Star Forge Titan

The image of a piece of iron flying at the speed of light, or even close to it, slowly emerged in the boy's mind.

Damn, isn't this ability a bit too much?

However, it is highly unlikely to be possible in the short term, so let’s first consider the robust and simple method of using a magnifying glass to roast ants.

Hmm, is it really impossible? Feeling a slight sweat on his forehead, Ivan shook his head and put the dangerous thoughts behind him. In his past life, superpowers knew to find an open and uninhabited place to conduct weapons experiments. It would be better not to conduct overly dangerous and reckless tests on a planet that would be inhabited for a long time in the foreseeable future.

Closing his eyes, Alvin began to call upon his newly awakened soul power, with which he had gradually become proficient.

The young fighter's messy black hair began to change first, with the flame-like orange-red gradually dyeing the ends of his hair. The azure crystal that was usually hidden under the skin between his eyebrows also quietly emerged. Then, with the azure crystal as the core, a flaming crown composed of golden-red prismatic luminous bodies surrounded his head, always hovering a few centimeters away from his skin.

The next moment, Alvin opened his eyes, and his pupils, emitting golden radiation, looked towards an uninhabited desert some distance away from the Rogilas.

The area suddenly darkened, like a brief cloudy day caused by dark clouds covering the sun. The brightness dropped significantly for a moment, and then an extremely dazzling light burst out from the center of the area.

Without any sound or warning, the bright light was like a huge spear a hundred meters long, silently piercing the ground from the sky.

Almost at the moment of contact, large pieces of sand began to glow red and shiny, and turned into dark green glass under the action of high temperature.

Wow, as expected, this ability can indeed be used to burn glass!

As Alvin complained in his heart, the cold sweat on his forehead increased.

Because, this ability can really be used to burn glass! The big kind!

Chapter 95: Prelude to Killing

There is an adjective called excessive.

There is also a phrase called "one leaf blinds the view".

If you are used to eating sweet tofu pudding, then when you see the hot tofu pudding just out of the pot, your first reaction will naturally be to look for sugar, and you would not think that tofu can also be fried or pan-fried.

When Alvin awakened the power of his soul, he was practicing boxing and had already comprehended the highest secret of contemporary boxing - the fighting steel armor. So he naturally applied the power of his soul to the field of boxing, thereby creating a force that could greatly enhance the boxing configuration. His own combat power was no less than that of a fourth-level witch king beast's super-strong imitation spirit body.

But on the other hand, apart from the blow that defeated the Witch King's beast body, Alvin's use of his own soul power is actually still at a very early stage.

Now, as he truly realized the true nature of his soul's ability to manipulate light, a sense of enlightenment washed over him. No wonder there were no signs of other Titans on the planet.

Do races with such exaggerated abilities really need to live on a planet? They don't need to intervene in the ecological cycle at all, so they can handle their relationship with the world with a more detached and harmonious attitude that is more conducive to the surrounding environment.

Reshaping the world...

The use of this innate talent may be even more exaggerated than I expected.

Gazing at the vast expanse of molten glass in the distance, Ivan realized a possibility. Perhaps the Titans' civilization, founded by Uranus, vanished not because of external destruction or some other horrific disaster, but simply because they left. They left this fully adjusted "world," this mature planet.

Just like a gardener who has finished his cultivation work, he quietly walks away with his tools and other man-made objects that are out of tune with the natural environment, and then stands at a distance, looking at the beautiful flowers that are blooming healthily with satisfaction.

What is this? A cosmic gardener? A space florist? Too romantic, isn't it?

Irwin's unusually sharp intuition told him that the truth, while not quite that simple, was close. Combining the known information, the outcome could be quite astonishing.

If it were truly just an 'artistic creation,' then there would be no need for a hybrid race with Titan genes to remain in the world of Palladia. At this moment, curiosity tickled the boy's racing mind like a cat's paw. He wanted to know the truth behind all this, to understand the true history of a thousand years ago, and to find a path to a better future.

With an overwhelming will, Alvin blasted away all the turbulent thoughts in his mind. He knew there were more important things waiting for him. The tyrant's rule must be ended. The ancient ruins hidden a million meters underground might contain historical documents directly related to the Titan Uranus civilization, or even relics preserved from thousands of years ago.

The third estate management agency...

This term, learned from ancient texts, confirmed Alvin's assumption. If there's no inheritance, how can there be any estate management? Wouldn't that be like saying "fish ball noodles" without fish balls or noodles?

He gathered his mind, and the crown above his head that was shining brightly gradually went out. After finishing his experiment on how to use his soul power, Alvin turned his gaze to the horizon where the edge of the desert connected to the sky.

