Ascension of the Nephilim

Kyros stood bravely before his father. And when he was near enough, he gave a courteous Knight's Bow to him.

"Branze Steele... No, Father! I am Kyros Steele. Your adopted son by the will of Uncle Aron Steele." Kyros saluted.

Branze had a complicated expression.

"That idiot brother of mine..." Branze cursed.

"Are they alright? That vampire told us that none of the knights had died when he left. Are they...?"

"Three technically died. But I didn't want my vassal knights to leave me without my permission. They are currently on the process of being reborn as vampires. It'll be better if we go inside and explain."

Branze was stunned.

"They're vampires now?"

"Three of them are. In any case, we could start a vampire squadron or something. These three are now vassal knights." Kyros pointed to the three vampires and chucked.

Branze looked around, and his attention focused on the Scarlet.

"Wait. I know you! Scarlet Trodden! I received news that a vampire attacked the Trodden village..."

Scarlet's expression grew complicated but gave a respectful smile back at Branze.

It was then that Branze realized his mistake.

"I... I'm sorry. In any case... You all look terrible. Even Kyros lost an arm. Let's solidify our whole parent-child relationship when your idiot Uncle wakes up. Right now, we have to treat you and the rest." Branze finally moved. He was taking out some bandages to treat Kyros personally.

"Has Avary not told you about the Temple?" Kyros immediately asked before Branze could treat him.

"The Temple? No."

"Treat them only to stabilize their condition. We have a place that can fully heal them. It's better if we use that instead. Stabilize their condition, but don't waste any more medicines on them. The Temple can even heal my hand, father. That's why I was easily able to discard it." Kyros explained. He then used dark energy to form a hand to show his father that he was alright.

Branze and his mercenaries were startled at what they saw.

"As you can see... I'm alright, father. In any case, try to see if any of the knights are awake so they can explain to you what has happened in detail."

Branze had so many questions but knew that saving the injured men would be the priority.

"Knights? What knights? Do you mean the mercenaries?" Branze answered. They were a declining Baron. As such, it was rather presumptuous and narcissistic for him to call these hired men as knights. And so, he asked Kyros this as he had subconsciously lost the dignity of a Baron.

"Father. The men that followed Uncle Aron, and those that follow you, are no longer mercenaries. They are knights! They have always been! Even now, they are loyal in serving us! Trust me when I say this. Our rise in the nobility in the kingdom is no longer a dream." Kyros made a bold declaration.

Branze was startled.

"Do you believe me, father?"

[Oration activated.]

Branze smiled.

"I believe you! Men! it seems your Knights once more!" Branze cheered. 

The knights felt the contagious energy and boldness of Kyros when he made his speech, and they couldn't help but cheer as well. 

"Lord Kyros... Do you intend to be a Duke?" One of Branze's knights couldn't help but ask. This question sprang up from the fact that he had seen the obedience and respect from the Golem King. 

"Duke?" Kyros laughed.

A Dukedom seemed like an interesting goal. But Kyros dreamed higher. 

"Hear me, knights! I vow to make the Steele Family a King of its own Kingdom!" Kyros laughed.

The knights felt their blood boil.

"You think you've seen amazing things? Trust me. There are more amazing things when we go back to the Temple. Go now and ready Uncle Aron and the rest for transport. We will move once I finish my arrangement with the Golem King and seal the alliance with the Golem Race!" Kyros smiled.

The knights bowed and moved immediately. They didn't even wait for Branze to give the order but followed Kyros as he was a Lord that outranked Branze.

Branze didn't feel offended but laughed.

"Son..." Branze shamelessly called.

But those words struck Kyros's heart.

"Fa-Father." Kyros contained the surging emotions in his heart. 

He wanted to shout and began to tremble all over. Kyros pretended to be in pain and grimaced to hide his tears. But this action caused Branze to move forward and reach out to Kyros instinctively.

The moment Branze held Kyros, Kyros's vision suddenly changed.

Kyros found himself standing before the dead body of his father as it was in his past life.

---

Curse of Destiny activated.

Branze Steele will die before Kyros Soter Vasilius Tyrannos Kyriachos can save him.

---

Destiny acted and revealed the scene. Kyros had a vision of how his father died. It was as if Destiny was taunting Kyros and was telling Kyros that this would be how Branze Steele would.

Kyros felt great rage at Destiny. 

"How dare you ruin our reunion!" Kyros roared, and he punched towards heaven.

With De-Magic and Magic Lock deactivated, Kyros released the Ancient Source and the Fallen Source in his body.

