Chapter 131: The Orc King and Queen
Silence had never sounded so loud. It had been several hours since the battle ended. The valley surrounding the Jotun Inheritance Grounds had transformed into something else entirely.
A sacred gathering.
Thousands upon thousands of tents had appeared as the various tribes settled around the enormous stone tablet. Bonfires stretched across the plains like stars scattered upon the earth. The smell of roasted beasts, molten steel, herbs, and fermented drinks drifted through the evening air.
The atmosphere wasn’t tense anymore. It was... celebratory, in a bestial, monstrous, kind of way. Silas sat atop a massive stone seat that had been carved in less than an hour.
The Earthbreaker Confederacy had just walked over, slammed both fists into a nearby mountain, and somehow carved an entire throne from the mountain itself.
"..." Silas stared at it. "You people made a throne..."
One enormous Earthbreaker scratched the back of his head.
"King needed a chair."
Silas looked at the throne again. It was nearly twenty-five feet tall.
"I’m six-foot-five or so."
The giant looked confused. "Small king."
"Fair."
Nearby, Chloe couldn’t stop laughing.
"You look like a child sitting on a dining chair."
"I hate all of you."
"You deserve it."
Alpha nodded. "I’ve never agreed with Chloe more."
The Crimson Reaper Queen rested behind the throne like an obedient guardian. It had become strangely calm. The countless orcs passing by would lower their heads respectfully before continuing onward.
Silas noticed it.
"They’re bowing to my echo too."
"You’re connected." The elder shaman answered. "The King’s companions... are also sacred."
Silas looked toward the mantis.
"Hear that?"
The giant insect chirped proudly.
"Don’t let it get to your head."
It chirped louder.
Movement suddenly spread throughout the valley. The elder shamans simultaneously stood, their staffs striking the earth. The sound echoed across the plains.
Instantly, every conversation stopped. The singing ceased, and the dancing halted. Thousands upon thousands of warriors turned toward the enormous stone tablet. The elder shaman raised both hands.
"Our Queen awakens."
Silas stood immediately. His gaze turned toward the center of the inheritance grounds. The colossal woman lay peacefully upon the earth. Her breathing became steadier. Her fingers twitched as the crimson markings covering her body pulsed once. Her green eyes slowly opened.
"..."
For several seconds, she stared at the unfamiliar sky. Then, her gaze landed on Silas.
"Mate?"
Silas smiled. "I’m here."
She blinked several times before sitting up. The movement alone shook the ground. The Runic Jotun was massive. Standing now at nearly thirty-two feet tall, Gromda no longer resembled an ordinary orc. She resembled a living mountain.
Her long white hair cascaded past her waist like a waterfall of snow. Her tusks had become smoother and slightly longer. Even her ears had sharpened elegantly. She radiated overwhelming strength, yet her expression remained as innocent as ever.
She looked down at herself.
"Big."
Silas laughed. "...Very."
She slowly looked toward him again.
"You... Small."
"Excuse me?"
Alpha burst into laughter.
"I’ve waited so long for someone to tell you that."
Silas pointed accusingly.
"You’re not helping."
Gromda carefully climbed to her feet. Every movement caused the earth to tremble. The surrounding orcs lowered themselves to one knee simultaneously—one synchronized motion.
The sight alone stole Chloe’s breath.
"They’re worshipping her."
The elder shaman smiled.
"No. They welcome their Queen."
Then, the ceremonies began.
The Ashfang Tribe approached first. Their warriors’ bodies were painted with dark volcanic ash, making them resemble living statues. Their chief carried a massive battle axe forged entirely from obsidian.
The blade shimmered with crimson mana. He planted it before Silas.
"Ashfang offers... The King’s Axe. Our loyalty. Our blood. Our future."
Silas accepted it with both hands.
"Thank you."
The Stormtusk Clan descended from the skies upon gigantic thunderbirds. Lightning danced across their armor. Their matriarch presented Gromda with a magnificent cloak woven from silver feathers capable of resisting storms.
"Our Queen... shall never fear the heavens."
Gromda smiled brightly.
"Soft."
The Bloodmoon Legion came next. Every warrior bore scars covering their bodies. Their chief removed his helmet before kneeling and offering a crimson crystal.
"Our greatest berserk blood crystal. May our Queen always possess limitless strength."
The Ironhide Dominion arrived, pushing enormous wagons filled with weapons, armor, and shields. Thousands of masterpieces.
Their master blacksmith stepped forward.
"We forge for eternity. Our King... Our Queen... never pay."
Silas’s eyes widened.
"Free?"
The old blacksmith nodded proudly. "...Free."
Silas looked toward Alpha.
"I love these people."
"I noticed."
Then came the Earthbreaker Confederacy. The ground shook as dozens of giants carried what looked like an entire cliff. Mind you, it was very, very huge.
It was a throne. A second throne. One even larger than Silas’s. The chief bowed deeply.
"Our Queen cannot sit in a tiny chair."
Gromda looked genuinely happy.
"Chair."
The gifts continued.
The Beast Tribes brought colossal battle beasts. The Troll Kingdom presented enchanted gemstones. Goblin inventors delivered strange mana-powered machines that nobody understood. Ogres offered barrels of legendary ale larger than houses.
Everyone brought something, not as a tribute, but as congratulations.
Finally, the elder shamans assembled once more. Twelve ancient shamans surrounded the massive stone tablet, and their staffs glowed.
Ancient runes awakened, and the gigantic stone hands behind the tablet suddenly moved. The entire world seemed to hold its breath as a deep voice echoed throughout Gorgath.
No one knew where it came from. Perhaps, from the Jotun inheritance itself.
"THE KING HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED."
The earth shook.
"THE QUEEN HAS RETURNED."
Golden light descended from the heavens. Two crowns slowly emerged from within the light. The first was a rugged crown of black metal etched with glowing crimson runes. The second was a magnificent crown of silver-white stone decorated with ancient Jotun symbols.
Neither appeared forged. They appeared to be created. The elder shamans lowered their heads.
"The Crowns of Gorgath have chosen."
The crowns floated gently. The silver crown settled upon Silas’s head. The black crown descended onto Gromda’s head and adjusted itself instantly to fit her.
The instant it touched her, every rune across her enormous body erupted with brilliant crimson light.
A pillar of red mana shot into the heavens, and every orc dropped to both knees. Together, they spoke as one.
"LONG LIVE THE KING!"
"LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!"
"LONG LIVE GORGATH!"
The roar shook mountains. Birds fled into the skies, the forests trembled, and the clouds seemed to split apart. Silas stood there, completely speechless.
"System."
[Yes?]
"What exactly just happened?"
[Congratulations.]
[You accidentally became the King of an entire world.]
Silas slowly closed his eyes.
"Anna is never going to believe this."
Alpha snorted.
"Forget Anna. We’re going to have to explain to the tax office that you own a planet now."
Silas looked at him.
"That’s actually a terrifying thought."
Chloe laughed so hard she nearly fell over. Beside them, Queen Gromda reached down, gently picked Silas up with one hand, placed him on her shoulder, and smiled proudly at the cheering millions.
"My King."
The valley erupted once more. The King and Queen of Gorgath had officially ascended their thrones.