(KOTG) Ch 8: Meeting The Troops! Doubts & Speeches

Thron clung to Kyvareth's fingers as she carried him effortlessly through the grand halls of the castle. Her grip was steady, and even thoug

Thron clung to Kyvareth's fingers as she carried him effortlessly through the grand halls of the castle. Her grip was steady, and even though he was technically the king of this place, he felt more like a fragile little bird being cradled in her hand. The halls stretched endlessly, adorned with towering banners and murals depicting the history of Vorshalda—most of which he still didn't understand.

Ahead of them, Lysera strode forward with authority, her every step sending subtle tremors through the stone beneath them. Thron's eyes were naturally drawn to her, and not just because she was leading the way. Lysera was built like a living monument to strength—her muscles rippled with every movement, broad shoulders tapering down to a sculpted waist. The tight black fabric of her sleeveless armor barely contained her biceps, and when she moved, Thron could see the powerful muscles of her back shift beneath the material. Her thighs, thick with sheer power, flexed with every commanding stride. She was the very definition of a warrior, and even though she was roughly a hundred times his size, Thron had to admit—she was, objectively speaking, stunning.

Not that he'd ever say that out loud.

After winding through several corridors and passing through doors so large they could've been city gates, they finally stepped outside. Thron squinted against the sunlight as they arrived at a massive courtyard, but "massive" didn't even begin to cover it.

Before them stood a fortress-like structure that made Earth's tallest skyscrapers look like Lego towers. Thick brick walls encased the entire facility, stretching into the sky like the borders of a kingdom itself.

Kyvareth looked down at him, her lips curling into a warm smile. "Welcome to Titan's Crucible, the heart of our training grounds and armory."

Thron whistled. "I've gotta admit, that's a badass name."

Lysera didn't react to his comment, instead pushing open the towering iron doors with one effortless shove. The moment they stepped inside, Thron felt it—the ground was vibrating.

It wasn't just a little tremble either; it was the deep, rolling kind of rumble that you felt in your chest. The source of it became obvious within seconds.

Before him stretched an enormous training hall filled with giant women—hundreds of them. Some were clad in revealing silver and bronze armor, their muscular arms gleaming under the torchlight. Others wore simple cloth wraps, their powerful physiques fully on display, and some wore nothing at all, their battle-worn bodies unbothered by modesty.

They were everywhere.

To his left, two towering warriors grappled in a wrestling match, their bare feet digging trenches into the ground as they struggled against each other's raw strength. Nearby, another pair was arm wrestling over a stone table, which already had deep cracks from their previous bouts. Further in the back, a small group was practicing swordplay, their strikes so forceful that sparks flew with each clash. And then, of course, there were those who were casually getting dressed after training, slipping into their armor or wrapping themselves in cloth.

Thron blinked rapidly. He didn't know where to look. Or if he should look.

Then Lysera took a deep breath and bellowed, "ATTENTION!"

The effect was immediate. Every single warrior in the hall froze mid-action and turned toward them. Within seconds, they moved with trained discipline, forming into perfectly aligned rows.

Thron, still in Kyvareth's palm, suddenly felt very small.

Lysera folded her arms behind her back, her voice sharp and commanding. "We have gathered today because of one thing—the return of our king." She gestured toward Thron. "This is Thron, the chosen one, the ruler of Vorshalda, and the one we are bound to serve and protect."

Thron swallowed hard as dozens—no, hundreds—of massive women stared at him. Their reactions varied wildly.

Some had eyes sparkling with wonder, their lips curved into eager smiles. Others had more... skeptical expressions. A few even scowled outright, looking like they wanted to grind him between their teeth. And then there were those who simply stared blankly, their faces unreadable, as if this entire thing meant very little to them.

Thron shifted his weight slightly. Well, this was intimidating.

Still, he wasn't about to just stand there looking useless. Taking a deep breath, he cleared his throat and stepped to the edge of Kyvareth's palm, doing his best to appear confident.

"I, uh..." he started, voice a little shaky. "I know I'm new here. To this whole... king thing. And I won't pretend I know everything about this world or what's expected of me." He took another breath, forcing himself to steady. "But I do know that if I'm going to be leading you all, I need to take this seriously. I don't expect any of you to trust me right away, but I hope that, at the very least, we can work together to keep this kingdom strong. And... well, I look forward to getting to know you all."

There was a moment of silence.

Then, all at once, the warriors slammed their fists against their chests in unison and shouted, "YES, SIR!"

The sound was deafening. Thron flinched slightly at the sheer force of it, but at the same time, he couldn't help but feel a bit... proud? Even if some of them weren't convinced about him yet, the response was overwhelming.

As the warriors began dressing properly and falling back into formation, Lysera gave a satisfied nod. "Good," she said simply, then turned on her heel. "Alright, all units, move out!"

The ground quaked beneath Thron once more as the massive women began filing out of the hall, their thunderous footsteps shaking the very walls of Titan's Crucible.

Kyvareth lifted him slightly, her face close. "You did well, my king."

Thron exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, sure, let's go with that."

Kyvareth laughed softly as she carried him forward, following the departing warriors. Their first mission together had begun.