The battleship Rogilas was currently a long way from Kahlo, the largest desert city-state ruled by the First Sorcerer King. If they had used traditional methods like a sand boat or a camel caravan, even without encountering unexpected events like sandstorms and sand bandits, it would have taken at least ten days to half a month to reach their destination.

But at the current speed of the Logilas, even if the engine's output power is limited because it is a model, it can complete the entire journey in just one day and one night. One cannot help but sigh at the high achievements of the ancient Giant Kingdom in magical technology.

Of course, it may also be because they inherited enough relics of civilization.

In the world of Palladia, due to its unique historical structure, relying on archaeology for scientific research is not just a joke, but a very feasible path.

Not to mention the distant past, the five wizard kings who ruled this desert for a hundred years relied on the exploration of ruins to gain the opportunity to be promoted to the fourth level, thereby gaining powerful strength and seizing the commanding heights of regional power.

"Ah, it's burning a little." Pinching out the golden-red flame that rose unconsciously in his palm, Ivan smiled and whispered to himself.

With the awakening of his soul power, the resonance between his own magic and will became stronger and more sensitive. Even a short and tiny thought could easily cause substantial interference in the material world.

This wasn't a sign of a recent promotion lacking control over one's own strength, but rather a rare trait found only in exceptionally gifted individuals among the higher-level Transcendents. Such extraordinary performance could only be achieved when the resonance between will and magic power became as direct as the resonance between nerves and muscles on a spiritual level.

At the same time, this also points out the extremely cruel fact that "even if the excellent and the mediocre are at the same level, there will be a huge gap between them."

The Rogilas was moving forward, but the destination of this battleship, the city of Kahlo, was about to fall into an unprecedented horrific catastrophe.

Kahlo, in the ancient language of the Silent Desert, means "light and glory." Therefore, Horhara, the most powerful wizard king known as the Sun, used it to name the city-state he ruled.

For the past hundred years, Kahlo City has been the most prosperous and populous city-state in the entire Silent Desert. The vast and dense desert's largest oasis, 'Hope', provides ample arable land for its residents, while Crescent Lake, the only lake on the surface of the Silent Desert that can be maintained for a long time, provides the city with abundant and valuable fresh water resources.

Whether in terms of topography or natural environment, Kahlo City has advantages over other desert states, so it has become the most populous and prosperous city-state in the entire Silent Desert.

The streets were filled with dignitaries dressed in expensive attire, often accompanied by large numbers of servants and attendants, who often occupied two-thirds of the street space. As for ordinary people, they could only walk along the very edges of the streets.

Even so, anyone living in Kahlo City has a sense of superiority that makes people feel uncomfortable, even the civilians living on the edge of the city near the city walls.

They may have to work hard all day to make a living, and the whole family may not even be able to buy a complete set of clothes, but that sense of superiority will never disappear.

However, the differences between these residents seem as insignificant as the size differences between insects to the tyrant who lives higher up.

In the heart of the city, there is a magnificent palace emitting a golden luster. The first wizard king who rules the entire city-state, Horhara, is currently in it.

The sun's rays streamed through the vast glass skylight at the center of the palace, casting a shadow over the tyrant seated on the throne, seemingly enveloped in light and radiating an awe-inspiring, inviolable majesty. At this moment, Horhara no longer wore the black robe that concealed his unusual form. His scaly, lizard-like, hunched form lay exposed to the sunlight.

There were no attendants or servants around the Witch King, and in his hand was a seed of a strange shape.

The seed resembled a tulip bulb, its surface covered in fine, scaly lines. However, unlike normal plant seeds, the nearly spherical bulb contained a network of blood vessels that expanded and contracted faintly. This made it look less like a plant seed and more like the unhatched egg of some animal or insect.

Horhara silently looked at the strange object in his hand that looked like both a seed and an insect egg, with a rare hint of hesitation and doubt in his eyes.

The air was filled with a strange fragrance, which was the unique scent emitted by the burning incense of time.

An unusual rustling noise could be heard from the shadows around the palace that were not illuminated by the sunlight.

Soon, a small figure slowly walked out of the darkness, surrounded by some larger figures.

The sunlight shone on her, reflecting a bright metallic luster, as if she was covered in metal armor.

But if you look closely, you will find that the armor reflecting the bright light is not an external object, but her natural "skin".

"Chi——" An unusual voice came out from the mouthparts. It did not sound with any emotional fluctuations, but instead revealed a mechanical and inorganic texture.

"Yes, I can't turn back." Raising his hand, he stroked the top of the head of the low figure with two tentacles swaying, and the Witch King Holhala whispered to himself.

