from treasures of the deep.

They were sculpted from iridescent shell and living coral, their pillars and roofs crusted with pearls. Curtains of shimmering crystal beads hung from the eaves of every colonnade, catching the faint, filtered light and scattering it like captive stars. The very ground seemed paved with jade, reflecting the world above like polished glass. Here, pearls, agates, amber, coral, gold, silver, and crystal were as common as stone.

Within the most lavish of these palaces, the low voice of the Merfolk King, Jaklas, traveled through the water, carrying into a separate, private sanctum.

"Phorcys. You wished to know the whereabouts of the man."

"His name is Orion. He is the King of the Stoneheart Horde, from the continent of Utessar."

"He is on his way to the Silvercurrent Sea now. He comes to ask for Marina’s hand."

"Marina gave you her answer, Phorcys. Now, you will give me mine."