Chapter 539: The Fearful Frost Giant Chieftain

"Are you sure the frost giants can learn and master the basic skills you described for the expeditionary corps?" The God of Cold Crows, Israel, flapped his wings incredulously. "You have to understand, the most educated frost giants barely speak three languages: Common, Giant, and a bit of the local human tongue. And that's only spoken, not written."

"That's precisely the root of the problem," Muria replied. "The frost giants of the Depresan subcontinent have been kept in ignorance under the rule of you gods. Even the ruling class of frost giants lacks proper education and governs their more primitive brethren through brute force alone. Even if I wrote textbooks and provided them with materials for self-study, they couldn't make use of them. My first task is to tackle their literacy issues."

"Muria, you can't place all the blame for the frost giants' backwardness on us gods," Israel countered, circling Muria in the air. "Look at the harsh environment of this subcontinent compared to other lands. It's resource-poor, and frequent blizzards mean that ordinary frost giants struggle to fill their bellies. In such conditions, how can they have the energy or resources to learn anything else?"

"As gods, feeding the frost giants shouldn't be that difficult, should it?" Muria shot back with a cold gaze at the circling crow. "If you could thaw the land and teach them to grow crops..."

"Please, my dear Titan," Israel interrupted Muria's suggestion, "thawing enough land to feed my frost giant followers means going against the very laws of nature. Do you have any idea how much power that would consume? It would be an ongoing drain, and the faith I gain from the frost giants wouldn't be enough to cover it. I'd have to supplement it with my own power. They aren't cold crows; why should I go to such lengths for them? Remember my divine title, Muria. I am the God of Cold Crows, not the God of Frost Giants."

"Mortals worship gods in exchange for blessings," Muria said, his voice tinged with frustration. "That's the basic principle of fair trade. Besides thawing the ground, there are many ways to solve the frost giants' food problem, but you gods have either deliberately or unconsciously ignored them."

"I am the God of Cold Crows!" Israel responded, his tone brooking no argument. "Every species' expansion and rise inevitably compress the living space of others. It's a fact of life. The world's living space is finite."

Muria stood silently in the air, no longer wishing to debate the issue with the God of Cold Crows. Instead, he gazed into the distance. At the edge of his vision, he saw two dark lines moving toward the Cold Crow Tribe's icy valley—frost giants from the Frost Wolf Tribe and the Snow Leopard Clan.

According to Muria's agreement with the Snow Leopard God Sinbad, 230,000 frost giants who worshipped him would gradually come under Muria's command over the next five years.

In truth, subduing the frost giants was a simple task for Muria. He only needed to meet them and ask if they wished to follow him. Typically, this was enough to win over most of a tribe, and for the remaining stubborn ones, physical force was an effective persuader. The biggest obstacle to conquering the frost giants was their devotion to their gods.

"Since you gods won't address these issues, I'll take responsibility for solving the frost giants' problems," Muria declared, standing tall in the sky. "I will dispel their ignorance and lead them in building a frost giant civilization."

As Muria spoke, massive shadows began to appear above him, blocking out the sun and plunging the land below into darkness. Muria ignited his golden dragonfire, piercing the gloom.

"What are those? Floating islands? How can there be so many, and why are they gathered here?" Israel, now perched on Muria's shoulder again, was awestruck as he gazed at the enormous floating structure known as Synapsis.

"There are some miracles in the world that defy explanation, don't you think?" Muria replied, his mood lightened from the earlier debate, as he saw the awe on Israel's face.

"And what does this have to do with you?"

"This is an unparalleled miracle of the world—a mobile aerial domain called Synapsis," Muria explained with a hint of pride. "And I am the master of Synapsis."

"These all belong to you?"

"Of course. Surprised?"

"Indeed, but I suspect you didn't inform the frost giants in advance. They seem to be panicking," Israel observed. The two migrating tribes of frost giants had fallen into disarray, driven by fear of the unknown. However, the Cold Crow Tribe remained relatively calm since Muria was visibly present above them.

"Relax, I've made the necessary arrangements," Muria reassured, satisfied with the effect Synapsis had on the frost giants. The sight of Synapsis had sufficiently intimidated these primitive giants.

Muria's strategy was working: the sight of the giants descending from Synapsis, along with the educated frost giants, should help ensure compliance and reduce any resistance to his rigorous training regimen. At least, that was his hope.

As Muria spoke, two airship fleets detached from Synapsis, each heading toward the migrating frost giant tribes.

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"What is that?" At the forefront of the migrating Frost Wolf Tribe, the strongest frost giant chieftain, Frost Fang, stared in stunned silence at the massive shadow looming overhead. His heart pounded as he took in the sight of the enormous floating island, hovering perilously close to his people. He couldn't help but feel a rising panic.

Although he could see Muria far off in the distance, radiating light and heat, bringing illumination to the darkened land, it offered him little comfort. He doubted that this Titan could counter the vast shadow covering the sky above him.

His fear was rooted in the sheer scale of the island. If it were to fall, his tribe would be annihilated. Only he and a few elders might survive, and even that seemed uncertain. This was the source of his dread—he felt powerless to protect his tribe.

"Chieftain Frost Fang, there's no need to panic. This is Synapsis," said a frost giant in a simple linen robe, gazing at the sky with eyes full of reverence and awe. "It's the dwelling and breeding ground for Lord Muria's followers."

"Why have you stopped moving? Do you intend to disobey Lord Muria's orders?" came a voice from a fleet of nineteen airships now hovering above the Frost Wolf Tribe. The voice carried a tone of rebuke and inquiry.

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