[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-titan-king-ascension-of-the-giant":3,"chapter-titan-king-ascension-of-the-giant-titan-king-ascension-of-the-giant-chapter-473":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Titan King: Ascension of the Giant",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},244193,518,"Chapter 473 473: Brood mother counterpart","titan-king-ascension-of-the-giant-chapter-473",473,"\u003Cp>A heavy silence fell over the public channel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The online members of the Champions Alliance were stunned by the combat prowess Orion had just displayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't until Orion himself appeared in the channel that the quiet was broken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hulk: \"I only escaped the Vine Splitter's trap thanks to Arthas. His attack cut off the slime mold layer's supply line.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hulk: \"That's the real story—Arthas is giving me too much credit!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonidas: \"Hahaha… Bro, don't be so modest! Taking down a Vine Splitter isn't as simple as cutting off a supply line!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraken: \"I feel like the gap between us is getting wider!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonidas: \"What's there to fear? Don't you know who wins in the tortoise-and-hare race?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonidas: \"Once I'm free, I'll figure out a way to boost your strength too!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraken: \"Please, I'm not a tortoise—I'm a massive octopus!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonidas: \"Same difference—both from the sea, both slow crawlers!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edward: \"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alexander: \"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthas: \"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonidas's last remark left everyone dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the joking died down, the serious discussion began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alexander: \"The slime mold brood mother in the northern sector took a heavy hit from me. Two of her guards are dead too—one of them was pretty tough, likely her counterpart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alexander: \"Without her close guards, if she dares step out of the main nest, I'll finish her off.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonidas: \"Arthas, come reinforce me first! If you don't, all my beasts are going to get wiped out!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alexander: \"No, reinforce me first. Most of my subordinates aren't suited for frontal combat. Free them up, and the situation will improve.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthas: \"What about the Deputy Commander's side?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edward: \"You go help them first. My crew can hold the east without any issues.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Say what you will, but a demigod-level powerhouse speaks with unshakable confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthas: \"Alright, once I stabilize things here, I'll start providing support.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the big shots wrap up their business, Orion finally voiced the question nagging at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hulk: \"Hey bros, what exactly are a brood mother counterpart and a brood mother guard?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't the blunt Leonidas or the aloof Arthas who answered, but Alexander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alexander: \"Think of the brood mother counterpart as a candidate brood mother. If the slime mold brood mother is a she-wolf, the counterpart is the he-wolf. But in slime mold society, it's matriarchal—females hold the highest authority.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alexander: \"If the slime mold brood mother is killed, the counterpart transitions from male to female, becoming the new brood mother to keep the slime mold hierarchy stable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alexander: \"This assassination didn't kill the brood mother, but with her counterpart dead, she's got no fallback now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alexander: \"As for the brood mother guards, they're just what the name implies—mutated slime molds tasked with protecting her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alexander: \"One thing to note: the counterpart is stronger than regular guards.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was precisely because of the counterpart's existence that Arthas, Leonidas, and Alexander didn't dare launch an all-out assault on the main nest region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, setting aside the power differences among arch lords, this fungal creature invasion of Valkorath Realm involved eight arch lords.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lineup like that was unprecedented—at least for Orion, it was a first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his throne, Orion's throat bobbed as he swallowed, though there was no saliva to gulp down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Four peak arch lord-level slime mold brood mothers already felt out of my league.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn't realize I'd still underestimated the slime molds' overall strength.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hulk: \"Bro, thanks for clearing that up!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alexander: \"No problem!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orion and Alexander weren't close—this \"bro\" felt like a bid to build rapport—but Alexander didn't show any displeasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his questions answered, Orion initiated a trade with Leonidas, handing over the unpaid lump of life essence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonidas: \"Man, you've been killing it lately. The northern sector's battles should ease up soon. Why don't you swing by my southern territory for a visit?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonidas: \"I'll show you what a stampede of ten thousand beasts looks like—what the end of days feels like, with undead crawling everywhere.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonidas's mix of teasing and self-deprecation made Orion shake his head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, Leonidas's beast subordinates were at a disadvantage in combat, with many fallen ones being turned into undead to keep fighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment's thought, Orion agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, once I've settled things here, I'll come find you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahaha… It's a deal then!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After wrapping up with Leonidas, Arthas—almost as if he'd timed it—sent Orion a message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthas: \"The situation in our warzone should lighten up for a bit. Use this chance to take Moonveil Plains in the northeast. Ideally, set up a city there too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Orion read the message, Arthas initiated a trade, sending over a storage ring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthas: \"The storage ring's got city-building materials. If you need more, ask the Deputy Commander.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, Orion was taken aback. Using something as valuable as a storage ring to hold basic construction stuff like stone, wood, and sand? He hadn't seen that coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthas: \"Don't be shocked. In certain times and places, building materials are worth more than soldiers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthas: \"Sometimes, a city is the foundation. With a city, you can build defense towers, set up teleportation arrays, and construct all sorts of specialized buildings.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthas: \"A war fortress gives you a foothold, whether you're invading or defending.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orion tucked the storage ring away, nodding at Arthas's logic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thanks for the heads-up!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Building materials could indeed be as critical as strategic resources in the right circumstances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll probably stick around Cryptopolis City for now. Once I'm ready, I'll let you know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthas's reply was short and to the point—classic him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exiting the Survivor's Platform, Orion extended his senses downward, probing the scorpion main nest deep underground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, Soraya had advanced to Alpha-level peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But going from Alpha peak to Legendary required comprehending transcendent power—a process that, even with life essence easing the way, wouldn't happen overnight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, everything was in place; all that was missing was the final push.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orion was waiting—waiting for Soraya to break through to Legendary. That's when he'd head to Moonveil Plains and stake his claim with a city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Soraya became a Legendary-level brood mother, backed by Lich Vexis, Orion would finally have a solid footing in Valkorath Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just a little more patience. Things are about to turn around!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1036,"2026-05-29T15:49:11.112Z","2026-06-01T04:29:39.741Z",1,"novelbin.me","c09700c4404e7a73d1aa11e719b8558a6c92d2357c2e9a883ab8a25cfde92d38","titan-king-ascension-of-the-giant-chapter-474","titan-king-ascension-of-the-giant-chapter-472",1606,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ftitan-king-ascension-of-the-giant-cover.jpg"]