Ascension of the Nephilim

Everyone continued to discuss the plans that Kyros laid out to them, and soon they arrived at the portal.

Kyros bid farewell to Midgard and the rest of the settlements.

"We will unite the people here. Now that we have won, all the surviving settlements should return. Our issue is still a lot, though. This place has... fallen into a sudden change as the darkness disappeared. It might take a while for plants that aren't Dark Dependent to appear..."

"The seeds that we gave you are few since I was only able to steal so many farming-related items in my many ransacking escapades. But hopefully, it should be enough to keep you guys full for a time. We will act in haste, and our immediate actions of saving and creating a time capsule should immediately save you. Just try to dig it out on the place we will bury." Kyros nodded.

"Thank you, Lord Kyros. Words cannot express how much grateful we are."

"Just be careful. The settlements that remain will probably try to fight you. While Destiny has no hold of this place, Fate will keep pressing you through hardships and pains and may even cause your friends to die. Frankly speaking, Fate is even more dangerous than Destiny. Destiny is rather arrogant, while Fate is very cruel and sadistic." Kyros sighed.

"Indeed she is." Aron laughed.

"I can't believe I will have to deal with her again back home." Aron sighed once more.

"Our time is literally running out here. Kyros. Have everyone return to the Crossroads. I can feel a resonance coming from the Temple." Calaminus urged, and Kyros led his group towards the portal.

The surviving members of the settlement watched on as the Steele family and their numerous captains stepped into the portal.

The Skeletons were bowing in great gratitude towards the Emberdons, who also made their way inside.

As the last member stepped inside, the portal suddenly stopped working, and only the mysterious archway remained.

"Lord Midgard. We have seen scouts watching around the area. It seems the surviving settlement has begun to move."

"Oh? Let's go and conquer them then." Midgard's skeleton smile was spine-chilling to everyone.

"Let's not take any chances. Our enemy is Destiny. We have to be cruel. Lord Kyros named me Midgard so I would guard Middle. And I intend to do it. The Wings of the Nephilim remain. Let's train hard to help our Lord ascend to challenge the gods and fallen!" Midgard smiled, and the numerous Skeletons cheered as they slowly shot to the sky.

Inside the Crossroads...

Kyros had made the Temple reappear once more at the original location. The fortified walls and all of the Temple Grounds appeared.

And as it did, a strange light began to appear, and the entire Crossroads began to change.

The purple and dark Life and Death Containing Field began to change and turn into rocks.

Everyone could feel the time reversing as they saw a strange scene inside the zone.

Soon a mountain began to form over them, and finally, the changes stopped.

"Are we...?" Scarlet asked as she looked around.

"We're back," Kyros confirmed.

"Everyone... We are in the original place of the Temple." Branze added.

Hunter made a strange sigh.

So did Avary.

"That was... quite an adventure. Was it just a dream? Did I really kill that Champion?" Gregory asked himself as the sudden teleportation made it feel like everything that happened in that place was but a dream.

"Have some backbone, Gregory. If you wish to win my sister's hand in marriage, then you have to win her heart and make an awesome display that will force all of the Bowhearts to submit to you." Martha chastised.

"Sister!" Myas shouted.

"It's still up to you, Myas. I won't force you. I'm just saying. Gregory clearly likes you. And frankly, I won't let you marry anyone outside of Lord Kyros's team." Martha firmly expressed.

"Master! I sense it! I sense a familiar power!" Puff suddenly spoke.

"The Okto-Khefali, huh?"

"Yes! It's very weak! It's like it's sealed off somewhere..." Puff spoke.

"The Okto-Khefali?! Lord Kyros." Martha was shocked.

"Relax, Aunt Martha. We can't go out and search for or free the Okto-Khefali. At least not yet. Hunter, Reptilia, and Gojirrah. You are to seek out the seal of the Okto-Khefali, but you must try to either keep it sealed or weaken it."

"You do not plan to subdue it, son?" Branze asked.