"Then..." As he said that, Holhala stood up and raised the strange bulb seed in his hand.

"Let the swarms leave their nests and let the feast begin!"

Chapter 96: Bright Red Infection

The first city-state in the desert, this name has belonged to the city of Kahlo for a long time.

The city of light, the city of glory, even the slaves living in the city feel honored just by being in it.

Even if they don't have an inch of cloth of their own, or cannot live in a building with a roof, that strange sense of pride always exists in the hearts of every resident of Kahlo City.

The inner city, home to the nobles and the Sorcerer King's chambers, is constructed from a rich tapestry of special stone, giving the entire city a pure white hue. From afar, it resembles the legendary realm inhabited by the gods, exuding a sacred aura that inspires admiration.

It not only praises the wealth and magnificence of the city, but also praises the power of the First Wizard King.

The world of Palladia possesses a power beyond the mundane, so there are strong landforms and strong politics here, and even every aspect of society shows its peculiarities that are different from the world without magic.

Therefore, the personal strength of the First Wizard King also brought strength to the entire city-state, and even the other four Wizard Kings could not compete with him.

For hundreds of years, the city of Kahlo has continued to impose harsh iron taxes and high spice taxes on the entire Silent Desert region.

This led to a large number of confiscated metal artifacts and precious spices being continuously sent to the city-state from afar. This also made the residents of the entire city fear the Witch King's tyranny and iron-fisted rule, while also feeling awe and worship for the powerful force he represented and all that came from it.

In some sense, this may also be a kind of love.

An emotion that is fundamentally distorted and based on interests and vanity.

To the extent that even the owners of the emotions themselves cannot be sure whether these emotions are sincere.

But no matter what, at least on the surface, all the residents living in the city of Kahlo have an extraordinary admiration for the First Witch King, an almost fanatical belief.

Every morning, as the sun rises, no matter they are nobles, common people, or poor people living in the suburbs of the city, they will worship devoutly in the palace where the first wizard king Horhara lives, kneeling and bowing their heads to praise the brother of the sun in the sky, the great ruler who consistently gives precious water to all living beings.

This worship that has lasted for a hundred years has engraved the Witch King's power and majesty deeply into the memories of the residents of Kahlo City like a religion.

On the contrary, the nine gods of traditional belief in the silent desert areas have been ignored or even forgotten, just like the ancient ruins full of historical atmosphere in the desert, buried and covered by the endless yellow sand, and gradually faded from people's memory.

Early in the morning of this day, the residents of Kahlo City got up as usual and prepared to kowtow to the palace in the center of the city.

In the inner city, the nobles who lived a luxurious life knelt on the expensive hand-woven carpets, their fat bodies rumbling down in worship, but their movements were casual and usual.

Outside the city walls, the poor and needy knelt directly on the coarse sand that had not yet been heated by the morning sun. Their skinny and dark bodies did not look much taller than children. At this moment, they were kneeling earnestly in the direction of the Witch King's bedroom. Their attitude was even more pious and serious than that of most people.

However, today was different from usual. Almost everyone heard a low, muffled sound like thunder, but the sound did not come from the high sky, but came from far away along the ground that everyone was touching.

Shrill screams first rang out from the city center, and soon after, people saw dark torrents surging madly out of the gate of the Witch King's chamber. The individuals that made up the torrent were not human armies, but countless hideous insect beasts with hideous and distorted appearances.

They were covered in hard shells that were impervious to swords and launched an indiscriminate massacre against all living creatures, including the Witch King's army. The armed army and the nobles' private guards initially wanted to resist, but their daily training did not include resisting enemies from within.

As a result, the armed personnel who lacked unified command in the unexpected attack soon became like reefs in the path of a tsunami. They could not even hold on for a few breaths before they were completely swallowed up by the overwhelming swarm of dark insects.

Even if there were some extraordinary people who possessed power, due to the absolute numerical advantage and the special targeting of a few knight-level insect beasts, they quickly disappeared in the surging torrent like the occasional splashes of water during the advance of the tide.

A 'tide' of terrifying insects and beasts surged outward along every street, sending the residents of Kahlo fleeing in terror. But the gate connecting Kahlo's interior and exterior had been sealed shut since some unknown time. A magical seal gleamed on the thick metal door, illuminating the eyes of the crowd with despair.

In this way, the towering city walls that were originally used to protect the city became a fatal obstacle to the escape of the crowd, like a steep mountain that was difficult to climb, completely blocking the key road to a safe place.

