Ascension of the Nephilim

It had been several months since visitors from the west Midland kingdoms.

And after they left, the battles that the men of the Highlands faced were growing more and more chaotic.

The battles turned to their disadvantage when the bright, cosmic entities that provided little light vanished. The strongest and wisest believed that the severance of the Yggdrasil from the dark soil it planted itself into had now thrown the Yggdrasil in a position where no light could meet it.

And without the source of light that fueled most of the defenses, the Walls that Endured faced a tremendous tribulation.

A massive army of great power had gathered in front of it, and all of the Highlands were forced to defend and guard the walls.

Brimstone Beast, over thirty meters high, stood at a far distance and had massive dragonic forms with powerful breath attacks that were breaking down the walls.

The strongest cultivators who drew breath in the Highlands were watching over the walls.

The first is the youngest son of the King of the Planesworld. Unlike his genius sister, who became a famed warrior that fought on the front lines, he was a disabled youngster who suffered from a terrible plague when he was born. It was a disease that was said to be the curse of the Eldrich and had no cure.

But when the day that the Codes and Corruption were lost, this young, frail prince saw his father and the strongest warriors turn into Brimstone Beast.

That day was the most horrifying calamity the Highlands ever faced as they lost all their strongest warriors and magicians to the fire.

He had no strength to fight these beasts, but his wit and thinking allowed him to gather all the surviving forces and begin to fight back and exterminate the horde.

Even though he had strength equal only to a Captain, all of the Highlands were spared through his leadership, and no city was lost.

His efforts and understanding of Brimstone allowed him to easily understand the power and find its secrets. And now, he stood as one of the strongest cultivators after being bestowed with all the powers of the light.

He was at the peak of the Cardinal level, and even though the Codes and Corruption were lost, he managed to find ways to replicate them. With his power, he began as the only Cardinal with a High Cardinal status.

His name is Gradius Proton Endoxos. Light King of the Highlands.

Next to him was his wife. It was an unlikely marriage, and the two started off as rivals. But the two fell in love after the first year of tribulation and the terrifying struggles he and her wife faced when they tried to save the kingdoms that they could on the eastern side of the Midlands.

The love that was never expected occurred. Unlike him, who had great wit and knowledge, this woman was a horrifying monster that was considered unaffected by the heat Brimstone beasts under Cardinal levels could give.

Her form and power were reminiscent of the legends of her father and departed sister. She also had a divine beauty. She is the second daughter of Necron Olethros. Rachel Olethros, Dark Queen of the Highlands.

To their side was the person who they considered to be their mentor. He was the strongest cultivator in all of the Planesworld. A Crown in power who wields terrifying darkness that the Brimstone Beasts could not purge.

He was responsible for taking away the curse that afflicted Gradius as it was a curse that he helped create.

He is Breveros, the Eldrich Elder of the Highlands.

Together, the three fought, planned, and defended their lands. But alas, their wisdom and might were fading, and now, they had to come out of their meditations to fight and die.

"Quite a way to die, eh? I'm just sad that I'll never figure out what caused all this. Why did my father die? Why did all those strong champions that made us look like weaklings at their peaks vanish?" Gradius sighed.

"Yeah... We never did find a way to attack the Brimstone Ripple that started all this. That place is just too heavily defended..." Rachel glanced to the distant lands where the Omega Kingdom once stood.

"I guess we'll never know. Still, I am sad that our three races never realized our powers together earlier." Breveros smiled.

Gradius and Rachel could not help but glance at each other to smile.

"My love... The world ended. But in this, I found joy through you." Gradius smiled as he pulled Rachel to his side.

"Thank you, my love." Rachel accepted the pull and shed a tear. Yet, in this devastating time, her tear was of pure joy as she rejoiced in being in the arms of the once weak and sickly Gradius.

"The powers are shifting. You two... be on the alert. A strange power that affects the souls is happening in the distance." Breveros warned.

The skies began to change at the far distance, and the dark red skies that reflected Brimstone suddenly revealed a swarm of flying creatures. But unlike the Brimstone winged creatures, these beasts flew with great speed.

"That aura...!" Breveros frowned.

"Hmm? I sense you..." Gradius told Rachel.

"I also sense your power there...!" Rachel was stunned.

"No. It's not each other... This is... unfair! They have weakened so much! But I can feel their intimidation!" Breveros had an ugly expression. And despite knowing that their end would soon come, Breveros showed fear.

"What is it, Breveros?"

"Those auras belong to.. Emperor Elistre Protos Endoxos! King Necron Olethros! And my father, Eldrich Ancestor Tempest Hiwind!"

"What?!" The two shouted in shock.

"I can feel it! A dark magic has been used for their forms to appear! It's not them, but their shell has been recreated! They are at the level of... Crowns! All three of them! And look behind them! It is the strongest champion of the Planesworld! Champion Supreme Pyrekaiser Fafnir! Nether Detestable Alucan Fangsworn! And even my brother is there! Eldrich Emperor Bolerax Hiwind!"

"We face... the previous champions of our world?" Gradius's expression was ugly.

"And their powers have Codes and Corruption! I can't understand it!"

The trio watched silently as the flying creatures assumed formation. They had lost the will to fight back. These people were their idols and heroes when they were young! Even though they have become strong in their own right, they were people who lived under the cast shadow of the ones who were truly powerful!

"I... guess this is better. I wish to die without having to struggle the many days and hours of fighting and starving and seeing everyone, every soldier, die..." Rachel smiled.

"Yeah..." Gradius chuckled.

"Ah... But let's not show too much weakness. It would be better if we went out fighting! We, the weak ones, have conquered and grown so much! Our fathers, our siblings would have been proud!" Breveros gathered the courage and declared.

"Hm... Speak for yourself. I'd never imagined my future sister would ever give herself to an Endoxus!" Lea frowned.

The three were startled and turned to find three strangers next to them.

All three had powerful energies.

But before they could react in caution, Gradius and Rachel froze.

"Sister?!" The two echoed out.

"Yes. But not in this timeline. I can't believe my old man would have another kid after me." Listrel frowned.

"Who are you four?" Breveros shouted and prepared for battle as he was not convinced of their identity.

"Calm down! Geez. But it looks like I was right." Kyros smiled.

"So it is possible! People of such great potential that even Fate and Destiny don't know..." Mechiel marveled at the three who managed to conquer and endure the harshness of this dying world.

"That's right! We found them! The ones that are outside of Fate and Destiny!"