"Come on, I know just the place," Tangere said, stepping forward. He planned to show them around the Silent Goblet, the city’s most famous tavern.

Leonidas and Kraken had mentioned Orion’s Silent Goblet before, giving him an idea of its exotic, otherworldly atmosphere.

"Unlike your World of Eldoria, something here makes me want to stay," Scarecrow mused. "It’s making me a bit impulsive." Scarecrow was unique; his attunement to the arcane rules of the Titanion Realm drew him inexorably to this place.

"The Titanion Realm is an Ascendant Plane now. It’s fertile ground for us to grow, hiding countless treasures and future miracles," Tangere explained. As a member of the Champions Alliance, he had access to insider information his companions lacked.

Here, they didn’t just have the hope of advancing to Arch Lord—they had a real shot at becoming demigods.

"Actually, before we hit the tavern, we should visit Seeker." Tangere added. "They have all the resources we need to build up our territory, and we can trade artifacts for Stoneheart coins. Around here, those coins are worth more than their weight in gold."

In truth, Tangere was running on rumors, piecing together fragments of conversation he’d overheard from Leonidas. He also knew that Seeker had deep ties to Alexander, one of their own.

"If nothing else, the sheer diversity of races living in the city is an invaluable resource."

Aina hurried after him, her eyes wide with mounting envy. "Tangere, is there any good food around here?"

Tangere remained silent. Amidst Aerin’s relentless questions, the group vanished into the bustling crowds.

Meanwhile, in Stoneheart City.

Inside the Horde Hall, which Lilith had hastily decorated with arcane motifs, three thrones hovered above the main chamber. The phantom projection of Orion, a demigod, occupied the center seat. To his left and right sat Morando, Vice-Speaker of the Saint Gran Council, and Deputy Commander Edward.

Orion took Morando seriously enough to host him personally. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Whether or not the Stoneheart Horde formally allied with the Saint Gran Council, immediate opportunities for cooperation were plentiful. They could establish plane-level defensive barriers across the Titan continent, carve eternal arcane runes into The Bastion of the West, and lay down ancient magical arrays to lock down the northern and southern seas against invaders.

"Lord Morando, welcome to the Stoneheart Horde," Orion said. Facing a fourth stage powerhouse like Morando, he showed no subservience. If anything, Orion was now just as strong, if not stronger.

"Giant King, you are formidable," Morando replied. "I sense the same aura of power in you as I do in our Council Chairman." Morando wasn’t just offering empty praise; he was subtly revealing the depth of the Saint Gran Council’s strength to establish an equal footing.

"Edward and I are sworn brothers," Orion said, speaking plainly. "We share many common interests. In some ways, your goals align perfectly with mine. I know the Saint Gran Council has a profound legacy, and I know your Chairman isn’t your strongest combatant."

Orion met Morando’s gaze. He trusted that Deputy Commander Edward wouldn’t bring just anyone to his doorstep. There was no need for pleasantries; directness was the best policy.

"My lord, I have nothing but goodwill toward your Council and a sincere desire for an alliance. The Titanion Realm is expanding. Take the recent fluctuations in World Essence—I’m sure you felt another minor world merging into the realm." Orion leveraged The Lifeless Dreadgod’s recent achievements to tempt his guest.

"I felt it," Morando agreed neutrally. A powerhouse of his caliber couldn’t possibly miss such intense planar ripples. "The World Essence of the Titanion Realm has deepened."

"Not my realm, my lord. Ours," Orion corrected. "The Stoneheart Horde relies on bloodline talents. We don’t conflict with your magical civilization. On the contrary, magic and our Horde are deeply compatible. We can advance side by side. I know perfectly well that neither the Stoneheart Horde nor the Titanion Realm will remain homogenous. Ultimately, everything will converge."

Morando hid his surprise. As rulers of an Ascendant Plane, their natural instinct was to hoard as much world Authority as possible. Suppressing that greed was no easy feat. Orion’s words were a direct promise to cede a portion of his Authority. He recognized the true nature of an Ascendant Plane’s evolution: allowing foreign powers to exist, accepting them, and integrating them. It required immense vision.

"Historically, the Titan continent has never had a proper magical civilization. I hope magic can bloom beautifully here," Orion continued, laying out his boundaries. "In the future, I will allow other magical factions to settle on Titan. A dark sky should be lit by fireworks of all colors."

The Saint Gran Council wouldn’t be the only option.

"Giant King, the Saint Gran Council would be delighted to take root on the Titan continent," Morando said, swayed by the terms. "We will establish ourselves here as a magic association."

The alliance was struck.

In truth, this partnership had been decided long before they met. Morando knew exactly who backed Orion and Edward: the Champions Alliance, and the terrifying entity behind it. Aligning with the Stoneheart Horde had already passed a unanimous vote among the Council’s upper echelon. This meeting was merely a formality to assess Orion’s strength and character before giving the official green light.

"As members of this realm, we will do our part to defend the continent," Morando added. "The Saint Gran Council understands perfectly well that if the realm falls, none of us will survive."

That was the crux of the matter. The core purpose of this alliance was to fortify the Titan continent’s foundation within the Titanion Realm. After all, every true superpower had a few ancient monsters guarding their backs.

"On a personal note, I’d like to fund the construction of a massive Alchemical Conservatory on Titan," Morando said, shifting to private business. "Once the facility is operational, I want to establish a deep partnership with the Stoneheart Horde, guaranteeing your potion logistics and supply lines."

Beyond formalizing the treaty, Morando had accepted his old friend Edward’s invitation to build this Alchemical Conservatory. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement, and Morando was more than happy to oblige.