Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

Compared to the giants, Buffalofolk, and Obsidian Golems, the gnolls were far weaker in combat.

Fortunately, the gnolls had numbers on their side. Though they were caught off guard, they managed to organize a somewhat effective counterattack after the initial chaos.

The gnolls wielded mostly spiked maces and bone clubs, though a few carried axes and javelins. Occasionally, a gnoll with a wooden shield could be seen charging through the crowd.

However, once Rendall joined the battle, the momentum the gnolls had painstakingly built was shattered in an instant.

"That's an Alpha level giant! Run for your lives!"

"Oh my god, I can't believe this! How is this possible?"

…

In the rear, Vilemaw and Mudsnout, the two gnoll chieftains, exchanged uneasy glances as they watched Rendall, who seemed like a Titan descending from the heavens. A sense of dread filled their hearts.

The gnoll formation broke apart, descending into chaos as they scattered in all directions. Continue reading on empire

But before long, the howls of wolves echoed from the surrounding forest, driving the fleeing gnolls back into their camp.

This cycle of fleeing and returning continued for over three hours.

Finally, after more than three hours, the gnoll settlement fell silent.

Orion, Onyx, Delilah, and Dirtclaw slowly entered the gnolls camp.

"It's Dirtclaw!"

"Damn it, Dirtclaw betrayed our High Chief!"

"Dirtclaw, you traitor!"

…

The moment Dirtclaw appeared, he was met with a barrage of curses from his fellow gnolls.

But Dirtclaw paid no mind to their insults. In his eyes, he was about to become the new chieftain of the tribe. As for the High Chief, who was far away in Thunderhawk City, Dirtclaw had long since stopped considering him a threat.

"Respected master, this way, please!" Dirtclaw said, using his filthy sleeve to wipe down a bench for Orion, looking utterly servile.

"Who are the two gnoll chieftains you mentioned? Bring them to me," Orion said as he sat down, getting straight to business.

Dirtclaw immediately ran off and soon returned, dragging Vilemaw and Mudsnout from the crowd of gnolls.

"Damn you, Dirtclaw! Do you care nothing for the safety of our tribe?"

"Dirtclaw, tell me, who are these people?"

Dirtclaw ignored Vilemaw and Mudsnout's protests and instead approached Orion and Delilah, eager to claim credit for his actions.

Orion glanced at Vilemaw and Mudsnout before turning to Dirtclaw with a serious expression.

"Dirtclaw, I appoint you as the sole chieftain of the gnoll tribe. If anyone resists, point them out, and we'll kill them immediately."

"Of course, treat those who submit to you well."

Dirtclaw grinned wickedly and began pointing out all the gnolls he had long disliked.

Orion waved his hand, signaling for his guards—Dace, Otho, Beyn, and Torba, four giant warriors—to step forward and await orders.

"Dace, you four will accompany Dirtclaw and kill every gnoll he identifies."

"Understood, chieftain!"

And so, within minutes, the gnoll camp was filled with the sounds of screams.

A wave of fear spread through the gnoll settlement, and soon, everyone was on edge, fearing for their lives.

"Delilah, enslave these two gnolls as well," Orion said, gesturing toward Vilemaw and Mudsnout.

Delilah nodded and approached Vilemaw, preparing to bind him with a contract.

However, things didn't go as planned.

Just as the contract was about to be sealed, a magical sigil appeared on Vilemaw's forehead, and his head exploded in a burst of blood and gore.

The sight left everyone stunned, including Orion.

"What just happened?" Orion asked, standing up and quickly moving to Delilah's side. After confirming she was unharmed, he spoke again.

"Chieftain, that gnoll had already been enslaved by someone else. The explosion was caused by contract backlash. He died from the backlash," Delilah explained.

Orion frowned. A gnoll chieftain being enslaved wasn't a big deal, but what concerned him was who had enslaved Vilemaw.

"Do you know who enslaved him?"

Delilah shook her head, her face showing a hint of disgust as she wiped the blood from her clothes. The explosion had splattered her with Vilemaw's blood.

"Forget it. Don't bother with a contract for the other one."

"When Dirtclaw returns, have him execute the other chieftain in front of the entire tribe."

Orion had initially planned to keep the other gnoll chieftain, Mudsnout, alive, as he was a rare hero-level gnoll. But after what had just happened, Orion abandoned that idea.

He decided to have Dirtclaw behead Mudsnout as a show of loyalty, ensuring that the gnoll tribe would fully submit to him.

Though the method was brutal and ruthless, it was highly effective.

Half an hour later, Dirtclaw returned, escorted by the four giant guards, looking excited as he stood before Orion.

"Dirtclaw, behead him in front of everyone to prove your loyalty!" Orion commanded.

Dirtclaw froze for a moment, but quickly recovered.

"Respected chieftain, as you wish!"

Orion nodded silently, and one of his guards handed Dirtclaw a large cleaver.

Dirtclaw raised the cleaver and approached Mudsnout.

"Mudsnout, my friend, farewell!"

"I'll take good care of your ten wives and eighteen daughters!"

Dirtclaw's words were so loaded with information that even Orion couldn't help but twitch at the corners of his mouth.

Thwack!

With a single swing, Mudsnout's head rolled to the ground, and the two chieftains of the gnoll tribe were no more.

From that moment on, Dirtclaw was the highest-ranking gnoll left.

At Delilah's prompting, Dirtclaw began his performance.

"My fellow gnolls, if it weren't for me, your good days would be over!"

"Your High Chief will soon die on the battlefield!"

"And Thunderhawk Knight Reynard will be killed soon after!"

"Now, Thunderwood Forest has been taken over by the powerful warriors behind me. Our only way forward is to follow them and invade southward!"

"From this moment on, I declare myself the sole chieftain of the gnoll tribe. Anyone who resists…"

Under Dirtclaw's persuasion, many gnolls submitted to him.

Of course, some of them were already members of Dirtclaw's tribe, and they now felt a sense of superiority.

As for the other two tribes, aside from the women and children, those who refused to obey were all sent to the cannon fodder unit.

For Dirtclaw, today was a great day.

And for Orion, it wasn't bad either. He had gained some magical plants and a fresh batch of cannon fodder troops.