BOOM!

A large crack occurred as the power of the Ancient and the Fallen angrily exploded. Like broken glass, cracks appeared around the vision, and the entire scene became distorted.

Calaminus was amazed. The vision of Destiny was already mind-blowing. But Kyros used a newly acquired power and managed to taunt back.

"Fate Challenger!" Calaminus exclaimed.

"Like hell, I'm going to let that happen! You destined him to die this way? Then come at me! I'm going to make my father king of this Planes World! Remember that, Destiny!" Kyros roared.

The vision of the dead Branze was slowly superimposing with the reality of Branze standing before Kyros. It was as if Kyros was now standing in the same scene where his father died, but this time, it was a healthy and even slightly worried father that stood before him.

"Father! I'm here! There's nothing to worry about! I'm here! I'm going to make you king just as you always dreamed of becoming! I'm here, father!" Kyros shouted.

The vision was trembling, and a pulse of energy erupted, ending the vision.

Back in the real world, a weak tremor occurred once more. It was the same ripple that happened when Kyros learned that Mechiel would die in his arms. But this time, the source was Kyros.

Branze was startled, and everyone became confused.

"Golems... Check if there are more holes in the area!" Petra immediately ordered as it thought it was another earthquake.

Kyros tapped Branze's shoulder.

"Father. I'm alright." Kyros smiled.

"Alright. Do what you must do. I must go check on your idiot Uncle!" Branze smiled and immediately left.

Kyros relished the scene of his father retreating back and smiled.

"This sucks, man! I never knew my father! I want a father too! Wiwuwiwuwiwu..." Calaminus cried. He was also envious at Kyros, who had a father. As an Ancient God, Calaminus didn't have a father.

"Lord Branze... You think Lord Aron can hook me up with a wife?" One of the Knights asked.

"Can he hook me up with a kid?" Another inquired.

"I want one too."

Branze laughed, and he then turned towards Aron and gave orders to prepare for their departure.

Kyros suddenly retrieved the Blood Blade, which was absorbing the blood of a Man-Gator, and drank the blood to restore some of the mana. The punch he did in that vision had drained him of his mana and his two sources.

"King Petra. I will return here to discuss more of our future arrangements." Kyros moved towards the remain of Mardock and expended his mana to store everything to the Temple through [Carrier has Arrived!]. It was then that Kyros could feel the difference. The transfer expended his Ancient Source, but instead of double, it was now in a 1:1 ratio. So instead of expanding 6 points of Ancient Source to transfer, it only cost Kyros 3.

"Nice." Kyros smiled and admired how magic was no longer a constraint in him. Kyros also took the Green Core that Petra was holding. Kyros could feel the energy in the gem.

"Entropy? This is true poison then!" Kyros was amazed at what he held.

"The cores of my Jewel Golems are made of True Elements." Petra smiled.

"I will be heading back to the Nephilim Sealing Temple. There is deep magic there that can help us recover. My arm should also recover. I'll be back here first thing tomorrow."

"As you wish, Cornerstone. Do you want to take some of the spoils?'

"No need. I already took what I needed and sent it to the Nephilim Sealing Temple. In truth, you guys are already receiving the poor end of the bargain." Kyros smiled.

"Forgive us that we cannot, accompany you to the Temple. Our sworn duties lie in this City and to hold the line and ensure that monsters coming from the Nephilim Sealing Mountain do not move out."

"What if it's related to it? If you send Stoph and the Iron Golems that acted as the front line, their energies can be restored at the Temple. Wouldn't that help you in your duties in guarding it?" Kyros asked.

"Restore? You can also restore their energy?"

"Yes. I'm not sure about Stoph since his energy ought to be quite high... But the Temple should have the means to refuel the energy of your golems. And I'm sure it's better than the energy of the Gigantes Earth Core."

Petra's eyes grew wider.

"You are certain of this?"

"Yes." Kyros answered confidently. His was a soul that didn't make sense. The Temple was a limiter that could help Kyros understand the Nephilim power within him. He knew that compared to a Gigantes born from the union of a mortal and a fallen, a Nephilim would be far more superior.

"Can you convert these slain creatures and use them to give level increases to the golems and refuel their energy?"

"Yes."

"And how many times can you do this? What's the power source?" 

"I don't know. But the power source of the Temple is stronger than the Gigantes Earth Core. So, can you send your men there? The intent is not to help me fight my battle but simply to help you have the energy to defend this place. Wouldn't that be within the rules of your vow?" Kyros asked.