The city turned into a slaughterhouse with blood flowing everywhere. Lives wailed and died every minute and every second. The ruthless insects and beasts stabbed their sharp claws into the bodies of innocent people, tearing and chewing up their blood, flesh, souls and bones, and turning them into warm paint that was splattered all over the ground and walls.

It was as if a clumsy painter accidentally spilled a bucket of paint onto the canvas. The city, which had originally appeared neat and pure white, was now dyed from the inside out with a layer of indelible red.

Every speck of scarlet indicates an irreversible death, and every trace foreshadows an ongoing tragedy.

At the same time, the special magic arrays buried beneath the city since the beginning of the Witch King's reign were also activated. Blood tax extraction devices, crafted from expensive magical materials, resonated with each other along the interconnected magic power transmission circuits, transforming into transmission nodes that absorbed and transformed all the rapidly dissipating energy within the city.

Lost lives, resentful souls, and the blood that stained the earth crimson—all of this flowed toward the Witch King's chambers. Facing the open maws of the insect beasts, worshippers, whether devout or doubtful, were forced to offer their all.

The vigorous magical reaction began to increase rapidly, a scarlet color rose towards the sky, and bloodthirsty laughter could be faintly heard coming from an indistinguishable direction.

At this moment, a massacre was also taking place inside the bedroom of the First Wizard King, Horhara.

"This... this is different from what we agreed on!" The cunning man in a blue robe screamed and fell on his back. A sharp knife-like foot pierced his shoulder and nailed the guy to the ground. There were many people around him who were dressed similarly to him and were being chased and slaughtered by insects and beasts.

"What's the difference? Aren't they all sacrifices?" The Witch King, sitting alone on the throne, replied expressionlessly:

"It's nothing more than..." As he spoke, a strange smile appeared on Holhala's lips.

"The objects are different."

Chapter 97: Hundred Years of Evil Consequences

Countless tragedies continue to occur, but the death of life also brings about the emergence of life.

The First Wizard King, Horhara, sat on the throne. In the center of his raised right palm, a strangely shaped seed was undergoing strange changes.

It clearly looks like a plant seed, but now it is like a heart full of vitality, constantly expanding and contracting. In the gaps between the bulb-like flaky shell on its surface, a large number of meridians of varying thicknesses are constantly beating.

Gradually, a crack appeared on the rugged shell of the bulb seed, and a crimson light emanated from it, like a plant growth video that was sped up countless times, with a large number of translucent red roots extending from it.

Those slender, translucent roots extended straight to the outside, becoming thicker and more solid in the process, and their color changed from bright red to a darker crimson or even pitch black. When they were a certain distance away from the seed itself and the wizard king Horhara who held the seed, these roots became as thick as towering trees that had grown for decades and completely condensed into a solid entity.

The walls cracked, the ground crumbled, and thick red roots sunk deep into the ground, causing the entire palace to crumble. But then, rapidly growing plants firmly held the fragments of the palace in place, transforming it into a strange hybrid of plant and architecture. Its size surpassed the already towering and magnificent palace, like an ancient tree magnified to an incalculable degree, its spreading branches and leaves as broad as sails blocking even the sunlight.

However, just as plants need water and nutrients to grow, this huge plant also needs to absorb enough substances to achieve such rapid growth.

Invisibly underground, the huge veins extending from the rhizomes and the large magical network composed of blood tax extraction devices are interconnected. The vitality of all residents in the entire city and the power of the souls of the dead are all absorbed into it and continuously poured into the strange bulb seed in the hand of the Witch King Horhara.

It was unknown how long the horrific sacrifice lasted. The city that was initially occupied by bloody massacres now became dead silent, and the air was no longer filled with the shrill wails of dying lives.

Aside from dried blood, there were no human corpses to be seen on the streets. The only things to be seen were those terrifying insect beasts lying motionless. Their massive bodies seemed completely drained, leaving only the outermost, empty shells, like the remains of an insect after it has emerged from its shell. The tranquility emanated an unsettling aura.

In the center of the city, the huge plant of astonishing height now looked like a burnt-out firewood. All the branches, including the thick trunk, turned into red light particles floating in the air, making the entire city of Kahlo look like it was bathed in a red rain curtain.

Without the support of the huge plant roots, the originally magnificent Witch King's bedroom was completely reduced to ruins.

Deep within the ruins, the Witch King, Horhara, gazed in fascination at the seed in his hand. Although the roots that had previously spread from it had transformed into a towering tree of astonishing size, the seed itself had not changed much and was still small enough to be held in one hand.

The biggest change was that its color changed from dark black to a blood-red color.

Looking at the glowing red seed in his hand, the Witch King Horhara said slowly in a dreamlike, empty voice: