The Rise of the Titan

"With your current power, conquering the Synapse Subcontinent is impossible," Cassio said firmly upon hearing Muria's ambitious goal.

"I know that. I never said I wanted to conquer it right now," Muria replied, fully aware of his current limitations. He couldn't even take down a single kingdom, let alone an entire subcontinent. It was merely a dream; even if he somehow managed to conquer it, he wouldn't be able to hold it.

"Synapse Subcontinent is known as a haven for evil gods. It is a major source of their faith. If you were to attempt to conquer the entire subcontinent, you would provoke a frenzied backlash from these gods. They wouldn't hesitate to retaliate with everything they have."

"Yes, if I threaten the source of their faith, they will stop at nothing to send their avatars to fight me. At that point, I wouldn't be facing just legends but avatars of gods, each possessing peak legendary combat power."

Even a cornered rabbit will bite. These evil gods, already malevolent by nature, would not hesitate to act ruthlessly to protect their faith. They wouldn't care about his background; they would strike first and ask questions later.

"At least you understand. Achieving your goal will be extremely difficult. The Titan race won't help you because this is your personal goal. To achieve it, you must rely solely on your own efforts."

"My forces are just starting. I have plenty of time," Muria said, full of confidence and ambition for the future. "One day, I will level this haven of evil gods and leave them no place in this world."

"You will face unimaginable costs and casualties. Until you are absolutely certain of your strength, you should keep your goal to yourself," Cassio advised thoughtfully.

"I'm not that foolish," Muria snorted. While others might have such dreams, for Muria, it was a goal that even gods had to take seriously. With his potential and future growth, he could indeed achieve such a goal.

...

"Give me an update on the development of Synapse," Muria ordered after calming himself. He had returned to the main castle on the floating island where the Wind King Eagle slept, summoning all the island's administrators.

Synapse was the name Muria had given to the group of 132 floating islands he ruled over, each being transformed into a floating city. The name signified a realm that floated and frequently moved through the sky.

Over twenty-four years, Synapse's administrative structure had taken shape. Muria's personal maid, Mia, acted as the highest authority in his absence, overseeing all affairs.

The abyssal demon Mears, who had reascended to legendary status with fifty Soul Rings, was now the head of Synapse's intelligence agency. He managed all the dark forces on the island, eliminating any threats to Synapse's development. He handled all the dirty work.

Cynthia, the Red Dragon, had declared herself the commander of Synapse's Punitive Legion with the support of various dragon mages from Dragon Island. She was responsible for resource acquisition under the guise of dispensing justice. She held a high status among the punitive forces, particularly in her human form, where she was seen as a valkyrie by many humanoid creatures.

Fiona, now an ancient dragon under the influence of a certain dragon god, was in charge of all external trade and communication for Synapse. Despite being the most powerful in Synapse, her awkward status following her defection meant she had only the initial green dragons who defected with her for support. Her faction was weak but controlled the most resources, sometimes forcing even Cynthia and Mia to defer to her.

Storm Giant leader Terrence commanded six hundred Storm Giants, all with strength at or above the gold pinnacle level, with a high percentage at the Soul Ring level. They formed the primary defense force of Synapse and were nominally the leaders of all giants.

"Your Highness, the cloud island transformation plan has continued during your slumber. Thanks to the Deep Blue Merchant Guild, we quickly traded any surplus resources, so the transformation has entered the second phase. We are currently laying out the defense system."

"Not bad," Muria nodded. For Synapse, building the defense system before the attack system was logical. The idea that "offense is the best defense" didn't apply here. Cloud islands were unique natural wonders; once damaged, they were difficult to repair. At least, Muria lacked the ability and technology to do so. He wasn't sure if the Turtle Emperor could.

After inquiring about the progress of the cloud island transformation, Muria moved on to other matters, such as the five defensive wars the alchemists mentioned.

"Your Highness, because you were in slumber and we didn't know our next direction, we remained suspended above the ocean, awaiting your awakening. Although we activated concealment formations to hide the island, Cynthia's frequent hunting trips with the Punitive Legion eventually revealed Synapse's presence. This attracted the greed of many forces."

"Once they learned of your existence, the number of daring attackers decreased significantly. However, there are always some desperados."

"The first two defensive wars were difficult, but thanks to the help of your kinsmen, we barely repelled the invaders. By the third time, the humans you gathered in the Kingdom of Lokman had created the Slaughtering Shadow, and we endured the hardest period."

"My kinsmen?" Muria, now in human form, raised an eyebrow. "Titans or Golden Dragons?"

"Two young Titans," Fiona replied.

"Describe the weapons they used."

"Heloise and Atran," Muria immediately identified them upon hearing the descriptions. "Where are they now?"

"After the Slaughtering Shadow was created, they left to challenge powerful beings worldwide," Cynthia interjected, eager to gain Muria's recognition for her self-declared position as Punitive Legion commander. "They left a communication crystal for you to contact them upon your awakening."

"Hmm," Muria took the golden crystal Cynthia handed him, played with it briefly, then pocketed it. Now wasn't the time to summon them. "Continue, what happened next?"

"After I ascended to an ancient dragon and Mears returned to legendary status, the number of forces daring to attack Synapse dwindled. Each attack was repelled."

"Repelled? So those who coveted Synapse are still alive?" Muria's face broke into a cold smile.

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