"No. Or rather, not yet. We have a bit of a continuity issue here. Unlike Midgard and the rest, born when Middle was taken over by Destiny and separated outside of True Time, the Okto-Khefali is a being that existed right before Time was altered in that world. So, the life of the Okto-Khefali is rather sensitive. What if our actions will trigger a change that would free or make that beast disappear? My fear is that our actions will cause these amazing Elemental Cores we got to disappear."

"That is a problem..." Demerus frowned. The Element Core of the Okto-Khefali was just too amazing to waste!

"Hence, my plan. We have to find a way to sever the present world Okto-Khefali from Time itself or whatever powers that remain that bind these two. In short, we have to find a way to get the Okto-Khefali to be our ally, to survive and fight with Midgard and those who remained there, and still allow us to keep these Cores."

"Is that even possible?" Triona asked.

"We are descendants of Gods and disciples of Fallen. Anything's possible. When I awakened the Gigantes core in the Golem city, I was brought to where Time didn't exist. I saw gods who claimed to be dead and yet were somehow able to manifest a form of life."

"Hyperion..." Mezal recalled his very rough encounter with the god.

"Right now, we can't see how. But I'm sure Fate will tell us. Now, let us be off to our missions. Our first act is to push back the lizard forces. They have a Champion and a Commander with them so this should be a little difficult. Emberdons, you go with me, for now to help repel the forces. Martha and Uncle, you should take the Coven and Myas go on ahead to begin your mission. This demands haste. Myas. Should you succeed in bringing your Bowheart family to service, then send them inside Middle. I plan to deploy the Temple in a secret underground region. Reptilia, do you have any suggestions?"

"The lair of the Char Vermillion Lizards. They live under a massive cave deep to the west of this place."

"Good. We could try breeding an army of them as well. Your kingdom can do that, right?"

"Yes!"

"Good. Those things are not at Captain Level, but they seem to multiply quickly if we give them enough food sources. The Library of the Nephilim has those, and we will begin creating the other rooms of the Temple such as the farmlands, the monstrous cages and pens, and so on."

"The Temple does already have a Fort... So it can actually do that?"

"At level 1, it's like we are creating a small fort. But, I believe the higher levels of the Temple's mission will help us build a Kingdom! And I have a feeling that the Level 2 Temple Quest is already completed after everything we fought and offered to the Temple. Reptilia, Hunter... This will also be your mission. I want the Steele family to become the Steele Kingdom!" Kyros smiled.

"A kingdom, huh? That's just the kind of ambition the Champion of Fate should have!" Stellya approved.

"But son, you said that we were to divide the Steele family equally to go on our respective missions. You can't build such a kingdom by relying on Reptilia and Hunter. It may take time for them to have enough people to complete all those missions and all the items that the Temple needs."

"I know. That's why I am sending everyone out to gather more people constantly. You all have your destinations, right? The Emberdons will pay a visit to their kingdom."

"Yes. But moving our entire family will be suspicious. After all, our kingdom relies on us. If we disappear in this time of war, then our enemies may attack our kingdom. Therefore, we wish that you can help us protect it."

"I have kept that in mind. That's why I made the portal. You all will send whatever men you can to the Temple when you have the time. Seek out oppressed or desperate people or are looking for an escape during your journeys. The teams I have set allow you to have at least one member who can draw and activate the energy formation circle in your teams. I am sure Fate will act and make things difficult for you. Hence this portal will serve as a place to send some reserve forces to train and study in the Temple. Grugnyr. I am expecting a lot from you, actually."

"I understand, Lord Kyros. That was also my intention."

"Good. Let's go now! Time for us to meet those Champions. Ordeus, Drake Vestitude, and the rest of those Viscounts and Champions."

"Feels weird that we have to face these political issues..." Aron sighed.

"I mean, I sliced a Vampire Commander... And now we're back here to fight against Viscounts, who are mid-tier Captains... And the weakest kinds of Champions..." Aron complained.

"Don't worry, brother. Fate will definitely make it difficult for us." Branze laughed.