"Have the Blackstone Code and Stoneheart Coins taken root in Blackstone City?"
As Orion felt the faith energy gathering around him, he began to concern himself with the horde's daily affairs.
"Every morning, a dedicated team explains the Code in the main square of Blackstone City, then they share the heroic deeds within the horde," Lilith said, summarizing the key points. "The Code is spreading by word of mouth from the inner city to the outskirts, and everyone is becoming more orderly."
"As for Stoneheart Coins, all trades in Blackstone City are now handled entirely in them."
Orion nodded. Some things couldn't just be talked about casually, nor accomplished in a single day; it would take a gradual, step-by-step transformation.
"To build a faction, the three most vital elements are faith, medicine, and the law," Orion said. "Faith governs the soul, medicine heals the body, and law structures society. I will create a faith of our own, the horde will develop more sorceries and potions, and all of you will enforce the Code at the highest level. The Stoneheart Horde still has a long road ahead. The fire of civilization needs a constant supply of new fuel!"
For reasons he couldn't quite pinpoint, Orion found himself talking more than usual—almost rambling.
Deep down, he wanted the Stoneheart Horde to flourish. Perhaps, after learning he had a son, Orion felt driven to create a better world to live in.
Traveling onward, Orion and Lilith chatted without reserve. Only when they reached the underground fissure did Orion finally fall silent.
"Master, Lorelia has missed you so much!"
Orion held out a finger to stop Lorelia from throwing herself into his arms, then gently flicked her forehead.
"You've grown up. You're the queen of the cave-spider race—carry yourself with dignity."
Pulling his hand back, Orion noticed Lorelia's slightly aggrieved expression and tossed her a storage pouch. It contained a large supply of life essence.
"In defending the teleportation array, we lost many of our smaller spiders. The cave-spider clan is badly understrength as a result."
Lorelia received the pouch and immediately began examining its contents. Seeing her busy, Orion decided not to disturb her any longer. With the life essences in hand, she would have her hands full in the coming days.
Orion continued on and led Lilith toward the bottomless abyss.
"I'm going down to take a look. Head back first," he said.
Arriving at the edge of the bottomless abyss, Orion glanced at the darkness before him, then leaped into it.
The underworld remained calm and intact. Even so, small scorpions guarded the cross-realm teleportation array in a tight formation. Perched atop the arrow tower, Lumi resembled a statuesque ice goddess, standing firm. Unfortunately, Clymene and the others had yet to awaken.
Suddenly, Lumi turned her head toward the passage, sensing a familiar presence.
An hour later, amid rumbling thunder, Orion appeared at Lumi's side.
"My lord!"
"It's Orion!"
"..."
The giants who had become Skeletal Knights looked on from around them, cheering when they spotted Orion beside Lumi.
"You've all worked hard!"
Orion raised his right hand, calming the excited crowd.
"And you've been working hard, too," he said, pulling Lumi into an embrace.
Lumi looked up, her voice as beautiful as ever.
"What kind of world lies beyond that teleportation array? It looks like you've grown even stronger!"
Orion studied the array carefully, saw nothing amiss, then answered Lumi.
"This cross-realm teleportation array leads to the Emerald Dream Realm, the place where those dark creatures live. Are you that curious about the Emerald Dream Realm?"
Lumi never lied; she nodded lightly in acknowledgment.
"You'll get your chance soon enough!"
With that, Orion released Lumi, jumped down from the arrow tower, and headed to a nearby stone house. Within it lay Grendel, as well as Clymene, Vargrum, Mordak, Zorn, Balgor, and Desdemona.
Upon entering, he noticed the simple stone bed where Grendel rested. Orion could sense that Grendel's soul-flame had recovered, but for some reason, none of them had regained consciousness yet. To be honest, Orion wasn't sure why this strange condition persisted.
Still, he knew his sister Clymene and the Skeletal Knights were severely wounded—both in body and soul. With proper treatment or supplies, Clymene could bounce back.
Orion flipped his hand, produced a Rebirth Stone, and placed it on Grendel's body.
Almost immediately, a strange phenomenon occurred. Grendel's bones spread out, wrapping the Rebirth Stone within. However, that wasn't enough; Orion noticed no sign that his sister was waking.
Thinking for a moment, Orion placed another Rebirth Stone on Grendel. Once again, it was drawn in, absorbed. Yet no one rose.
Wasting no time, Orion produced Rebirth Stones one after another. Only upon absorbing the seventh stone did Grendel finally show signs of response. Grendel's skeletal frame seemed to come alive, growing wildly like vines until the dense bones filled the entire room.
Orion watched this startling sight for a moment, then turned and exited the stone house.
"Will they come around?" Lumi asked, stepping over to Orion. Through their conversation, she had learned that Orion's sister was also injured. As Orion's partner, she felt naturally curious about Clymene.
"Let's just wait and see," came Orion's reply. Truth be told, he wasn't entirely certain, but if the Rebirth Stone could help, he figured it wouldn't end badly.
Three days later, the steadily expanding bones burst through the stone house, condensing into a giant sphere. Two more days passed, and the bones began to withdraw, revealing seven figures within: Clymene, Vargrum, Mordak, Zorn, Balgor, Grendel, and Desdemona.
"You shouldn't waste something so valuable on us—it's just not worth it!"
Orion stepped forward and embraced Clymene.
"No treasure matters more than embracing you, Sister."
Clymene extended her hand, patted Orion's shoulder, then kissed him on the forehead.
"You've grown stronger again!"
Orion let out a hearty laugh, openly releasing the aura of his peak Legendary power.
"Sister— the lord on the other side of that cross-realm teleportation array won't be around much longer."
Before Orion could say more, Vargrum, Mordak, Zorn, Balgor, Grendel, and Desdemona all knelt behind Clymene.
"We thank the Giant King for giving us new life. Your glory illuminates the Stoneheart Horde!"
"Wherever your blade directs us, we shall march and conquer!"